Sermons
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And Still The Hour Shines
$23.95Add to cartAre you tired of going with the flow of the rest of the world? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and be counter-cultural, perhaps even revolutionary? While this may seem to be a tall order to many of us, the blueprints for personal and cultural change have been with us for centuries in the words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Considered by many to be the most powerful message ever recorded, the Sermon on the Mount flies in the face of much of what our society esteems. In a world that thrives on stress, irreverence, and greed, Jesus describes a life of spiritual contentment, deep piety, and abundant generosity. And Still the Hour Shines… journeys through the Sermon on the Mount, examining everything from the Beatitudes to its teachings on prayer and giving. As Stephen Crotts unearths the simple yet profound messages in this passage, holding these principles up against our current societal standards, he calls us to embark on a different journey, living as examples of hope and goodness for the rest of the world to see. This resource is ideal not just for personal study but also for sermon inspiration and small group study.
And Still the Hour Shines… calls us to shine as beacons of light, guiding a world in darkness to its savior.
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Walking With Christ
$12.95Add to cartThe road Christ calls us to travel takes us on a journey of learning, in both exciting and mundane times. Through sermons based on his own life’s journey, Michael D. Wuchter illustrates how we can draw closer to the heart of God in stimulating times like overseas missions and also in such simple things as gardening, cleaning out a wallet, camping, or going to an amusement park. For those seeking to deepen their understanding of God, Walking with Christ reflects on one man’s journey of faith, and encourages us to embark on our own.
In this fourth book of sermons, Michael Wuchter gives us even more creative images to convey and carry the words of the gospel. On Earth Day, he imagines a creation bogged down by government regulations; he balances the dangers of prayer with the risks of a roller coaster ride; and he comes to terms with the true meaning of sin and grace while camping next to some unruly families from Brooklyn.
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Alphabet Of Grace
$16.99Add to cartWith characteristic eloquence and insight, Buechner presents a three-part series of reflections that probe, through the course of one day, the innermost mysteries of life. Blending an artist’s eye for natureal beauty, the true meaning of human encounters, and the significance of occurances (momentous or seemly trival), with a wealth of personal, literacy, biblical, and spiritual insights, he offers a matchless opportunity for readers to discover the hidden wisdom that can be gleaned through a heightened experience of daily life.
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Chasing Chariots
$10.95Add to cartBecause the New Testament speaks directly to us as Christians, it can be tempting to focus more of our attention there at the expense of the Old Testament. However, the Hebrew scriptures still have relevance even for 21st-century Christians. Chasing Chariots is an exploration of 11 scripture passages featuring the chariot, an ancient symbol of power and strength. In each account, K. D. Weaver draws out ancient wisdom that still speak to our contemporary lives concerning faith, judgment, healing, and destiny.
Some of the lessons included in this collection are:
Deal with Change
Execute Your Exodus
Seize What God Has for You
Mature in ChristThis collection is perfect for sermon inspiration, small group Bible study, or personal reflection. Each of the accounts explored in Chasing Chariots fosters spiritual maturity and draws us closer to the God of both the Old and New Testaments.
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Courage To Carry On
$8.95Add to cartUsing the Hebrew scriptures and the book of Acts as a guide, David Webb journeys through the First Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Lent and Easter seasons. The Courage to Carry On not only draws people into a deeper appreciation and understanding of the meaning of Lent and Easter, it also offers insight into living the Christian life in today’s world. Ideal for sermon inspiration and preparation as well as small group Bible study and personal reflection and meditation, The Courage to Carry On is a valuable addition to any library.
Some of the sermons included in this collection are:
* Relentless Grace
* A Precious Gift
* Salvation Is Coming
* The Church’s DNA
* Confident Faith -
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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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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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. -
Growing In Christ
$9.95Add to cartIn nature, spring is a time of rebirth and renewal as the earth shakes off its wintry slumber. In the church, spring is also a time of renewal. From the reflection and self-examination of Lent comes the new dawn of the risen Son at Easter. In Growing in Christ, Michael Wuchter reflects this season of renewal in such messages as ?A Letter From Cousin John,? ?Explaining Resurrection,? and ?Parenting and Hiking.? No matter the season, be it the scorching heat of summer or the bitter frost of winter, Growing in Christ can help us experience the newness of spring in our spirits.
