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Pastoral Helps

  • Story Time At The Altar

    $13.95

    Jesus told stories, and the scriptures are the sacred story of God and his people … and since children love stories as well, what could be a more appropriate way to plant the seeds of faith than with stories? This outstanding collection provides 86 enchanting parables that you can share during “children’s time” on Sunday morning, as well as at home, school, camp, or any other setting where young people are gathered together and want to hear a story. Brief talking points and questions in each message help youngsters clearly understand the good news of God’s incredible grace and unconditional love. Many of the stories illustrate biblical themes — but a wide variety of other topics and approaches are included, along with a convenient scripture index. Written in a simple, direct style that children of all ages can easily relate to, these delightful stories will inspire joy and hope.

    Stories include:
    * Elijah And The Voice (1 Kings 19:11)
    * Timothy’s Questions (Psalm 100:3a)
    * The Aspen And The Wind (Mark 10:44)
    * The House On The Rock (Matthew 7:24-27)
    * Teach Us To Pray (Matthew 14:22-33)
    … and many more!

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  • Gods Word Alive And Active

    $13.95

    Here are more ready-to-use children’s sermons from the prolific pen of Julia Bland which are sure to appeal to busy pastors and teachers. In this collection, Bland compares God’s Word to a variety of concrete objects, teaching youngsters that although the scriptures were written a long time ago, they remain a powerful and unequaled guide for good and holy living. Like all of her other acclaimed CSS titles, each message in this collection comes with a two-sided activity sheet including a coloring page for young children along with puzzles and word games for older children that reinforce the lesson’s theme and key concepts. In addition to “children’s time” during the worship hour, this resource is also excellent for Sunday school or Vacation Bible School.

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  • Built By The Owners Design

    $14.95

    Every church needs to reach out and bring in new members in order to remain a living, vital entity — yet there are many different ideas about what is the best way for Christian congregations to foster real growth. In recent years, what has been termed the “Church Growth Movement” (as exemplified in such best-selling books as The Purpose Driven Church and The Habits Of Highly Effective Churches) has come to the forefront with its agenda of meeting felt needs and targeting specific audiences. At the same time, there has been a less-publicized but pointed reaction to what some perceive as the church growth movement’s misdirected zeal. And while the church growth movement has been very successful with new churches, its methods often fall short of satisfying the growth needs of established congregations.

    In Built By The Owner’s Design, Danny Von Kanel invites you into the drawing room of the Master Designer to examine His blueprints for evangelism and church growth. Employing the plumb line of God’s Word, he makes it clear that God’s way of growth and outreach is most effective. Von Kanel draws on a careful analysis of more than 50 churches in the Southern Baptist, United Methodist, and Presbyterian (USA) denominations to offer a viable alternative that charts a middle ground between overzealousness and declining attendance, identifying a proven framework that can support lasting growth in diverse situations. Several checklists are included that help you systematically evaluate your own congregation and develop a tailor-made growth plan based on your specific circumstances. Grounded in solid research and Von Kanel’s own experience in several growing ministries, Built By The Owner’s Design is an immensely practical resource that belongs in every pastor’s library.

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  • Sermon Warm Ups

    $12.95

    Could you use an attention-getting introduction to set up a talk or sermon? If so, the brief sketches in this collection are exactly what you need to create living illustrations of scriptural themes that will stick in your audience’s memory. Jesus explained concepts about God’s kingdom through parables utilizing elements familiar to his listeners; likewise, the modern storytelling in these short, easy-to-prepare scenes helps worshipers understand the gospel by depicting the biblical message in the context of our daily lives. And they’re effective. Since drama draws on both our visual and auditory senses, it’s a proven vehicle for increasing learning and retention rates. When you want a change of pace that will really make a difference, these scenes are great for use in place of the sermon or for various types of fellowship programs.

    Contents include:
    * The Inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 6:14-29)
    * Cooking With Carol (John 6:24-35, 41-51)
    * The Pray-er (James 5:13-20)
    * Are You Calling Me? (Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-40)
    … and many more!

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  • Gospel Telling : The Art And Theology Of Childrens Sermons

    $16.95

    When was the last time you took a moment to consider the purpose and effectiveness of your children’s sermons? After all, nothing is more important than sowing the seeds of faith early in life. In this comprehensive look at all aspects of preaching the gospel to young people, Richard Coleman challenges you to examine your approach with a critical eye and gives you plenty of practical guidance for developing simple, direct messages that help children form a relationship with Jesus Christ.

    In the first section of Gospel-Telling, Coleman discusses what constitutes meaningful children’s sermons, offering a thoughtful rationale for the idea that we must proclaim the gospel so youngsters experience God’s love. You’ll learn how you can mine your own experience for inspiration and proclaim gospel stories that flow from your specific circumstances. Then in the second portion of the book you’ll see this process at work, with over 30 examples illustrating several different types of children’s sermons.

