Pastoral Helps
Showing 2151–2200 of 4114 results
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Breaking The Silence
$18.95Add to cartA handbook about domestic violence from a spiritual perspective,and the only one of its kind, Breaking the Silence contains important, action-oriented information about domestic violence and its pervasiveness in society. Sections include “myths” about domestic violence; a checklist to determine if a relationship is potentially violent; clergy resources for counseling, worship, and congregational outreach; rape; information for youth; and pages that can be customized with local and national contact numbers, e-mail addresses, and websites. Also includes questions for discussion and suggestions for using the book for training or as a youth and adult education tool.
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Celebration And Experience In Preaching
$22.99Add to cartHenry H. Mitchell’s great contribution to the study of preaching has been his insistence that the homiletical practices of the Black church are gifts to the whole church. Nowhere has he made this point more forcefully than in Celebration and Experience in Preaching. In this classic text he advocates a way of preaching that genuinely engages all aspects of the congregation’s attention, especially the ability to both understand and to feel the sermon’s message. In this revised edition Mitchell builds on this groundbreaking work by examining in greater depth the multiple ways in which we experience the preached word, by defining the different kinds of claim on the behavior of the hearer that biblical texts express, and by exploring various genres of sermon to discover the concrete manifestations of celebration and experience.
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Simple Small Groups (Reprinted)
$18.00Add to cartOver the past two decades, small groups have gone from spontaneous gatherings among friends to a major and elaborate phenomenon in the church. Many evangelical churches have some form of small groups ministry in place. But there’s just one problem, says Bill Search–what started as a simple get-together has become a complicated process, especially for small group leaders. They are often not sure what is expected of them or what to expect from their groups as a result of their efforts. In Simple Small Groups, Search lays out the three C’s of small groups–connecting, changing, and cultivating. This paradigm helps to simplify leading small groups in a way that is helpful, rewarding, and life changing. Unlike many other books geared toward small group leaders, Simple Small Groups does not require a church-wide adoption of an intricately designed system of assimilation, making it useful to any small group leader looking for guidance.
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Growing Up Christian
$16.00Add to cartMcGuffey’s Readers. Public school. Family prayers. In the 1800s, these were primary and successful strategies by which children learned to become Christians. Sunday school was developed to support what was already being done at home and in school. Today many churches still rely on the nineteenth-century model to encourage young people to become disciples of Christ. In Growing Up Christian, Dr. C. Ellis Nelson explores why these strategies are inadequate for the twenty-first century and offers practical, specific guidance for congregations who wish to nurture disciples of Christ more effectively. Part 1 describes the pattern of influences that form our images of God. Given the way culture and family influence the rising generation, Part 2 outlines a strategy for nurturing disciples that capitalizes on the persuasive power of the congregation in fellowship, worship, and instruction. A detailed discussion guide further assists congregations who wish to form a study group to assess and improve their Christian education.
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1001 Illustrations That Connect
$32.99Add to cartHere are 1001 of the best illustrations assembled by the editors of Christianity Today’s PreachingToday.com. They’re contemporary, proven, memorable, and illuminating-these illustrations will preach! Furthermore, they’re carefully arranged and indexed so it’s easy to find the right one. An included CD-ROM makes getting the illustration into your sermon or lesson a breeze.
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Spiritual Direction : A Practical Introduction
$36.99Add to cartSpiritual direction has been an intrinsic part of the Christian tradition since the earliest days of the church when desert mothers and fathers were sought out for their wisdom and guidance. Today, the popularity of retreats and renewed interest in monastic spirituality has put spiritual direction in the spotlight. It is shedding its rather exotic, mystical associations and is increasingly regarded as a core component of Christian ministry. This guide aims to equip clergy and laity engaged in this task, or in training for it. It includes, Part One: What is spiritual direction? This is an exploration of biblical, historical and contemporary models of spiritual direction. What makes a good spiritual director? Part Two covers listening and responding to God, prayer, paying attention, discernment, interpreting religious experience, recognising God in the every day, journalling, and holy leisure. Part Three covers listening and responding to others, listening to stories and experience, looking for signs of grace, pain
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Transforming Disciples
$26.95Add to cartMaking disciples through Christian formation too often looks like a limited number of educational programs offered to child, teen, and adult “consumers” who move on if they don’t find what they want. How can we make the transition from consumer religion to participatory faith by building congregational relationships that nourish people spiritually and empower them to risk living, worshipping, learning, and serving God and each other in new and enlivening ways?
