This book is written to express the paramount importance of understanding systematic theology in a way that impacts the lives of believers on a daily basis. My passion is to encourage God's people to become Christ-centered with a dedicated and loyal heart to Him which will lead them to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Therefore, one motive for writing this book is to help believers to cultivate a closer relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ through the study of the Word of God. It is also my desire that unbelievers will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through reading this book. My prayer is that believers will come to understand that God expects them to study and meditate in His Word daily and to apply His Word to their lives moment-by-moment. Dr. McCune graduated with a Bachelor degree in Psychology and Biblical Counseling, a Masters degree in Theology, and a Ph.D. in Theology. In 1996 Dr. McCune founded the Church Equipping Ministries International (CEMI) Inc., presently headquartered in Temple Hills, Maryland. CEMI's main focus is global evangelism. This ministry concentrates on equipping saints worldwide through establishing Bible schools, conducting theological conferences and providing practical needs to pastors, evangelist, and lay workers. In 2002 Dr. McCune founded the CEMI Bible College and Seminary. This institution has received certification from the Maryland Department of Education. It offers degree programs from a Bachelor in Theology to a Doctorate in Ministry. Dr. McCune has written two books, Effective Hindu Evangelism and Theology for Practical Christian Living. He has written more than 25 conference volumes which include: "The Call of the Church," "God's Purpose for Marriage," "Understanding Spiritual Warfare," and others.

Basic Christian Living is a survey course covering the fundamentals of the Christian life. The book's topics can be divided into three broad categories: basic doctrine for new believers (confession of sin, the nature of worship, assurance of salvation, and more), basic wisdom for living in community(relationships, conversation, the meaning of masculinity and femininity, etc.), and cultural criticism for beginners (authenticity, the "cool," and competition and ambition, for starters). Each bite-size chapter contains a worksheet of questions from relevant portions of the Bible, along with a full answer key. Whether you're a teacher wanting to offer a practical class on Christianity for students, a pastor needing a text for new believers, or a mature Christian reviewing the big picture, Basic Christian Living is a helpful, important, and encouraging introduction to the foundations of the gospel.

(4th edition) "One of the best outlined, one-volume books on theology in print." —Dr. Harold L. Wilmington, Liberty University

Capitol Hill Baptist Church associate pastor Michael Lawrence contributes to the IXMarks series as he centers on the practical importance of biblical theology to ministry. He begins with an examination of a pastor's tools of the trade: exegesis and biblical and systematic theology. The book distinguishes between the power of narrative in biblical theology and the power of application in systematic theology, but also emphasizes the importance of their collaboration in ministry. Having laid the foundation for pastoral ministry, Lawrence uses the three tools to build a biblical theology, telling the entire story of the Bible from five different angles. He puts biblical theology to work in four areas: counseling, missions, caring for the poor, and church/state relations. Rich in application and practical insight, this book will equip pastors and church leaders to think, preach, and do ministry through the framework of biblical theology.

This book gets at the heart of the Christian life by considering some of the great truths of God's existence. Christopher Holmes, an expert in contemporary theology, engages with the church fathers along with Augustine and Aquinas to offer a rich, accessible account of the triune God and the divine perfections. Holmes shows how we share in the life of God through imitation and participation and how the doctrines of the triune God and the divine attributes shape our understanding of the Christian life. Throughout, Holmes demonstrates the importance of theology for Christian faith and practice.

In a time when academic theology often neglects the lived practices of the Christian community, this volume seeks to bring balance to the situation by showing the dynamic link between the task of theology and the practices of the Christian life. The work of thirteen first-rate theologians from several cultural and Christian perspectives, these informed and informative essays explore the relationship between Christian theology and practice in the daily lives of believers, in the ministry of Christian communities, and as a needed focus within Christian education. Contributors: Dorothy C. Bass Nancy Bedford Gilbert Bond Sarah Coakley Craig Dykstra Reinhard Hütter L. Gregory Jones Serene Jones Amy Plantinga Pauw Christine Pohl Kathryn Tanner Miroslav Volf Tammy Williams

This introduction to the field of practical theology reclaims a theological vision for the life and work of the church. Pete Ward dispels the myth that practical theology is a distraction from the "real" tasks of ministry or from serious academic theological work. He argues that practical theology is part of the everyday life of the church and that there are a variety of possible approaches, helping readers evaluate the approach that is most appropriate to their ministerial context and theological tradition. This reliable, accessible resource will work well for those in training or in ministry.