-
If You Love Me: Serving Christ and the Church in Spirit and Truth
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
The lesson of love can never be taught simply by words.... Rather, it is taught by truly giving yourself and communicating the love and longing for Christ to those you serve....
How awesome and dignified is Christian service! And how good is the trustworthy and loyal servant who can say along with Christ, learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart (Matt. 11:29).
This audiobook is essential and inspiring material for all who would devote their lives to the service of Christ and his church.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Words for Our Time
- The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor
- By: Matthew the Poor
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 20th-century elder Abba Matta of Egypt, known in the West as Matthew the Poor, is widely regarded as the greatest Egyptian elder since St. Antony the Great. He produced a huge and varied body of work in Arabic, only a little of which has been translated into English. In addition, a great many of his informal talks to monks and visitors were recorded. This volume is the first appearance in English of a small selection of these talks.
-
-
Good book but bad narration.
- By M. Androus on 02-27-20
By: Matthew the Poor
-
Words for Our Lives
- The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor
- By: Matthew the Poor
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 20th-century elder Abba Matta of Egypt, known in the West as Matthew the Poor, is widely regarded as the greatest Egyptian elder since St. Antony the Great. This series constitutes the first appearance in English of a selection of the informal talks Abba Matta gave to his fellow monks and to visitors. In simple, accessible language, he addresses subjects ranging from scripture to the church year to everyday life in the world. To hear these talks is to sit at the feet of one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our age.
-
-
The Performance is unfortunately pretty bad.
- By M. Androus on 01-10-20
By: Matthew the Poor
-
The Story of Jesus
- A History and Theology of Christ
- By: Matthew the Poor
- Narrated by: John Maddex
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Part history, part theology, part devotional, The Story of Jesus explores the complete life and teachings of our Lord from before his conception in the womb of Mary until his ascension. Revered 20th-century Egyptian elder and scholar Matthew the Poor wrote many volumes on the subject of Christ's significance, life, and teaching, which translator James Helmy has distilled into one book that will make an essential addition to every Christian's audiobook library.
-
-
Enlightening and edifying
- By Michael Williams on 11-01-24
By: Matthew the Poor
-
The Sayings of the Holy Desert Fathers
- By: Saint Palladius
- Narrated by: James Walmsley
- Length: 18 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These are the words or sayings (Apophthegmata), of various monks (the abbas, i.e. fathers) who lived in the deserts of Egypt between 250 A.D. and 400 A.D. They cover topics such as love, poverty, fasting, humility, and prayer, and there is usually a short story that gives the context of the sayings. These sayings are one of the few surviving records of the first monks such as St. Anthony the Great and St. Pachomius, who followed a strict way of life. Their sole aim was to draw closer to God through their labours.
-
-
So happy to see on Audible
- By Phillip Straghalis on 05-13-21
By: Saint Palladius
-
A Silent Patriarch
- Life and Legacy
- By: Daniel Fanous
- Narrated by: Jonah Martin
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A Silent Patriarch is the first scholarly biography of the desert hermit who became a most unlikely patriarch. Until now, the details of his life have remained hidden. As patriarch, Kyrillos inherited a bleeding church, one confronted by political Islamism, an indifferent Muslim president, and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood.
-
-
A rare account
- By Sh on 05-27-24
By: Daniel Fanous
-
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it mean to "think Orthodox"? What are the unspoken and unexplored premises and presumptions underlying what Christians believe? Orthodox Christianity is based on preserving the mind of the early Church, its phronema. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou brings her more than 40 years' experience as a professor, Bible teacher, and speaker to bear in explaining what the Orthodox phronema is, how it can be acquired, and how that phronema is expressed in true Orthodox theology.
-
-
Thinking Orthodox
- By Megan on 05-09-21
-
Words for Our Time
- The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor
- By: Matthew the Poor
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 20th-century elder Abba Matta of Egypt, known in the West as Matthew the Poor, is widely regarded as the greatest Egyptian elder since St. Antony the Great. He produced a huge and varied body of work in Arabic, only a little of which has been translated into English. In addition, a great many of his informal talks to monks and visitors were recorded. This volume is the first appearance in English of a small selection of these talks.
-
-
Good book but bad narration.
