Hallelujah, He is risen! To celebrate the Easter season, FaithfulReader.com offers a roundup of titles perfect for this very special time of year. In this feature you’ll find themes of personal betterment and renewal, inspirational stories of Jesus and His disciples, and encouraging messages from fellow Christians. May these books help you examine your beliefs, deepen your prayer life and find peace in your hearts.

CROSS OF CHRIST: 20th Anniversary Edition
John R.W. Stott
InterVarsity Press
Theology
ISBN: 9780830833207

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From one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of our day comes theology at its readable best, a contemporary restatement of the meaning of the cross. At the cross John Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and the 20th century. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission.

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EASTER: SEASON OF PASSION
David M. Edwards
B&H Publishing Group
Devotional
ISBN: 9780805443325

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Every season brings a new reason to praise and worship God. The revelations of his magnificent creation are celebrated in Worship Through the Seasons, a new book-and-music devotional series from award-winning worship songwriter David M. Edwards. Easter enters the deep season of Christ’s Passion, a time of sorrow and then joy that would shake the world and change eternity. A bonus CD of worship songs complements the reverently written devotions.

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THE ESSENTIAL JESUS: 100 Readings Through the Bible's Greatest Story
Whitney T. Kuniholm
IVP Connect
Devotional
ISBN: 9780830810987

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THE ESSENTIAL JESUS by Whitney T. Kuniholm will help you discover who Jesus is and why He is so significant --- even life-transforming. Through both Old and New Testament readings you will discover why God sent Jesus, what Jesus taught, how He treated people, why He did miracles, the meaning of His death, the significance of His resurrection, what the Bible says about His second coming and much more. Whether alone or in a group setting, you can discover for yourself what makes Jesus so special.

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EXPERIENCING THE CROSS: Your Greatest Opportunity for Victory Over Sin
Henry Blackaby
Multnomah
Spirituality
ISBN: 9781590524800

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Although the cross is God’s decisive deed in human history, the full meaning of it is far too much for a mere human mind to grasp. But through Henry Blackaby’s careful examination, the cross becomes not a doctrine, but an experience. You’ll be overwhelmed with the utter significance of Christ’s death, leading you to a stronger sense of God’s power in your daily life. Steeped in the Blackaby distinctive of constant encouragement toward your personal experience of God, and firmly rooted in Scripture, this book exposes the tragic result of a casual attitude toward the sin in our lives that made the cross necessary.

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EXPERIENCING THE RESURRECTION: The Everyday Encounter That Changes Your Life
Henry and Melvin Blackaby
Multnomah
Spirituality
ISBN: 9781590527573

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Henry and Melvin Blackaby invite readers to experience the living Christ moment by moment, first by exploring the resurrection in the mind and heart of God, then by revealing it through the life of Jesus, and finally by helping readers experience personally the peace, joy, power, authority, confidence and hope the resurrection can generate.

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GREAT LIVES: JESUS --- The Greatest Life of All
Charles R. Swindoll
Thomas Nelson
Theology
ISBN: 9780849901904


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In GREAT LIVES: JESUS, pastor and Bible teacher Charles R. Swindoll dives into the life of the Savior. The book's message presents theologically rich content and a straightforward, honest and chronological journey that appeals to readers' hearts as well as their minds. Along the way, Dr. Swindoll's trademark warmth and insight offer up life application for the reader drawn straight from the words and works of Jesus. As he writes, "The power of His resurrection is a quiet, transforming force that results in the steady growth of hope and life within the believer." Encountering the great life of Jesus is all a believer needs to truly experience that power.

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HE IS RISEN: Reflections on Easter and the Forty Days of Lent
Richard Abanes
FaithWords
Devotional
ISBN: 9780446696791

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In this informative and celebratory read, Richard Abanes calls Christians to focus on the true meaning and significance of Easter. To do this, he examines different aspects of this holy day, including its origin in “the old rugged cross,” what Lent is for, how Christians celebrate Easter worldwide and where traditions grew from history. While jelly beans fill children’s fantasies, Abanes reestablishes the true center of Easter. Written in lively prose, HE IS RISEN is a quick read sure to please and inform Christians everywhere.

