Kevin G. Harney – författare

Could sharing your faith be the secret to developing your spiritual maturity?

For many followers of Jesus, discipleship means doing certain things to deepen our connection with Jesus Christ. But our spiritual growth checklists are often disconnected from the mission of reaching a lost world with the gospel message.

Taking a holistic approach that unites evangelism and discipleship, Kevin and Sherry Harney demonstrate how God''s plan for our spiritual growth is intimately connected to his mission to the world.

In Organic Disciples, the couple lead ordinary followers of Jesus through seven markers of spiritual maturity, showing how simple shifts in our Bible reading, prayer, community life, giving, service, and other biblical practices can connect us with God''s work of reaching people with his love. You''ll learn:

Along with the Organic Disciples book, churches and individuals can utilize a free, self-directed online tool at OrganicOutreach.com to help each person identify where they are in their growth journey.

Also look for eight-session small group curriculum—Organic Disciples Study Guide (9780310139089)—to take congregations and Christians deeper on this journey.

Connect your journey of discipleship with a passion for the world to meet Jesus Christ.

For many followers of Jesus, discipleship means doing certain things to deepen our connection with Jesus Christ. But our spiritual growth checklists are often disconnected from the mission of reaching a lost world with the gospel message.

Taking a holistic approach that unites evangelism and discipleship, Kevin and Sherry Harney demonstrate how God''s plan for our spiritual growth is intimately connected to his mission to the world.

Based on the teachings and reflection of their book, Organic Disciples, Kevin and Sherry will lead you and your group through the seven markers of spiritual maturity and how these biblical practices can connect us with God''s work of reaching people with his love:

 True spiritual maturity will always lead believers outward to engage the world with the good news and truth of Jesus. You''ll learn how to overcome the common roadblocks and false narratives that stand in the way of spiritual maturity and how to design a personal pathway of growth to be more like Jesus in character and mission.

Used together with the Organic Disciples book and the free video study and online assessment available at OrganicOutreach.com, churches and individuals can better identify where they are in their growth journey and what the next steps are in becoming more like Jesus.

Often we view prayer as an activity reserved for a certain time, in a certain place, offered in a specific way. Scripture invites us to pray continually. This exhortation is an opportunity for prayer to permeate every aspect of our lives--when we''re alone or in a crowd, when it''s quiet and when it''s chaotic, when we feel like it and when we don''t.?

Organic Prayer shows us how to make continuous prayer a natural part of our lives rather than something on a spiritual checklist. It helps us encounter God in new ways as we learn to:?

Anyone desiring a richer, more transformative prayer life will welcome this fresh take on conversing with our Creator.? Anyone hungering to share the grace and goodness of Jesus in our hurting and confused world will find practical ideas for world-changing prayer.

Christians in the first century lived in a world ruled by Rome. The vast size of the Roman Empire meant that it incorporated many different people groups who followed many different religions. Christians were thus often confronted with practices mandated by the local authorities where they lived that went against their faith in Jesus. But even more problematic, they were also often confronted with worldviews and systems of belief that went against their faith.

This was especially true of the believers who lived in the capital city of Rome. So it was that when Paul decided visit the city, he first sent them a letter outlining the key principles and "doctrines" of the Christian faith. Paul explained humans are really like (sinful), what God has done to provide an escape from the consequences of humanity''s sin, and what a lifestyle that goes out of a Christian worldview looks like. Today, we know to know the same! We need to have a deep understanding of what we believe so we know how to respond when faced with other beliefs that go against Christ.

Each study in the NIV Application Commentary Resources series employs a three-step process to help you understand both the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times. The original meaning section reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing. The past to present section then explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance you can find in it today. Finally, the questions that accompany each section will help you specifically apply the author''s words and teachings and find meaning in them for what you are facing in your life.

Lessons:

In many ways, John''s Gospel functions as both a Gospel and a letter. As a Gospel, it tells the story of Jesus and his role as revealer of God the Father and provider of redemption to all humanity. As a letter, it encouraged first-century Christians in the life they had chosen, revealed how life in Christ was different from Judaism, and corrected false teachings (like those of the Gnostics). But fundamentally, John''s Gospel narrates the life of Jesus and reveals that he was truly the Son of God.

Jesus had lived in the flesh among the people. John, being one of Jesus'' closest disciples, had witnessed Jesus teaching those who followed him, seen the miracles that he had performed, and was there when he was crucified and then raised from the dead. Yet in spite of all the miraculous signs, pointed teachings, and resurrection, there were still questions about Jesus'' divinity. So John sought, through his own personal testimony, to reveal why Jesus was fully divine while also being fully human. John made it clear that Jesus would be filled with power from the Holy Spirit and that when Christ left the earth, he made that same power available to all his followers—both in the first century and for followers today.

Each study in the NIV Application Bible Study series employs a three-step process to help you understand both the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times. The original meaning section reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing. The past to present section then explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance you can find in it today. Finally, the questions that accompany each section will help you specifically apply the author''s words and teachings and find meaning in them for what you are facing in your life.

