Chip Ingram

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. -Victor Hugo. Human beings have a deep, hardwired desire to belong, to be accepted, safe, valued, and the object of someone's affection, just for who we are. It's the stuff of poetry, music, and movies. Yet love is primarily viewed in our culture as something that happens to me and of which I have great desire but little control. I Choose Love challenges this premise at its core. Love is far from something that might happen someday, someway, if everything goes your way . . . but instead, Chip Ingram shows, it's something you can choose to experience. This book is about choosing love--a love that the Bible calls agape love. This is the kind of love God has for people. It's the love that's characterized primarily not by our feelings or emotions, but by sacrifice and putting others' best interests at heart--this love gives, serves, obeys, and cares. It's not emotionless, sterile, or stoic; but it's also not built on feelings, romantic notions, or erotic expectations. We've all experienced the heartache that follows failures to love. But God promises that "love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8). Join esteemed Bible teacher Chip Ingram and explore this invitation to choose love If you long to be loved and experience the love of God; if you long to get some real, practical help to discover and apply agape love and see it transform all the other types of love, then this book is for you.

Our lives are fraught with anxiety. Conflict in our relationships, fears about the future, information overload, financial pressure, lack of contentment--all of them can steal our joy because they steal our peace. Through Christ we are promised peace, but how can we feel peace when we live in a world of chaos?Because, says Chip Ingram, peace isn't a feeling; it's a choice.In I Choose Peace, Chip unpacks Philippians 4 to show us how we can choose peace in- relational conflict- anxious moments- a broken world- difficult circumstances- a materialistic cultureIf you're tired of feeling anxious over the state of the world, your relationships, or your own heart, this encouraging book will help you quiet your worries and experience real, lasting peace that doesn't depend on what's going on around you.

God is a doer of great things. Isn't it time you joined His big plans? Human ambition is often rooted in pride. But "holy ambition"? That's something else When your ambitions aren't about your own glory but God's, you'll find Him to be a source of empowerment that you can't get anywhere else. Pastor and radio teacher Chip Ingram invites you into something more daring than your current life. Holy Ambition takes you to the biblical story of Nehemiah, a humble servant of the king who became a leader of his people. Nehemiah could have kept his comfortable position in the palace, but instead he chose a radical path that allowed him to do amazing things for God. You can too But you're going to have to take some risks. And that means you've got to put aside fear or pride and start acting on your holy ambitions. It's time for the church to be what God wants: a people who will let Him do a powerful work in them and through them. No more living in the boring middle. Start living on the edge of God's groundbreaking work, and experience the exuberance of being on mission for Him

Seeing yourself as God sees you is essential to overcoming your deepest struggles, having healthy relationships, living in freedom, and fulfilling your life purpose. Yet most of us look at ourselves with warped mirrors, believing lies that lead to shame, guilt, fear, insecurity, and spiritual stagnation. The lies of our past keep us stuck, struggling with the same issues and habits for years. But according to the first three chapters of Ephesians, that's not how God sees us at all.Pastor and author Chip Ingram wants to open your eyes to your true self, the "new you" that God sees, the person who is immeasurably valuable and beautiful. In this Scripture-soaked book, he shows you how getting God's perspective- satisfies your search for significance- undoes your shame- makes you secure- frees you from comparing yourself with others- helps you discover your calling- and moreAre you ready to see yourself as God sees you? Then let Chip Ingram show you how to silence the lies of your past and experience your true identity.

When it comes to marriage these days, anything goes. No wonder you can find a book on marriage from every perspective--or no perspective. How can you experience a great marriage that lasts? What works? This book answers that question by shining a light on the biblical design for marriage. In a world of sexual and relational confusion, isn't it time to consult the One who created marriage? Author and pastor Chip Ingram, with his characteristic compassion, transparency, and engaging storytelling, discusses - what marriage really is - the biblical model - a man's unique role in marriage - a woman's unique role in marriage - the bigger picture of why God created marriage A marriage that works, says Ingram, is more wonderful than you thought possible and harder than you imagined--but worth the work. Couples will learn the power of making a covenant with their spouse and fulfilling their design in an atmosphere of respect, resulting in the spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical oneness they long to have with each other.

