Pastoral Helps
Showing 2901–2950 of 3900 results
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God Sense : Reading The Bible For Preaching
$23.99Add to cartThroughout the modern period, history has been the dominant lens through which preachers have viewed the biblical text. The historical-critical method, with its emphasis on the context of a scriptural text’s origins, has been the principal, or sole, tool with which preachers have approached the question of the text’s meaning. Preachers have been in danger of losing the Bible as revelation and with that losing the rich varieties of God-centered meanings that our ancient forebears understood were the purpose of Scripture. He then demonstrates how a critical and informed understanding of the “spiritual” meanings of the text, rather than importing meaning into the text, as is often claimed, opens new possibilities for a faithful proclamation of the biblical witness
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When Suffering Persists
$19.95Add to cartThe pain of loss may pass quickly, or suffering may go on and on. For people of faith, the resulting crisis may be deeper than the loss itself. We look for ways to comfort those who are hurting. But sometimes, in spite of our good intentions, the cliches and simplistic theology we offer only add to their pain and misery. In When Suffering Persists, Frederick W. Schmidt explores ways to understand suffering, and offers a theology that takes the devastating character of suffering seriously, one that truly allows us to help people in pain.
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Inside The Small Church
$30.00Add to cartEven as so-called megachurches capture the attention of many church watchers, small congregations continue to dominate America’s religious landscape in both rural and urban settings. Although sometimes obscured by their larger siblings, these small churches play a prominent role and hold a unique place in both local and national cultures. How can leaders help to keep these often at-risk churches alive and to meet their potential for ministry?
Small-church expert Tony Pappas has gathered a cornucopia of essays into an indispensable book for anyone interested in the rich life of these small but significant congregations. Drawing on classic and updated articles by a variety of writers from his own small-church newsletter The Five Stones; from Alban journals Action Information and Congregations; and adding new pieces developed especially for this volume, Pappas provides timeless ideas on learning to value, pastor, develop, and lead the small church.
In addition to time-honored articles by the editor, other contributors to this volume include Sherry and Douglas Alan Walrath, Gary Farley, Lawrence W. Farris, Loren Mead, Caroline Westerhoff, Steven Burt, Carl Dudley, David Ray, James Lowery, and a host of others known for their work-and love-for the small church. Readers of Inside the Small Church will come away with a renewed love and appreciation for these vital congregations as well as with new skills for ministry.
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Pastoral Theology In The Classical Tradition
$28.00Add to cartModern pastoral care, Andrew Purves believes, has been overly influenced by psychological theory and too often uninformed by historical practice. The result is a pastoral practice that has diminished the reality of God. In this book, Purves aims to reclaim pastoral theology as a theological discipline. He does this by examining classical texts from the tradition, texts that have the, and he argues that a thoughtful reading of these works–by Gregory of Nazianus, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Great, Martin Bucer, and Richard Baxter–will force a reevaluation of many of the assumptions that shape contemporary pastoral work. He includes a brief biography of each author, introduces the major themes in each writer’s pastoral theology, and discusses the issues relevant to pastoral work today.
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Giving Counsel : Ministers Guidebook
$34.99Add to cart“Giving Counsel: A Minister’s Guidebook is conversational, engaging, and accessible. I have no hesitation enthusiastically recommending it to beginning students. Advanced students and experienced ministers may find it useful as a reminder of good practice.”
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Discovering A Sermon
$23.99Add to cart“Discovering a Sermon is a treasure-chest of wisdom for preaching written by an academic pastoral theologian who loves to preach and who is keenly aware of how his own discipline of pastoral theology can speak a helpful word to those who teach and learn preaching. Dykstra is not only a scholar, but a self-reflective preacher, able to look deep into his own soul and draw forth insights that will help preachers avoid serious pitfalls, while pursuing what really matters.”
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Handbook For Multi Sensory Worship 2
$36.99Add to cartWidely known for their innovative use of multimedia elements in worship, Kim Miller and worship team of Ginghamsburg Church provide more practical guidance for planning and conducting contemporary worship celebrations. Through the skillful blending of contemporary media such as music, film, and drama with the timeless truths and stories of the Bible, these celebrations help postmodern persons – particularly those who have little or no experience with the Christian faith – experience God’s love and become faithful followers. Included in this second volume are thirty new and complete worship celebrations, each organized around a central metaphor and theme designed to articulate the needs of and connect with the life experiences of the congregation.
