The Kingdom and the Cross

We believe a lot of false narratives about the nature of God, things like "God helps those who help themselves"; "God blesses the righteous"; "God might not be out for your good, and you might be missing something." But pastor and professor James Bryan Smith points us to the truth of who God is, revealed by Jesus: A God who loves to help the helpless. A God who doesn't play favorites, whether righteous or unrighteous. A God who is, in his essence, self-sacrificing-even to death-to save a people he loves.

In six short chapters, The Kingdom and the Cross zooms in on Christ's work on the cross and what it all means about who God is and how we're to live as his people. A soul-training exercise is included for each chapter to help the new true narrative take root in our hearts. And a discussion guide at the end makes this complement to The Apprentice Series perfect for groups to work through together, especially during the season of Lent.

James Bryan Smith is a theology professor and the director of the Aprentis Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. An ordained United Methodist Church minister, he has served in various capacities in local churches. Smith has authored a number of books, including A Spiritual Formation Workbook (with Richard Foster) and The Apprentice Series: The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life and The Good and Beautiful Community.