- By M. Androus on 02-27-20
By: Matthew the Poor
-
Words for Our Lives
- The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor
- By: Matthew the Poor
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 20th-century elder Abba Matta of Egypt, known in the West as Matthew the Poor, is widely regarded as the greatest Egyptian elder since St. Antony the Great. This series constitutes the first appearance in English of a selection of the informal talks Abba Matta gave to his fellow monks and to visitors. In simple, accessible language, he addresses subjects ranging from scripture to the church year to everyday life in the world. To hear these talks is to sit at the feet of one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our age.
-
-
The Performance is unfortunately pretty bad.
- By M. Androus on 01-10-20
By: Matthew the Poor
-
The Story of Jesus
- A History and Theology of Christ
- By: Matthew the Poor
- Narrated by: John Maddex
- Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Part history, part theology, part devotional, The Story of Jesus explores the complete life and teachings of our Lord from before his conception in the womb of Mary until his ascension. Revered 20th-century Egyptian elder and scholar Matthew the Poor wrote many volumes on the subject of Christ's significance, life, and teaching, which translator James Helmy has distilled into one book that will make an essential addition to every Christian's audiobook library.
-
-
Enlightening and edifying
- By Michael Williams on 11-01-24
By: Matthew the Poor
-
The Sayings of the Holy Desert Fathers
- By: Saint Palladius
- Narrated by: James Walmsley
- Length: 18 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These are the words or sayings (Apophthegmata), of various monks (the abbas, i.e. fathers) who lived in the deserts of Egypt between 250 A.D. and 400 A.D. They cover topics such as love, poverty, fasting, humility, and prayer, and there is usually a short story that gives the context of the sayings. These sayings are one of the few surviving records of the first monks such as St. Anthony the Great and St. Pachomius, who followed a strict way of life. Their sole aim was to draw closer to God through their labours.
-
-
So happy to see on Audible
- By Phillip Straghalis on 05-13-21
By: Saint Palladius
-
A Silent Patriarch
- Life and Legacy
- By: Daniel Fanous
- Narrated by: Jonah Martin
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A Silent Patriarch is the first scholarly biography of the desert hermit who became a most unlikely patriarch. Until now, the details of his life have remained hidden. As patriarch, Kyrillos inherited a bleeding church, one confronted by political Islamism, an indifferent Muslim president, and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood.
-
-
A rare account
- By Sh on 05-27-24
By: Daniel Fanous
-
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it mean to "think Orthodox"? What are the unspoken and unexplored premises and presumptions underlying what Christians believe? Orthodox Christianity is based on preserving the mind of the early Church, its phronema. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou brings her more than 40 years' experience as a professor, Bible teacher, and speaker to bear in explaining what the Orthodox phronema is, how it can be acquired, and how that phronema is expressed in true Orthodox theology.
-
-
Thinking Orthodox
- By Megan on 05-09-21
-
The Crucifixion of the King of Glory: The Amazing History and Sublime Mystery of the Passion
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou PhD
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are central events in our salvation. Yet few Christians have a good grasp of the first-century historical and religious context in which the crucifixion took place, nor of its true significance for the people of that time - and hence for our time as well. Biblical scholar and attorney Dr. Jeannie Constantinou puts modern listeners in the center of the events of Christ's Passion, bringing the best of modern scholarship to bear while keeping her interpretation faithful in every particular to the Orthodox tradition.
-
-
Might be the best book I've ever heard on audible.
- By Chris Russi on 12-26-22
-
Bread & Water, Wine & Oil: An Orthodox Christian Experience of God
- By: Father Meletios Webber
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is precisely where we hurt most that the experience of the Orthodox Church has much to offer. The remedy is not a pep talk, or any simple admonitions to fight the good fight, cheer up, or think positively. Rather, the Orthodox method is to change the way we look at the human person (starting with ourselves). According to two thousand years of experience, Orthodoxy shows us how to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" - a process that is aided by participation in the traditional ascetic practices and Mysteries of the Church.
-
-
"Out of your head and into your heart"
- By CLC on 05-03-20
-
Father Arseny
- Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father
- By: Fr Arseny
- Narrated by: Peter Bouteneff, Vera Bouteneff
- Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty, a certain few not only survive, but emerge as beacons of light and life. Father Arseny, former scholar of church art, became Prisoner No. 18736 in the brutal "special sector" of the Soviet prison camp system.
