Books
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What Is Chrysalis
$4.99Add to cartIn Chrysalis, a metamorphosis begins for young people, a transformation from a taught faith to a faith of their own.
This booklet will introduce you to the ideas behind Chrysalis, as well as help you know what to expect during the event. It’s ideal for potential participants and church leaders considering the program.
Chrysalis offers spiritual renewal to young people through a 3-day experience and follow-up. Open to older high school students (sophomores through seniors) and young adults (ages 19-24) of any Christian denomination, Chrysalis is an exciting 3 days of experiencing God’s love in a fresh new way.
As a former participant has said, “The Chrysalis weekend was a wonderful experience that helped bridge my childlike faith to the vital and intense spiritual hunger I have as an adult.”
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Jesus Christ Disciplemaker (Anniversary)
$20.00Add to cartThomas doubted. Peter denied. Matthew had a shady past. And most of Jesus’ disciples had trouble understanding his true message and mission at times.
How did Jesus take lowly fishermen and tax collectors and turn them into some of the most influential men that ever lived? And how can modern church leaders empower regular church members to meet their potential as servants of God?Learn Christ’s methods in training his twelve disciples and apply Christ’s model for reaching the lost by adapting these four growth phases: evangelizing, establishing, equipping, and leading. The perfect resource for pastors and church leaders who want to learn how to help others grow in God’s service.
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Emerging Worship : Creating Worship Gatherings For New Generations
$26.99Add to cartWhere are the 18-35 year olds? Churches are aging, and even among mega-churches with all the tech and big crowds there are generations now missing. Churches need to incorporate alternative services for emerging generations! Here’s why: 1) New models and methods are needed for new generations 2) Postmodern ministry requires a different missionary approach 3) Blended services are not generally effective today 4) Intergenerational community does not happen by sitting in the same service 5) Church congregations naturally age and must plan for long-term health and life 6) Sharing facilities honors God and makes wise usage of finances In a very conversational, narrative, and full-of-anecdotes tone (from author Dan Kimball’s own experience at Graceland), he will help guide church leaders on how to create alternative services from start to finish. Kimball will cover areas such as developing a prayer team, evaluating your local mission field and context, determining the leader and vision-based team, why youth pastors are usually ideal staff to start a new service, determining the values will you hold to that will be different from rest of the church, and asking the critical questions before you start. In addition, Kimball offers nine models—-Life-stage outreach service, service for “young adults,” multi-Congregational, teaching Model Approach, video Services with different music, Church within a Church, Church Services that are birthed within and plant, Youth Churches, and Church service plants—as well as several real-life examples of each, so the reader can more easily relate to these models. Finally, several of the profiled church services will appear on a DVD in the back of the book. Here’s an outline: Starting New Services within Your Church For Emerging Generations Chapter 1: The problem today: Where are all the 18-35 year olds? Raising the big felt need. Where are the 18-35 year olds? Churches are aging, and even among mega-churches with all the tech and big crowds there are generations now missing. Chapter 2: Reasons why we should start new services within a church Building a case for why these services are good options for churches to explore. 1)New models and methods are needed for new generations 2)Postmodern ministry requires a different missionary approach 3)Blended services are not generally effective today
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Holy Boldness : Practices Of An Evangelistic Lifestyle
$16.00Add to cartPart I: Practices Of Humility
Introduction
Holy Prayer
Holy Sabbath
Holy Play
Holy DiscernmentPart II: Practices Of Loving-kindness
Introduction
Practices Of Love
Practices Of Listening
Practices Of Compassion
Practices Of TestimonyPart III: Practices Of Just Living
Introduction
Practices Of Reconciliation
Practices Of Jubilee
Practices Of Dialogue
Practices Of Servant LeadershipPart IV: Seasonal Practices
Introduction
Practices Of Thanksgiving
Practices Of Advent, Christmas And Epiphany
Practices Of An Easter PeopleAppendix
Additional Info
This work approaches evangelism by examining the everyday pursuits of ordinary people, and demonstrates how evangelism often arises as a response to an overflow of God’s love. We begin with four practices of holiness by which we humble ourselves before God. Through prayer, Sabbath observance, holy play, and discernment of God’s call on our lives, we recognize God as the bedrock of our lives. With boldness, church members will come alive as they share Jesus with the world and serve as agents of God’s reconciling love, inviting people to become part of God’s family -
Passion Promise : Living A Life Only God Can Imagine
$17.99Add to cartWhen we settle for our own dreams, we settle for too little. God promises “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” In each of our lives (Eph. 3:20, NIV), John Avant shares true stories of God’s passion touching lives around the world and helps readers discern God’s dreams for themselves–challenging them to put an end to boring living. As readers see God’s passionate adventure lived out all around them every day, they’ll eagerly accept His invitation to be a part of it–to live life beyond their imagination!