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LORD OR LEGEND?: Wrestling with the Jesus Dilemma
Paul Rhodes Eddy and Gregory Boyd
Baker Books
Theology
ISBN: 9780801065057

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The Christian apologetic of “Lord, Liar, or Lunatic” made famous by C. S. Lewis has gained recent skepticism. Many 21st-century critics of Christianity believe the biblical portrait of Jesus Christ is based on myth. LORD OR LEGEND? puts skeptics’ claims to the test against multiple scholarly disciplines --- including history, ethnography, anthropology and folklore --- to uncover fascinating truths about the historical Jesus.

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MY HEART FOR HIS GLORY: Celebrating His Presence
Don Moen
Thomas Nelson
Devotional
ISBN: 9780849918988

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Nothing changes a person's heart, attitudes and life more dramatically and profoundly than offering one's heart to God in praise and worship. Inspired by the greatest songs of worship, contemporary and classic, MY HEART FOR HIS GLORY helps draw God's people into His presence with devotions for every day of the year. All over the world people are experiencing changed lives through the simple power of praise and worship, and these daily devotionals will challenge believers to experience this moving of the Spirit in their own lives.

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THE PASSION: Photography from the Movie "The Passion of the Christ"
photographs by Ken Duncan and Philippe Antonello
Tyndale House Publishers
Spirituality
ISBN: 9780842373623

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THE PASSION is a visual portrayal of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus. Gripping photos taken on the set of Mel Gibson's blockbuster film, The Passion of Christ, together with the biblical narratives in the New Living Translation, present the story in vivid detail. This is a sweeping presentation of the Passion story in powerful images that will enhance the movie experience.

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PRAYING THE PSALMS OF JESUS
James W. Sire
IVP Books
Devotional
ISBN: 9780830835089

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In these pages you will discover how the psalms that relate closely to the mission of Jesus can also become our answering speech. We will begin our journey into the mind of Christ by immersing ourselves in several psalms that Jesus Himself refers to and fulfills. And then in the second half of the book, we will immerse ourselves in psalms that Jesus would have meditated on during His time on earth, focusing on the heart and mind of Jesus as He prayed the psalms. Structural analysis of each psalm will help us grow our ability to read the Psalms. The guided personal prayer liturgy with each chapter will help us go deeper in the experience of praying the Psalms.

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THE VOICE REVEALED: The True Story of the Last Eyewitness
Chris Seay
Thomas Nelson
Theology
ISBN: 9780529123558

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The voice of God is heard as clearly as when He first revealed His truth. This retelling of John, by Chris Seay, is designed for Christians to reach their friends with the Gospel message. THE VOICE REVEALED, which has been referred to by some as the perfect “reader’s” Bible, is an accurate rendering of the traditional Bible text with historical and cultural expansions of the story to help the reader understand and experience the Bible text.

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VOICES OF THE FAITHFUL: Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World
Beth Moore
Thomas Nelson
Devotional
ISBN: 9781591453642

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"A willingness to go is all they have in common," exclaims Beth Moore, speaking of her friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and with whom she collaborated to create this book. This brilliant 365-day devotional features incredible stories of God's faithfulness in the face of uncertainty and danger, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.

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WOMEN AT THE CROSS: Experiencing the Wonder and Mystery of Christ’s Love
Linda Lesniewski
Revell
Theology
ISBN: 9780800732431

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Who were the women present at Christ’s crucifixion? Why did they come, and why did they stay? What did they see? What did they hear? How do their actions speak to people today? In searching for answers to these and other questions, author Linda Lesniewski discovered that she shared a spiritual kinship with the women who stood there as well as those who have been changed by the cross throughout the years. Women who read this book will discover a new depth of love for Jesus Christ and realize a greater appreciation for his sacrifice. They will experience the wonders and mysteries of Christ’s love, and their faith will be strengthened.

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THE WORD OF PROMISE™ EASTER STORY
Thomas Nelson
Theology
ISBN: 9780718024420

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This two CD-set, which allows the listener to experience the sacrifice and triumph of Jesus Christ, includes a harmonized portrayal of the Gospel story with Scripture excerpts from THE WORD OF PROMISE™ NEW TESTAMENT AUDIO BIBLE. This scripted dramatization of the NKJV Bible includes an original music score and movie-quality sound effects. The Bible is brought to life on this audio offering by an acclaimed cast of actors, including Jim Caviezel, Lou Gossett, Jr., Chris McDonald, Lou Diamond Phillips and John Heard. The second bonus CD features three song selections from Dove Award winner Sandi Patty.