    Whether you’re a pastor, Christian educator, or engaged in the teaching ministry, you’re sure to profit from the practical advice and in-depth reflection in these pages. With Gospel-Telling, you’ll be equipped to share with young people the Good News — with creativity and theological integrity.

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  • Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees

    $20.95

    If you want to stimulate your creative juices and avoid dull, cliche-filled preaching, then you’ll love this collection of 150 imaginative “sermon starters.” Each idea consists of a clever title that’s sure to catch the interest of the person in the pew along with a purpose statement and a brief discussion of the topic (including appropriate scripture references). There are a variety of suggested approaches with striking imagery, providing you with plenty of seeds for developing interesting, thought-provoking messages. And with a convenient subject index included, Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees is certain to be a treasured addition to any pastor’s library. But this volume isn’t just for preachers — it’s also an excellent source of meditations for men’s, women’s, or youth groups as well as inspiring devotional reading.

    Here’s a sample of some of the inventive entries:
    * Daring To Be A Lion’s Breakfast!
    * Is There A Lightning Bolt With Your Name On It?
    * How Many Will Your Garbage Can Feed?
    * We Have Met The Monster And It Is Us
    * Will Your Bones Dance Again?
    * Cain’s And Einstein’s Theory Of Relativity

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  • Old Wine In New Skins 2

    $16.95

    Across the broad spectrum of the Christian faith, worship services are in transition. There is a richness of expression in traditional worship structures that needs to be maintained, yet there is a vitality and joy in contemporary praise celebrations that is an essential part of the Christian spirit. But whatever the style of service, whether it’s traditional, contemporary, or “blended,” meaningful worship that makes a powerful impact is directly connected to our daily lives, addressing our hopes and fears.

    Like the first volume of Old Wine In New Skins, this comprehensive collection provides plenty of resources for strengthening and reinvigorating your worship services. There are two years’ worth (104) of calls to worship in a wide variety of styles that can be used in almost any setting. Each weaves together suggested hymns or praise songs with spoken material utilizing everyday language and images, creating a strong thematic thrust that truly prepares the congregation to stand before the Lord in praise and petition. There’s also a group of brief reflections that can be used as sermon illustrations, theme-setters for the service, or newsletter features.

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  • Preaching To Myself

    $12.95

    A compelling preacher shares her unique method for creating memorable sermons in this practical, down-to-earth manual that’s chock-full of excellent ideas for homiletical preparation. It’s an engaging look at what characterizes outstanding preaching as well as a humorous catalog of the hazards facing those who enter the pulpit. Schmitz relates numerous amusing and instructive anecdotes from her own preaching experience, and offers valuable advice on how to write and deliver messages with maximum impact. For example, Schmitz notes that compelling stories which resonate with hearers are a crucial ingredient of great sermons — and Preaching To Myself illustrates how to tap into this endlessly renewable resource. Simple, funny, field-tested in the trenches with real people — if you want to enjoy a chuckle while learning what makes top-notch sermons that change lives, then this is the book for you.

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  • Feasts Of The Kingdom

    $21.95

    Feasts and festivals are a central part of many cultures, and for Christians there is no more important “meal” than Holy Communion, in which we commemorate our liberation through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Yet there are many other occasions in the Bible where Jesus taught his friends and disciples as he ate and drank. In The Feasts Of The Kingdom, Maurice Fetty examines a wide variety of sacred meals in scripture, ranging from the Lord’s supper to banquets in the parables. He connects these occasions to our mealtimes today, where we can develop a sense of community and Christian fellowship that is emblematic of the spiritual feast at the heart of the Church’s worship. With 26 messages included for all seasons of the church year, this volume is an especially valuable source of preaching ideas. But most of all, Fetty’s insights provide sustenance for the soul!

    Chapter titles include:
    * Faith And Fast-Food Religion (John 6:67-68)
    * The Hunger Pangs Of Success (Philippians 2:5-7)
    * Breakfast On The Beach (John 21:9, 12)
    * The Ultimate Wedding Reception (Revelation 19:9)
    * Table Manners In A Hungry World (Luke 16:20-21)
    … and many more!

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  • Teaching Prayer In The Classroom (Revised)

    $19.99

    In this revised and expanded edition of Teaching Prayer in the Classroom, Delia Halverson provides children’s teachers and leaders with practical guidance for teaching the elusive, and often mystifying, topic of prayer to children and young people. As in the original volume, Teaching Prayer in the Classroom offers step-by-step activities that engage children in different prayer experiences, while also providing specific examples of age-appropriate prayers for preschoolers to twelve-year-olds. In addition, age-level understandings and experiences of prayer are presented, as well as guidance for integrating different prayers into existing Sunday school lessons and creating a variety of unique prayers. Along with a number of reproducible handouts that provide useful information for teachers and students, this volume offers guidance and suggestions to help parents use prayer with their children at home.