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Gods Love : Knowing God Through The Psalms (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartThis is the revised edition of the popular LifeGuide Bible study on knowing God through the Psalms. These 10 lessons reveal the character of our loving God. God cares for us in so many ways. He offers help, calms our fears, guides and strengthens us. Find how God brings true satisfaction to our lives.
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Love Takes Wing (Revised)
$17.00Add to cart1. The End Of A Long Day
2. Girl Talk
3. A Neighborhood Party
4. Such A Short Time
5. Back To Work
6. Rand
7. Supper
8. Amy Jo
9. An Accident
10. Concern
11. Bitterness
12. A New Kind Of Suffering
13. The Patient
14. A Busy Summer
15. Confusion
16. Dinner
17. Looking For Answers
18. Changes
19. Boston
20. Getting Acquainted
21. A New Life
22. The Unexpected
23. Pierre
24. Extended Horizons
25. A Taste Of Travel
26. A Discovery211 Pages
Additional Info
Belinda Davis had trained as a nurse to assist her older brother, Doctor Luke. But as time goes by and she sees those she’s grown up with getting married and settling into their own lives, Belinda becomes restless. What had seemed exciting and fresh becomes dull and routine.When she meets an elderly woman who needs nursing care, Belinda jumps at the invitation to go to Boston-a large, “civilized” city with cultural opportunities she’s never even dreamed of in her little prairie town. But in spite of financial security and countless new experiences, Belinda finds herself restless, lonely, and empty inside.
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Zig : The Autobiography Of Zig Ziglar
$19.00Add to cartZig Ziglar, the motivational speaker who has galvanized audiences around the world and written more than a dozen perennially popular books, brings that same unbounded energy and clarity of vision to this candid, inspiring account of his own life and the forces that shaped it.
Every year, Zig Ziglar travels all over the world delivering a resounding message of hope and commitment in forums ranging from high-powered business conferences and church leadership assemblies to youth conventions and educational gatherings. In Zig, Ziglar chronicles another kind of journey: his own transformation from a struggling, not terribly successful salesman to the sales champion of several different companies, and finally to his current position as one of the world’s best-known and most highly regarded motivational speakers and trainers. As he describes his experiences, he brings to life the essence of his teachings: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
At the heart of Ziglar’s story are the people who taught him the importance of balancing a commitment to hard work with compassion for others. His first teacher was his mother, who raised him alone after the early death of his father, and introduced him to the principles and values he has honored for the rest of his life. Her lessons were reinforced by many others-from the men and women who became his business mentors to the friends and spiritual leaders who comforted and supported him when things got tough. Paying tribute to each of them, Ziglar zeroes in on the philosophy and traits that have enabled him to achieve success in business and in his personal life: discipline, hard work, common sense, integrity, commitment, and an infectious sense of humor.
Ziglar’s speaking engagements and seminars along with a wide array of audio and video materials, books, and training manuals, have helped to trigger positive changes in small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, U.S. government agencies, nonprofit associations, religious organizations, schools, and prisons. At once engaging and enlightening, Zig provides a riveting portrait of the man who has achieved so much by embracing the simple but profound goal of helping others.