-
-
Lovely book, beautifully read
- By Carol Sheehan on 02-28-23
By: Fr Arseny
-
Raising Them Right
- A Saint’s Advice on Raising Children
- By: Saint Theophan the Recluse
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Raising Them Right provides both practical and spiritual insight into a variety of areas of concern to parents, such as baptism, guiding the spiritual and psychological development of children through their teens, and preserving grace in a child’s life.
-
-
An absolute treasure!
- By Elizabeth on 01-20-23
-
Parenting Toward the Kingdom
- Orthodox Christian Principles of Child-Rearing
- By: Philip Mamalakis
- Narrated by: Philip Mamalakis PhD
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Orthodox Christian tradition is filled with wisdom and guidance about the biblical path of salvation. Yet this guidance remains largely inaccessible to parents and often disconnected from the parenting challenges we face in our homes. Parenting Toward the Kingdom will help you make the connections between the spiritual life as we understand it in the Orthodox Church and the ongoing challenges of raising children.
-
-
The best parenting book I've read
- By ndamick on 08-20-18
By: Philip Mamalakis
-
An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith
- Linked to the Bible; Includes Footnotes
- By: Saint John of Damascus
- Narrated by: Peter Brooke
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this classic book, John of Damascus laboured to form one complete, clear, and brief theological work that would summarize all Christian doctrine that had been passed down and agreed upon. The following was said of the book: The result was an inexhaustible storehouse of tradition in which nothing is to be found that has not been either approved by the ecumenical synods or by the established leaders of the Church.
-
-
the ruler cut off this saints right hand.
- By Trevor J. on 09-08-21
-
Face to Face
- Knowing God Beyond Our Shame
- By: Stephen Freeman
- Narrated by: Stephen Freeman
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Popular author and speaker Fr. Stephen Freeman explores the roots and meaning of both toxic and healthy shame, revealing the crucial importance of this understanding for our relationship with God.
-
-
Finally; perspective of shame and its role in a healthy life.
- By Glenda on 02-19-24
By: Stephen Freeman
-
Steps of Transformation
- An Orthodox Priest Explores the Twelve Steps
- By: Archimandrite Meletios Webber
- Narrated by: Kristina Wenger
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An Orthodox priest with a doctorate in counseling, Fr. Meletios Webber helps us to understand addiction and explores ways to overcome it. He clearly and skillfully explains the 12 steps of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous. In correlating the 12 steps with basic Orthodox theology, Fr. Mel identifies the implication of the 12 steps for Orthodox, and for all Christians. Using examples from the life of the Orthodox Church, he shows how the steps can be a valuable resource for our own spiritual journey.
-
-
addicts and none addicts alike
- By Mina Awad on 09-17-20
-
The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew
- By: C. Stade
- Narrated by: Nathan Williams
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic Eastern Orthodox commentary on the Gospel of Matthew was written in about the year 1100 A.D. by Theophylact of Bulgaria, a brilliant and saintly Byzantine churchman. Blessed Theophylact distills the teaching of the early Church Fathers, especially St. John Chrysostom, in language that is profound, powerful, and direct. His commentary has remained a primary text on New Testament interpretation throughout the Christian East. Translated from the original Greek text.
-
-
There you have it, a thousand years new
- By Yixiao on 12-15-17
By: C. Stade
-
Bearing God
- The Life and Works of St. Ignatius of Antioch the God-Bearer
- By: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Narrated by: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
St. Ignatius, first-century Bishop of Antioch, called the “God-bearer”, is one of the earliest witnesses to the truth of Christ and the nature of the Christian life. Tradition tells us that as a small child, Ignatius was singled out by Jesus himself as an example of the childlike faith all Christians must possess. In Bearing God, Father Andrew Damick recounts the life of this great pastor, martyr, and saint, and interprets for the modern listener five major themes in the pastoral letters he wrote.
-
-
Life & Works of a Great Martyr
- By Anonymous User on 03-21-22
-
For the Life of the World
- By: Alexander Schmemann
- Narrated by: Zachariah Mandell
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The audiobook version of this book on an approach to the world and life within it stems from the liturgical experience of the Orthodox Church. The author understands issues such as secularism and Christian culture from the perspective of the unbroken experience of the Church, as revealed and communicated in her worship, in her liturgy—the sacrament of the world, the sacrament of the Kingdom.
-
-
Transformative presentation of the core of the Christian vision.
