Church Body

When news outlets reveal church scandals or we hear stories about people leaving the church, it can seem as though we are in a bit of a crisis as the Body of Christ. In Being a Sanctuary, Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez—who has experienced abuse, trauma, and racism within the church—takes us on an honest, biblical, and reflective journey as she examines the state of the church and offers us a hopeful path forward.

As a Black autistic pastor and disability scholar, Lamar Hardwick lives at the intersection of disability, race, and religion. Tied to this reality, he heeded the call to write How Ableism Fuels Racism to help Christian communities engage in critical conversations about race by addressing issues of ableism. Hardwick believes that ableism—the idea that certain bodies are better than others—and the disability discrimination fueled by this perspective are the root causes of racial bias and injustice in American culture and in the church.

Since a global pandemic abruptly closed places of worship, many Christians have skipped church life, even neglecting virtual services. But this was a trend even before COVID-19. Polarizing issues, including political and racial strife, convinced some people to pull away from the church and one another. Now it’s time to recommit to gathering as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Bible has plenty to say about the human body and clothing in ancient times, but modern translations and socially conditioned assumptions have drifted significantly away from ancient cultures and the intent of the earliest texts. Do you you know what the Bible really says in the original Greek and Hebrew, or have you trusted what you hear? Perhaps it is time to make a detailed exposition of what the Bible has to say about clothing and nakedness for a believer's life. In these pages, journey with me through a comprehensive study of nearly every passage relating directly to the topic so ...

In Jezebel Unhinged Tamura Lomax traces the use of the jezebel trope in the Black church and in Black popular culture, showing how it is pivotal to reinforcing men's cultural and institutional power to discipline and define Black girlhood and womanhood. Drawing on writing by medieval thinkers and travelers, Enlightenment theories of race, the commodification of women's bodies under slavery, and the work of Tyler Perry and Bishop T. D. Jakes, Lomax shows how Black women are written into religious and cultural history as sites of sexual deviation.

Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability.

Life in the Body of Christ is a must-listen for every Christian. Every age group in every evangelical church should make it a point to study this book chapter by chapter, look seriously at every suggestion, and meditate on every scripture suggested for that purpose. Curtis Thomas has given us a gift, a stimulus to edifying reflection and action on every pertinent aspect of corporate and individual responsibility and privilege to be pursued in the life of a local church. His suggestions are brief but turgid with biblical insight and healthy church experience.

Decode the Body's Secret Language to Transform Your Life Have you ever wondered what your body is trying to tell you? Discover the transformative power of understanding the language of the body and its profound impact on your physical and emotional well-being. Expertly crafted by acclaimed life coach and EFT practitioner, Tessa Cason, this book is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking deeper insight into their personal healing journey. Dive into the depths of emotional and physical healing through three enlightening parts. First, explore the intricate relationship between body parts and...

Marian Apparitions in the Catholic Church have been appearing throughout the centuries to a variety of people to give them messages of hope, prayer, penance, and conversion. In this audiobook, we cover 32 of these Marian Apparitions to give you an overview of the events and messages of each one. This audiobook gives you an overview and insight into a subject otherwise only understood through lengthy study.

In 1987, when Hilary Mantel was first published in the London Review of Books, she wrote to the editor, Karl Miller, ‘I have no critical training whatsoever, so I am forced to be more brisk and breezy than scholarly.’ This collection of 20 reviews, essays and pieces of memoir from the next three decades tells the story of what happened next.

Two years ago, a man broke into James Blakely’s apartment and shot him in his sleep, killing him instantly. Dead and confused, James discovered he had a choice: move on into the afterlife or stay behind. Knowing his past sins would lead him straight to the fires of Hell, James chose to haunt his old apartment building instead. Now, James spends his days visiting his daughter and ex-wife, welcoming new neighbors, and conversing with those who can see the dead. It’s a simple, peaceful existence, but with each passing day, his memories of his former life—and even his own identity—begin...

Just as a physically healthy person - at an ideal weight and with good blood pressure and cholesterol numbers - might not actually be fit enough to run a 5k, so churches can appear healthy - with no obvious issues, maintaining a healthy size - and yet not exhibit fitness. A fit church is one that is not satisfied with merely coasting along with no problems. A fit church is actively making disciples, maturing in faith, developing strong leaders, reaching out to the community, and more.

Many believe Charles Colson and Ellen Vaughn¿s The Body to be the watershed book of the past decade. It impacted the Church worldwide, encouraging Christians of diverse backgrounds to see themselves as part of the universal body of Christ. It challenged many to a new sense of unity, realizing that we blunt the Gospel message every time we divide over petty issues and personal turf.

In today's highly charged social and political environment, we often don't know how to talk well with others - especially with people whose backgrounds differ from our own. C. Christopher Smith, coauthor of the critically acclaimed and influential Slow Church, addresses why conversation has become such a challenge in the 21st century and argues that it is perhaps the most-needed spiritual practice of our individualistic age.

When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote English countryside, it's meant to be a fresh start, away from the bustle of London and the scene of a violent assault she is desperate to forget. But a vicious debate about violence against women inflames the tensions and mounting rivalries in her creative-writing class. When a troubled student starts turning in chapters that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognizes herself as the main character in his book - and he has written her a horrific fate.

Discover the Divine Connection Within In a world brimming with uncertainties, the age-old question of God's existence and role in our lives continues to intrigue and elude us. Is God merely a concept, or a profound reality woven into the fabric of our daily experiences? This enlightening book invites you to delve into the most compelling questions humanity has ever asked about God. Is God a creation of human imagination, or does God have a tangible influence in our lives? What is God's role in shaping the universe and our personal destinies? In "200 EFT Tapping Statements for Knowing God", ...

Understanding the 33 Doctors of the Catholic Church can require a lot of study. And even so, it is hard to get into the spirit of the teachings from the Doctors. Their lives are as varied as their accomplishments. To learn even a little bit about these unique souls who were chosen to experience and describe for the faithful the depth and interior meaning of the teachings of the Church has profound value. But it also shows the individual grandeur of these great figures in Church history.

Journey Beyond Addiction Are you seeking a powerful change in your life? Dive into a journey of self-discovery and healing as you find the keys to breaking free from the chains of addiction and emotional pain. This compelling guide offers more than mere promises; it delivers revolutionary techniques with the potential to redefine your reality. Delve deep into the intricacies of addiction, exploring the nuances of emotional turmoil such as shame, guilt, fear, and anger. Recognize that addiction is not just a craving but a desperate attempt to dull the pain within. Learn to identify the ...

Hollywood, the music industry, and large corporations promise happiness, pleasure, popularity, and power if we would just buy what they are selling. But their tactics are smoke and mirrors, and their promises are hollow. From photoshop to misleading advertising to the use of paid celebrities, a cocktail of lies tell us how we are supposed to look and feel about ourselves.

Having come to see Christ Jesus, we are now ready to see his church, about which Jesus had declared this: "I will build my [church], and hades' gates shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18b). From this declaration we realize that the church is not the product of the work of man, but it is the Lord Jesus himself who builds the church. Hence, in scripture, the church is called "the Christ" (I Corinthians 12:12c; Ephesians 3:4b, 8b Darby).