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Healing The Wounded Soul 2
$14.99Add to cartOn reading the first volume of the Healing the Wounded Soul series, many people found deep healing for their inner pain. The concept that Jesus carried our emotional wounds to the cross was completely new to many of them. What a relief they experienced when they realized they could express their deepest emotions without fear of sinning and being condemned or of making God angry. Yet for some, the pain continued. For others, their memory of what happened remained as frightening as before they had brought it to Jesus for healing.Why were some healed and others weren’t? In this volume, the author deals with these “hard” and “difficult” cases. Other difficult areas dealt with include such questions as, Why is it so hard to live victoriously in some areas of life and not in others? Why is it so difficult to control one’s anger, while the thought of robbing a bank may be no temptation at all? What can we do about these “weak spots” in our character? How can we close these “open doors” that give room to the enemy in our lives? How can we deal with the praise given to us without becoming proud? How can we feel happy about the way God uses us without taking His glory to ourselves? In this volume, the author speaks from her counseling practice to these and many other difficult questions. Healing the Wounded Soul is a four-volume set. Closing Open Doors is the second volume. Although each volume addresses healing in a specific area of life, each book is self-contained and can be read separately. The series was first published in Spanish and German.
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Healing The Wounded Soul 1
$14.99Add to cartThrough illustrations from her counseling practice, Arline Westmeier shows that Jesus died to heal our psychological wounds just as He died to forgive our sins and to heal our sicknesses. The book addresses questions such as: If I am a Christian, why do I still suffer from my painful memories? If God has forgiven me for everything, why do I still feel depressed and inferior to others? How can I forgive someone who has hurt me so much? Part of a four-volume set.
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Preaching Hebrews
$15.95Add to cartThe Rochester College Sermon Seminar and the series of books it has inspired have been built on the conviction that Christian preaching today needs revision. Such reforming begins with a close and faithful reading of Scripture, an engagement so serious that the world of Scripture ultimately sets agendas and invents expectations for meaningful life…In this present volume, too, we wish to grant the book of Hebrews the opportunity to pull all of us into the world it envisions, allowing it the power to judge, convict, and form us into a community God desires. This is not an easy task for several reasons, most notably the fact that the world of Hebrews is quite alien from our own…Like previous volumes in the Rochester Lectures on Preaching, the current work is divided into two parts. The first is a collection of four related essays meant to orient the reader to the world clearly conceived in Hebrews. The second half appropriates this orientation with sermons for particular Christian congregations.
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Unveiling Glory : Visions Of Christs Transforming Presence (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartWhy did Jesus come to earth in the flesh and live among us? In what sense did he both embrace this world and reject it? How should our view of Christ form the way we live and act as Christians in our families, neighborhoods, nations, and churches? Unveiling Glory seeks to address these topics and others, boldly considering many of the problems facing Churches of Christ today and insisting that the key to their resolution lies in a deeper commitment to Jesus.
The introduction establishes the premise for the book when it declares that “approaching Christ with transformation in mind has not always been a key element in…our heritage. Yet we are convinced that whenever scripture is allowed to speak with its full voice, the notion of Christianity as transformation into the image of Christ becomes inescapable.” The book seeks to deliver on this promise, leading the reader through the important events in Jesus’ life and unveiling their significance for the Christian today.
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Sacred Longings : The Ecological Spirit And Global Culture
$20.00Add to cartWhat do we really want? Internationally noted theologian Mary Grey believes we have gotten out of touch with our deepest desires. Trapped by the seductions of the marketplace, addicted to more and more, our culture has acquiesced in global capitalism’s most problematic characteristics, including widespread poverty and global maldistribution of resources. Grey’s hopeful book argues that there is a deeper language of desire that plumbs to what humanity really wants. Emergent in story and myth and symbol, these sacred longings can be seen in the simple yet profound elements–within and beyond Christianity–or water, light, and sacred space. Getting back in touch with our sacred longings entails a spiritual quest–a kind of ecomystical renewal–that can transform our desire, enliven our communities, simplify our lifestyles, and ultimately rekindle our global prospects.
