Ann Spangler – författare

What would it be like to journey back to the first century and sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus as one of his Jewish disciples? Join award-winning author Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg as they reveal the Jewish Jesus that his first disciples knew.Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus takes you on an in-depth tour of the Jewish world of Jesus, offering inspirational insights that will transform your faith. Spangler and Tverberg paint powerful scenes from Jesus' ministry, immersing you in the prayers, feasts, history, culture, and customs that shaped Jesus and those who followed him.Within the pages of Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, you'll:Hear the parables as they must have sounded to first-century JewsSee the events of Jesus' life in a brand new lightExperience new excitement about the roots of your Christian faithLearn how the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the Jewish culture can shift the way you view the gospelThis expanded edition also includes a discussion guide for both individuals and groups, and instructions for a simple home Passover Seder celebration.Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus will change the way you read Scripture and deepen your understanding of the life of Jesus, helping you to adapt the rich prayers and customs and integrate them into your daily life.Praise for Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus:"Drawing upon personal experiences as well as the latest Jewish and Christian scholarship in Israel, the authors skillfully guide you on a wonderful journey into Jesus' first-century Jewish world--exploring his culture, his lifestyle as an itinerant sage, and his well-honed rabbinic teaching methods and subtle but startling messianic claims. This book makes you really eager to sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus and learn from the One we joyously serve as both Messiah and Lord. I commend it to every follower of Jesus of Nazareth."--Dwight A. Pryor, Center for Judaic-Christian Studies

OVER 250,000 COPIES SOLD — Encounter a Deeper Experience of God's Goodness and Love—All Year Long*This 52-week Bible study is designed so that you can start it at any point in the year. Names in the ancient world did more than simply distinguish one person from another. They often conveyed the essential nature and character of a person. This is especially true when it comes to the names and titles of God recorded in the Bible.Based on Praying the Names of God and Praying the Names of Jesus, two bestselling books by Ann Spangler, this unique Bible study helps you explore the most important of God’s names and titles as they are revealed in the Bible. It also teaches you how to pray with specific focus on each of the names of God.Each week’s study includes:The name in English as well as in its original language, plus a brief explanation of its meaning.A key passage, from The Names of God Bible, in which the name is revealed. This translation places the Hebrew name of God directly into the English text, which will allow you to recognize each name as you compare the passage to your preferred Bible translation. Context to help you understand the name.Questions for personal reflection.Guidance to help you pray the name of God for that week.Space to write your own prayers containing God’s name.This 52-week study on the names and titles of God will help you experience him in fresh and deeper ways, revealing many surprising connections between the Old and New Testaments. As you explore his names, you will come face-to-face with the God of Scripture—a God who is both the greatest of all Kings and the most loving of all Fathers. A God enthroned on high who bends low so that we can come to know him.

52 Women. 52 Weeks. One Life-Changing Biblical Journey.The most powerful stories of faith often come from those who lived in the margins of history. In 52 Weeks with Women of the Bible, trusted authors Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda provide a transformative, year-long study designed to clarity, energize and deepen your love for Scripture.This study introduces you to 52 remarkable women, offering a structured rhythm of reading and reflection that makes the ancient text directly relevant to your modern life. It will also show you how these stories are linked together as part of the one big story the Bible is telling. Each weekly section equips you with:An encouraging introduction and summary of her storyCurated scripture passages for focused readingA "Closer look" into historical and cultural contextThought-provoking reflection questions for personal applicationAn "Our Connection" segment to bridge ancient lives with contemporary challengesGod uses beautifully imperfect people to accomplish His grand purposes. Whether you dive in independently to foster biblical literacy or share the experience with a small group, this study will nourish your spiritual development.The stories of these women offer a specific, useful way to change how you experience God's Word. Transform your time in the Scripture. Open these pages, step into their stories, and begin your 52-week journey today.

But be forewarned, once you start, you may not be able to stop! Help, I Can’t Stop Laughing! offers a collection of nonstop fun, foibles, and rib-tickling humor for those who know that laughter is the best medicine. Contributors like Barbara Johnson, Martha Bolton, Mark Lowry, Patsy Clairmont, Becky Freeman, and Chonda Pierce share their most hilarious and embarrassing moments to remind you that God’s love and a little laughter will keep you smiling no matter what curves life throws you. This cheerful collection of quips, stories, anecdotes, and quotes offers a continual source of refreshment in the midst of life’s struggles and stresses. Let the laughter begin!

This unique devotional is the result of a personal quest. In order to let the truth sink in—that God is love—Ann Spangler began hunting through the Bible for the words that every person longs to hear—words of peace, protection, and mercy. Realizing her tendency to absorb the harsher words of the Bible more easily than its encouraging words, she devoted several months to reading and reflecting only on God’s tender words. The result is a series of morning and evening readings designed to cut away our unbelief so that we can hear the truth about love from God himself. Each week contains morning and evening readings, enough for ninety days— passages to soak in and call to mind when one is tempted to doubt. While the core of the book is Scripture, each reading is framed with personal reflections related to the week’s theme, making this devotional read equally well as a thought-provoking message for those who want to know God better.

If God has promised to give us the “peace that passes understanding,” why do we sometimes feel so anxious? What are we so afraid of? Are there ways of living that lead to peace? Conversely, are there ways of thinking and acting that lead to anxiety and a conflicted life? How does Jesus embody peace and where did his peace come from?Finding the Peace God Promises sets our longings for peace beside God’s promise to provide it. Exploring the stories that shape us, the memories that define us, and the relationships that connect us, bestselling author Ann Spangler looks for ways to help us become more peaceful. What can we learn from Scripture, from Jewish tradition, from the Amish and others about rest, simplicity, healing, and peace? The stories she shares and the answers she discovers may surprise you, enabling you to experience the transformative peace God wants you to have.