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  • 1 Kings KJV Preacher Edition (Student/Study Guide)

    $39.99

    SKU (ISBN): 9781574071702ISBN10: 157407170XBinding: KivarPublished: April 2003Preachers Outline And Sermon BiblePublisher: Leadership Ministries Worldwide Print On Demand Product

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  • Giant Book Of Childrens Sermons

    $49.95

    The youngest members of your congregation have trooped up the aisle in their Sunday best. Be prepared with these 260 object lessons and simple visual aids such as crayons, scissors, and salt shakers! Features five years of 10-minute “sermonettes” that complement New Testament Scripture passages. Includes a companion CD-ROM.

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  • Preaching Marks Gospel

    $18.95

    In a classic case of failing to see the forest for the trees, Jensen, a homiletics professor and author of two works on narrative preaching, says that preachers tend to analyze biblical books to glean the slightest bits of exegetical data, yet miss the thrust of the overarching story they try to convey. Jensen contends that preachers get too caught up in an analytical, left-brained mentality that obscures the power and meaning of the good news story.

    In these pages Jensen helps us approach Mark’s gospel with eyes wide open rather than with microscope in hand. He treats Mark’s gospel as a narrative whole and challenges preachers to tell the gospel’s story to their congregations. In doing so, Jensen emphasizes the strength of biblical stories. He says that these stories are powerful in and of themselves, that they work without much explanatory help. The problem is that listeners never hear the entire story, because it’s always told to them in bits and pieces.

    Jensen’s adaptation of what Robert Alter (author of The Art of Biblical Narrative) calls narrative analogy assumes that “… parallel acts or situations are used to comment on each other in biblical narrative.” In other words, if Mark told story “B” to flesh out the reality of story “A,” then perhaps preachers today can do the same thing in their preaching. Students of Jensen have enthusiastically embraced this approach: “This is great, we never get to hear them (stories) whole!” How did it ever occur to us that we could improve on the story of the Prodigal Son, for example, by reducing it to ideas?

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  • Pastors At Greater Risk

    $23.00

    Some of today’s pastors are relatively untroubled but need help in releasing the pressure inherent in ministry to others. Others are close to running on empty, both spiritually and emotionally. All of them would like someone to confide in who can provide realistic help based on firsthand experience. This is precisely what Pastors at Greater Risk is all about! First published in 1993, this edition is completely rewritten, with updated stats, interviews with contemporary pastoral leaders, and a special emphasis on today’s hot-button issues, such as job turnover, pornography, spiritual burnout, congregational turnover, and more. The result: A book that is rich in wisdom and understanding and one that provides pastor-to-pastor help at a time when it is needed more than ever!

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  • Youth Workers Guide To Parent Ministry

    $24.99

    Both a theoretical and practical framework for parent ministry by youth workers in a local or parachurch setting In order for youth workers to be truly effective in ministering to parents, it9s important to lay a careful relational groundwork to ensure that the “right to be heard” has been earned. This book presents a ministry model with 9 evolving levels, each one strengthening the credibility of the youth worker and opening doors to deeper and more meaningful parent support. Each of the 9 levels includes practical ideas and strategies for implementation. The book provides useful tools for youth workers in a variety of ministry settings dealing with a range of family structures.

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  • Invitation To Lead

    $24.99

    SKU (ISBN): 9780830823932ISBN10: 083082393XPaul TokunagaBinding: Trade PaperPublished: March 2003Publisher: InterVarsity Press Print On Demand Product

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  • Preaching Through Holy Days And Holidays

    $21.95

    SKU (ISBN): 9780819218926ISBN10: 0819218928Roger Alling | David SchlaferBinding: Trade PaperPublished: March 2003Publisher: Morehouse Publishing Print On Demand Product

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  • Principios De Predicacion – (Spanish)

    $22.99

    Se requiere una habilidad poco usual en el manejo del idioma literario para combinar profundidad y sencillez para definir terminos profesionales en lenguaje laico y a la vez hacer un libro de texto y manual de inspiracion. Pablo Jimenez tiene esa capacidad. Su tratado sobre la predicacion esta redactado en lenguaje sencillo y ampliamente ilustrado. Es suficientemente ameno como para servir de material suplementario o de inspiracion a quienes solo quieren disfrutar un poco de buena lectura y de la cual sacar ideas para su uso personal. Sin embargo a la vez esta obra es suficientemente profunda como para convertirse en libro de texto para institutos teologicos, colegios o seminarios.

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  • Preaching From The Soul

    $22.99

    Careful biblical interpretation; insights into contemporary life; polished delivery; humorous anecdotes; these are the building blocks of preaching that genuinely reach people. Right? Wrong, says Ellsworth Kalas. We have all encountered preachers who seem to know all the fine points of exegesis and inflection, yet whose sermons leave us surprisingly unmoved, aware that we were in the presence of good speaking, but not great preaching.
    The difference, Kalas reminds us, lies in that hard-to-describe, yet essential quality known as soul. Soul is the collection of those perspectives and convictions that matter most to the preacher. Soul preaching means offering one’s particular ideas, attitudes, and convictions fully to the congregation. When one preaches with soul, one engages the biblical text with the core of one’s values and beliefs. Soul preaching is, in other words, simply giving the whole self to the task of proclamation. While the concept may sound simple, the reality is anything but.