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Loves Unending Legacy (Revised)
$17.00Add to cartMarty was overjoyed to be home again-could anything disturb her joy?
Marty Davis had thoroughly enjoyed her visit with daughter Missie, even though a tragic accident had extended it far longer than originally planned. But now she and Clark are home again, and there are changes to make. The family begins to adjust to Clark’s crutch, and Clark and Marty recognize their children’s new maturity and independence.
But Nandry seems unable to come to terms with Clark’s handicap; is she blaming God for the accident? The “baby of the family” is going to be a doctor. Ellie has blossomed into a lovely young woman, but is there any fellow around special enough to ask for her hand? Clare and Kate eagerly anticipate their new baby, but has life prepared them for what lies ahead?And Then There’s Marty’s Secret!
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101 Most Powerful Proverbs In The Bible
$35.00Add to cartJ. Stephen Lang has taken many of the Bible’s most profound proverbs and explains then in language we can all understand. Filled with advice for overcoming everyday challenges, the 101 Most Powerful Proverbs in the Bible seeks to remind readers about what’s truly important in life through passages that extol such qualities as patience and godly living, and the benefits of virtue.
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Community Of The King (Revised)
$26.99Add to cartThe Church is the Community of the King. What on earth is the kingdom of God? Howard Snyder probes the relationship between the kingdom of God and the church as we know it in our daily life. The church is a part of God’s dramatic plan to reconcile all things to himself, “things in heaven and things on earth.” The New Testament calls this reconciling work the kingdom of God. Snyder pleads for a model of the church which emphasizes the God-given gifts of all members as he sets forth his theology of the church and gives practical guidelines for those concerned about church life and growth.
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Friendship : Growing Side By Side (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartCarolyn Nystrom leads you through twelve inductive studies to discover what the Bible teaches about friendship. As you dig into the stories of friends like David and Jonathan or Ruth and Naomi, you will experience the riches of godly friendship for yourself.
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Hosea : Gods Persistent Love (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartGod never gives up.
Even when you rebel, disobey or make a mistake, God continues to pursue you with a relentless love.
As Dale and Sandy Larsen lead you through the fascinating Old Testament story of Hosea, you’ll see how a godly man’s unfailing love for his wayward wife illustrates God’s unconditional, “no-holds-barred” love for you, too.
This revised LifeGuide Bible Study features additional questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, together with expanded leader’s notes and a “Now or Later” section in each study.
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Dominion And Dynasty
$28.99Add to cartSeries Preface
Author’s Preface
Introduction
1. A Book Or A Ragbag: A Literary Approach To Old Testament Theology
2. The Beginning, Middle And Ending Of The Tanakh: A Preview Of The Storyline (Adam To David)
3. The Narrative Storyline Begins (Genesis)
4. The Narrative Storyline Continues (Exodus To Deuteronomy)
5. The Narrative Storyline Continues: The Former Prophets (Joshua To Kings)
6. Suspension Of The Storyline–Poetic Commentary Begins: The Latter Prophets (Jeremiah To The Twelve)
7. Poetic Commentary Continues: The Writings (Ruth To Lamentations)
8. Ending Of Poetic Commentary And Resumption Of Narrative Storyline (Daniel To Chronicles)
9. Typology And New Testament Reflections
Bibliography
Index Of Ancient Sources
Index Of Modern Authors
Index Of Scripture ReferencesAdditional Info
In this stimulating exposition, Stephen Dempster argues that, despite its undoubted literary diversity, the Hebrew Bible possesses a remarkable structural and conceptual unity. The various genres and books are placed within a comprehensive narrative framework which provides an overarching literary and historical context.The many texts contribute to this larger text, and find their meaning and significance within its story of ‘dominion and dynasty’, which ranges from Adam to the Son of Man to David, and to a coming Davidic king.
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Angels : 8 Studies For Individuals Or Groups (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartAngels, 8 Studies for Individuals or Groups was written to help you discover for yourself what the Bible says about these marvelous beings. Thirty-four of the Bible’s sixty-six books talk about angels in detail. Every New Testament writer confirms their existence. Jesus himself referred to angels as real beings who were involved in every realm of human activity. Each study includes an introduction, an opening discussion question, personal reflection, study questions, a prayer suggestion, leader’s notes, and more.
