On October 26, 2019 I was dead! I suffered a massive cardiac arrest. My heart stopped beating, my breathing ceased, and the medics couldn't revive me. I was clinically dead for more than thirty minutes. And then, miraculously, the paramedics detected a heartbeat. As I lay in my bed in the ICU, I wrestled with a big question that went around and around in my mind: "Why am I still alive?" The answer, I believe, was divinely inspired. God wanted me to share with you the treasures He had given me in the darkness, during a period of unbelievable catastrophic suffering. God brought me back from the dead to tell you about the mystery of His ways through suffering and His purpose for my life. This was my inspiration for Living Hope, and I pray it will inspire you in your life. From what I have experienced over the last sixty years-the highs and the lows- I am going to tell you how God prepared me for my purpose and, as shrouded in mystery as it is, I pray my story will help you in your own life, to discover your purpose. From the depths of my soul, after all I have journeyed through, I pray that you will be inspired and encouraged. May the treasures and insights in Living Hope help awaken faith, peace, and purpose in all you are journeying through. Gerard is a professor of life and death, having experienced a blessed life, followed by the darkest valley of suffering after the suicide of his beloved youngest son, the near break up of his marriage and the unbelievable death of his beautiful daughter. As if this wasn't enough pain, in the same eight-year period, his beloved sister and brother also died, as did a nephew! Rising from the ashes, he faced financial ruin after the betrayal of a 'friend' and exceptional medical bills following his cardiac arrest and his beautiful wife's bladder cancer! Gerard has walked with God through his unbelievable journey and, in Living Hope, he shares the treasures he discovered in the darkness. Gerard lives with his beloved wife Jeannie in Malibu, California.

Though the shadow side of aging is a reality, author Missy Buchanan brings spiritual light and nourishment to people in the later years of life. Older adults struggle with chronic pain and diminished physical abilities. They contend with losses that pile up like the dry bones in the prophet Ezekiel's vision—the loss of loved ones and friends, the loss of their home and belongings, the loss of independence, and the loss of purpose. In a culture that values youth more than age, older adults often feel forgotten and without purpose. Each chapter of From Dry Bones to Living Hope opens with an intimate, prayerful lament to God from the perspective of the older adult who longs for spiritual renewal and purpose. The authentic voice of lament establishes credibility with older readers who yearn for others to empathize with their struggles. The second part of each chapter, "Cultivating Hope," guides them to God's perspective on aging and specific actions they can take that lead to hope and joy.

Our inheritance through Christ is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. In 1 Peter, a man of faith and flaws and eyewitness to the life of Christ challenges us to look beyond our current circumstances to a future inheritance. He shares his concerns on big picture issues for the early church, describes believers' true identity in Christ, and ultimately helps readers discover what it means to experience the Living Hope they have in Christ. Key themes of humility, submission, and identity in Christ guide the study of 1 Peter as participants are challenged to read the book in its entirety each week. Teaching videos are key to the understanding of this study. (9 sessions) Features: Personal study segments to complete between group sessions 9-session study with 8 weeks of homework Verse-by-verse approach to complete a book study Teaching videos that build upon and tie together the personal study available for purchase or rent (30 to 35 minutes per session) Benefits Expand your understanding of 1 Peter for personal spiritual growth by reading the book in its entirety throughout each week of study Follow a verse-by-verse approach to complete a book study Discover the gospel of Christ as learners seek to conform fully to the Scriptures Dig deeper into Scripture individually and alongside other women--both those new to Bible study and those more familiar with Scriptures--with this widely-applicable study Author: Jen Wilkin is a writer, teacher, and blogger at JenWilkin.net. She is the managing editor of The Village Church blog and leads the Flower Mound Women's Bible Study, an interdenominational Bible study with about 700 members representing 68 different churches. She earned a B.A. in English and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M. Jen wrote Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds and has a 9-week DVD Bible study on The Sermon on the Mount.Jen grew up in Texas and came to saving faith in elementary school. Her childhood was marked by time spent in seven different denominations - a range of experience that left her with the conviction that knowing the Word was the only sure means of discerning truth from error. Jen's passion is to see women become articulate and committed followers of Christ, with a clear understanding of why they believe what they believe and grounded in the Word of God. She sees women as most frequently appealed to through their emotions. Because of that, she advocates for women to have Bible literacy, love God with their minds, and have their voices and giftings fully leveraged in the church.

Shedding light on society's distorted view of hope, Nathan Busenitz, director of the Shepherds' Fellowship at John MacArthur's Grace Community Church, provides the power of perspective to help you focus on the grandness of biblical hope. Each of the thirty-one chapters - perfect for a month's worth of "power reading"--Gives you a sharp new perspective on what really matters. You'll learn to shift your gaze from the "here and now" to the wonders of "forever"--for a life of greater purpose, power, and joy.

For many people, worry, anxiety, and fear are constant companions: fear of death, fear of danger, fear of disease. In today’s unpredictable and contentious world, who can blame us? All too often, these fears are crippling, keeping us from the life God has called us to live. Is there any hope amidst all this darkness? There is. As Christians, we have been given all we need in order to face down even the most frightening, unexpected, and overwhelming obstacles in life. In Hope, Dr. David Jeremiah explores the top seven fears that are holding so many of us back from the life God has called us to live and shares secrets for facing down these fears with hope in God. With each page, you’ll grow in your conviction that God is the answer you’ve been looking for: as you look to the future, you’ll begin to see nothing except his power and love guarding your every step. Step into the truth and start living the fearless life God created you to enjoy.

The true hope Jesus gives us in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapters 24 and 25. In this powerful teaching, the author explains the signs we are beginning to see in the world around us, and which we are still to look for.