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Unbinding The Gospel (Revised)
$20.99Add to cartPart One:
1. Breaking The Curse
2. Why Do Evangelism?
3. If You Don’t Like Statistics, Skip This Chapter!Part Two:
4. Unbinding The Gospel: Three Stories Of Victory
5. Real Life
6. What New Members Want – Transformed LivesPart Three:
7. How’s Your Church Doing? Bandwidths, Barriers And Bridges
8. The Holy And The Practical: Who Does What?
9. Smart Sailing: Navigating Through Growing Pains, Conflict And Distractions
10. Getting StartedPart Four:
Your 40-Day Prayer Journal
Afterword By Brian McLaren
Works CitedAdditional Info
After the transformation of thousands of congregations, your could be next! The Unbinding the Gospel Series presents the most effective way to help mainline churches want to do evangelism.After quickly becoming one of the top-selling religious books in the U.S., Unbinding the Gospel expanded into the creation of two more books – Unbinding Your Heart and Unbinding Your Church. Together, the three books give churches a yearlong, intensive faith and faith-sharing experience.
Start by having your church leaders read Gospel, and work up to an all-church saturation study with Heart. Church will be used along the way to help guide your leaders through it all.
The new 2nd edition of Gospel now includes an all-new, 40-day personal prayer journal!
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Skys The Limit
$12.95Add to cartDo you have the desire to create or expand your church s ministry to children, but don t know where to start? The Sky s the Limit offers valuable insight into how to create a kids club in your church where children can not only have fun, but also learn more about God and grow in their Christian faith. Although the idea of starting a children s ministry may seem overwhelming, The Sky s the Limit takes you step by step through the process to ensure a smooth transition for both children and teachers. Drawing from her own experience, Kathy DeGraw guides ministry leaders in every aspect of the creation of a kids club — from assembling a ministry team to choosing snack ideas to creating fun activities, and so on. According to DeGraw, having a kids club can be a powerful evangelistic outreach, because by reaching out to the children in your community, you are also reaching out to their entire families, drawing them not only into your church, but into a relationship with God. In taking this first step to establishing a children s ministry in your church, the sky truly is the limit on the impact you can have in your community!
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Scenes Of Glory
$22.95Add to cartJesus was a master storyteller. He could weave timeless, eternal truths into the seemingly simplest of stories. His tales not only disarmed his listeners, but they also imparted powerful insights into the nature of God in familiar terms.
In this same spirit, Scenes of Gloryis a collection of story sermons that communicate the truth of God’s word through familiar images like a vacation drive, two friends sitting under an apple tree, or football season. While each of the stories may take the reader into familiar territory, they may also offer a view of the gospel in a rather unfamiliar and thought-provoking way.Complete with study questions at the end of each chapter, this resource is great for personal Bible study and devotion as well as group studies. It is also valuable for pastors needing either sermon inspiration or simply an alternate view of a particular biblical text.
Our life is a series of stories. Scenes of Gloryis an enriching addition to anyone’s personal story.
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Fireproof Your Marriage Participants Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$8.95Add to cartFireproof Your Marriage will challenge you to love better, love first and love for a lifetime. This six-week study is founded on Biblical principles for strong, God-centered, lifelong marriages. The Fireproof Your Marriage study integrates movie clips from FIREPROOF, along with key Scriptures, thought-provoking questions and devotionals, including concepts from The Love Dare book. For use with the Fireproof Your Marriage Leader’s Kit or Couple’s Kit. Great for small groups or sunday school class. Fireproof Your Marriage includes these six sessions:
He Said/She Said: appreciating the God-designed differences between men and women. He First Loved Us: God’s love for you and how it enables you to love others.
Love for a Lifetime: marriage as a lifelong covenant.
Breaking Free: freeing yourself from temptations that can destroy a marriage.
Forgiveness: offering and receiving forgiveness.