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Escape From Church Inc
$22.99Add to cartThis book was born out of a passion for the church–and for you, one of its pastors. If you struggle with burnout and disillusionment, if something within you keeps insisting, “This isn’t what it’s supposed to be about!” then Pastor Glenn Wagner offers a model for pastoring that can radically reshape how you relate to your congregation. Wagner guides you into new vision, new values, and a new way of pastoring that begins not with doing, but with seeing and being. “I believe the one problem underlying all the others is that we have moved both pastors and churches from a community model to a corporation model,” says Wagner. “If we go back to the very beginning, back to the Lord’s bedrock idea for his people, what do we find? We find shepherds and sheep.” Escape from Church, Inc. offers hope to the weary and water to the thirsty. Find out for yourself, in both biblical and practical terms, how the model of the shepherd is best suited to growing a healthy, effective church — and discover deep satisfaction and joy in your role as pastor.
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Letting Go Of Worry And Anxiety
$13.99Add to cartAttention, chronic worriers: it is possible to reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of painful episodes of anxiety without medication. Licensed counselor Pam Vredvelt draws from twenty years of clinical experience, scientific research, and scriptural insight to offer the reader tools for living a more peaceful and tranquil life. While worrying is for many a deeply embedded habit, because it was learned, it can be “unlearned,” and with compassion and sound advice, Pam shows how.
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Letting Go Of Disappointments And Painful Losses
$13.99Add to cartProfessional counselor Pam Vredevelt constantly hears the question “How do I let go of the pain I feel?” Whether it’s a soured friendship or dissatisfying job, a wayward child, or unrealistic expectations, every person has to deal with lingering disappointment and its clouding effect on attitude and relationships. God does not intend that pain to cripple, distort, and consume his children. Getting “unstuck” is possible, Pam writes, through the use of a few simple and practical tools that lead to peace of mind and tranquility of heart. We’ve all heard the expression, “Let go and let God.” With compassion and warmth, Pam Vredevelt show how.
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Truths That Build
$17.99Add to cartTruths That Build provides 14 foundational principles that Dick Everson calls the “Truths That Build A Premier Church.” Each principle explains what every Christian should focus on and gives practical insight to Christian living. These Truths That Build will encourage the reader who puts them into practice and ultimately strengthen the local church.
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Scope Of Our Art A Print On Demand Title
$31.99Add to cartIn The Scope of Our Art a diverse group of theological teachers explores the spiritual dimensions of their vocation as religious educators. Drawing on a rich array of resources, including Scripture, The Rule of St.Benedict, medieval women mystics, the Methodist theologian Georgia Harkness, and Simone Weil, as well as their own teaching experiences, the contributors discuss the vital relationships between academic and spiritual formation, religious commitments and teaching practices, and individual and institutional vocation.
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Preaching To Every Pew
$24.00Add to cartThe growing cultural diversity of American society is mirrored in the pews and parishes of mainline denominations and represents a dynamic challenge to the effective proclamation of the gospel on Sunday mornings. Preaching to Every Pew, based on extensive field research, takes on the challenge of preaching in such a context. The authors map an approach to culture from four signifigant perspectives: ethnicity, class, displacement, and religious beliefs. They describe the signifigant ways in which culture influences human beings, detail how cultural influences affect and complicate communication in general and preaching in particular, and then recommend practical strategies for improving communication in culturally diverse settings. Preaching to Every Pew is an invaluable aid to pastors and seminaries yearning for more effective ways to proclaim the gospel.
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More Childrens Sermons To Go
$18.99Add to cartEver wonder if anybody remembers your children’s sermons? This idea book is for you! Each of the 52 messages features a scripted talk about God, his love, and his Word; materials list; related Bible verse; and suggestions for inexpensive take-home tokens to help youngsters better understand and recall the lesson. Great for family devotions, too.
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When Your People Are Grieving
$17.99Add to cartThis book calls upon pastors to embrace their positions of leadership and to be a means of grace and mercy to grievers during trying times. Harold Ivan Smith provides insight into the grieving process, giving pastors a better understanding of what to expect as they minister.
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Preaching The Psalms
$20.99Add to cartIn recent years the church has rediscovered the Psalter as a source of inspiration and language for the praise of God in worship. Yet, in spite of this fact, the Psalms are often neglected in preparing for one of the central acts of worship:preaching. Even among those whose preaching follows the lectionary–with its weekly visit to the Psalter–many preachers assume that other texts will lend themselves better to the task of preaching. J. Clinton McCann and James C. Howell propose to address this perception by demonstrating that the Psalms offer the preacher broad and rich possibilities for the congregation’s engagement with Scripture in preaching. The book includes several sample sermons that will further clarify the author’s points regarding the Psalms as a source for Christian preaching.