- By Ushiwaka on 08-01-24
-
Toolkit for Spiritual Growth
- A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving
- By: Evan Armatas
- Narrated by: Evan Armatas
- Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you a new Orthodox Christian, confused about what you need to do to grow in your faith? Or perhaps you've been Orthodox for some time but could use a refresher course in basic spirituality. Popular podcaster Fr. Evan Armatas explains the fundamentals of the three-legged stool of Orthdoox practice - prayer, almsgiving, and fasting - in terms that everyone can understand and implement. Let Fr. Evan help you establish your life in Christ on a firm footing.
-
-
a gem of a book
- By serena on 11-30-20
By: Evan Armatas
Related to this topic
-
How Great Is Our God
- Classic Writings from History's Greatest Christian Thinkers in Contemporary Language
- By: Ignatius, John Calvin, Augustine, and others
- Narrated by: Bill DeWees
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Daily readings drawn from every century and every tradition of the Christian faith. Christianity through the ages... Ignatius, C.S. Lewis, John Calvin, Augustine, Catherine of Siena, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Polycarp, John Wesley, Karl Barth, and Billy Sunday. These names, and so many others, fill the pages of church history. Yet they remain strangers to most of us. How Great Is Our God will introduce you to Christianity’s most influential thinkers from every century and every tradition—modernized for today’s reader.
-
-
Tedious
- By Alan Rither on 01-21-13
By: Ignatius, and others
-
The Pursuit of God
- By: A. W. Tozer
- Narrated by: Mark Moseley
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During a train trip from Chicago to Texas in the late 1940s, A.W. Tozer began to write The Pursuit of God. He wrote all night, and when the train arrived at his destination, the rough draft was done. The depth of this book has made it an enduring favorite.
-
-
A Mature Theology
- By Douglas on 04-18-13
By: A. W. Tozer
-
The Spirit of the Disciplines
- Understanding How God Changes Lives
- By: Dallas Willard
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dallas Willard, one of today's most brilliant Christian thinkers and the author of The Divine Conspiracy ( Christianity Today's 1999 Book of the Year), presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life.
-
-
Drivel
- By Amazon Customer on 07-09-18
By: Dallas Willard
-
Life Together
- The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
- By: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship.
-
-
Fantástico!!
- By Tamika May on 05-12-15
-
The Power of Suffering
- Strengthening Your Faith in the Refiner's Fire
- By: John MacArthur
- Narrated by: Maurice England
- Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why does God allow suffering? In today’s world of convenience and comfort, suffering can seem senseless. This idea has even crept into the church, where many believe that if we make the right choices and do the right things, pain can be avoided. So it’s little wonder that when we do encounter tough situations, we face even tougher questions: Why does God allow suffering? Where is God when I’m hurting?
-
-
Tone deaf and shaming
- By M.L. on 02-12-17
By: John MacArthur
-
Alone With God
- Rediscovering the Power and Passion of Prayer
- By: John MacArthur
- Narrated by: Maurice England
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Embrace the Lord's pattern for prayer. God longs for us to spend time with Him. Yet while His invitation is extravagant, too often we struggle to spend even brief moments with our Heavenly Father. For some, action has replaced prayer. For others, requests can take priority over relationship, as we try to mold God to our desires. How did the simple act of prayer become so complicated? Renowned pastor and author John MacArthur invites you to experience the art of prayer.
-
-
My Prayer Life is Renewed
- By Teresa Kodie on 06-08-14
By: John MacArthur
-
How Great Is Our God
- Classic Writings from History's Greatest Christian Thinkers in Contemporary Language
- By: Ignatius, John Calvin, Augustine, and others
- Narrated by: Bill DeWees
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Daily readings drawn from every century and every tradition of the Christian faith. Christianity through the ages... Ignatius, C.S. Lewis, John Calvin, Augustine, Catherine of Siena, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Polycarp, John Wesley, Karl Barth, and Billy Sunday. These names, and so many others, fill the pages of church history. Yet they remain strangers to most of us. How Great Is Our God will introduce you to Christianity’s most influential thinkers from every century and every tradition—modernized for today’s reader.
-
-
Tedious
- By Alan Rither on 01-21-13
By: Ignatius, and others
-
The Pursuit of God
- By: A. W. Tozer
- Narrated by: Mark Moseley
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During a train trip from Chicago to Texas in the late 1940s, A.W. Tozer began to write The Pursuit of God. He wrote all night, and when the train arrived at his destination, the rough draft was done. The depth of this book has made it an enduring favorite.
