Explore the seven doors leading to personal, spiritual growth in this new book The Best Is Yet to Come: 7 Doors of Spiritual Growth, by John H. Kieschnick, former Senior Pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  Pastor Kieschnick retired from Gloria Dei in October of 2007 after serving here for 33 years. 

In The Best Is Yet to Come, Pastor K shares the lessons he has learned from a lifetime of walking with Jesus and helping people of all ages and all walks of life experience God’s love, forgiveness, and strength. Each of the disciplines of the faith, he assures us, is a door of opportunity and challenge.   From the dust jacket:

Today, many people examine the claims of Jesus because they know deep in their gut that there has to be more to life. Some are trying to fill the hole in their hearts with corporate success, some with possessions, and some are just “raising hell” to give themselves a thrill. But in their quiet, reflective moments, they long for something that really satisfies.

Countless others have settled for a bland, lifeless form of Christianity. They sing the songs and hear the messages, but they are distracted by the cares of living. They once had a burning love for God, but over the years, that flame has died and is now only an ember. They still feel close to God from time to time, but these are fleeting moments. They used to make bold decisions to speak out for Christ, give sacrificially, and meet needs wherever they found them, but now, they just go through the motions of attending worship most Sundays, giving a little out of their surplus, and are no longer excited about the ministries of the church. Still, the ember is there. If exposed to a little fuel and oxygen, I believe these people can flame again!

Pastor K hopes that God will use this book in the lives of those who read it to deepen their grasp of His grace and transform them more in the image of His Son.  That's the reason for the whole thing. 

In the pages of the book, readers will look at the seven doors of spiritual growth: witness, worship, connections with other believers, prayer, Bible study, service and giving.  These doors are ways to connect more deeply to the one who is the source of life, Jesus.  We don't participate in these disciplines to get grace or God's favor.  We pursue them because we've experienced God's amazing grace and want to know Him better.  This book is especially designed for small group studies including discussion questions following each chapter.  A Small Group DVD is also available.

The price of this 239 page, hardcover book is $21.95 plus shipping and handling.  Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to support Gloria Dei's Capital Stewardship Program in 2007.  For information on quantity orders of 16 or more, please email Annette Wagenknecht at awagenknecht@gdlc.org or call 281.333.4535 ext.112. 

The additional resources available in the BYC Resource Kit include all that is needed to help small groups, to help with children's and student's aged parallel studies, and to lead worship in a ten-week series. The Kit is designed to provide all the tools required for an effective church-wide campaign. It is $49.95 and includes shipping and handling.

Included in the Resource Kit are the following items:
~ One copy of the 239 page, hardcover book, The Best Is Yes to Come
~ One small group DBD with 28 segments in ten lessons
~ One resource CD with:
~ 10 week sermon outlines with sermon notes
~ 10 week worship planner for services
~ 10 audio copies of sermons
~ 10 Children's Sunday School teacher outlines
~ 10 Junior High student lessons
~ 10 Senior High student lessons
~ 1 sample campaign timetable
~ FAQ sheet about the campaign
~ Promotional materials flyer for ordering hall banners, postcard mailers, bookmarks, and window posters

Additional Info: Click here to place an order