Böcker av Bill Bagents

Encountering the Gospel takes the broader view of gospel encounters. Any text where people meet Jesus, hear Jesus, or are taught about Jesus qualifies. Jesus embodied the gospel; Jesus is the gospel. He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is both THE question and THEanswer. Meeting Jesus is the pivotal point-the moment of greatest significance-in every person's life. Encountering the gospel puts life's greatest decision directly before each of us.

Love of the Faith: Favorite New Testament Texts is the inaugural volume in the Onesimus Bible Study Series from Cypress Publications. It offers 11 chapters from alumni of International Bible College and Heritage Christian University. Readers will find the diversity of style and expression refreshing. Those who love the Bible will appreciate the respect for God's word as both relevant and authoritative. Love of the Faith: Favorite New Testament Texts is intended for both individual and group Bible study.

Getting My Heart Right With God offers twenty-plus essays on God and ministry written over almost twenty years of teaching and kingdom-work. In four sections, Bagents explores God, Grace, Service, and Leadership. Hundreds of Bible citations invite readers to further study. Essays include "God the Master Servant," "God's Responses to Human Complaints," "Connecting to God," "How Does the Holy Spirit Lead Christians Today?," "The Church as Salt and Light," "A Contemplation on Faithful Quietness," and "A Plea for Grace and Fairness as Older Generations Assess Younger."

Led By God's Spirit: A Practical Study of Galatians 5:22-26 explores the biblical concept of walking by, being led by, living by, and keeping in step with the Spirit. It features emphasis on each aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. Each of the fourteen brief chapters includes attention to application and questions for group discussion or further study. Led By God's Spirit is intentionally practical, designed to promote empowered Christian living.

∩╗┐Counseling for Church Leaders offers biblical and practical encouragement to church leaders-in the broadest sense-as they help the hurting. Though Bagents and Snodgrass share insights learned from decades of counseling experience and include resources for further study, their appeal flows primarily from Scripture. Their emphasis is on God''s leaders helping God''s people God''s way. Chapters explore God as counselor; a biblical understanding of human wellness; why people seek counseling; and the basics of listening, empathy, and emotions. Discussions include traps to avoid during counseling, the power of prevention, and practicing self-care during the helping process. "How to" chapters explore working with the angry, the fearful, the grieving, and the depressed. Counseling for Church Leaders also addresses helping those who are stuck and under-connected as well dealing with toxic people. Bagents and Snodgrass affirm the ability, obligation, and opportunity for each Christian to lead by helping others. They make no argument that every Christian should become a therapist. Rather, they appeal to church leaders-at every level-to value, enhance, and practice the time-honored people-helping skills that show others the love of God. 

The stories we love to remember bless us on countless levels. They represent and explain us. They entertain, educate, empower, and elevate us. They calm, center, challenge, and contextualize our lives. At times, they help us repent, self-correct, and promise to do better. The personal stories we choose to share with others document both our common humanity and our amazing individuality. They let us remember, reflect, and reframe. Through stories, we''re able to time-travel. At their best, our stories connect us to the world as it was, is, and should be. More importantly, they cause us to reflect on who we have been, who we are, and who we can become. They connect us to God, faith, friends, and family. Ultimately, our stories define us. Revisiting Life''s Oases: Soul-Soothing Stories may tell you more about the author than you ever wanted to know. Chances are you''ll smile, laugh, and maybe sympathize. You may even cry, wonder, disbelieve, or tell yourself, "Well, that explains a lot." If so, mission accomplished. Stories are gifts from God. If this set of stories encourages you to value and share your own heart with others, may God bless you for blessing them.

Welcoming God''s Word: Reading with Head and Heart invites a fresh and refreshing hearing of the Bible. While the content of Scripture remains securely fixed by God, our ability to understand deepens and broadens with faith, prayer, experience, and encouragement. While the message remains solid, application is ever fresh. Bible study is presented as an adventure that never ends. There''s always something noteworthy; always something challenging and creative; always something rich, rewarding, and relevant to the needs of the hour.Welcoming God''s Word models consistent respect for the Bible as God''s holy, loving, and life-changing word through 120 brief essays. Initial articles present the attitudes and skills essential for faithful hearing. Subsequent essays explore application of those attitudes and skills-which welcome thought, challenge assumptions, and promote spiritual growth when practically employed.Because He loves us, God calls us to hear Him well. Because we love Him, we must answer that call. Thus, Welcoming God''s Word is a series of invitations to hear God well and to let Him help us live in His grace. Enjoy the adventure.

EASING LIFE''S HURTS compassionately encourages readers to choose a biblical perspective toward facing life''s bumps, bruises, and disappointments. While optimistic, it makes no claim that all life''s hurts can be blocked. Unavoidable hits and losses help us grasp our common humanity. Neither can all pains be erased; some of them stay with us as crucial and challenging aspects of our new reality. They shape our souls toward wisdom, kindness, and understanding. Wilhelm and Bagents remind us that we''re not alone in facing setbacks. They also remind us that we''re never powerless victims. When we hurt, we can choose to seek God''s help and welcome His grace. As we heal-often even as part of healing-we find allies whom we come to identify as gifts from God. We discover strengths, many available for immediate access, some awaiting development, and others new to the moment. And we come to welcome the soothing power of humor. As we hurt, we find God lovingly ready to comfort and assist. As He eases our hurts, He also gently pulls us to use what we experience-what we have learned, are learning, and will learn -to help ease the hurts of others.