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Cry From The Cross
$8.95Add to cartChristianity is a faith centered around an instrument of suffering and death — a cross. The hope of every believer is rooted in it. Over the centuries, the cross has become a universal symbol of both suffering and redemption.
On Good Friday, the cross takes center stage in our worship. Passages from the gospels retelling the agonizing tale of Jesus’ betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death are recited to the point where the words may become commonplace for some Christians. We may know the words, but have we explored their meaning?
A Cry from the Cross, a series of seven sermons, explores each of the last seven statements given by Jesus as recorded in the gospels of Mark, Luke, and John. As each statement is explored — statements like “Father, Forgive Them” or “Woman, Here Is Your Son” — Robert Cornwall offers deeper insights into the meaning and significance of the cross as it relates to the Christian faith.
This is a useful resource for pastors and lay ministers, one that can be used as an inspiration for Good Friday sermons, a Lenten study series, or simply a window to greater personal insight into that day on a hill outside Jerusalem so many years ago — a day that shaped the future of the entire world.
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Sermons On The First Readings Series 2 Cycle A
$37.95Add to cartModern life presents many difficult and challenging situations — but as the Hebrew scriptures tell us in rich detail, that’s nothing new for God’s people. Indeed, the Bible shares the epic story of how God’s faithful followers were formed and shaped through centuries of trial by fire. In this inspiring collection of powerful messages based on the First Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary, five master practitioners of the homiletic craft explore passages from the Old Testament and the Book of Acts, and show how the wisdom contained in those ancient texts offers vital moral and spiritual guidance for contemporary living. Building on stories in which God moves ordinary people to extraordinary heights, these sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year passionately proclaim the good news of God’s continuing presence — and the possibilities that offers for our lives, our churches, and the world.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters
* Understanding scripture passages
* Bible study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and inspirational reading -
Preaching The Sermon On The Mount
$15.99Add to cartThis collection of essays and sermons challenges us to consider the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus’ serious proposal for an alternative society, a speech of resistance to the forces and institutions that dominate the world.
This two-part volume brings together the thoughts of biblical scholars and storytellers, theologians and historians, and evangelical and mainline scholars. Eighteen writers tackle Jesus’ landmark sermon, as timely in today’s discussions of empire, occupation, poverty, and wars as ever. They demonstrate that the Sermon on the Mount puts before us not an impossible ideal, but a vision of what God’s people can be when they choose by God’s grace to live in God’s Kingdom.
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Shining Through The Darkness
$9.95Add to cartWith their recurrent themes of “waiting” and “traveling on a journey,” these 12 imaginative messages are especially appropriate for the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons — yet their ecumenically oriented expressions of Christian faith, hope, and love also make them relevant for any time of the year. Wuchter’s keen eye for the telling detail and his ability to connect scripture with familiar things in our lives make Shining Through the Darkness compelling reading for anyone who wants a deeper appreciation of God’s grace and the Gospel of Christ.
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Women And The Word
$9.95Add to cartWomen and the Word uses first person narratives to engage people with various texts of scripture. The book can be used in small group studies, confirmation groups, retreats, or Sunday school. Whether the narratives are performed, read, or studied, Women and the Word will bring new meaning to the well-loved stories of:
Mary, Joseph’s Betrothed — A Promised Word
A Woman of the City — A Forgiving Word
Martha, Lazarus, and Mary’s Sister — A Clarifying Word
The Crippled Woman — A Transforming Word
A Woman Leper — A Grateful Word
The Woman at the Well — A Refreshing Word
Mary, Lazarus, and Martha’s Sister — A Living Word
The Mother who Begged Jesus to Heal her Daughter — A Hopeful Word -
Uplifting Christ Through Autumn
$9.95Add to cartUplifting Christ Through Autumn gathers together 12 imaginative sermons from a remarkably gifted parish pastor and campus minister, covering a variety of important occasions, such as:
* World Communion Day
* Stewardship Sunday
* Homecoming/Fall Festival
* Reformation Sunday
* All Saints Day
* Holy Cross Day
* ThanksgivingHowever, the ecumenically oriented expressions of Christian faith, hope, and love in these messages make them relevant for any time of the year. Plus, Wuchter’s keen eye for the telling detail, exemplified by his observation that “the refrigerator is the household religious shrine that reveals the ethical heartbeat and spiritual faith of a family,” means they’re readable and appealing for everyone.
