Synopses & Reviews
Elmer Towns’ Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough has become must-reading as this powerful spiritual discipline of fasting has seen a revival among followers of Christ. Now Towns digs deeper into one of the most popular forms of fasting today, the Daniel Fast. With an emphasis on a healthy, simple diet, The Daniel Fast is named after the prophet Daniel who participated in a partial fast for spiritual purposes. Daniel was taken captive into Babylon when he was 16 years old. The Babylonian king wanted the young prophet to help him administer his rule over the captive Jews—and he wanted to “Babylon-ize” Daniel, to make the young man of God more like him. The first step the king took in his campaign was to provide a sumptuous feast to tempt Daniel—food fit for a king— basically fattening comfort foods. In response, the prophet refrained from the king’s table, choosing instead to eat only vegetables and to drink only water. He honored God over
the king. Dr. Elmer Towns introduces readers to the spiritual, physical and mental basics of the Daniel Fast, coaching them through either a 10-day or 21-day period of renewal, and he includes original Daniel Fast recipes created by executive chef John P. Perkins. Dr. Towns addresses practical questions, such as what to eat and when, as well as how to pray effectively. Readers will learn how to encounter God during their fast, how to worship through self-discipline and how to pray for specific answers. They will also explore the role of weeping, repentance and spiritual warfare in their life of faith. Daniel is a model to God’s people of someone who chooses spiritual nourishment over bodily satisfaction, in The Daniel Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough, God’s people can learn to follow his example.
Synopsis
Towns reveals the power of prayer in this fascinating look at the Lord’s Prayer. Each chapter examines a line from the Prayer, revealing power points for every believer desiring a more dynamic prayer life.
Towns says: “What would you say if you were ushered into the throne room of God with only one minute to request everything you needed, but didn’t know how to put it into words? The Lord’s Prayer includes everything you need to ask when you talk to God . . . it is a model prayer that teaches us how to pray.”
Synopsis
The personal study guide leads individuals through the nine fasts described in Dr. Towns bestselling book
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough. By the use of questions the learned is guided through the different purpose and elements of each type of fast. It is for every Christian who is seeking a deeper relationship with God, strengthened faith and an understanding of the relationship with God, strengthened faith and an understanding of the discipline of fasting. This study can be used by individuals for personal study or as a test for small Bible study groups.
Synopsis
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough is a thought provoking book on one of the least understood, but most powerful disciplines of Christianity. Most believers know about fasting, but few of us really understand the wonderful benefits that come when we fast with purpose and direction. Written in Dr. Elmer Towns dynamic; descriptive style, this book gives the why of fasting, rather than just the how. Towns avoids a glut of techniques and schedules, and instead provides a probing look at Isaiah 58, often called the fasting passage. Learn how fasting can strengthen your faith and draw you closer to God, helping you to be a true overcomer in Christ.
Synopsis
Discover Nine Ways to Break Bondage and Get Closer to God Through Fasting. Learn how fasting can strengthen your faith and draw you closer to God, helping you to be a true overcomer in Christ. This book gives you the biblical reasons for fasting, and introduces you to nine biblical fasts--each designed for a speciific physical and spiritual outcome.
Synopsis
Join three seasoned church-ministry experts on an insider’s tour of the most innovative churches today! Discover a dozen types of innovation, each with profiles of congregations that have implemented that innovation. This is more than a show and tell tour, however. Each chapter offers a solid take-away for church leaders on how to learn and apply the appropriate innovation profiled. The authors also offer scripturally-based assessments of both the positive and negatives implications of implementing each innovation, providing guidance and wisdom. There are many ways to present the Gospel, and this timely book will serve as a springboard for church leaders scratching their heads and asking themselves, “What should we do next?” By learning from a dozen different church types, church leaders can become more intentional about exploring new directions and reaching more of the world for Christ.