A Better Way of Loving: unconditional love -
Folk Like Me
$37.95Add to cartLives of the Saints for kids are either too grisly for little kids or too saccharine for older ones. This collection appeals to both groups with a combination of gentle humor and frankness – battle-tested at the author’s weekly chapel services at the school where she teaches. It’s organized into two full school years, with each saint’s story falling on or near his or her special day, so that each story can be a springboard to a creative seasonal teaching unit or small festival. Saints represent a wide variety of ethic and geographic backgrounds, and a CD included will provide ancillary material including pictures and maps.
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Celebrations : All Age Worship
$24.99Add to cartThis book is a ready to use resource for all age worship services on the theme of celebrations. Using a wide range of innovative teaching activities, users will be able to simply and easily put on family services. It includes drama, poetry,prayers, activity
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Aging And Ministry In The 21 Century
$13.00Add to cartAging faithfully is a blessing and a challenge and Richard Gentzler is an expert on the subject. In his newest book on aging, Gentzler offers church leaders a structured approach to implementing strong ministries by, with, and for older adults. In addition to the practical issues of programming, the book takes on more difficult topics of aging including chronic conditions, depression, and death. He also recommends that churches pay special attention to the needs of the boomer generation, since they are now becoming the older adults who will determine the church’s path for years to come.
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Sharper Than A Two Edged Sword
$19.99Add to cartKeen insight for preaching and teaching Scripture are to be found in these pages. Several respected scholars here discuss how to read and live the Bible theologically in our contemporary context. Editors Michael Root and James Buckley maintain that these essays, though varied, share at least three assumptions: (1) The word of God (not necessarily human preaching and teaching) is “sharper than any two-edged sword.” (2) Preaching, teaching, and living the Bible are firmly yet delicately intertwined in the communion of saints. (3) There are distinctive ministries of preaching and teaching in the church as well as other liturgical and diaconal ministries. With its complementary reflections from theologians, exegetes, and preachers, Sharper Than a Two-Edged Sword will appeal to any clergy or laypeople who find themselves uncertain about how to relevantly preach, teach, and live the Bible today.
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Unlearning Church
$20.99Add to cartHow many things does your church do just because that’s the way it’s always been done? Does your congregation value tradition over passion and stability over creativity? If so, it’s time to unLearn. Leading congregations into a dynamic and prophetic future requires unLearning what you thought you knew about the church, leadership, and life. Pastor Michael Slaughter casts a vision for innovative and authentic congregations, and for the kind of leadership that can bring congregations to greater vitality and impact in today’s postmodern culture. Readers will be challenged to gaze boldly beyond franchised church models to a dynamic embodiment of God’s unique vision for each leader and each congregation. UnLearning congregations embrace new media and cultural trends, value transformation over information, and create a safe space for the tough and unanswerable questions of life. These are churches that lovingly dare to shoulder spiritual and prophetic leadership in our rapidly changing culture, re-articulating God’s ancient purposes to create high-tech, high-touch environments in which people can become radical followers of Jesus Christ.
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Preaching The Gospel Of Mark
$44.00Add to cartIn this engaging treatment of the Gospel of Mark, Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm combines biblical scholarship with a close reading of the Gospel text to meet the needs of preachers today. Swift and purposeful, the Gospel of Mark proclaims Gods reign and urges the participation of all Gods people in the witness of the good news that God has transformed human reality through Jesus Christ. This insightful commentary helps that message come alive while providing pertinent suggestions about how preachers can proclaim this message to todays churchgoers.
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When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box (Student/Study Guide)
$10.99Add to cartUsing popular games as a metaphor for our temporal lives, this six-session DVD curriculum neatly sorts out what’s fleeting and what’s permanent in God’s kingdom. Being Master of the Board is not the point; being rich toward God is. Winning the game of life on Earth is a temporary victory; loving God and other people with all our hearts is an eternal one.
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Collected Sermons Of William Sloan Coffin 2
$56.00Add to cartComprised of the sermons preached by William Sloane Coffin while he was senior minister at the prestigious Riverside Church in New York City (1977-1987), these two volumes capture the renowned preacher and social activist at work: ministering to American hostages in Iran, supporting AIDS awareness in the early years of the epidemic, rallying his audiences to battle poverty and fight for nuclear disarmament, celebrating marriages and baptisms, and mourning the loss of loved ones, including his own son, Alex. Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation.