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Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 2 Cycle C
$40.95Add to cartBring Jesus? message and ministry to life with this complete set of inspiring and thought-provoking sermons for every Sunday and major celebration in the Church year. Six notable preachers from across the denominational spectrum offer a treasure trove of creative homiletic ideas and practical, scripture-based wisdom in messages based on Gospel texts from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Weaving together insightful illustrations with keen insight into contemporary life, these sermons passionately proclaim the Good News and powerfully remind us of God’s limitless love. Each riveting message is certain to enlighten the mind and warm the heart.
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Sermons On The Second Readings Series 2 Cycle C
$36.95Add to cartPaul and the other writers of the epistles were entrepreneurs for early Christianity — and not only did they tirelessly spread the good news, but their pastoral letters are also a marvelous guidebook full of practical wisdom. Because their writers were called on to assist the early faith communities in coping with a variety of problems, the New Testament epistles are chock-full of timeless lessons on living the Christian faith. In this extensive anthology of enlightening sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary, five eminent preachers from diverse denominations apply the nourishing teachings of the epistles to today’s complex challenges. With messages included for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, there’s a wealth of ideas and illustrative stories helpful for preaching, teaching, and meditation. These biblically grounded sermons shine the light of Christ on our often confusing world and proclaim the richness of God’s truth, offering readers comfort and hope while challenging them to a more intense faith relationship with the almighty.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters
* Understanding scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study -
Sideswiped By Eternity
$25.00Add to cartDr. Joseph L. Roberts has, for the past thirty years, been the pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, the former pulpit of the Reverends Martin Luther King Senior and Junior.
The sermons in this collection demonstrate Dr. Roberts’s commitment to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the mission of his church, the lives of his parishioners, and the message of Jesus Christ. Roberts addresses such topics as the need for prophetic voices in today’s world; the challenges of living individualistically and in community; burden sharing as a key to a meaningful life; the relevance of grace and faith today; and the importance of renewal through relationship with God and our fellow human beings.
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Women In The Wings
$16.95Add to cartTurn ordinary sermons into memorable occasions with this set of 20 dramatic monologues that can be used by female pastors, lay speakers, or other worship leaders. Women In The Wings highlights the role of women in the Christian story, as scripture passages are brought to life and interpreted by the women who were there. Each monologue tells the story of a biblical character, or of someone who might have witnessed the biblical narrative unfold.
Women In The Wings provides a user-friendly approach to communicating the gospel through drama — each thought-provoking monologue comes with theological reflections (“Making It Preach”) plus staging instructions and performance tips (“Making It Play”) that makes it accessible for anyone. And this material isn’t just for use in worship — it’s also great for women’s retreats or as discussion starters for Bible study. If you let the women in these monologues share the pulpit with you, together you’ll preach the Word in fresh and meaningful ways.
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This Incomplete One
$21.99Add to cartUnique! Bush has pulled together an amazing variety of sermons occasioned by the death of a young person, encompassing both historical figures and our contemporaries: Barth, Claypool, Coffin, Edwards, Rutledge, Schleiermacher, and Van Tholen. . . . How to handle a difficult, wrenching situation.
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People Who Met Jesus
$14.95Add to cartIn the latest installment of his popular series examining the basics of the Christian faith, Ron Lavin takes another look at the final days of Jesus’ life on earth through the eyes of the people whose lives were changed by their encounters with the Lord. Lavin examines their stories, both familiar and little-known, and highlights how their experiences intersect our lives. By telling the story of Jesus, they point us toward God.