    In the clear, insightful style for which he is known, Kalas takes readers on a path of discovery, introducing them to the unique gifts that they can bring to preaching, and the best way to engage those gifts in preparing and delivering the sermon.

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  • Tour Of The Nations

    $16.99

    Tour of the Nations is a book designed to aid teachers in assisting their students to become more knowledgeable in foreign missions. It takes students on a one-year visit to the seven major continents of the world, introducing them to many cultural and spiritual adventures. It presents lesson material each week for approximately one year, and provides thorough lessons for each session. This book will serve as a great tool for missions training and Christian education for children from preschool through the elementary grades. The work of training children in the local church setting can be a great task, but one that is commanded of us by Christ. Tour of the Nations will help make that task easier, providing lessons and ideas for classroom teachers in introducing their students to foreign mission countries, hopefully igniting the embers that may be placed in young, tender hearts by the gifting power of the Holy Spirit.

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  • Pastors Guide To Effective Preaching

    $14.99

    12 Chapters

    Additional Info
    Pastors are judged by their preaching. How are you measuring up?
    Every week, those 30 minutes you spend in front of the congregation impact their decisions about whether or not to attend your church.
    Preaching changes lives when Christians answer the call to do what
    God asks of them.
    In The Pastors Guide To Effective Preaching, Billy Graham William Willimon, Eugene Peterson, and other well known church leaders will teach you to connect with the congregation through your preaching. Beyond the “how to’s” of preaching, The Pastors Guide provides a foundation for embodying God’s grace and holiness as a means of communicating His message.
    You’ll learn to
    Keep your congregation engaged in what you’re saying.
    Plan an extended preaching schedule.
    Relate the gospel to our secular and humanistic society
    Understand the role of preaching in your overall ministry
    Preach with authority and communicate the gospel with simplicity
    And much more.

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  • Christs Own Forever Leaders Guide (Teacher’s Guide)

    $25.95

    The Leader’s Guide provides clergy and lay people with a flexible, succinct framework for meeting with parents, informally or in a group setting. Includes background on baptism and Christian initiation, as well as guidance on preparation for baptism in the Episcopal Church today. Guidance is provided for preparation and follow-up with parents who are parish members and those who are unchurched. (Living the Good News)

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  • Christs Own Forever Parent Godparent Journal

    $12.95

    This interactive journal invites parents and godparents on a child’s spiritual journey as he or she takes this important first step.

    If you are ordering a quantity of 30 or more, please call 1-800-824-1813 to receive your volume discount.

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  • Christly Gestures : Learning To Be Members Of The Body Of Christ

    $29.99

    The church is not only the central place of Christian worship but also a place of faith-filled education. Christly Gestures reframes the very meaning of religious education, exploring what the form and content of Christian learning would look like if local churches truly saw themselves as the body of Christ.

    Author Brett Webb-Mitchell begins with the writings of Paul, using them to clarify the biblical image of Christ’s body as the community of believers. Taking this powerful analogy to heart, he suggests that Christian education must not only nurture the minds and spiritual lives of church members but also educate their bodies into the “Christly gestures” – performing acts of faith that imitate Jesus and embody the gospel in daily life. In the quest for a richer, more relevant understanding of Christian education, Webb-Mitchell provides meaningful answers to questions concerning the purpose, context, ways, and means of educating Christians today.

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  • Where All Hope Lies Print On Demand Title

    $29.99

    304 Pages

    Additional Info
    “Where All Hope Lies” presents fifty-six select sermons by James Van Tholen, a gifted young pastor who lost his battle with cancer in January 2001 at the age of thirty-six.

    Though Jim’s untimely death gives a certain poignancy to this volume, these sermons are far from dark or despairing. Van Tholen’s conversational style, thought-provoking insights into Scripture, and frequent interaction with such writers as Flannery O’Connor, Frederick Buechner, Kathleen Norris, and others make these sermons truly enjoyable as well as profitable to read. Through them all there runs a sense of concentrating on what really matters trusting in God no matter what suffering or difficulties might come our way. Indeed, as demonstrated by the book’s title sermon first published in “Christianity Today” as “Surprised by Death” more than anything, Van Tholen preached the grace and goodness of God.

    Including a foreword by Neal Plantinga and a closing reflection on “the man behind the sermons” by Jim’s wife, Rachel, “Where All Hope Lies” offers gracious, powerful, uplifting words for believers throughout the church year

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  • 3 Months With The Spirit (Student/Study Guide)

    $14.99

    In his lively writing style, renowned author Justo Gonzalez makes this material, formerly available only in Spanish, available to an English-speaking audience. Consisting of 13 Bible studies–each in 7 parts–Three Months with the Spirit can be used for individual or group study.