-
-
A Mature Theology
- By Douglas on 04-18-13
By: A. W. Tozer
-
The Spirit of the Disciplines
- Understanding How God Changes Lives
- By: Dallas Willard
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dallas Willard, one of today's most brilliant Christian thinkers and the author of The Divine Conspiracy ( Christianity Today's 1999 Book of the Year), presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life.
-
-
Drivel
- By Amazon Customer on 07-09-18
By: Dallas Willard
-
Life Together
- The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
- By: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship.
-
-
Fantástico!!
- By Tamika May on 05-12-15
-
The Power of Suffering
- Strengthening Your Faith in the Refiner's Fire
- By: John MacArthur
- Narrated by: Maurice England
- Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why does God allow suffering? In today’s world of convenience and comfort, suffering can seem senseless. This idea has even crept into the church, where many believe that if we make the right choices and do the right things, pain can be avoided. So it’s little wonder that when we do encounter tough situations, we face even tougher questions: Why does God allow suffering? Where is God when I’m hurting?
-
-
Tone deaf and shaming
- By M.L. on 02-12-17
By: John MacArthur
-
Alone With God
- Rediscovering the Power and Passion of Prayer
- By: John MacArthur
- Narrated by: Maurice England
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Embrace the Lord's pattern for prayer. God longs for us to spend time with Him. Yet while His invitation is extravagant, too often we struggle to spend even brief moments with our Heavenly Father. For some, action has replaced prayer. For others, requests can take priority over relationship, as we try to mold God to our desires. How did the simple act of prayer become so complicated? Renowned pastor and author John MacArthur invites you to experience the art of prayer.
-
-
My Prayer Life is Renewed
- By Teresa Kodie on 06-08-14
By: John MacArthur
-
Momentum
- Pursuing God's Blessings Through the Beatitudes
- By: Colin S. Smith
- Narrated by: Colin S. Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you know how you want to change but not how to accomplish it? Does the personal transformation you seek feel like a pipe dream? Does the gulf between who you are and who you want to be feel overwhelming? If you are a believer in Christ but feel stuck in your Christian life, this book is for you. Respected pastor and speaker Collin Smith explains how the beatitudes, when rightly understood, are key to making progress in the Christian life.
-
-
Life-giving principles shared in a compelling way
- By Sabrina E. on 01-30-19
By: Colin S. Smith
-
The Adversary
- The Christian Versus Demon Activity
- By: Mark I. Bubeck
- Narrated by: Jon Gauger
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spiritual warfare is real, and we are all involved whether we like it or not. The Bible plainly tells us that Satan schemes against humanity and that he wants to devour us. Daily we struggle against Satan's strategies and desire to take over God’s kingdom. This battle will not go away, and ignoring it could be disastrous. But don't be afraid. The victory is already won by Christ. No enemy is powerful enough to overcome the risen savior. In this book, Mark Bubeck exposes the reality of the conflict and the hope believers have.
-
-
Absolutely Fantastic
- By Mandaberry on 10-12-20
By: Mark I. Bubeck
-
A Godward Heart
- Treasuring the God Who Loves You
- By: John Piper
- Narrated by: David Cochran Heath
- Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
John Piper invites you to experience deeper intimacy with God through these thought-provoking and soul-enriching meditations. Whether you are just discovering the divine richness of Scripture or have long been a passionate student, you’ll find a deeper understanding of God and renewed insight for your journey.
-
-
Wonderful and refreshing
- By dave on 08-05-24
By: John Piper
-
The Great Omission
- Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship
- By: Dallas Willard
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations.
"But Christians have responded by making "Christians", not "disciples". This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission.
-
-
Am I Christian enough to make it to heaven?
- By Steve S. Herron on 06-03-16
By: Dallas Willard
-
Following God Fully
- An Introduction to the Puritans
- By: Joel R. Beeke, Michael Reeves
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Puritans, as a body, have done more to elevate the national character than any class of Englishmen that ever lived. Ardent lovers of civil liberty, and ready to die in its defense - mighty at the council board, and no less mighty in the battlefield - feared abroad throughout Europe, and invincible at home while united - great with their pens, and no less great with their swords - fearing God very much, and fearing men very little - they were a generation of men who have never received from their country the honor that they deserve.
-
-
Great book!