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Unlocking Gods Freeing Truth About Women
$19.49Add to cartThe original language wording of the Bible is wonderfully liberating for women, and Dr. Rocco brings to light what many have not heard. This book explains strong evidence for women in ministry roles. It untangles difficult passages pertaining to church and home life. Topics include: Elders Marriage Deacons Usage of “Head” Governing Authorities Unexpected Feminine Language Masculine Language Prohibitions about Speaking/Teaching Dr. Rocco is an adjunct professor in Biblical languages at Evangel Theological Seminary and serves on a church ministry team. The author has read through the entire Bible over 50 times in various translations and languages. Doctor of Ministry Master of Divinity Biblical Studies Diploma
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Experiencing The Truth
$22.50Add to cartCommunicates the need of a vibrant, experiential, Reformed Christianity among African-American and all believers.
The authors lay out the biblical basis for choosing and attending a church and demonstrate how the historic Reformed expression has been the most biblically accurate and experientially consistent expression of Christianity.
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Dog Training Fly Fishing And Sharing Christ In The 21st Century
$18.99Add to cartTed Haggard presents a successful and tested model for a small group ministry here that can be implemented by a church of any size. By enabling members to embrace and capitalize on their own unique abilities, the diverse groups create an environment where people meet mentors that can disciple and guide them. This need-and interest based approach redefines the model for powerful church growth.
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Preaching The Story That Shapes Us
$19.99Add to cartForeword
Introduction
Part 1: The Theology And Narrative Of Biography:
The Calling And The Called
1. Before I Had A Thumb To Suck
2. The Love Of The Game
3. The Call
4. Spoking It
5. A Vulnerable God
6. Fleas In The Parsonage
7. IWish She’d Learn To Cuss
Part 2: The Bible: Where The Words Come From . . .
and What They Do
8. God Speaks
9. The Written Word
10. Reading . . . Or Being Read?
11. Hearing
12. Tribute To A Friend And Mentor
13. Theological Assumptions
Part 3: Getting Ready To Preach
14. Sensing And Attending
15. Inquisitiveness
16. Looking For Trouble
17. AWorld Of Images And Experiences
18. Pausing To Let The Text Do Me Good
19. Don Wardlaw Again
20. Consulting With The Scholars
21. Exegeting The Congregation
Excursus 1: On A Corporate Vs. Individual Theology Of Worship-
Invitation To The Dance
Excursus 2: On The Use Of Power-Siding With Power
22. The Shape Of The Sermon
23. Public Speaking For Pastors
24. Top 10 Don’ts
25. The Worship Plot
Part 4: Anthology Of Sermons
New Eyes-Luke 24:13-35
Touched-Luke 4:14-30
Seeing Past The Labels-Luke 7:36-50
Hollow Laughter, Holy Tears-Luke 6:17-26
Divine Backing-Luke 9:28-43
God’s Blog-Jeremiah 31:31-34
Neb’s Nightmare-Daniel 4
Deep In Our Bones-Exodus 2:1-25
Eternal Optimism-Romans 8:18-30
You Can’t Hide Family Resemblance-1 John 3:4-10
Enemies-Psalm 109
Dirty Hands, Pure Hearts-Matthew 5:8
Notes
BibliographyAdditional Info
In our world, stories matter. Methods and systems are beneficial because they provide structure and help keep us on the right road; but the motivation and courage to keep walking the road, come from the stories we hear and see and experience-stories that inspire hope and bring us face-to-face with God.For ministers, the call to preach is a call into a story that forms and shapes us. It’s about stumbling into revelation as life unwinds and scripture unfolds. It’s about listening to God’s voice and then sharing it with others. It’s about recognizing that when people gather to hear a sermon, God speaks. And it’s about understanding that when He speaks, He speaks through you.
Preaching the Story That Shapes Us is more than a textbook on preaching. It’s an empowering call for preachers to present a picture of the kingdom of God already at work among us, recognizing that the work of preaching is not just about arranging words-it’s about people. With elegant prose and crafted reason, Dan Boone weaves together scripture, personal narrative, structure, and theological reflection to provide a satisfying, efficient guide to narrative preaching. From exploring the importance of biography to walking readers through creative processes that shape the sermon, Boone shows preachers how to awaken lives and share the stories of God that reveal who we are and lead us to who we will be.