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  • Im More Than A Pastors Wife

    $22.99

    A serious yet good humored look at the unique challenges facing pastors9 wives in the 21st century. Pastor9s wives confront unique challenges, both as wives of a public figure and as members of the congregation. Lorna Dobson, whose husband, Ed, is senior pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, MI, speaks from experience. In this open and caring discussion she addresses the dynamics that pastors9 wives face in a church culture that is in transition to a new era in the 21st century. Dobson9s writing has been praised for its combination of good humor and serious advice and for its balance of scriptural basis, personal illustrations, honesty, and sincerity. In this revised edition she draws on fresh experiences and mature reflection. Here she delves further into the ways wives can support their husbands9 ministries, and she explores the dynamics of dealing with “problem people” and conflicts between pastor and congregation. “Although this book is an easy read, Dobson isn9t always easy on readers, using a tone of gentle exhortation .[She] is well read and includes great quotes from authors .This book will help any pastor9s wife wanting to fine-tune her role.” Bookstore Journal

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  • Preaching In Black And White

    $22.99

    12 Chapters

    Additional Info
    A noted black preacher and a white preacher interact on the dynamics of pulpit ministry Black preachers and white preachers have tended to minister in isolation within their separate communities. They have been unaware of what they might learn from each other as members of the same body of Christ. Yet as America becomes increasingly diverse, pastors need to become more sensitive to the needs of people from other cultural backgrounds. Preaching in Black and White is the first attempt to bring together a noted black preacher and white preacher to interact on the dynamics of pulpit ministry and what can be learned from each other. Readers are invited to pull up a chair and listen in to a conversation between the two authors as they discuss the context in which African-American preaching has developed, the similarities and differences in styles of preaching in the two communities, and how they go about preparing and delivering a sermon. Humor and stories punctuate the dialogue including the stories of Dr. Bailey9s receiving a beating from the police in California and how forgetting the second point in his sermon brought the house down with laughter. Features include: * Two illustrative sermons on the same text about Zacchaeus by a white preacher and a black preacher * Audio CD featuring signature sermon from E. K. Bailey, “Testing of a Tax Collector” * Annotated bibliography of preaching resources * Biographical section introducing noted black preachers * Black and white photographs

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  • Help Im Leading A Childrens Sermon 1

    $14.00

    1. Common Lectionary Year A
    2. Common Lectionary Year B
    3. Common Lectionary Year C
    Apendix

    Additional Info
    Children are an important part of the worshipping community and need to have opportunities that create for them a sense of belonging. Children’s sermons provide this opportunity and should be events of proclamation. Help! I’m Leading a Children’s Sermon, Volume 1 contains a collection of children’s sermons designed to involve children creatively in worship and the proclamation of the Word. The collection contains two sermons for each Sunday with a key emphasis on Scripture, including key verses to be read within the sermon. The sermons invite the children to participate in corporate worship in a meaningful, creative way by asking questions and using hands-on activities to explain themes such as hope, forgiveness, repentance and God’s sovereignty. Help I’m Leading a Children’s Sermon, Volume 1 is an essential book for the collection of any worship leader

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  • Mission Trip Prep Kit Leaders Guide (Teacher’s Guide)

    $14.99

    You work hard planning mission trips. Now make mission trips work for you and your group. Headed to inner-city America? Appalachia? A border of Shantytown? Overseas? Wherever your destination, the MISSION TRIP PREP KIT contains all you need to prepare your students for an unforgettable cross-cultural experience _ and tools to debrief them after they9ve returned to their worlds. Use this kit- *To get on-site impact as well as long-term spiritual change in your kids. *Whether you9re a mission-trip novice or a savvy traveler outside your comfort zones. *Whether your group9s is geared toward reaching others with the gospel or to disciple your young missionaries. *In several sessions spread over a month or two _ or in an intensive, two-day training session or retreat. IN THIS LEADER9S GUIDE: You9ll receive not only the rationale, the how, and the logistics of planning and pulling off a missions trip, but _ and this is the genius of the leader9s guide _ 4 PRE-TRIP TEACHING SESSIONS that will help your students _ *Assess their EXPECTATIONS, their fears, their motivations. *Adjust their PERCEPTIONS of the culture they9ll be working in. *Improve their emotional and spiritual STAMINA for living for a week or a month in a very different world from their own. *Practice the skills and ATTITUDES (teamwork, servanthood, Christ-centeredness) they9ll need for a missions trip. And to make sure your trip9s goals are accomplished and the benefits stick around for a long haul, you9ll also receive 2 POST-TRIP SESSIONS that will help you DEBRIEF your students, ease them back into their own worlds, CELEBRATE with them, and make missions and ministry part of their EVERYDAY LIVES WITH JESUS. What9s more, in these pre- and post-trip teaching sessions are a variety of ACTIVITIES processing points creative PRAYER IDEAS take-home applications BIBLE STUDIES relevant to mission tripping TALK OUTLINES that both instruct and inspire and lots of sessions options you can tailor to your own HIGH SCHOOLERS OR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

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  • Teaching Todays Teachers To Teach (Revised)

    $24.99

    A revision of a standard resource for classes and seminary courses in Christian education. A revised edition of the best-selling Teaching Teachers to Teach (1974), this book is a basic, comprehensive manual offering practical guidance that helps teachers learn the art and practice of teaching. Throughout the book, Griggs identifies the basic elements of the teaching process and outlines the essential ingredients needed for effective teaching.