- By Daniel on 07-20-20
By: Joel R. Beeke, and others
-
Battling Unbelief
- Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure
- By: John Piper
- Narrated by: Rob Lamont
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The subtitle of this work, "Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure", says it all. There is godly pleasure in applying the faith that first saved us in everyday circumstances, defeating the unbelief and lies that Satan throws at us. Fighting those lies, and the resultant anxiety, pride, impatience, and other sinful attitudes that trip us up, with what Piper calls "the purifying power of God's truth", blesses us with peace as we see God enabling us to live by faith in his promises and his grace.
-
-
BATTLE PLANNING FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
- By Stephen on 12-18-12
By: John Piper
-
Born for Significance
- Master the Purpose, Process, and Peril of Promotion
- By: Bill Johnson
- Narrated by: Tim Lundeen
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every person on the planet was born for significance, created by God to make a difference in his kingdom. Fulfilling God’s purpose is a lifelong endeavor, but it comes with a cost. God is a perfect father who looks for chances to pour blessings into the lives of his children. But he is also a father who loves us and doesn’t want to increase our blessing beyond what we have the heart and maturity to carry well. What does it look like when significance is carried well? God is glorified, we are strengthened, and the people around us benefit.
-
-
Wow! Loved It!
- By Anonymous User on 04-16-21
By: Bill Johnson
-
The Joy of Fearing God
- By: Jerry Bridges
- Narrated by: Al Sanders
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For most of us, fear is something we try to avoid. And fearing God hardly sounds like an occasion for joy. But Jerry Bridges shows how the fear of the Lord is actually the key that opens the door to a life of true knowledge, wisdom, blessing, and joy. We all want a deeper, more intimate relationship with God - one that's characterized by joy. But how does fearing God lead to joy? After all, aren't we supposed to love him and live in intimate relationship with him?
-
-
Incomplete, even though it's advertised as unabridged
- By DamagesFan on 05-06-19
By: Jerry Bridges
-
Count It All Joy
- Discover a Happiness That Circumstances Cannot Change
- By: David Jeremiah
- Narrated by: Wayne Shepherd
- Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Apostle Paul wrote his most personal letter while abandoned in a Roman prison, where he suffered abuse. He wrote to believers who lived in the shadow of the Roman tyrant Nero. And yet this letter, Philippians, is the most joy-filled epistle in the Bible. Weaving together modern stories and historical details, Dr. David Jeremiah explores Philippians verse by verse, showing us what it means to be joyful in spite of circumstances.
-
-
This is all about contentment. We all can take this to heart
- By Robert D. on 12-29-22
By: David Jeremiah
-
Praying
- Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight
- By: J. I. Packer, Caroline Nystrom
- Narrated by: Rob Lamont
- Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Is praying a duty or a delight? J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom say that it's both; an essential, expected practice as a follower of Christ, but also a privilege and joy. As we start out learning to pray properly, however, the delight often seems to be missing. Here is practical help for active, honest praying that involves all of who we are - heart, hands and head - and moves us to deeper obedience, joy and intimacy with our Father.
-
-
Abridged, Heck
- By R.K. Herrell on 11-13-15
By: J. I. Packer, and others
-
What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do
- By: Dr. David Jeremiah
- Narrated by: Wayne Shepherd
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometimes the big and small decisions in life seem overwhelming. How do you know what choices to make about your career, kids, and relationships? Even when you make good decisions, how do you avoid temptation along the way?
-
-
Great wisdom
- By Bama on 01-15-16
-
Rebuilding The Real You
- By: Jack W Hayford
- Narrated by: Greg Whalen
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rebuilding the Real You, Jack Hayford's, landmark teaching on the Book of Nehemiah, unfolds a clear picture of the nature and work of the Holy Spirit assisting the believer in rebuilding life's broken places.
-
-
Wow
- By customer205 on 04-30-15
By: Jack W Hayford
What listeners say about If You Love Me: Serving Christ and the Church in Spirit and Truth
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- The Four Corners Agency LLC
- 05-26-23
Amazing
I love this book! Anything by this author is amazing! May the good Lord bless you !
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Reggie
- 09-27-19
Excellent
Nice narrator. Explained a lot of the faith. Easy to listen to and understand. Highly recommend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jason A. Gagnon
- 11-14-19
The Challenge of an authentic Christian Life
I've read two other books by Matthew the Poor- (Words for our Lives and Words for our Time) and this one is a little different than the others. It is a set of essays, rather than transcribed talks. What is lost of the intimacy from the talks is more than made up for in the robustness and thoroughness in the essays presented here.