People Who Met Jesus is an ideal Lenten group study resource — each chapter includes questions for stimulating discussion. It’s also excellent for adult Sunday school or new member classes throughout the year, as well as for sermon preparation or personal meditation.
Other titles in the Another Look series:
* I Believe; Help My Unbelief (on the Apostles’ Creed)
* Stories To Remember (on the Parables of Jesus)
* Abba (on the Lord’s Prayer)
* Saving Grace (on the Word and Sacraments)
* The Big Ten (on the Ten Commandments) -
Wounded For Us
$10.95Add to cartBy focusing on the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf — and powerfully linking it to our lives today — this comprehensive resource offers a compelling approach to observing Lent that truly prepares worshipers to experience Easter’s new hope, new possibilities, and new life. Based on the ancient tradition of the five wounds of Christ, Wounded For Us identifies places where we find ourselves hurting, then connects them to one of the wounds Jesus suffered and explores how Christ’s resurrection offers reconciliation and healing.
Wounded For Us draws an imaginative analogy between Jesus’ wounds and these areas in our lives where we are wounded:
* Head (crown of thorns) — our thoughts
* Side (piercing) — our spirit and emotions
* Back (scourging) — our hopes and dreams
* Hands (nails) — our relationships
* Feet (nails) — our actionsWith sermon and worship material for Ash Wednesday, the Sundays in Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, Wounded For Us provides a complete package with everything needed for developing meaningful, thematically unified services throughout the Lenten season. Each sermon suggests an action plan that applies the “cure” of the gospel to our wounds, and reproducible outlines that help the congregation focus on the main themes are also included.
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7 Wonders Of The Faith
$8.95Add to cartIn Seven Wonders Of The Faith, Charles Reeb addresses some of the most burning questions that people in the pews are asking — about issues that often become stumbling blocks to faith. He offers scripture-based answers that will enrich and strengthen the faith of believers while also planting seeds of faith in the hearts of unbelievers. His dynamic messages engage readers and speak to our elemental concerns, inviting us to confront them in an effort to discern a truly mature spirituality. This is an excellent resource for adult Sunday school curriculum, a sermon series, or enlightening personal reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of God.
Chapters include:
* I Wonder If God Exists
* I Wonder Why Bad Things Happen To Good People
* I Wonder Why My Prayers Go Unanswered
* I Wonder About God’s Will For My Life
* I Wonder About The Miracles In The Bible
* I Wonder About The End Of The World
* I Wonder About Life After Death -
Life Everlasting : The Essential Book Of Funeral Resources
$49.95Add to cartThis comprehensive volume is a must-have resource for every pastor. It contains over 100 sample sermons from preachers across the denominational spectrum, plus a vast array of prayers, scripture readings, and other material for planning and conducting meaningful funeral services. A convenient CD with text files for quick tailoring to specific circumstances is also included.
The sermons cover a wide range of topics, including:
* honoring the long and fruitful lives of faithful Christians
* comforting the families and friends of children who left this world too soon
* dealing with troubling questions about God raised by those who have suffered
* offering solace to the loved ones of those who have died suddenly and unexpectedly
* demonstrating how the image of God is present even in difficult and unsavory people
* celebrating a variety of distinctive “characters”
* addressing the difficult issues associated with those who have committed suicide
* witnessing the Christian message of salvation to the unchurchedLife Everlasting is also packed with other valuable resources:
* children’s messages that help young people grasp the meaning of death
* prayers and other liturgical material, including calls to worship and responsive scripture readings
* an extensive selection of scripture texts, each with brief “sermon starter” ideas
* lists of appropriate musical repertoire, including hymns, choral music, instrumental music, and music for soloistsWith all this in one volume, Life Everlasting provides a complete set of practical tools for making funerals powerfully effective moments of ministry that reaffirm the central Christian message of Jesus Christ’s victory over death.