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  • Confessing Jesus Christ A Print On Demand Title

    $32.99

    264 Pages

    Additional Info
    Denying any realities beyond our own mental constructions, postmodernists relentlessly question the presuppositions of many disciplines—including homiletics. Confessing Jesus Christ: Preaching in a Postmodern World encourages pastors to treat sermons as public acts of “faith alone.” Offering a lively description of antifoundationalism—and its implications for Christianity—David Lose suggests concrete methods of countering the challenges it poses. Includes two sample sermons.

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  • Ministry Loves Company

    $25.00

    In Ministry Loves Company John Galloway provides new and veteran pastors with insights on establishing and maintaining a vital parish ministry while remaining invigorated by the practice of ministry. Drawing on the image of a congregation as a family, Galloway uses anecdotes to describe the life of a congregation and the life of a pastor, who have both been called to be the body of Christ. Poignant, memorable, and often humorous, Galloway’s reflections derive from his own personal experiences as a pastor. Ministry Loves Company uniquely addresses the many challenges facing today’s pastors and serves as a practical guide for those veteran pastors who are seeking to remain courageous and excited about parish ministry.

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  • Boundaries With Kids Participants Guide (Student/Study Guide)

    $14.99

    A video resource kit that helps parents bring control to their family and instill godly character in their children This ZondervanGroupware curriculum is a complete resource kit for helping parents put into practice the principles detailed in the book Boundaries with Kids. Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend take parents through the ins and outs of establishing family boundaries and cultivating sound character in their children. The video features presentations by the authors as well as dramatic vignettes. The 8 sessions can be used in large or small groups and are presented in a new test-proven small group interactive format. The complete ZondervanGroupware kit includes one leader9s guide, one participant9s guide, one Boundaries with Kids softcover book, one VHS video, and one DVD. Each element except the videos is also sold separately. An 8-Session Focus on Boundaries and Kids

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  • 17 Indisputable Laws Of Teamwork (Workbook)

    $19.99

    Whether leading in business, church, sports, or in your family, teamwork is essential. In this new book, John Maxwell walks readers through the various laws of leadership showing the importance of working together.

    Everyone who works with people is realizing that the old autocratic method of leadership simply doesn’t work. The way to win is to build a great team.
    John C. Maxwell has been teaching the benefits of leadership and team building for years. Now he tackles the importance of teamwork head on, writing about teamwork being necessary for every kind of leader, and showing how team building can improve every area of your life.

    Written in the style of the bestseller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, this new book not only contains laws that you can count on when it comes to getting people to work together, but it tells them in such a way that you can start applying them to your own life today. And it’s illustrated with great stories of team leaders – and team breakers – from history, business, the church, and sports.

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  • Boundaries With Kids Leaders Guide (Teacher’s Guide)

    $29.99

    A video resource kit that helps parents bring control to their family and instill godly character in their children This ZondervanGroupware curriculum is a complete resource kit for helping parents put into practice the principles detailed in the book Boundaries with Kids. Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend take parents through the ins and outs of establishing family boundaries and cultivating sound character in their children. The video features presentations by the authors as well as dramatic vignettes. The 8 sessions can be used in large or small groups and are presented in a new test-proven small group interactive format. The complete ZondervanGroupware kit includes one leader9s guide, one participant9s guide, one Boundaries with Kids softcover book, one VHS video, and one DVD. Each element except the videos is also sold separately. An 8-Session Focus on Boundaries and Kids

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  • Principles Of Prison Ministry

    $14.99

    Many churches have sent teams of ministers into prisons, and nearly two-thirds of them have returned to their churches defeated. The Principles of Prison Ministry serves as a manual for such teams, giving volunteer chaplains a far better view of what prison ministry is all about. Dr. Seay’s twenty-three years of experience will help navigate you through some of the trouble areas in this difficult world of prisons.

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  • What They Dont Teach You At Theological College

    $23.00

    This is an accessible guide for all those thinking of ordination, their teachers, and all those setting out in the ministry, along with their families. It offers practical advice on all the personnel issues related to the ministry, from sensing a call to planning for your retirement. There is clear and simple guidance on the appointments system and chapters on handling conflict, introducing change, managing on less money, knowing when to move on and reviewing your ministry. The Church is exempt from employment law and clergy aften have to feel their way through 30 years or more service. This text offers support and guidance for every stage of your ministry, a summary of legal responsibilities and parish structures and advice for nurturing your personal life.