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From Midterms To Ministry
$35.99Add to cartIn this collection of essays, a seasoned group of ministers, scholars, and theological educators share reflections, born out of personal experience, on the transition from seminarian to minister. All the authors have worked with two assumptions. First, they acknowledge that the school experience, though related, is a different world from the ministry setting. Secondly, they point out that while these arenas share things in common they also differ in significant ways. The contributors speak in a very personal way to the ways these worlds operate under dissimilar sets of expectations and values, with different cultures and ways of life, and also with their own set of distinct challenges, objective, rewards, and focal points. Honest and full of wisdom, Midterms to Ministry will help students and ministers find help to travel on their own vocational path. Contributors: Wallace M. Alston, Ray S. Anderson, M. Craig Barnes, Elizabeth F. Caldwell, Allan Hugh Cole Jr., Pamela D. Couture, Kathy Dawson, Carrie Doehring, Michael Jinkins, L. Gregory Jones, Susan Pendleton Jones, James F. Kay, Cleophus J. LaRue, Thomas G. Long, Loren B. Mead, Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Earl F. Palmer, Stephanie Paulsell, Anthony B. Robinson, Carol L. Schnabel Schweitzer, Theodore J. Wardlaw, Traci C. West, William H. Willamon, J. Philip Wogaman, Karen Marie Yust
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10 Minute Talks
$24.99Add to cartYouth ministry regularly calls for moments where the “short talk” is the perfect solution. No three points and a poem, no long fancy outlines, just a ten minute talk that tells one point loud and clear through a powerful story. When you’ve only got ten minutes to make your point, give em’ something that they’ll remember.
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Church Treasurers Manual
$49.99Add to cartCONTENTS
Introduction
1 Responsibilities Of The Church Treasurer
Separation Of Financial Responsibilities
Guidelines For Handling Church Offerings
Acknowledging And Reporting Charitable Gifts
Quid Pro Quo Disclosure Requirements
Suggested Steps In Handling Expenditures
Should You Computerize Your Church’s
Financial Records?
2 Payroll, Employees, And Ministerial Compensation
Who Is An Employee, And Who Is A Contractor?
Employees
Contractors, Employees, And Ministers
Employees (Other Than Clergy)
Clergy
What If We Do Not Withhold And Report?
What If We Are Not Sure Which Employment Relationship
Exists?
10 Steps To Preparing For Payroll Tax Obligations
Ministerial Compensation
IRS Regulations For Business Expense Reimbursements
The Cost Of A Minister Vs. The Cost Of A Ministry
Parsonage Or Housing Allowance?
Pro Parsonage And Con Housing Allowance
Pro Housing Allowance And Con Parsonage
Tax Implications
Another Alternative
OK. We’ve Decided On The Housing Allowance
Conflict Over Compensation Issues
3 Taxes
Tax And Reporting Procedures For Congregations
Classification Of Employees
How The Courts Have Ruled
The Ministerial Employee
The Lay Employee
The Employer Identification Number
What Is Taxable For Federal Income Tax Purposes?
Income Tax Withholding
Social Security/Medicare Tax Witholding
Form W-4
Deposit Of Withheld Amounts
Form 941
Form W-2
Form W-3
Form W-5
Form 1099-MISC
Records
Short Checklist For Tax Procedures
Checklist For Filling Out Box 1 Of Form W-2
Minimizing Income Taxes For Church Employees
Tax-Free Employee Benefits
Business Transportation, Travel, And Related Expenses
The Accountable Reimbursement Plan
What The Church Could Do
The Church-Owned Automobile
Summary
4 Budgeting, Reporting, And Financial Audits
How Do You Determine The Annual Budget?
The Chart Of Annual Accounts
Financial Reports To The Congregation
Balance Sheet
Statement Of Revenue And Expense
Statement Of Cash Flows
Other Financial Reports
Audits
Why Have An Audit?