Synopsis
The church of today doesn’t look or act like it once did. Take a look around communities nationwide and you’ll see local churches taking on a variety of forms and expressing themselves in a multitude of ways. Now you can join three seasoned church-ministry experts on an insider’s tour of the most exciting innovations in churches today! Throughout this engaging book, you’ll discover multiple profiles of cutting-edge churches that have implemented each innovation in their own way.You’ll explore churches that have dared to be different, from Ancient-Future Postmodern Churches to Cyber-Enhanced Churches to churches that are intentionally multicultural. More than a show-and-tell tour, each chapter offers solid takeaways as you learn from the innovative direction that other churches have taken and come up with your own. The authors also provide guidance and wisdom through scripturally based assessments of both the positive and negative implications of implementing any given innovation in your church.There are many ways to present the gospel. God is using innovative expressions of the church today to reach many different types of people. Come discover with Towns, Stetzer and Bird, how God has blessed churches such as yours as they have stepped out to find fresh ways to make better disciples. There’s never been a better time to explore innovative new directions for your church and reach more people for Christ.
Synopsis
Fasting has always been a powerful spiritual discipline, and the Daniel Fast has long been a popular form of fasting. But what is the Daniel Fast?When the prophet Daniel was taken captive into Babylon, the king saw in him a promising leader and administrator. If only the young man could be “Babylon-ized,” perhaps he would help the king rule over the exiled Jews. The king’s first step toward Daniel’s “corruption” was to provide a sumptuous menu to tempt him, full of fattening comfort foods and rich wines. The prophet’s response was to eat only vegetables and drink only water. He chose to honor God over the king.
The prophet Daniel is a model for anyone who longs to honor God and experience the spiritual breakthrough that begins with prayer and self discipline. In this new guide to fasting, Dr. Elmer Towns, author of Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, coaches you through a 10-day or 21-day period of renewal. He answers practical questions, such as what to eat and when, and addresses deeper issues as well—how to pray effectively, how to encounter God during your fast, how to worship through self-discipline, how to pray for specific answers, and, at the same time, how to fast with a healthy diet. You’ll also find original Daniel Fast recipes created by executive chef John P. Perkins. Choose spiritual nourishment over bodily satisfaction, as Daniel did, and invite God to change your life!
Synopsis
God created the human body as a finely tuned instrument of enormous power, but it requires fuel to operate. To make sure your body gets enough fuel to run efficiently, God created in you an appetite for food, which we call “hunger.” So, why would you ever ignore hunger and choose not to eat? Going without food for spiritual reasons is called fasting and is a spiritual discipline with a long and important history in Christianity.When accompanied by your earnest prayers, fasting demonstrates your sincerity to God. In The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting, beloved teacher-theologian Elmer L. Towns introduces you to the basics of this powerful spiritual discipline. You’ll find an overview of fasting in the Old and New Testaments as well as answers to your questions about fasting and physical health, social interaction, spiritual warfare and much more. This is an essential handbook for all who long to draw closer to God through biblical spiritual disciplines!
About the Author
ELMER TOWNS is the cofounder of Liberty University and the Church Growth Institute in Lynchburg, VA. He is an authority on Sunday school and church health. He is the author of more than 50 books and winner of the Gold Medallion Award. Towns earned degrees from Northwestern College, Southern Methodist University, Dallas Theological Seminary, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary.
ED STETZER, a pastor for many years, is research team director and missiologist at the North American Mission Board for the Southern Baptist Convention. A former seminary professor, he has trained pastors and other church planters on five continents. He is the author of several books and has two masters and two doctoral degrees.
WARREN BIRD is the research director for Leadership Network, a think tank that works with Americas most innovative churches. There, he researches cutting-edge churches and works with their leaders to multiply their evangelistic and disciple-making influence. Bird has served churches for more than 15 years in various roles from pastor to church planter. A seminary adjunct professor, he is the editor or coauthor of 17 books and a Gold Medallion Award winner.