The focus in this book is on being a Servant of Christ and His Church. And to be a christian servant, the focus is on service in love, as love. And it's hard.
This book is a challenge- it challenges those of us who like to read books and fill our heads with Christian ideas, but filling your heads with Christian intellectual knowledge is not the same as filling your heart with Christian service. He challenges us to pray, fast, read the scriptures and the patristic fathers, and to put God and others before ourselves.
There are long sections on various stumbling blocks of the Christian life, and these are written with the wisdom that comes from having witnessed them - Abba Matthew has seen people go astray, even when they think they are serving the church, and his warnings are worth heeding.
I'll come back to this book again, in a couple of months. It is full of hard and practical advise, and after I've lived with it a few months it will be good to re-explore.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Pedro S.
- 07-15-19
A treasure for all of us in Christian service
Abba Matta, known in the US (and probably the rest of the Anglosphere) as Matthew the Poor, is probably the greatest monastic elder to come out of the Egyptian monastic tradition in a millennium. Under his leadership, the Coptic monastery of St Macarius the Great went from the verge of extinction to again becoming a flourishing center of Egyptian monasticism—from 6 elderly monks to 130 men devoted to the monastic vocation, with monks who went on to renew the life of other similarly fading monasteries or to found new monastic centers. If You Love Me: Serving Christ and the Church in Spirit and Truth is a great demonstration of how that happened. Abba Matta has a charism for the formation of Christian servants, since the foundation of Christian life is service for the sake of Christ. He does not limit the idea of a servant (diakonos) to an ordained office or a professional role (though he does touch on ordained ministry), but to one who “builds souls.” This kind of service is, I think, a requirement of all Christians. We may not all operate in any official capacity, but we build up souls in our children, our brethren, fellow parishioners, and even among the people we serve in our “private” or “professional” lives. We are supposed to make disciples of all nations and to be known, after all, by our love.
This relatively short but very dense book of essays on Christian service is divided into two parts, “The Nature of Christian Service” and “On the Education of the Christian Servant.” In the first part, Abba Matta helps the reader understand how someone might discern a call to service and what the sort of “shape” of Christian service looks like.” In each section of each chapter of this section, he lays out qualities, qualifications, struggles, failures, challenges, temptations, and considerations that Christian servants face. In the second part, Abba Matta’s focus is on what we might best call formation. There’s no easy way to capture the essence of this entire work in a review, but I’ll try to give some meaty highlights.
Abba Matta begins with the most foundational aspect of Christian service, writing “Love is the ultimate criterion of Christ’s service. Any criterion used to measure our service other than love is a merely human measurement.”
Echoing St Seraphim of Sarov’s exhortation to “Acquire the spirit of peace and thousands around you may be saved,” Abba Matta tells us that “a successful servant does not receive these gifts [necessary to feed the souls of those served with love, faith and hope] for the sake of serving others, but rather for his own salvation… the servant who feeds on God’s gifts only for the sake of returning them to others usually remains empty and toils in vain.” Here, he emphasizes the necessity of purification, prayer, ascetic labors, and other aspects of Christian praxis—his delivery of this made me feel called to account for my spiritual sloth but also hopeful for the ability to struggle with such labors by the grace of God.
Later, he writes, “Though the salvation of a human soul is not the work of man, it nevertheless is achieved through man. Therefore, despite the fact that the servant should never make the error of seeing himself as a savior, he must know that he is still a means or instrument of salvation.”
Despite this lofty role for the servant, Abba Matta avoids puffing up the servant by expressing that the servant’s work is really struggling for his own purification through self-abandonment and humility, that we might aid in the salvation of others by giving ourselves up and dying to ourselves for Christ’s sake. He makes it clear that this is a particular struggle for the servant, and when he says that it is better to fall under the yoke rather than to give up the yoke, we know then that our falling under the burden of servanthood is a real possibility. He’s also direct about the attacks that Christian servants will face: “The devil’s ultimate goal is to destroy the servant’s strength by endlessly torturing his soul so that he finally flees the battleground of service and escapes the critics, slanderers, and devils that threaten him.” Wow. That sounds intense, right? It is, and Abba Matta shows us how this isn’t different from what the apostles and early church servants faced.