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End Times : Practical Heavenly Mindedness (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartDo you wonder about the “end times”–when it will come? What it will be like? What will happen to you? As R. Paul Stevens leads you to examine for yourself what the Bible says about end times, you’ll learn what you can do now to be ready for the future–whatever it holds.
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Couples Of The Old Testament (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartIn the Old Testament there are arranged marriages, fiercely loving marriages, enduring marriages, an instant marriage, a coerced marriage and a perfect marriage–until the couple blew it! Dale and Dandy Larsen lead you to dig deeper into these relationships highlighted in the Bible to learn important lessons about marriage, God and yourself.
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Debt : The Story Of A Past Redeemed
$17.99Add to cartWhen Emma first met Abel Howard, she was a woman with a past, a woman who had not always made all the right choices. But after twenty-five years of marriage to Able and with his world-renowned ministry career at its peak, she doesn’t often have a reason to dwell on things of the past. Until Christopher Lewis_-the son she gave up for adoption years before_-arrives on her doorstep. This young man’s entry into her life rocks Emma to the very core of her being, challenging everything she’s ever believed about God and His purposes for her. The Debt is a tender, bittersweet story of redemption and forgiveness.
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Practicing Passion : Youth And The Quest For A Passionate Church
$30.99Add to cartFocusing on the theological resonance between the Passion of Christ and adolescents’ experience of passion, the author develops a framework for youth ministry that draws on the historic practices of the Christian community as a “curriculum of passion”.
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Present From God
$16.99Add to cartFor nearly two years, Alice and her husband Charles sought to determine God’s will for their lives. In 1989, with almost half the world in the grips of political reform, this average American Christian couple packed their bags.Trusting totally in His guiding hand, they began their global mission for God: smuggling Bibles into hostile countries. The power of God’s Word-and the miracle-working power of God in action-is soon evident as they stumble into a world of danger, suspense, and corruption.Yet through the tangled web of international espionage, the couple soon develops a political savvy while relying on their ever-present sense of humor. Was there more than one reason God sent Alice and Charles on this perilous journey? Was there some message for them to bring back to America? Recharge your patriotic zeal and challenge your faith: A Present from God is a story for American Christians today.
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Satans Deadly Deception Evolution Simply Put
$14.99Add to cartCreation is God’s Absolute Truth! Choruses of hallelujahs rang throughout the vastness as Almighty God said, “Let there be,” and THERE WAS! Through first-person narration, you will witness Creation through the eyes of an angel. You will hear about the wonderful Creation of man at the hands of God, listen to Eve reminisce about life in the Garden of Eden, and shudder at the revelation of sin and shame due to man’s disobedience to God. Evolution is Satan’s Deadly Deception! Gain an insight into how and why Satan’s manipulation of evolution is influencing man and man’s way of thinking concerning God and Christianity.We’ll look at evolution and see how the Bible refutes every concept of evolution’s insidious and destructive theories. By searching the Scriptures, we will plug the gap in the Gap Theory, mute the bang in the Big Bang Theory, and dispel Darwin’s monkey to man theory!
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War Manual
$16.49Add to cart“If Jesus promised that he came to give us life more abundantly, then how come I’m not experiencing it?” If you have ever asked yourself that question, you’re not alone. Many believers find themselves feeling insecure, guilty over their past, depressed, plagued with unforgiveness and addictions, chronically sick, or feeling “just plain defeated” in life. Surely that’s not what Jesus intended! This oppression of Christians is the work of Satan. It is accomplished through demonic spirits operating in the lives of believers who do not abide in Christ and who refuse to submit to Truth. There’s a war going on, and you’re in it-whether you know it or not. The good news is that there is a way to freedom! God has already given us the weapons; we just need to learn how to use them. That’s what The War Manual is all about. The truth will set you free!