Lessons:

Knowing Our Faith in Jesus Is True

Mark wrote his account of the life and ministry of Jesus during the time that first-century Christians were facing intense persecution because of their faith. The timing is important. Mark, in penning his Gospel, was proclaiming without apology that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and the Son of God—the fulfillment of Israel''s hopes who had indeed ushered in God''s reign. Although things looked bleak for Christ followers, they could be sure the foundation of their faith was secure. They would receive an eternal reward if they remained faithful to their Lord.

Just like Mark''s readers, you need to know that your faith is built on a solid foundation. In this twelve-lesson study, you will explore the context of Mark''s Gospel and examine what you can glean from what he wrote and—just as importantly—what he didn''t write. This is an invitation for you to learn more about Jesus and life in his kingdom as you examine this unique Gospel from the perspectives of a first-century Christian and a twenty-first century Christian.

This Bible study employs a three-step process to help you understand the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times.

How to Find Your Best Fit

Whether you grew up going to church twice on Sundays or never set foot in a church at all, finding and sinking your roots into a church community is crucial to your spiritual well-being. Finding the right church home can be a huge challenge, and also a lot of fun.

Kevin and Sherry Harney point out that, while no church is perfect, some will fit you better than others. They show what a healthy church looks like, how to handle hot issues facing churches today, and how to determine whether a church''s unique worship style will inspire or distract you. Even better, the Harneys help you discover how to plug into a church and experience the joy of giving back. In the words of the authors, "Church can be one of the most joy-filled, life-giving experiences you will ever have."

Practical, encouraging, and true to the Bible, this book is your road map to finding a spiritual community you can really love.

Nearly all churches and ministries consider themselves dedicated to evangelism, and many explicitly include outreach in their mission statements. But few are actually bearing fruit.

Kevin Harney diagnoses this problem and offers guidance for multiplying the outreach impact of churches.

Organic Outreach for Churches provides direction for local congregations to weave evangelism into the fabric of the church. Commitment to the Great Commission is not simply about sending money and prayers to missions or holding occasional events to reach out (although these things are good). Organic outreach happens when evangelistic vision and action become the domain of every ministry and the commitment of every person in the congregation. This will not happen accidentally. There is huge spiritual and practical resistance to such changes. But the only way evangelism will become an organic part of a church is when every leader and each member is gripped by a commitment to proclaiming the gospel.

This book is a roadmap for pastors and leaders who wish to infuse evangelistic passion into every aspect of their church''s life.

Fulfill One of Your Deepest Longings

Every follower of Jesus has a sincere desire to share God''s love with others. We want to tell friends and family about who Jesus is, what he means to us, and all he has done for them. Deep in our hearts we have a burning passion to pass on the good news we have received. But, where do we start? We want to share our faith, but we don''t want it to feel awkward, uncomfortable, or unnatural for them or for us! Organic Outreach for Ordinary People will help you shape a personal approach to passing on the good news of Jesus in natural ways. This is not a system or a program. It''s a collection of biblical practices that you can incorporate into your life starting today. You can begin right where God has placed you. You can share the love and message of Jesus in a way that fits exactly how God has wired you. In this practical and easy-to-read book, Kevin Harney offers the tools needed to reach out with God''s love in organic ways. In these pages you will discover that sharing the good news of Jesus can be as natural as talking about your favorite sports team or telling a friend about a wonderful new restaurant. On the golf course, over coffee, while taking a walk - anywhere and everywhere - become a bearer of grace. Share the amazing love of God. Tell the life-changing story of Jesus. Discover ordinary ways to communicate God''s love and the message of salvation - naturally.

If a person has extra time, nothing to do, and finds themself looking for ways to fill their empty days...this book is definitely not for them.

No Is a Beautiful Word is designed and crafted for people whose plate is full, whose margin is thin, and whose life feels overloaded. They are looking for help, relief, and wisdom to navigate the countless options that life offers on a daily basis.

This book is needed by people who:

It will be valuable for:

No Is a Beautiful Word is designed to be read briskly, chewed on thoroughly, and acted on practically. The chapters are brief by intention. They range from one paragraph (that''s right, some chapters are only a few sentences long!) to four pages.

The goal of this book is give people clear concepts, paint a picture of what it looks like to live out the idea, and then move on to the next thought. The vision is to help people learn to say "No" to the things that don''t matter (or don''t matter as much) so they can say "Yes" to the things that bring life, hope, peace, and lasting meaning.

Extend the Compassion and Grace of Jesus Jesus came to serve, sacrifice, and die. His humble lifestyle flies in the face of the conventional wisdom of a society that is fixated on getting more and scraping our way to the top. Not only did the Savior model a life of extraordinary service, he called his followers to join him in this mission. In 2 Corinthians we find a pathway to Jesus-like living. Paul calls us to align our hearts and lives with the way of the Savior and offer authentic love, amazing grace, extravagant generosity, and humble service. As we do this, we are shaped into the image of the One who served so hard he ended up on a cross.