External Audits
Internal Audits
Audit Procedures
Works Cited
Appendix 1 Where To Go For More Information
Appendix 2 Financial FormsAdditional Info
Most of the time, members who accept the position of church treasurer have little or no background in accounting, especially in smaller churches; and even those with accounting experience may have trouble knowing what’s expected of them when they begin their duties.The Church Treasurer’s Manual is a practical tool that provides treasurers everything they need to know about handling church finances. From an overview of duties to helpful guidelines for completing tasks, new and veteran treasurers alike will learn practical tips and time-saving suggestions that will help them carry out their responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner.
Resources include:
an easy-to-understand overview of basic accounting principles
an extensive explanation of tax regulations
options for monthly and annual financial reporting
a general job description for the church treasurer
record keeping form for taxes, accounting ledgers, individual contribution records, budget worksheets, the offering, and more
advice for handling payroll, housing allowances, and other compensations for the pastor and staff
tips on communicating with the church board, the pastor, and the financial committee
ethical guidelines for handling money -
Feasting On The Word Year B 1
$55.00Add to cartThis new lectionary commentary series offers the most extensive resource for preaching on the market today. When complete, the twelve volumes will cover all of the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with moveable occasions such as Christmas Day, Epiphany, Holy Week, and All Saints Day.
For each lectionary text, preachers will find four brief essays on the exegetical, theological, pastoral, and homiletical challenges of the text, with freedom to begin where they choose. They may decide to focus on the Gospel text, for instance, by reading all four essays provided for that text. Or they may decide to look for connections between the Hebrew Bible, Psalm, Gospel, and Epistle texts by reading the theological essays on each one.
Each lectionary year will consist of four volumes, one for the Advent and Christmas season, one for Lent and Easter, and one for each half of Ordinary Time.
While the twelve volumes of the series will follow the pattern of the Revised Common Lectionary, each volume will contain an index of biblical passages so that non-lectionary preachers may make use of its contents.
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Renewing The Face Of The Earth
$21.00Add to cartThis important and timely study provides a much needed theological framework for considering and responding to the challenges of climate change. In a highly readable and clear style, it explores the spiritual questions being opened up by this issue: questions about human life and destiny, about our relationship to the planet and to each other, about altruism and selfishness, about the place of technology, about justice, our values and hopes. A practical exploration of these questions is set in the context of the biblical notions of covenant – God’s commitment to creation which David Atkinson sees as the ‘inner meaning’ of creation, and sabbath – regular times of rest and replenishment for humans and for the earth itself. Seeing climate changes in the light of these biblical concepts reveals a strong moral imperative to act in ways that are help to bring about the New Testament hope that the whole of creation will one day be renewed in Christ.
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Tough Calls : Game Winning Principles For Leaders Under Pressure
$16.99Add to cartIn Tough Calls, pastor and high school football official Travis Collins offers encouragement and inspiration to Christian leaders. Travis selects famous and infamous moments from sports history to bring to life key principles of spiritual leadership. Written for both men and women, this easy-to-read book mixes stories and quotes from the sports world together with biblical wisdom and input from leadership experts to encourage and challenge all Christian leaders. The book addresses many crucial issues of spiritual leadership including: taking risks, maintaining poise under pressure, handling conflict, dealing with criticism, managing an organization through change, and confronting disruptive people. Written for Christians in any profession, Tough Calls includes a special word to pastors at the end of each chapter. Taking into account the unique challenges pastors face, these bonus sections will help ministers refocus and recharge. Tough Calls will be an invaluable resource for any Christian who must regularly make difficult decisions.
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Loves Pure Light
$8.95Add to cartLight is an integral symbol in the Christian faith, especially during Christmas. The light of a single candle can disperse the deepest darkness, bringing warmth, comfort, and illumination. The soft, warm candlelight at a Christmas Eve service creates an atmosphere of worship and reverence as congregations celebrate the arrival of the Light of the world.
Love’s Pure Light is a collection of insightful Christmas sermons delivered at Susquehanna University between 1997 and 2006. This book offers pastors a valuable source of inspiration for Christmas sermon preparation. Love’s Pure Light also includes an order of service, providing congregations with a complete Christmas candlelight worship experience.