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Substance Of Faith
$26.00Add to cartTo read The Substance of Faith is once again to experience Clarence Jordan at his best: the flashing witt that could illuminate even as it entertained, the blazing concern that knew how to lay its burden on the heart of even the causual listerner, the biting irony that pierced shame and pretense, the depth of spirit that saw fresh meaning in the most familar passage of Scripture. With in the pages of this book, you’ll discover the basic themes of Clarence Jordan’s life: “Incartational Evangelishm”, the “God Movement” and his prophetic insight into the enemies of authentic faith, such as Mammon. Dallas Lee has brought all this together from what Clarence Jordan siadn in the pulpit, classroom and lecture hall.
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Pulpit Science Fiction
$12.95Add to cartTo keep the Christian message relevant in our rapidly changing times, it’s vital that churches come to terms with how modern technology and scientific knowledge have changed the way we understand the world. And because preaching is the church’s primary mode of communication (especially with adults), it offers a significant opportunity to shape how we think about the larger questions of our existence.
One innovative way for preachers to address these concerns is through popular science fiction. Because many of the genre’s stories deal with the impact of science and technology on individuals and cultures, they often have implicit religious implications. Pulpit Science Fiction is a fascinating collection of creative story sermons that shows how you can use elements drawn from science fiction to boldly proclaim the Christian faith. In addition to 14 imaginative “science fiction parables,” a pair of essays are also included that illustrate how references to science fiction films and stories can be utilized in preaching.
Story titles include:
* Improving The Species — Genesis 6:1-4
* Exiles — Ezekiel 34:11-16, 23-24
* Time Travel — Mark 1:12-15
* The Aliens Are Puzzled — John 10:11-16
* Burying The Seeds — John 12:20-33
* The Signal — Ephesians 3:7-12
* erhero: Sort of a Sequel — Hebrews 12:1-2
…and seven more! -
Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 2 Cycle B
$36.95Add to cartPacked with inspiring illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart, this complete collection of thoughtful sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year is a gold mine of creative preaching ideas — and an invaluable source of insight into faithful Christian living amidst the challenges of today’s secular world. Five outstanding preachers from diverse ministry settings reflect on the events of Jesus’ life and their contemporary meaning in messages based on Gospel passages from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. Combining a strong foundation in the scriptural text with a deep understanding of vital current issues, these sermons passionately proclaim the Good News while pointing readers toward a strengthened and renewed spiritual relationship with Christ, the rock of our salvation.
This essential resource is useful for:
? Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
? Preaching illustrations
? Understanding scripture passages
? Adult study and discussion groups
? Personal devotions and Bible study -
Sermons On The First Readings Series 2 Cycle B
$36.95Add to cartThe Old Testament details the epic faith story of ancient people who, just like us today, seek God’s answers to complex problems. Yet because pastors sometimes overlook this rich source of preaching texts, many people in the pews are not as knowledgeable as they could be of the Hebrew scriptures and their profound lessons for modern living. In this inspiring collection of spiritually enlightening messages based on the First Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, four master preachers demonstrate the continuing relevance of passages from the Old Testament and the Book of Acts. Building on stories in which God moves ordinary people to extraordinary heights, these sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year powerfully proclaim timeless themes of justice and righteousness while reminding us that God’s grace is the model for the Christian community’s core values of self-giving love and forgiveness. Each thought-provoking message is filled with compelling stories and illustrations from everyday life, and challenges readers to love and serve the Lord, trusting in divine providence even in the midst of a world that sometimes seems cruel and senseless.
This essential resource is useful for:
? Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
? Preaching illustrations
? Understanding scripture passages
? Bible study and discussion groups
? Personal devotions and inspirational reading -
Where Once We Feared Enemies
$16.95Add to cartWhether we are conscious of it or not, we fear difference. That often unwarranted fear leads us to create enemies in our hearts and minds – and fear was no stranger to Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, as confessed by Pastor Nibs Stroupe: “We have listened to one another’s stories here, and we have discovered that the people we feared, those monsters we thought would destroy us – because of different skin colors, different genders, different sexual orientations, different economic categories – they are really our sisters and brothers, the folks for whom our hearts long.”