Men of the Bible offers both men and women a fresh way to read and understand the Bible--through the eyes and hearts of the men whose stories unfold in its pages.This unique book takes a close-up look at fifty-two men in Scripture--complex flesh-and-blood characters whose strengths and weaknesses will seem strangely similar to your own. Heroes and villains, sinners and prophets, commoners and kings--their dramatic life stories provide you with a fresh perspective on the unfolding story of redemption.Though our culture differs vastly from theirs, the fundamental issues we face in relation to God and the world remain the same. We still reach for great dreams and selfish ambitions. We wrestle with fear and indecision, struggle with sexual temptation, and experience the ache of loneliness and the devastation of betrayal. And, like many of these men, we long to walk more closely with the God who calls us into an intimate relationship with himself and who enables us to fulfill his purpose for our lives.Men of the Bible offers men and women today a unique devotional experience that combines five elements. Each week becomes a personal retreat focused on the life of a particular man:Monday: His Story--a narrative retelling of the biblical storyTuesday: A Look at the Man--focusing on the heart of the man and how his story connects with your own lifeWednesday: His Legacy in Scripture--a Bible study on principles revealed through the life of the manThursday: His Legacy of Promise--Bible promises that apply to his life and yoursFriday: His Legacy of Prayer--praying in light of his storyDesigned for personal prayer and study or for use in small groups, Men of the Bible will help you make Bible reading a daily habit. Whether you dip into portions or read every page, this book will help you grow in character, wisdom, and obedience as a person after God's own heart.

What can the Bible’s most flawed men and women reveal about who God is and how he reaches out to less-than-perfect people? In Less Than Perfect, bestselling author Ann Spangler takes us beyond cardboard cutouts of 38 biblical characters to show us how these were real individuals who had dreams, temptations, and weaknesses just like us.Whether considering the murderous Herodias, the scheming Jacob, or the doubting Sarah, Spangler approaches both familiar and lesser known characters with fresh eyes. We meet each of these individuals again as if for the first time as Spangler offers a dramatic retelling of their lives, insight into the historical and cultural context of their time, and key takeaway points for our lives today. Each chapter includes questions for discussion or reflection, making Less Than Perfect ideal for individual or group Bible study.Entertaining, informative, and inspirational, Less Than Perfect gives you a big picture view of the Bible even as it takes you into the hearts and minds of people with struggles just like yours. As you learn more about the individuals who are part of your spiritual family tree, you’ll discover why God loves to use imperfect people to tell his perfect story of redemption.

The Bible tells us that those who place their trust in Jesus and pray in one of His many names will be rewarded with gifts of joy, peace, and power. Join Ann Spangler, bestselling author of Praying the Names of God, as she guides you into a richer and more rewarding relationship with Christ by helping you to understand and pray His names on a daily basis.His many titles, including "Good Shepherd," "Bread of Life," "Light of the World," "Prince of Peace," and "Bright Morning Star," reveal who Jesus is and why he came into this world. But how much do you know about Jesus' names?Praying the Names of Jesus is a twenty-six-week devotional study that explores the most prominent names of Jesus throughout the New Testament. Each name or title is broken down into three sections each week:Monday: Study a portion of Scripture that reveals a specific name of JesusTuesday through Thursday: Pray specific Scripture passages related to the nameFriday: Pray Scripture promises connected to the nameAs you learn more about the many names of Jesus, you'll gain a more intimate knowledge of Jesus and his plan for your life, move toward a deeper experience of his love and mercy, and see how each of his names holds within it a promise: Teacher, Healer, Friend, Lord--and God with Us, no matter what we're facing.

Names have power--and knowing God's name is to enjoy a kind of privileged access to him. Join bestselling author Ann Spangler as she invites you to experience God's love and power by exploring the Hebrew names of God.Names in the ancient world did more than simply distinguish one person from another. In fact, they often conveyed the essential nature and character of a person. This is especially true when it comes to the names of God recorded in the Bible: El Shaddai, Elohim, Adonai, Abba, El Elyon.Praying the Names of God is a twenty-six-week devotional study that explores the most prominent names of God in the Old Testament to reveal the deeper meanings behind them and to teach you how to pray through them. Each name or title is broken down into three sections each week:Monday: Study a portion of Scripture that reveals a specific name of GodTuesday through Thursday: Pray specific Scripture passages related to the nameFriday: Pray Scripture promises connected to the nameAs you journey through this devotional, you'll gain a more intimate understanding of who God is and how he can be relied upon in every circumstance of your life, enabling you to echo the psalmist's prayer: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

Over 1 million copies sold!Gain a fresh perspective of God's amazing story through the eyes of fifty-two remarkable women in Scripture.This updated and expanded year-long devotional draws you into the stories of 52 prominent (and not-so-prominent) women in the Bible. From Eve to the Proverbs 31 woman, you'll learn more about their struggles to live with faith and courage. And you'll see that their stories aren't far from our own.Each week, you'll learn:Her story—an inspirational portrait of this character's life.Her life and times—background information about the culture of her day.Her legacy in Scripture—a short Bible study on her life with application to your own.Her promise—the Bible's promises that apply to her life and yours.Her legacy of prayer—praying in light of her story.Perfect for personal prayer and Bible study or for use in small groups, Women of the Bible offers a new perspective that will strengthen your personal relationship with God and will give you a deeper appreciation for the women of faith who have come before us