Love’s Pure Light will be a welcome addition to congregations of any size, aiding them in perceiving the power of the Light of Christmas in a deeper and more dynamic way. -
Words Fitly Spoken
$11.95Add to cartFor every minister, from the time they step out of the seminary doors to the last time they step behind the pulpit, preaching the word can be one of the most daunting tasks they face on a week-to-week basis. What can I say that has not already been said? How can I make the scriptures come alive in the minds of my congregation? How can I relate events that happened thousands of years ago to what my congregation faces in their daily lives?
Illuminated by the scriptures themselves, Words Fitly Spoken explores in-depth the nuances of the homiletic craft. From the proper use of hyperbole and imagery to methods for how to elaborate imaginatively on the scriptures, this is a comprehensive resource for pastors struggling with delivering effective sermons. Sample sermons are included with each chapter, showing how each method can be applied in a typical Sunday morning service.
Every pastor is charged with speaking words of life to his or her congregation. Words Fitly Spoken is a beneficial tool to help pastors of all denominations to more powerfully deliver the wonderful, life-changing message of the gospel.
David von Schlichten is the pastor of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Youngstown, Pennsylvania. He is currently an adjunct lecturer in history at St. Vincent College (Latrobe, Pennsylvania) as well as the book review editor for Lutheran Partners magazine. He was educated at Drew University (Madison, New Jersey) (B.A.), Kutztown University (Kutztown, Pennsylvania) (M.A.), Lutheran Theological Seminary (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) (M.Div.), and Lutheran Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) (D.Min.). -
Congratulations Youre Gifted
$12.99Add to cartBased on the popular S.H.A.P.E. book for adults, this teen version walks through the same process of discovery with students. Written by the bestselling author and pastor at Saddleback Church, Doug Fields, this book will help teenagers understand who they are, how they can serve, and why they serve.
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Courageous Leadership Workbook (Workbook)
$17.99Add to cartCourageous Leadership Workbook will help both you and your leadership team become the exceptional leaders that God has called you to be. Now more than ever, the world is looking for great leaders. Biblical leadership goes beyond mere ability and personality. Consider your church staff, small group members, or colleagues: Are they leading as effectively as they could? Are they maximizing their own potential? Are they effectively cultivating the talents and gifts within those they influence? The Courageous Leadership Workbook serves as a “how to” guide for every leader.
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Maintaining Balance When Winds Of Doctrine Blow
$16.99Add to cartIn nearly 40 years of ministry, Pastor Iverson has seen many a church “shipwrecked” due to divergent doctrines. Now he helps you discern the signs of trouble—and the truth of the gospel—so that you can stay on God’s course for the church. Gain a balanced perspective on doctrine, and maintain stability in the Body
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Knowing The Context
$18.00Add to cartWhile everyone might affirm that preaching needs to engage its listeners deeply, the initial move for novice preachers is to think this can be attained by livelier content and delivery of the sermon. All too quickly, however, one learns that there are many factors beyond what a preacher says and how she or he may say it that affect whether proclamation can actually be heard. Effective preaching requires the complex work of knowing the context in which preaching occurs, while avoiding the twin dangers of pandering to a situation’s particulars or generalizing them into stereotypes. Knowing the Context reveals how to engage contexts for preaching, especially ways to examine contexts more responsibly, so that the sermon might more amply bring the word of Scripture to bear on the worlds and lives of listeners.
In one of the initial titles in the Elements of Preaching series, James Nieman shows how preaching is oriented to specific locales, cultural situations, audiences, and occasions. Unlike other books that tell preachers how to preach to specific audiences, Knowing the Context helps readers analyze the situations in which they find themselves and shows how text and context are in a continuing dialogue and how to tailor sermons to their context. Keyed to online sermon samples and other Web-based features to enhance teaching.
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Preaching The Miracles Series 2 Cycle B (Revised)
$15.95Add to cartThis book offers an abundance of insightful information on each of the nine miracle stories in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary – yet Brauninger intentionally avoids presenting a ready-made cloak of words for a morning sermon. Instead, she invites preachers and their audiences to discover hidden implications by exploring the gap between the “back then” and the “now.” Outlines of the action reveal the pivotal points in each story, and fictional interviews help readers get into the minds of the characters – thus connecting their human experiences with the daily struggles we encounter in faith and discipleship. Brauninger’s unique approach not only answers questions, it also generates them – which spurs the thinking process and allows the Word to come alive.
