The Complete Idiot's Guide to Faith

by Moore, D. Min., Rev. Charles W.; Bittner, Robert

• ISBN13: 9781592574940
• ISBN10: 1592574947
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-02
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

Does life have meaning? is hope really possible? is there a way to find strength in the midst of loss? is there a God? if so, does He care about what happens to us? These are some of life's biggest, deepest questions. Yet millions of people believe they have found the path that will lead them to the ultimate answers. They call it faith. in The Complete idiot's Guide to Faith, authors Moore and Bittner tackle the timeless issues of why some people choose to believe in a loving and forgiving God, what such belief can look like, and how Christian faith can yield benefits in every aspect of life, from improving family and work relationships to providing strength in the face of setbacks and loss. To help readers explore their own journeys of faith, each chapter includes a variety of self-discover exercises, tips, and helpful sidebars explaining faith from a conservative Christian perspective.

Author Biography

Rev. Charles W. Moore, D. Min., is president of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, a conservative American Baptist institution in suburban Chicago since 2001.
Robert Bittner is a full-time freelance journalist and a former book editor at Tyndale House. He is executive vice-president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Exploring Faith	1	(84)
1 What Does It Mean to Have Faith?	3	(10)
What Is Faith?	3	(4)
Faith and God	5	(1)
Faith Isn't Just Feelings	5	(2)
Tested and True	7	(1)
Choosing to Believe	8	(5)
You've Got Questions? Faith's Got Answers	9	(1)
Strength in the Hard Times	10	(1)
Safe and Secure	11	(2)
2 Beginning with the Bible	13	(10)
Why the Bible?	14	(2)
A Little Bible History	14	(1)
Relevant for Today	15	(1)
How to Read the Bible	16	(2)
Beginning with Bible Reading	18	(2)
Getting Sheepish	18	(1)
Luke Here!	19	(1)
Essentials for the Reading Journey	20	(3)
A Willing Heart	20	(1)
A Willing Spirit	21	(1)
An Ear for the Music	21	(2)
3 Wanting to Believe: The First Step Toward Faith	23	(10)
Our Deepest Desire	24	(1)
Searching for Satisfaction	24	(1)
Wanting and Wishing	25	(3)
Cementing Satisfaction	26	(1)
Limping...but Liking It	27	(1)
On the Threshold of Faith	28	(5)
Noah's Way	29	(1)
Works and Faith	30	(3)
4 Saying "Yes" to Faith: The Second Step Toward Faith	33	(10)
The Biggest "Yes" of All	34	(1)
Blessings and Obedience	35	(1)
Options Aren't Optional	36	(1)
The Journey of "Yes!"	37	(4)
Looking Upward	38	(1)
Looking Inward	38	(1)
Looking Forward	39	(2)
The Secret of Saying "Yes"	41	(2)
5 Trusting and Yielding: The Third Step Toward Faith	43	(10)
Self and Savior	44	(1)
Quality Time	44	(1)
Hearing God's Voice	45	(2)
How God Leads Us	47	(1)
The Voice Inside	48	(1)
The Voices of Others	48	(1)
Giving It Up	48	(2)
What Yielding Yields	50	(1)
Direction	50	(1)
Correction	50	(1)
Yielded...and Free	51	(1)
Staying You	51	(2)
6 Living a Faithful Life: The Fourth Step Toward Faith	53	(12)
The Key to a Vital Faith	54	(1)
Holy Impossibility?	55	(2)