How does someone get to this point where one can struggle for purification in the context of servanthood, aiding in the building up of souls and hopefully being a tool to the salvation of others? This is precisely what Abba Matta spends the last third of the book explicating. A servant “cannot be commended simply for having many books or for acquiring much knowledge; rather, he is commended by the Spirit of Christ who is charged and inflamed within him every day by the prayers and sacraments of the Church and by the voice of Christ in the Gospel.” What does this mean in practical terms? The servant must be one who has abandoned himself in favor of “a new life of regeneration, simplicity, love, and humility” which has as ”both its starting point and final destination in the Church” (which Abba Matta rightly calls the “the union that binds us to Christ and to other Christians”). The servant formed not by theological treatises but by a life of prayerful participation in the liturgy and sacraments of the Church, thereby receiving the spirit of the Church. The liturgy, Abba Matta tells us, opens the door to repentance, compunction, “and an openness to living in love and reconciliation.”
Abba Matta tells us that the chief obstacle impeding Christian service is “the feeble state of most servants’ spiritual lives… [because of] their enfeebled psychological state.” He then lists the causes of such an enfeebled psychological state in some detail (a follower mentality, partisanship, and the poor habits cultivated by a bad upbringing) and describes the way these shortcomings can be overcome. The first is “to offer love in the form of sacrifice and to love God.” To do this, Abba Matta says, we must imitate Christ and strive for union with Him; he outlines some specifics of how we are to follow Christ in our temperament, actions, will, and our work.
After explaining “the making of a servant” and the psychological health of a servant, Abba Matta spends the single longest portion of this book enumerating “The Spiritual Education of the Servant” in incredibly concrete terms. I’d do more damage than justice to try to summarize this portion of the text in any meaningful way, but Abba Matta tells us that the servant’s “credentials for serving the younger generation” is the inheritance of Orthodox Christian spirituality, which consists of:
• “Ascetical life: prayer, fasting, and faithful, consistent participation in sacramental worship
• Doctrinal training: informing the believer of the tenets of the faith and implanting belief so securely in the heart that it cannot be shaken by doubt or trouble
• Christian conduct: what should or should not be said and done, so that the conscience is groomed and trained in the fundamental values of the Orthodox Church
• The life in Christ: nurturing essential love that brings a servant closer to God and increases his zeal, light, and discernment.”
Abba Matta’s explanation of these four aspects of Christian life in the final chapter, especially in the context of servanthood, would be worth the cost of the book alone. That being said, the entire book is one of the best resources for understanding how the Christian life ought to be lived. Anybody who struggles with the question “What does God want from me?” should read this text, especially in the context of discerning any sort of ministerial vocation (lay or ordained, official or unofficial). If you’re wondering if you should pursue a path of ministry in the Church, read or listen to this book as well as St John Chrysostom’s writings on the priesthood. Abba Matta’s writing is a great treasure from the Coptic tradition. He serves as a great model for all Orthodox Christians (and, I dare say, as one vital locus for understanding points of convergence for any unity that might someday arise between the Byzantine and Coptic traditions), and I look forward to reading or listening to more of his works.
Footnote: I listened to If You Love Me twice on Audible before writing this review, and I ended up purchasing the eBook to avoid butchering quotations. After writing the bulk of the review, I ended up purchasing physical copies to loan out / gift to some young adults who are wrestling with discerning what Christian service should look like in their lives (and who, I thought, would benefit from the wisdom of Abba Matta). Ancient Faith Media provided me with a complementary download of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review, but I purchased the Kindle edition and print version outright with no discount.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- christina
- 01-15-20
Blue Print for all Ministries
This book is quite amazing. Not only does it allow you to delve deeper spiritually, it also changes your perspective on service. Fr. Matthew eloquently writes about how service within the walls of the church is futile unless the servant lives a life of service in general. This is only done if the person reflects on one's relationship with God and living a daily life of repentance. Once that is achieved, one is able to view service as God working through them, lightening the burden of serving others. I highly recommend this book to be read by clergy and laymen alike. I pray that every church incorporates this book into every "prepare to serve" course administered to those desiring to serve God in the best way possible.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- The Tragic Poet
- 04-05-23
Coptic Orthodox, and too upbeat delivery
I’m looking for Eastern Orthodox content, and didn’t realize this was Coptic Orthodox (not in Communion with Eastern Orthodox). I would have appreciated more information up front to make a better purchasing decision. Now I can’t return it.
Also, the delivery, for me, is too high pitched and full of intonation (like if you’re watching a kids show).
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!