In our post-Christian, pluralistic society, responding to the perception that Christians are prejudiced, anti-intellectual, and bigoted has become a greater challenge than ever before. The result is often intimidation, withdrawal, and even doubts among God's people about what we really believe. Bestselling author and teaching pastor at Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram, wants to change that.In Why I Believe, he gives compelling answers to questions about- the resurrection of Christ- the evidence of an afterlife -the accuracy and intellectual feasibility of the Bible- the debate between creation and evolution- the historicity of Jesus- and moreThe solid, biblical, logical answers he shares will satisfy the honest doubts that every believer experiences now and then, and will provide practical, thoughtful answers that can be shared with family and friends. This is the perfect resource for churches, small groups, and individuals who long not only to really know what and why they believe, but also to be equipped to explain the intellectual justification for their faith in everyday language.

Heaven has received a lot of attention in recent years as bestselling books and movies have told the stories of people who claim to have been there. But what does the Bible actually say about heaven? What difference does it make? What happens the moment after we die? What will our relationships be like in heaven?Chip Ingram sets aside the hype and myths and digs into the Scriptures to discover what God actually wants us to know about the hereafter. Most importantly, Ingram shows why our understanding of heaven matters now, in this life. Because what we believe about heaven actually affects us today in ways we may not have imagined.

Now poised to reach a new readership, Good to Great in God's Eyes shows how Christians can honor God with lives of great faith and excellent work. Believers become great in God's eyes by applying the ten common characteristics of great Christians:- think great thoughts - read great books - pursue great people - dream great dreams - pray great prayers - take great risks - make great sacrifices - enjoy great moments - empower great people - develop great habitsUsing Scripture, personal stories, and examples from Christians who left a lasting legacy, bestselling author Chip Ingram offers practical steps for becoming great in all areas of life, in spiritual growth, family, relationships, and career. Includes a foreword by Bob Buford and helpful discussion questions to facilitate group or individual study.

See God for Who He Is, Not What You Think He Ought To BeAnyone who has tried to describe God to someone else, especially an unbeliever, knows that it is easy to find yourself at a loss for words. It seems that this part of our lives, which we claim is central, is often difficult to put into words. But if you know God, shouldn't you be able to describe him? What is he like? How can we put his eternal attributes into words?Join Chip Ingram in this fascinating study of seven attributes of God: his goodness, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, justice, love, and faithfulness. Readers will see God in a whole new light and discover that our view of God impacts every decision in our lives. It will change the way we pray, the way we live, and the way we think about the world around us.God longs for us to know him as he really is. Get ready to meet God again for the first time.

It's tough to be a pastor. Pastors face demands and pressures on every side, from the challenges of church ministry to the realities of spiritual warfare. But you can make a difference. Your prayers provide a lifeline for your pastor's spiritual health and ministry effectiveness. Eddie Byun offers a handy, practical guide to praying for pastors. He shares stories of how congregational intercession changes things, with specific guidelines for prayers for protection, rest, anointing, integrity and more. God calls us to pray for our leaders. When we do, their ministry is strengthened, the kingdom is advanced and lives and communities are transformed.

Some Christians believe strongly in the existence of demons and spiritual warfare. Others downplay or even ignore the idea. With such divergent views, how are Christians supposed to know the truth about demonic forces at work in this world? The Invisible War examines what every believer needs to know about Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare, offering a balanced look at this controversial subject. This provocative book will help Christians understand what the Bible says about these threats and will show them how they can safeguard themselves and their families through prayer. Now repackaged for a new generation, The Invisible War offers a balanced look at what is going on in the spiritual realm and what believers can do to defend themselves.

