Contemporary Druidry is one of the fastest growing religions in Western society. This book addresses the attempt by practitioners to bring an ancient spirituality into the mainstream. It examines ancient Druid beliefs and critiques the contemporary expression by comparing the two. Relying on eight years of research and more than 200 interviews, the book provides an outsider's look at this faith

Discovering God’s Passion for Movements The city of Ephesus was the site of the most significant church-planting movement in the early church, with 40 percent of the New Testament texts relating to it. What made that city the epicenter of the movement? And how can we replicate sustained movements in a world that feels so different? This is not another methodology or attempt to re-contextualize evangelicalism. Rather, it is a journey from the launch of the church in Ephesus as it became a movement grounded in God’s mission and led by those who multiplied generations of disciples. Michael T. Cooper focuses on Paul and John as missiological theologians who successfully connected Jesus’s teaching with the cultural context and narrative of the people in Ephesus. Their ability to relate the God of all creation to a people who sought him in vain resulted in “the Way” transforming the religious, intellectual, economic, and social fabrics of the Ephesian society. Ephesiology offers a comprehensive view of the redemptive movement of the Holy Spirit in this city and compels us to ask the question: how can we effectively connect Christ to our culture? Through this study of a movement, discover how the Holy Spirit still changes lives, cities, and the world.

In this insightful book, Dr. Cooper embarks on a journey of spiritual discovery through the lens of discipleship in a Christian context. Beginning with an illuminating introduction that probes the essence of discipleship, the book's chapters traverse a rich terrain of faith, purpose, and action. From understanding God's will and engaging with people to the preparation required for a life of discipleship, the book delves into unity, witness, godliness, prayer, respect, continuous learning, embracing suffering, and the transformative power of multiplication. Each chapter offers profound insights into these aspects of discipleship, illuminating the path for readers seeking to deepen their faith and commitment. The concluding chapter underscores the central mission of discipleship: making disciples, providing a powerful call to action for all those seeking to follow Christ's path in a meaningful way.

During the third century, a time of tremendous social upheaval when famine, plagues, and existential threats to the empire were the reality of the day, a bishop who suffered through three persecutions wrote a commentary on the book of Revelation. His hope: to encourage the church to be a faithful witness. A Faithful Witness explores Bishop Victorinus' The Commentary on the Apocalypse by the Blessed John. The first commentary on the book of Revelation in the early church, it calls the church to allegiance to Jesus Christ. Dr. Cooper weaves the story of a body of believers suffering through desperate times in the Roman Empire into the story of the church in our day. With thought provoking personal reflection questions, A Faithful Witness will challenge you to consider what it means to live the Christian life during tumultuous times.

From the Foreword by Craig Williford, President, Trinity International UniversityIn The Peaceable Christian, you will read some new perspectives and arguments for understanding how Christians might approach the use of violence-how we might slow down our apparent quickness to use violence, and instead, while properly confronting evil and injustice, set peacemaking as the ultimate goal. This is a book that explores how politics may overly shape current Christian thinking on this subject. And in response the authors argue that biblical and theological thinking should be the starting point for understanding our political responses to peace and war, not vice versa.Following an interdisciplinary approach, the diverse authors of this book suggest how seeking to become peacemakers may be a wiser path than the traditional approaches of just war or pacifist total nonviolence approaches. In this book you will gain perspectives from a philosopher, Bible scholar, multicultural expert, a psychologist, and an educator as they share their unique views on this crucial topic. They honestly and candidly explain that this book will not answer all your questions. But it will challenge your presuppositions and current thinking. And it will renew your interest in this topic while encouraging you to become a peacemaker.

Has American evangelicalism lost its identity and sense of purpose? Who will define American evangelicalism in the 21st century? The kaleidoscopic diversity of opinions within evangelicalism betrays a lack of unity if not confusion about its primary mission.If you are puzzled by the religious landscape of the United States or simply trying to understand the evangelical fascination with conservative politics then you will be challenged to consider how American evangelicalism can be restored to the historic identity and heritage marked by Jesus' own desire for His church: The Great Commandment, the Great Compassion, and the Great Commission. In this accessible and sometimes academic book, Michael Cooper leads you in an honest and open evaluation with where American evangelicalism has strayed from the first century church. The influence of the American church continues to be felt around the world so it is no exaggeration when Cooper exclaims, "When the American church sneezes, the world catches a cold." His goal is to be sure that this virus is not fatal.Through this study of American evangelicalism, discover a restored identity for a church whose very presence in society draws people's attention to Jesus Christ, not to a political platform.

