Making Spiritual Progress: Building Your Life with Faith, Hope and Love - Softcover

Ratta, Allen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0830844058 ISBN 13: 9780830844050

Publisher: IVP, 2013

Synopsis

We often think of "spiritual growth" as a matter of behavior. In reality spiritual growth is a matter of the heart. In Making Spiritual Progress Allen Ratta introduces a revolutionary system for monitoring your motivations―faith, hope and love, the virtues out of which spiritual growth grows. Fully integrated into the self-assessment and growth tools found at spiritualprogress.com, this book will help you

• identify your core motivations for how you practice your faith
• empower you to grow in faith, hope and love
• increase your redemptive impact in the world

If you want to transform your life, start with your heart. Everything else will follow.

About this title

About the Author:

Allen Ratta has been in pastoral ministry for more than twenty-five years. He founded ConnectionPower.com and is now the founder and CEO of SpiritualProgress.com.

Review:

"Allen has knocked it out of the park! The Spiritual Progress model is so thoroughly biblical that I'm instantly drawn to it, and I think you will be too. This book is about understanding and managing our motivations--the energies that propel us and drive the decisions we make. Understanding that there are behaviors that flow naturally out of our character is eye opening and life changing. Devour this book and live a Spirit-filled and Spirt-led life." (Greg Atkinson, pastor, coach and author of Strange Leadership)

"Making Spiritual Progress assists individuals in refocusing their hearts, minds and actions toward the heart of the Father. By allowing individuals to identify their spiritual strengths, it empowers people to confidently walk in greater faith, hope and love. Simultaneously, as growth areas are noted, people can intentionally grow, ensuring nothing will hold them back from their God-appointed destiny. Thanks to Making Spiritual Progress, our church community has greater faith, hope, love, accountability and community." (Barry Sappington, lead pastor, Crosspointe Life Church)

"God brings along gifted individuals who offer insights to ministry and our service to the kingdom. Allen Ratta is such a person! Having met Allen some twenty years ago, I was impressed with his dedication to God, his success in ministry and his willingness to share those insights through personal mentoring and inspired writing. I challenge you to read his newest book, Making Spiritual Progress. Personal and probing, it will provide practical and applicable principles that will change your spiritual journey and give strength to fulfill your call." (James R. Braddy, superintendent, Northern California/Nevada District of the Assemblies of God)

"Allen Ratta has a unique and effective grace to communicate insights regarding faith, hope and love. The truths he unveils will brighten the path for anyone--from parent to pastor-- to receive and minister genuine transformation." (Kimberly Dirman, southwest district supervisor, Foursquare Church)

"Allen Ratta brings us an impassioned plea for character transformation in this awakening discourse of one's spiritual journey. Today's church needs voices that will penetrate the very core of moral fiber, cultural analysis and visionary development. Making Spiritual Progress causes the reader to look deeply within, exposing the mysteries of Christ's gospel in and through each of us. This work is a paradigm-shifting road to an encounter with Christ that changes hearts, changes lives, changes ministries." (Joseph Girdler, superintendent, Kentucky Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God)

"When a leader offers wisdom born out of personal experience, we have a unique opportunity to listen and benefit, perhaps avoiding some of the challenges we might otherwise encounter. Allen Ratta offers such an opportunity in this work, and does so in an informed and engaging fashion. For the leader who recognizes that lifelong learning and growth are keys to leadership health and longevity, Allen?s insights are both helpful and encouraging." (Les Welk, superintendent, Northwest Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God)

"New Song Church leads over a thousand people to Christ each year, so we are always on the lookout for quality discipleship materials. After reading the first three chapters of Allen's book I told our staff I had discovered a gold mine! Faith, hope, and love are the foundational virtues that grow a person in Christ. I hope every church and pastor will take a look at this material for their church." (Hal Seed, pastor of New Song Community Church, Oceanside, California, and author of The Bible Questions)

"With a beguiling simplicity, Alan weaves a story about our behaviors being determined by our character, our character determined by our motivations, and our motivations determined by . . . At each point he weaves Scripture and modern day stories to point us to a focused way of thinking and living." (David Fletcher, founder and host, Xpastor)

"Allan Ratta has remarkable insight into what it means to experience real and lasting spiritual transformation, and the ability to lead people into it. His commitment to seeing people become their true selves is contagious. Read this book with an open heart and you will find there is no going back to a life without meaning and purpose." (Terry Crist, D.Min., senior pastor, City of Grace, Phoenix)

"I've known Allen Ratta for over two decades, and I can assure you that Making Spiritual Progress is forged out of the heart of a pastor, the mind of a theologian and the expertise of an engineer. Instead of another book that makes you feel guilty over the lack of progress in your spiritual journey, this work will open up a whole new door and set you free to become God's best version of yourself." (Gene Appel, senior pastor, Eastside Christian Church, Anaheim, California)

About this edition

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0830844058
• ISBN 13: 9780830844050
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 247