In the 1960s the Oakhurst congregation was 900 members strong, but by the time Nibs Stroupe arrived in 1983, “white flight” had left less than 100 on the church’s dwindling membership rolls. Since then, Oakhurst has undergone an extraordinary transformation, re-inventing itself as a growing community that welcomes everyone. The congregation has attracted national attention for its radically inclusive and egalitarian diversity, which extends beyond racial integration to class, gender, sexual orientation, and theological perspective. How have people from such dissimilar backgrounds come together to create a harmonious and thriving whole? In what biblical vision is it rooted and shaped? By what theological resources is it fed and sustained? The heart of the answer to these questions lies in the exceptional sermons of Nibs Stroupe.
Growing out of the experience of a multi-cultural congregation in which diversity is both valued and feared, these messages offer an uncompromising prophetic vision of the American church’s identity and mission. Stroupe firmly grounds a liberal social viewpoint within the biblical and theological traditions of the church, and he calls us to hear God’s claim on us in our place and in our time. Underlying his powerful sermons is the fundamental conviction that the barriers which separate us from our neighbors have been brought down in Jesus Christ. Where Once We Feared Enemies will be an indispensable addition to any pastor’s library. It is also inspiring and enlightening reading for anyone interested in the future of the American church, as well as its role in the continuing stories of race relations, civil rights, and peace and justice issues.
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To Dream As God Dreams
$21.95Add to cartPorter Taylor, known for his wonderful preaching, always has something unusual and thoughtful to say. “Forgive us our weeds as we forgive the weediness of others,” he writes in one sermon on the parable of the wheat and the weeds. In another he reflects on why the book of Ecclesiastes shouldn’t be read by anyone who isn’t at least 35. “At their best,” Taylor writes, “sermons are about things that matter.” To Dream as God Dreams is about those things that matter: finding our home in a storm, the roots and wings we need as people of faith, contagious love, and more. These sermons about the importance of community, the need for conversion, and the power of hopefulness make wonderful devotional reading, and are an inspirational source for others who preach.
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Awakened To A Calling
$13.99Add to cart“For anyone responding to a call to the ministry, this book will be an excellent guide.” –Jimmy Carter, Thirty-ninth President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize Winner
The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) annually invites our nation’s premier preachers to address a group of young adults who are considering a vocation in pastoral ministry. As part of the FTE’s honoring of their outgoing president, Dr. James Waits, for his remarkable service, they have collected these superb sermons. These eight sermons on vocation offer an important resource for high school and college students making vocational decisions, for older adults considering vocational changes, and for all who teach and mentor in the area of vocational discernment and who help others sort out a commitment to professional ministry.
The purpose of the Ministry Conference, and the sermons delivered at the event, intersects well with Abingdon’s mission to help form pastors who will serve the church faithfully and effectively. The preachers are highly recognizable and respected individuals who will serve as trusted and wise guides for discerning a ministry vocation. They include Fred Craddock, Walter Brueggemann, Tom Long, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Brad Braxton.
The volume includes an annotated bibliography of publications on ministry as a vocation, and a foreword by Dr. James T. Laney, former Ambassador to South Korea, President of Emory University, and Dean of Candler School of Theology. He is currently a faculty member of Emory’s Center for Ethics. He chairs the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, is a trustee of the Henry Luce Foundation, and chairs (with Andrew Young) The Faith and The City Program in Atlanta.
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Partners In Healing
$12.95Add to cartHealing is a gift and not a right. The prayer of faith is powerful, but the most faithful prayer of power was that of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, on the eve of his great ordeal: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Anointing cannot guarantee healing. If it could it would border on magic, and would imply that we in some way control God’s actions. God is in control of history and healing. It is God who invites us to join into a community of prayer through the ordinance of anointing.