Have you ever wondered about the origins of Christmas and the traditions celebrated in Western cultures? What about the myth of the jolly, old fellow who flies with incredible speed in a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer? What about the story of St. Nicholas of Myra and his remarkable generosity? And, what about those remarkable events surrounding the Nativity? Are they trustworthy or just fanciful stories. Unwrapping the First Christmas is a little book that helps readers answer these questions and many more. Written for Christians around the world, Unwrapping the First Christmas shares the origins of many Western traditions and myths like the Christmas tree, mistletoe, and Santa Claus that have found their way into popular culture and often distract people from the very first Christmas. After explaining the American fascination with Santa Claus and the origins of traditional Christmas, Dr. Cooper explains the case for the date of the very first Christmas as well as answers the questions about the heavenly host and star of Bethlehem. In the end, he shares four Advent devotionals that will inspire you and your family to learn about the true story of the birth of Jesus. To challenge your understanding of the Christmas story, he provides a fun test that families and friends can use around the Christmas tree to test their knowledge of what is the most remarkable miracle in the history of humanity.Acclaim for Unwrapping the First Christmas"I knew I needed to read this book after I failed the 10 multi-choice questionnaire on the Christmas story facts that is at the beginning of the book! I have been an Anglican minister here in New Zealand for 30 years. Anglicans really know how to do Christmas with the season of Advent, lots of 'nine lessons and carols' services, midnight Christmas services, etc. Somehow I had never thought about the facts that surround the season of Christmas and the traditions that have somehow attached themselves to the celebration of Jesus's birth. I think the wonder of this book is that it takes you back to what Christmas is really about - God becoming a man and living among us." -Rev. Gradon Harvey, National Director, North-SouthNew Zealand "Dr. Cooper has mixed real life and family-minded encouragement with thorough historical and scientific research in order to bring a rich and transformational turn on the implications of the incarnation. For the faithful and the skeptic, for the scholar and the parent, here is miracle and reality as our Father surely intended." -Dr. Neal F. Brower, Western District Superintendent, Evangelical Free Church of America "This book is a must read for every Christian. Dr. Michael Cooper, unwraps beautifully the true meaning of celebrating Christmas. It gives the clear understanding of the festival called Christmas to the lay people and an in-depth study to the theologians. It uncovers the myths associated with the Christmas and leads us to the true meaning of first Christmas in Bethlehem." -Pastor Vinod Abraham, Founder and President, SEWA Punjab, India"Dr. Cooper makes a convincing argument for the reliability of Christ's birth from a historical scientific perspective. I'm quite impressed."-Pastor Matt Till, Restoration Church, Chicago, USA

Social justice has become a polarizing term that has set Christians against each other. Contributing to the confusion are social theories such as critical theory and critical race theory where social justice tends to focus on opposing systemic issues in which an oppressor group has disadvantaged other groups. Such theories, when applied by Christians, tend to lean toward a form of liberation theology decried by many conservative evangelicals (Tisby 2019; Frame 2015). Nevertheless, social justice as a nomenclature expressing Christian action in social issues continues to find credence historically among many evangelicals. For example, writing during the turbulent times of the 1960s, one of the leading evangelical voices of the day expressed, "In an hour of widespread revolution, when political forces are reshaping the larger frontiers of modern life, the Church's concern with the problem of social justice is especially imperative" (Carl F.H. Henry, Aspects of Christian Social Ethics). Social Injustice, Volume II: Evangelical Voices in Tumultuous Times is organized according to five broad categories integral to engaging issues of social justice: Discipleship, Politics, Race, Mental Health, and Community Development. In each category we offer evangelical voices who focus their unique area of expertise or perspective to the subjects at hand.