From The Back Cover:
 
 

If you've ever prayed long and hard over a certain request,

or questioned God because of the way he answered,

or doubted your faith,

or struggled through a time of spiritual dryness, 

or puzzled over the discrepancies between what you've heard at church and how your life really is

...then you've wrestled with God, 

whether or not you were aware of it at the time.

Wrestling With God is part how-to manual, part Bible study, and part exercise in theology, written with the goal of opening your eyes to God's desire for a vital and real relationship with you. 

You'll see how wrestling with God ensures that you develop that relationship, holding back nothing, keeping no secrets, and strengthening your faith. 

Learn how to hold onto God through troubling circumstances and difficult questions. 

Discover how to find answers to your prayers and questions - and what to do when God simply pins you to the mat, totally flooring you by his power and mysterious grace.

Like Jacob who wrestled with God and was blessed, you are part of God's wrestling team - and he wants to bless you.  Wrestling With God is a trustworthy guide to the rules and rewards of this spiritual "contact sport."

Cover design: Curt Depenhorst
Cover photo: Jean-Noel Reichel / Getty Images

From The Back Cover:
 
 

If you've ever prayed long and hard over a certain request,

or questioned God because of the way he answered,

or doubted your faith,

or struggled through a time of spiritual dryness, 

or puzzled over the discrepancies between what you've heard at church and how your life really is

...then you've wrestled with God, 

whether or not you were aware of it at the time.

Wrestling With God is part how-to manual, part Bible study, and part exercise in theology, written with the goal of opening your eyes to God's desire for a vital and real relationship with you. 

You'll see how wrestling with God ensures that you develop that relationship, holding back nothing, keeping no secrets, and strengthening your faith. 

Learn how to hold onto God through troubling circumstances and difficult questions. 

Discover how to find answers to your prayers and questions - and what to do when God simply pins you to the mat, totally flooring you by his power and mysterious grace.

Like Jacob who wrestled with God and was blessed, you are part of God's wrestling team - and he wants to bless you.  Wrestling With God is a trustworthy guide to the rules and rewards of this spiritual "contact sport."

(Includes Leader's Guide and discussion questions for individual study or group work.)

Steve R. Bierly is the pastor of American Reformed Church in Hull, Iowa, where he lives with his wife, Deborah, and two children. 

He is the author of Help for the Small-Church Pastor and How To Thrive As A Small-Church Pastor.

Building Church Leaders: Your Complete Guide To Leadership Training (Steve Bierly, contributor), (Leadership Journal, Christianity Today, Inc., 1998).

Building Church Leaders will help you develop a dynamic team of leaders who can think strategically and biblically about the mission of your church. This resource is an innovative approach to leadership training: Just select the training handout you feel meets the needs of your leaders, photocopy it, and then lead a 20-minute discussion at the beginning of your board or committee meeting. Or use several handouts for a longer session at a retreat.

Selections include those written by Bill Hybels, Lyle E. Schaller, W. Charles Arn, Steve Bierly, Fred Smith, Sr., Craig Brian Larson, Herb Miller, Gary Fenton, and Ken Warren.

Order at: 1-800-806-7798, mention product code LNSET.

 FROM THE BACK COVER:

Pastoring a small church is no small job. It can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. Read this book for a relief...and a turning point.

Steve R. Bierly offers the seasoned reassurance of one who has been in the trenches of small-church pastors. He understands your unique needs and problems not just as a pastor, but as a person. And he shows that, by God's grace, you can fulfill your calling and thrive in the face of its challenges.

With humor and fatherly wisdom, Bierly helps you reframe your perspectives on:

• God
• Your ministry
• Your relationships
• Your personal needs...and more

How To Thrive As A Small-Church Pastor (Zondervan, 1998) will help you face realistically the rigors of your vocation...and reclaim your first love of ministry.

Available from:  amazon.com , Barnes & Noble and Zondervan or your local Christian bookstore.
 
 
 
 

 

Announcing in July 2000,  How To Thrive As A Small Church Pastor is now available in Korean!!!