The Renewed You	55	(1)
Guarded for God	56	(1)
Faithfully Following	56	(1)
It Don't Come Easy	57	(1)
God's Grand Plan	58	(1)
Training for Trust	59	(3)
Three Ways to Train	60	(1)
A Powerful Spirit	61	(1)
Changed by the Spirit	62	(3)
Making the Choice	63	(2)
7 Making Room for God	65	(10)
Building a Relationship	65	(2)
Your Appointment with God	67	(1)
Pulling Up Stakes	68	(1)
Getting Quiet	68	(7)
Just Do It	68	(1)
Set Realistic Goals	69	(1)
Stay Flexible	70	(1)
Use the Bible	71	(1)
Anticipate the Impact	72	(3)
8 Making the Most of Mentors	75	(10)
What Is a Spiritual Mentor?	76	(1)
Becoming a Disciple	76	(2)
Growing in Discernment	77	(1)
Growing in Self-Awareness	77	(1)
Growing in God's Blessings	78	(1)
The Mentoring Relationship	78	(1)
What Mentors Do	79	(4)
A Mentor Builds Trust	80	(1)
A Mentor Maintains Trust	80	(1)
A Mentor Learns	81	(1)
A Mentor Offers Perspective	81	(1)
A Mentor Asks	81	(1)
A Mentor Pushes—in Love	82	(1)
A Mentor Confronts	82	(1)
Time Is on Our Side	83	(2)
Part 2: Expressing Your Faith	85	(44)
9 Talking and Living Your faith	87	(12)
Everyone a Minister	88	(1)
The Ministry of Serving God	89	(4)
Many Ministers, Many Ministries	89	(2)
A Long Engagement	91	(1)
No Force Required	92	(1)
Talking About Faith	93	(1)
We've Got a Job to Do	93	(6)
Tell the Story	94	(1)
Share and Share Alike	95	(1)
In Gods Hands	96	(1)
Closing the Deal	97	(2)
10 Why Prayer Matters	99	(12)
What Prayer Is...and Isn't	99	(4)
Up Close and Personal	100	(1)
Great Expectations	101	(1)
Bold Is Beautiful	102	(1)
Acceptance Speech	102	(1)
Powerful Praying	103	(1)
Lessons from the Lord's Prayer	104	(7)
A Loving Embrace	105	(1)
Acknowledge God's Character	105	(1)
Ask for What You Need	106	(1)
Admit Your Mistakes	107	(1)
Forgive Others	107	(1)
Seek God's Strength	108	(3)
11 Exploring Spiritual Disciplines	111	(10)
Growing What We Plant	111	(2)
Walking With God	113	(1)
Intercessory Prayer	114	(2)
Praying from the Bible	115	(1)
Praying for Healing and Acceptance	116	(1)
Praying for Change	116	(1)
Fasting for God	116	(1)
Service to Others	117	(4)
Tips for Service	119	(1)
Servanthood and Submission	119	(2)
12 Choosing Church	121	(8)
Your Perfect Church	121	(1)
The Problem with "Perfect"	122	(1)
It Takes a Community	123	(1)
The Power of Other People	124	(1)
Church Essentials	125	(6)
Integrity	125	(1)
Confession	126	(1)
Love	127	(2)
Part 3: Living Faith	129	(80)
13 Faith and Friends	131	(12)
In Need of Friends	132	(1)
True Friendship	133	(5)
Friendship First	133	(1)
Getting Better All the Time	134	(2)
Support in the Hard Times	136	(1)
All-Season Friendship	136	(1)
Celebrate Good Times	137	(1)
Do You Have Enough Friends?	138	(2)
When Faith and Friendship Collide	140	(3)
14 For Better and Best	143	(12)
Made for Each Other	143	(1)
Sex: Invented by God	144	(2)
Promises and Pledges	146	(1)
Growing Together	147	(6)
Emotional Intimacy	148	(1)
Financial Intimacy	149	(1)
Intellectual Intimacy	150	(1)
Sexual Intimacy	150	(1)
Spiritual Intimacy	151	(2)
For Better and Best	153	(2)
15 Faith from 9 to 5	155	(10)
Passionate Pursuits	155	(1)
Work Worth Doing	156	(2)
Where God Wants You	158	(1)
Work and Worth	159	(1)
Faithful Attitudes	160	(5)
An Ambitious Servant	160	(2)