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  • Milk For Babes

    $17.49

    “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3) “The title and subject matter of this book,” says Anne Murchison, “arose out of my own need for follow-up material for new Christians who have no classes readily available to them.” Anne discovered the lack of a Christian “primer” through her own experiences as a new Christian, and as she attempted to share her faith with non-Christian friends and with classes of new believers put in her care. Consequently she has written this basic, yet thorough study which provides the tools for laying a sure foundation for faith. The author addresses these and other queries so often posed by beginning Christians and curious unbelievers. What is God’s nature-what’s he like? Who is Satan? What about those who never hear of Jesus? The Trinity-how can three be one? What is sin? “Whether you are a nonbeliever or a believer in Jesus Christ,” states Tom Landry in his preface, “the challenge of Christianity brings up questions that need answering. Anne Murchison has used these questions as topics for her study guide. She has allowed the Word of God, the Bible, to answer these questions. . . . “I encourage you to use this book as a study guide for your time in the Bible. The Holy Spirit will reveal to you only what you are able to handle. As you continue to grow and mature as a Christian, God will continue to reveal new truths that will enable you to fully enjoy the ‘peace that passes all understanding.”

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  • Listening For God 4 (Adapted)

    $3.99

    This leader guide offers suggestions for using the Reader and the Video, and provides suggestions for organizing class time and responding to reflection questions. One Leader Guide is packaged with the video, and it is also available separately.

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  • Lessons From A Dog Guide Cycle C

    $10.95

    Dee Brauninger has a way with words that makes one’s heart sing and be open to learn andhear more. Gentle phrases leap out and make one think and wrestle with God and one’s self.(from the introduction)Margaret Slater, Inclusive Ministry CoordinatorLocal Church Ministries, United Church of ChristIn these meditations on the love and trust of the relationship between guide dog and person, readersfind themselves learning to love and to trust in other important ways. Brauninger speaksfrom experience, yet with care and respect for the reader’s own journey and conclusions about life.Mary Avidano, PastorAlbion United Church of ChristAlbion, NebraskaBrauninger has a gift for writing words that are truly inspired and inspiring. Her workwith guide dogs has given her a unique insight into spiritual life, and a very understandableway of presenting God’s message.Judy Campbell, Director of TrainingLeader Dogs for the BlindRochester, MichiganTheses superbly crafted meditations, focusing on messages of hope and the reality of God’spresence, introduce insights that speak to the heart. The meditations bear reading severaltimes, allowing one to savor the words and explore the meanings for one’s own life.Martha D. Walker, Counselor and Christian EducatorPottstown, PennsylvaniaUsing her own experiences with leader dogs as a metaphor for our dependence upon a caringGod, Brauninger creatively weaves together personal stories, fresh insights into biblical passages, and implications for people in the pews.Dosia Carlson, Pastor EmeritusChurch of the BeatitudesPhoenix, ArizonaThese messages are a real treasure! Told in a setting that includes a dog guide namedTreasure, the stories help relate our faith to our own daily situations. Treasure helps us gainsome insight and understanding into both our faith and our life.Bob Loffer, Associate Conference MinisterNebraska Conference, United Church of ChristThe images of our faith strengthen our spiritual growth. Dee Brauninger weaves the attributesof the divine so well as she captures the person with a disability living in unity with adog, or is it with God?David Denham, ConsultantUnited Church of Christ Disabilities MinistriesDallas A. Brauninger is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ andfull-time writer who has served churches in Colorado and Nebraska. She has been honoredby her denomination for outstanding ministry to persons with disabilities and theirfamilies, and she is the editor of That All May Worship And Serve, the

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  • If A Sermon Falls In The Forest

    $23.95

    This fascinating volume looks at the scriptural texts concerning a pivotal New Testament theme — the resurrection of Jesus — and examines how they may be read in various interpretive communities. Shepherd analyzes each of the major New Testament writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul — and places their distinctive accounts of Jesus’ resurrection in the broader context of their entire output. Through a careful study of the literary, historical, theological, anthropological, and sociological dimensions that color each writer’s picture of the resurrection, Shepherd helps readers understand the unique view each brought to bear on the life of Jesus and the faith of his followers.

    But that is not all this book has to offer. Each section also includes one or more sample sermons illustrating how a preacher might treat these texts for an actual congregation. Each message is introduced with a description of its original setting and the homiletical and interpretive issues involved — so this is an excellent resource for pastors looking for stimulating Easter material or instructive preaching models.

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  • Alleluia : Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes

    $12.95

    Elaine Ward passionately believes that it is vital for children to hear the good news of God’s love through the Lenten stories of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In this companion volume to An Idle Tale Becomes Good News (also available from CSS Publishing Company), Ward shares her gift for communicating with young people through twenty stories based on specific phrases or objects related to Jesus’ ministry in his final days or in his resurrection appearances. Each message tells a captivating tale in easily understood language, then invites children to enter the sacred story by connecting it with the scriptural narrative. Brief talking points and questions are included to help presenters clearly make the link for their young listeners.