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Preaching Mark
$21.00Add to cartThis new resource examines the major literary units and unique perspective of Mark’s Gospel to help the pastor in sermon preparation. Thurston guides the reader through each of the lectionary readings, attempting to answer the questions: Why did Mark preserve this story” Why was it important for his community? And what does it mean for us today? Included in each chapter are suggestions for further reading, and appendices provide a list of the lectionary readings and an annotated bibliography. This volume makes accessible the wealth of materials Mark’s Gospel offers for Christian life and reflection.
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Equipping Church Guidebook
$29.99Add to cartThis is a hands-on ministry resource manual to help churches develop leaders and systems for lay mobilization. The approach is open-ended so that a variety of types and sizes of churches can use it. Charts and worksheets are included. The material has been tested through several years of use in churches that have received the privately distributed notebook format. Now updated and extensively revised, this volume serves as a practical companion to The Equipping Church. That book provides the philosophy and challenging vision for lay mobilization. This book provides the practical tools for implementation. Part 1 covers planning for lay mobilization. Part 2 covers building a lay ministry program. The markets include church staff members along with denominational leaders. It also is designed for use by lay leaders in churches who want hands-on help to mobilize the laity for ministry.
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Word Among Us
$17.50Add to cartAn essential handbook for preachers and a lively, informed devotional companion for those who prepare for worship by reading the Scriptures, this commentary on the Principal Service readings for Year A offers: Variations in interpretation Background history Links between passages Theological significance Language sources Illustrative quotes
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Young Lions : Chrisitian Rites Of Passage For African American Young Men
$34.99Add to cartThis resource introduces and supports a mentoring program that offers African American young men, Positive peer group involvement, Hands-on skill development, Knowledge of the African American culture, Relationship with Christian African American men as role models. This resource provides the tools and encouragement needed to help leaders of African American young men experience the joy of supporting and challenging youth to grow as Christ’s disciples. Includes practical tips for getting started, a comprehensive leadership recruitment and training plan, complete meeting outlines and directions, reproducible pages for participants, and an interaction oriented mentor guide.
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Balance
$9.99Add to cart20/30 Bible Study for Young Adults targets adult learners in their 20’s and 30’s. Each volume in the series challenges you to examine a powerful biblical image that defines and shapes your life. The 20/30 volumes honor your experience and encourage you to look at your own questions, goals, and beliefs as you study the Scriptures that expand on the biblical images. You juggle multiple demands-school work, family, friends, church, day-to-day “stuff” like paying bills and dealing with junk mail-but do these activities each receive the proper priority at the proper time? Balance: Living With Life’s Demands will help you sort through various claims on your life and put your priorities into a healthy and manageablle perspective.
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Deacons : Servant Models In The Church Updated Edition (Reprinted)
$14.99Add to cartFrom the days of the early church, deacons have been chosen to fulfill an essential ministry. Updating his classic resource, Webb explores the many facets of the pastoral assistant’s life and role, including marriage, family life, conduct, priorities, and more. Helpful as you equip lay leaders for their divinely appointed place in God’s church.
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Creative Bible Lessons In Galatians And Philippians
$26.99Add to cartGrace, growth, freedom, and faith are the themes of these 12 dynamic lessons based on the letters from Paul to the Christians in Galatia and Philippi. As the next volume in the popular Creative Bible Lessons series, Creative Bible Lessons in Galatians & Philippians comes power-packed with the teachings of Paul. Six lessons from each book will guide you and your students through many of the Gospel’s central truths, including:
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Transforming The Stone
$22.99Add to cartThe author contends that to preach is to engage a specific community of Christians in a process of growth and change over time. While every parish has its unique attributes and needs, there are some basic dynamics at work in moving a congregation through resistance and towards transformation. It is on these dynamics that the author focuses our attention as she describes a program of preaching meant to refashion a people.
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True Happiness : Psalm 1 And 107
$21.99Add to cartThe purpose and the theme of the Psalms, as it is of the entire Bible, is to reflect on humanity’s relationship with their Creator and what He has done for them and their salvation. Here Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes an in-depth look at two psalms that are sure to cause readers to pause and consider their own lives. Psalm 1 addresses our need for the elusive feeling of happiness and reveals the true secret for finding it. As readers understand God’s righteousness and loving-kindness, they sing the song of the redeemed, which is the focus of Psalm 107. In these expository sermons on a life of happiness and praise, this renowned preacher applies his ability to faithfully bring forth God’s Word while speaking directly to the hearts of listners. They are lessons that are as necessary today as they were decades ago, now available to a broad audience.