(excerpt from Partners In Healing)Though there are countless instances of anointing in the Bible, it is seldom practiced in many Christian traditions today. But this essential rite reminds us that God is the true source of restoration and healing — and that he is at work in all aspects of our lives. Anointing affirms and symbolizes our partnership with God, and it invites God to be part of the healing process for anyone who is sick physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
Partners In Healing is a complete guide with all the resources you need to revive this ancient practice as part of a comprehensive ministry of healing. In addition to exploring the biblical and historical background for anointing, you’ll find a wealth of practical, easy-to-use material. There’s an extensive range of services and prayers, as well as sermons you can use to introduce this ministry to congregations unfamiliar with it. Discussion questions and activities are also included, making this an excellent resource for small group study.
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Planting Seeds
$12.95Add to cartSeeing our thoughts and feelings acted out onstage can be a very powerful experience. Because we readily identify with the characters we watch — their hopes and dreams as well as their frustrations and failures — dramatic presentations hold up a mirror that lets us see things about ourselves we often overlook.
With this compelling anthology of 24 sketches, you can open the eyes of worshipers to God’s truth and grace while planting dynamic seeds of change. Each scene is about five minutes in length and serves not only as a potent visual illustration but also helps congregations receive and retain major themes presented in the sermon. Appropriate for any denomination and audience, these easy-to-stage pieces utilize small casts and can be performed in any setting with minimal costumes and a few simple props, making them accessible to church drama groups of all sizes. In addition to sermon starter sketches, there are dramas appropriate for women’s and men’s retreats plus several monologues.
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Sermons On The Second Readings Series 2 Cycle B
$41.95Add to cartThe New Testament epistles are a marvelous guidebook full of practical wisdom on living the Christian faith. Providing much more than just a glimpse of the specific issues facing the early church, the pastoral letters contain a multitude of timeless lessons for contemporary spiritual pilgrims who seek to grow in their daily walk with the Lord. In this extensive anthology of outstanding sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers from diverse denominations apply the epistles’ nourishing teachings to today’s complex challenges. With messages for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, there’s a wealth of creative ideas and illustrations helpful for preaching, teaching, and meditation. These biblically grounded sermons shine the light of Christ on our often confusing world and proclaim the richness of God’s truth, offering readers comfort and hope while challenging them to a more intense faith relationship with the Almighty.
This essential resource is useful for:
? Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
? Preaching illustrations
? Understanding scripture passages
? Adult study and discussion groups
? Personal devotions and Bible study -
Seeds Of Heaven
$22.00Add to cartThis wonderful collection of sermons by renowned preacher, author, and speaker Barbara Brown Taylor is based on the Gospel of Matthew. Each of the fifteen sermons, three of them appearing here for the first time in print, is based on a reading from Matthew, including Exceeding Righteousness (Matthew 5:17-20), The Problem with Miracles (14:13-21), Family Fights (18:15-20), Once More from the Heart (18:21-35), Beginning at the End (20:1-16), and On the Clouds of Heaven (24:29-44).
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Sermons On The First Readings Series 1 Cycle A
$36.95Add to cartBring the Old Testament to life with this inspiring and thought-provoking collection of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration in the Church year. Based on the First Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary, these powerful messages by five exceptional preachers from diverse denominations explore the meaning of the Hebrew scriptures for today’s Christian living. Abundant insights into vital current issues are woven together with powerful proclamation of timeless themes of justice and righteousness — and these imaginative homilies are full of compelling examples of how a loving God uses us to further his divine plan.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* Understanding scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study -
Dancing The Sacraments
$17.95Add to cartThe sacraments of baptism and communion are foundational acts of the Christian faith — in addition to affirming God’s grace, they have the power to transform us in the living presence of the Almighty. Elaine Ward believes that the sacraments also “enable us to become aware of the holy.” Dancing The Sacraments is an extensive collection of 20 complete worship services that will help congregations experience the holiness in these rituals.
Each thematically unified service provides the framework for a celebration of communion or baptism, and includes:
* a sermon
* a children’s message (with brief talking points to reinforce the theme)
* scripture readings
* hymns
* a complete set of prayers
There’s also original poetry, plus an informative discussion of ways to help children understand the symbolism of the sacraments, including suggestions for specific activities. Renew the power and potency of your baptism and communion services — Dancing The Sacraments gives you a wealth of inventive material for observing them with awe and reverence.