Doing It for God	162	(1)
Working with Integrity	163	(2)
16 Powerful Parenting	165	(10)
Prized Possessions	165	(1)
Adopted by God	166	(1)
Into God's Hands	167	(2)
Praying as a Parent	169	(1)
Show and Tell	169	(2)
A Faithful Family	171	(4)
The Joshua Rules	172	(1)
No Guarantees	173	(2)
17 Students of Faith	175	(12)
Putting It in Perspective	176	(5)
More Than Learning	176	(2)
A Doctor in the Family!	178	(1)
Information Overload	179	(1)
It's Who You Know	180	(1)
True to Your School—or Your Faith?	181	(2)
Separation	182	(1)
Accommodation	182	(1)
Faithless	183	(1)
Faithful	183	(1)
Faithful Students	183	(4)
World(view) Turning	184	(1)
Mapping Our World	184	(1)
A Faithful Foundation	185	(2)
18 Money, Honey, Money	187	(10)
What Do You Want?	188	(1)
Whose Money?	188	(1)
Wallet and Heart	189	(2)
Master and Servant	191	(1)
A Faith Perspective	192	(5)
Giving	192	(2)
Saving	194	(1)
Spending	195	(2)
19 Strength in Times of Trial	197	(12)
Changing Times	198	(4)
Unchanging God	199	(1)
Unchanging Love	199	(1)
Unchanging Power	200	(1)
Unchanging Faithfulness	201	(1)
The Taxing Problem of Worry	202	(1)
In the Pits	203	(8)
God Is Ever Present	204	(1)
We Are in God's Care	205	(1)
We Have a Purpose to Fulfill	206	(1)
We Can Draw on God's Power	207	(2)
Part 4: Expanding Your Faith	209	(52)
20 Listening to God	211	(12)
Slipping Away	212	(2)
Relationships Take Work	212	(1)
No Room at This Inn	213	(1)
Too Little Time	213	(1)
Prayer Busters	214	(2)
Busyness = Effectiveness	214	(1)
Working = Becoming	214	(1)
Doing Is Better Than Talking	215	(1)
Be Still	216	(1)
Whose Voice?	217	(1)
Better Things in Store	218	(1)
Making the Most of Prayer Time	219	(1)
Growing Through Prayer	220	(1)
Listening to God	220	(3)
21 Wrestling with Doubt	223	(10)
Natural Doubt	224	(1)
Doubting Thomases, Etc	225	(3)
The Problem of Pain	225	(1)
That's Unbelievable!	226	(1)
The Show-Me State	227	(1)
Doubtful Experiences	227	(1)
Limited Visibility	227	(1)
Signs and Symptoms	228	(5)
Questioning Doubt	228	(1)
Go to God	229	(1)
Seek Answers	230	(1)
Weigh Your Doubt	231	(2)
22 Growing in Community	233	(12)
Where Two or Three Are Gathered	234	(1)
A Living Christ	234	(1)
Sharing the Vision	235	(5)
Fear Not	237	(1)
Listen Up	238	(1)
An Awesome God	239	(1)
The Mark of a Christian Community	240	(5)
Reverence for God	240	(2)
Gentleness of Spirit	242	(1)
Humility	243	(2)
23 Reaching Out	245	(10)
Telling the Truth	245	(1)
A Different Story: Evangelism	246	(1)
Reluctant Reach-Out	247	(1)
Is It Really Important?	247	(1)
But I Don't Know the Script	248	(1)
What If 2	248	(1)
What Does God Expect?	248	(4)
Go	248	(2)
Do	250	(1)
Witness Is Also a Noun	251	(1)
You're Not Alone	252	(1)
Jumping Over the Hurdles	252	(1)
Reaching Out—and Building Up	253	(2)
24 The Journey That Never Ends	255	(6)
Maturing in Our Faith	255	(3)
Deeper Discernment	256	(1)
Improved Insight	257	(1)
Richer Rewards	258	(1)
One Life to Live	258	(4)
You've Got the Power	259	(1)
Take Action	260	(1)
Take Responsibility	261	(1)
Live Openly	261	(1)
Tools for the Trip	262
Bible Background	262	(1)
A Community of Faith	263	(1)
Journal-ism	264	(1)
Read and Hear	265
Appendixes
A Glossary	261	(8)
B Resources for the Journey	269
Index	213