    Stories include:
    * The Wasted Ointment
    * The Warning Dream
    * The Misdirected Tears
    * The Torn Curtain
    * The Idle Tale
    …and many more!

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  • Idle Tale Becomes Good News

    $15.95

    Each chapter in this collection of twenty meditations considers a specific phrase or object related to Jesus’ ministry in his final days or in his resurrection appearances. In several cases, this is something intangible yet very distinct, such as Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, Pilate’s wife’s dream, or the astounding news of the resurrection which seemed like an “idle tale.” Other messages address objects that could have been seen and touched: the torn curtain in the Temple, ropes, scars, or the burial spices the women brought to the empty tomb. But whether tangible or intangible, each symbol reflects a significant event in the biblical narrative which Sheets explores to see what lessons can be drawn for today’s Christian living. This volume is excellent for adult Sunday school classes or other study groups, devotional reading during Lent and Easter, and as background for sermon preparation. A companion book of children’s sermons based on the same texts (Alleluia! by Elaine M. Ward) is also available from CSS Publishing Company.

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  • Journey Of Stones

    $7.95

    Drawing on the rich imagery of rocks and stones in scripture, these powerful messages center around the compelling metaphor of stones (and our willingness to throw them) as representative of our sins. As worshipers enter the sanctuary they are invited to pick up stones as a concrete symbol of each sermon’s theme; then as the message concludes the stones are placed at the foot of the cross. When the stones disappear on Easter (just like the stone sealing Jesus’ tomb), it’s a vivid illustration of how the Lord also removes our stones of sin. Each chapter includes several thought-provoking discussion questions to spur further reflection. With messages for Ash Wednesday, five weeks of Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, this is an excellent resource for Lenten midweek programming.

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  • Urban Ministry And The Kingdom Of God

    $23.99

    An accessible and enjoyable resource for students of urban ministry and mission, and essential reading for all those living and working in an urban or suburban setting.

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  • Is Human Forgiveness Possible

    $15.95

    Forgiving those closest to us who have hurt us is one of the most difficult things Christians are called to do. For pastoral counselors the forgiveness issue creates a particularly serious dilemma, because it places counselors in the position of telling clients to do something their emotions vehemently fight against.

    Is Human Forgiveness Possible? offers an effective way out of this quandary by giving the forgiveness issue an entirely new focus.

    John Patton begins by scrapping our past understanding of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not something we do, he asserts; it’s something we discover. To truly forgive someone, we must discover that “I am more like those who have hurt me than different from them. I am able to forgive when I discover that I am in no position to forgive.”

    Patton presents case studies from his pastoral counseling practice that illustrate the difficulty of forgiving and actively demonstrate his new solution to the forgiveness problem.

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  • Getting The Word Out

    $32.00

    High quality publications and public relations will enhance a congregation’s overall ministry by promoting strong stewardship, effective evangelism, and exciting parish education. Getting the Word Out provides all the tools congregations need to create attention-grabbing, informative, and inspiring communications.

    Frederick H. Gonnerman shows readers how to assess their audience and the competition for the audience’s attention; identify a publication’s purpose; and create useful, readable, and attractive publications-whether print or online, for the congregation or a broader community. One chapter deals with the role of publications in the celebration of special events.

    Approaching the parish communications task as a team effort-one that might include pastors; a volunteer or paid editor; and secretaries, other paid staff, and lay leaders-Gonnerman shares the experience and expertise of professional journalists, graphic designers and artists, photographers, and public relations personnel. Getting the Word Out will teach every member of the team how to produce the most effective and highest quality publications possible. Foreword by Martin E. Marty.

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  • Get Up Off Your Knees

    $14.95

    Get Up Off Your Knees is a thoughtful and provocative collection of sermons by a group of preachers from across the international church spectrum who have been moved to theological reflection on the art and work of U2. This book will appeal to fans of U2, students of homiletics, and everyone interested in the intersection of art, popular culture, and religion.

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  • House Of Prayer For All Peoples

    $28.00

    Contrary to the oft-repeated truism, there are churches in America where Sunday is not the “most segregated day of the week,” as Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook convincingly demonstrates in her compelling exploration of congregations tackling racial justice issues. Yet the truism continues to haunt many congregations, and Kujawa-Holbrook reveals, through story and thoughtful analysis, what it means to create and live out multiracial community.

    Focusing on six congregations from different denominations, geographical regions, and settings, the author shows us the joys and struggles in their intentional pursuits of a more diverse and just community. The stories in A House of Prayer for All Peoples will inspire leaders to explore their congregation’s history, study their community’s demographics, and, most of all, search their souls for ways they can develop and celebrate the diversity in their midst. The book is capped by an extensive annotated resource list for readers who want to explore the topic further.

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