FROM THE BACK COVER:

Churches of less than 150 remain the rule rather than the exception in American Christianity. However, seminaries don't equip their students in every way that's necessary to effectively lead smaller congregations - despite the fact that most seminary graduates will become small-church pastors.

Help For The Small-Church Pastor offers pastors of small churches the guidance and encouragement they need. In this common sense book, Steve Bierly draws from his years in ministry to show what makes smaller congregations tick.

Help For The Small-Church Pastor provides practical insights on uniquely "small-church" issues, such as -

• The characteristics of small churches
• How to work effectively as an "insider" within the small church
• How God is at work in powerful ways in smaller assemblies
• How to motivate your church toward positive change and true growth
• How to invest your own time and energy in the right directions
• How your church can reach out to the community in ways that are practical and productive

 
"Reflections on The Death of Superman," The Sunday School Guide, January 2005, Volume 83, Issue 5, page 49.

"Fear Factor," The Sunday School Guide, December 2004, Volume 83, Issue 4.

"Popeye, The Role Model," The Sunday School Guide, November 2004, Volume 83, Issue 3.

"Talking To Ourselves In Athens," The Sunday School Guide, October 2004, Volume 83, Issue 2.

"America, 'American Idol,' And American Ideals," The Sunday School Guide, September 2004, Volume 83, Issue 1.

"The Evangelistic TULIP," The Church Herald, September 2004.

"A Newcomer's 'Conscience'," The Church Herald, February 2003.

"Time Marches Backwards! - Part 2, Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Spring 2003.

"Time Marches Backwards! - Part 1, Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Winter 2002.

"Finding Excellence in a Small Church," The Pentecostal Leader, November/December 2002.

"The Dark Side Of Spinach," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Fall 2002.

"I Yam Popeye The Sailor Man - Part 2," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Summer 2002.

"I Yam Popeye The Sailor Man - Part 1," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Spring 2002.

"Deck The Hulls", Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Winter 2001.

"Guilt, Grace, And Giving," The Church Herald, November 2001.

"A Child Shall Lead (And Occasionally Bleed) Him," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Fall 2001.

"Discouragement In Small-Church Ministry," Enrichment,  Fall 2001.

"Sir Popeye," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Summer 2001.

"'I Yam What I Yam' And The Great 'I Am'," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Spring 2001.

"Of Popeye, Political Correctness, Prof. Traver, And Poetic Justice," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Winter 2000.

"The Long Shadow Of Segar," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Fall 2000.

"Popeye In The Pulpit - Part 6," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Summer 2000.

"God's Little Acre: The Joys And Struggles Of Small-Church Membership Congregations," The Church Herald, April 2000.

"Popeye In The Pulpit - Part 5," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Spring 2000.

"Popeye In The Pulpit - Part 4," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Winter 1999.

"Popeye In The Pulpit - Part 3," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Fall 1999.

"Popeye In The Pulpit - Part 2," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Summer 1999.

"Ahoy, Members!!" Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Summer 1999.

"A Fair Assessment Of The Ocean Comic," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Summer 1999.

"Popeye In The Pulpit- Part 1," Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine, Spring 1999.

"Help For The Small Church Pastor," The Five Stones, Spring 1999. (Adapted from my first book.)

3 Book Reviews For "Growing Edge," Leadership, Winter 1999.

"Finding Excellence In A Small Church," Leadership, Summer 1998.

"Four Steps To Better Health," Vital Ministry, May/June 1998. (Adapted from my second book.)

"Evangelism For The Ordinary Church," Leadership, Summer 1997.

"Sparring Over Worship," Leadership, Winter 1997.

"Navigating The Winters Of Our Discontent," Net Results, Feb. 1996.

"Lonely In A Close-Knit Church," Leadership, Spring 1995.

"Should We Tear Down The Fence?," Pioneer Christian Monthly, October 1994.

"How To Grow A Small Church Without Losing Your Mind," Net Results, March 1994. (Reprinted in Spring 1994 issue of Leadership as "Can A Pro-Growth Pastor Love A No-Growth Church?")

"Inside The Pastor's Study," The Church Herald, August, 1993.