Five sections are devoted to each miracle story:
* Text – The entire scripture text is provided for easy access.
* What’s Happening? – A synopsis of points of action within each miracle story.
* Connecting Points–Conversations – Brauninger engages in imaginary exchanges with the main characters and an occasional bystander.
* Words – Significant terms are examined.
* Gospel Parallels – Similarities and differences with parallel passages are highlighted. -
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series 5 Cycle B (Revised)
$49.95Add to cartBigger, stronger, better! This newly revised edition of Russell Anderson’s best-selling Lectionary Preaching Workbook retains all of the great features that have made it an indispensable tool for busy pastors who need a helping hand with their weekly homiletic research and want to make the most of their limited preparation time. Combining concise but insightful textual notes with a wide range of creative preaching ideas, each chapter provides plenty of starting points for developing stimulating sermons that make the scriptures come alive for the people in the pews. In addition to a convenient sermon planning template plus overviews of Mark (the featured Gospel narrator in Cycle B) and each liturgical season, every week’s material includes:
* a listing of applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts
* a theme for the day
* brief commentary on the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel lessons
* a prayer for the day
* theological reflections exploring the relationships between the texts
* several possible preaching approaches, each with a suggested title and “sermon angle”
* additional illustrations to assist in fleshing out the message -
Me Myself And I
$13.95Add to cartBeing a “tween” – it can be a very awkward time in anyone’s life. You’re not a full-fledged teenager with cars, dates, and high school, but you’re not a little child anymore, either. You can still feel pulls in both directions, wanting to be a child and have fun, yet wanting more responsibility as a teenager. It is definitely not easy being a “tween.”
Me, Myself, and I was written for this group of people, guiding them through this time of transition through stories and Bible studies, reassuring them of God’s love and understanding. With study questions at the end of each chapter, this book can be read privately at home as a personal devotional or in group settings, such as Sunday school, children’s Bible studies, or through Christian-based organizations for young people.
Going through the tween years can be a harrowing experience, but the wisdom offered in Me, Myself, and I can help make that journey a little easier with the reassurance that God is present every step of the way. -
In The Beginning Was The Word Cycle B
$17.95Add to cartIn the Beginning Was the Word provides a powerful tool for encouraging more people to play a role in weekly services. For each Sunday and major celebration in the church year, Dallas Brauninger takes one assigned scripture passage from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary and turns it into a dramatic choral reading – allowing anyone (of whatever age) who can read and speak to become a leader in worship. The texts are drawn from the New Revised Standard Version, and also included are practical tips for effective performance, as well as a handy pronunciation guide, scripture index, and listing of the required number of participants for each week’s reading.
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Guide To Preaching And Leading Worship
$24.00Add to cartOne of the world’s most admired preachers here offers his practical and sage advice for some of the most basic tasks of ministry: preparing, delivering, and evaluating sermons; planning, leading, and evaluating worship services; offering public prayers; and celebrating baptism and the Lord’s Supper. In addition, Willimon provides creative suggestions for involving laity in worship.
Ideal for beginning ministers and seasoned veterans alike, A Guide to Preaching and Leading Worship will assuredly become a standard must-have for mainline Protestant clergy.
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Prophets Handbook : A Guide To Prophecy And Its Operation
$19.99Add to cartDiscover God’s divine plan for the prophetic gifts and how they are meant to benefit the body of Christ. This handbook details the role and duties of the prophetic in the church, clearly explaining its necessity. No church leader should be without this indispensable reference. Dr. Paula Price’s years of research and ministry have yielded the ultimate guide to prophecy in the local church. You will learn how God awakens and prepares excellent prophets, understand the difference between prophets and psychics, and recognize and train budding prophets. Don’t let lack of knowledge keep you from utilizing one of God’s extraordinary gifts to the church.
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Tangible Kingdom : Creating Incarnational Community
$24.95Add to cartWritten for those who are trying to nurture authentic faith communities and for those who have struggled to retain their faith, The Tangible Kingdom offers theological answers and real-life stories that demonstrate how the best ancient church practices can re-emerge in todayOs culture, through any church of any size. In this remarkable book, Hugh Halter and Matt Smaytwo missional leaders and church plantersoutline an innovative model for creating thriving grass-roots faith communities.