We live in a reactionary culture where divisive issues arise, people on either side throw stones, and everyone ends up more entrenched in their opinions than in reaching common ground--or even exhibiting common courtesy! If there ever was a time for Christians to understand and communicate God's truth about controversial and polarizing issues, it is now. Believers must develop convictions based on research, reason, and biblical truth--and be able (and willing) to communicate these convictions with a love and respect that reflects God's own heart.In Culture Shock, bestselling author, pastor, and radio personality Chip Ingram shows readers how they can bring light rather than heat to the most controversial and divisive issues of our day. Covering topics such as right and wrong, sex, homosexuality, abortion, politics, and the environment, Culture Shock is every engaged believer's must-have guidebook to replacing reactionary hate with revolutionary love.

God wants his children to have a lasting relationship and great sex--the results of a deep, meaningful love that is rooted in commitment. Now updated and with a fresh new cover, Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships helps readers walk a path to true love that is more fulfilling than they ever imagined. "There's a better way to find love, stay in love, and grow in intimacy for a lifetime," says Chip Ingram. It's God's way. Whether single or married, happy or searching for hope, readers will discover that by following God's prescription, they can create a love that lasts.

A launching pad for your spiritual journey, this inspiring book provides clear, specific, and practical guidelines for becoming a Christian who lives like Christ. Christians today live in a world that is activity heavy and relationship light. The result is spiritual emptiness. We struggle to know what God wants from us and for us . . . and we're unsure what a real relationship with God really looks like. But that was never God's idea. HIS idea of faith is not about rules or religion-- it's about relationship. That's where God tells us to start. In Romans 12, God gives us a clear picture of what Christians should look like at the root level. If you're ready to move from "in" to "all in," then you're ready to become a Romans 12 Christian. The next steps of your journey toward true spirituality start here.

Too many of today’s pastors and leaders mistakenly think that thriving programs, lively worship services, and relevant preaching are adequate for developing people into the spiritual dynamos God desires. In many churches, the primary objective of the church—discipleship of people into mature followers of Jesus—has been “outsourced” to programs and large-scale efforts to train and teach. But is that happening? Are people growing in spiritual depth and missional determination? Twenty-five years ago, the leaders of Randy Pope’s rapidly growing church took serious stock of their own spiritual development and realized all of them had benefitted from a personal discipleship relationship that had helped them grow in their faith and discover where God was calling them to service. As a church, they decided to make personal discipleship their do-or-die aim: applying one person’s real life to another’s to accomplish something far bigger than that single life. Perimeter calls their approach “life-on-life missional discipleship” and Insourcing tells their story. Randy Pope writes for church leaders who recognize the value of discipleship and need practical ideas for reorienting church ministries around personal discipleship. Readers will be encouraged that a wide scale personal discipleship program is attainable for any church.

Well-known teacher and speaker Chip Ingram teams up with psychologist and author Dr. Becca Johnson in this encouraging and practical book, showing how many emotions lead to anger, and many emotions follow from it. Their message is clear: as we deal with our anger, we deal with the primary cause for all emotions that destroy.Ingram and Johnson help readers identify whether they are spewers, leakers, or stuffers. Readers also learn the difference between good and bad anger, how to gain control of their anger, and how to direct it toward constructive ends. The authors cover solid biblical principles as well as the psychological aspects of our emotions, showing readers how they can actually be constructive tools used by God to transform lives and relationships. Counselors, pastors, and individual Christians will find this book a no-nonsense tool for handling destructive emotions in a healthy way. Now available in trade paper.

In this encouraging book, Chip Ingram reveals how readers can meet God in the midst of their most difficult circumstances. Chip's candid discussion, personal stories, and solid guidance will allow readers to move from "knowing about God" to profoundly experiencing his presence and power in their lives. Whether they're struggling with rocky relationships, unexpected crises, depression, or injustice, Finding God When You Need Him Most will remind readers that the Lord is faithful to hear their heart's cry and will be there for them, time and again.