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Dream Realized : A Collection Of Poems By Cowboy Mike Bright
$21.99Add to cartMichael Bright died of cancer when he was 51. During his life, he had written a lot of poems. He was poet laureate to his friends. They frequently requested retirement and birthday poems. His poems express emotion, values, faith, love of ministry, friendship, love of country, cowboys, the West, Alaska, Standard Publishing, the church, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Many people asked him to publish his poems. His family honors his desire with the printing of this volume. A Dream Realized will be a great read for Mike’s many friends and associates. Everyone will enjoy getting to know the heart of a wonderful human being.
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Biblical Dyslexia : Overcoming The Barriers To Understanding Scripture
$15.99Add to cart“Religious assumptions are the ‘learning disability’ which keeps us in a state of functional illiteracy where the Bible is concerned.” Misread, misconstrued, and misquoted, our Bible is held up as the foundation of the faith, the rulebook for service, and the justification for every religious lunacy in Christendom. But what are the scriptures really? How can we be sure we’re reading them properly? This book explains why we misunderstand the Bible, how bewildering Christianity can be as a result, and how we can begin to read the scriptures as they were given. Using many examples from scripture, it introduces the reader to the Bible’s language, history, diversity, and testimony, which are neither popular nor popularly known. Addressed primarily to evangelical Christians, those in mainline denominations and “home churchers” who are drawn to an earnest encounter with the scriptures will also find this book speaking to them. If you have ever wondered why the Bible seems so confusing while invoked so resolutely, please read. “After decades of getting blank looks from Christians when speaking about fundamental things of their faith, I identified a chief reason why real discernment of God’s purposes eludes so many for so long: We are never taught how to approach the scriptures without some invisible, ‘orthodox’ interpreter looking over our shoulder.”
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Mustard Seed Of Faith
$10.99Add to cartLongfellow Press
I have known Donna Warren all of my life (which is most of hers). In the early years, I found her to be very headstrong, mean, determined, and slightly vain. She often tried to take an authoritative role with everyone, which resulted in major conflict. To put it in simple terms, I didn’t like her. You see-she’s my oldest sister. About seven years ago, quite by default, my husband and I went to Galveston, Texas, to visit Donna and her husband. We had booked flights to attend her daughter’s wedding a few weeks earlier but were unable to make the trip. With two roundtrip tickets to Texas that we had to use, I had no choice but to pay her a visit. It was during this visit that, for the first time, I MET DONNA WARREN! I found her to be very self-assured, yet humble; very stern, yet compassionate; and very opinionated, yet understanding. The woman I met is truly chosen and anointed by God, and I love her. You see, she’s my friend, mentor, confidante, and prayer partner, and since our mother went on to be with God, she’s been my mother. This book, A Mustard Seed of Faith, is Donna’s testimony. Throughout her life, she has held on to her faith to make it through the trails, tribulations, and triumphs of this world. As you read each poem and inspirational writing, and look into the heart and soul of Donna Warren, I know that you will feel God’s power, wisdom, guidance, and comfort, and will be richly blessed. When you’ve been blessed, pass it on by planting another Mustard Seed of Faith, the way Donna has. -Denese Artis -
Thinking Beyond Your Means
$14.99Add to cart“Who are you and what do you really want?”This vital question from Dr. Evelyn Thomas can inspire you into Thinking Beyond Your Means: The Sixth Sense. Does your current lifestyle seem to have been handed to you by those who think in terms of limitations? How does God see you? “God is the One,” says the author, “who started a great work in you. . . . Once you find out who you are in the Lord, you are on your way to success.” Here is a book that will teach you how to gain a more authentic way of life. You can become an overcomer, no matter what trials you encounter. Learn how to use the sixth sense to gain a truer and fuller life.
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Good Ideas From Questionable Christians And Outright Pagans
$30.99Add to cartWilkens provides a convincing rationale for why Christians should study philosophy by examining an important issue from the perspective of the following philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes, Kierkegaard, Marx, Nietzsche, and Sartre. Although some Christians tend to view the faith of the above philosophers as questionable at best and non-existent at worst, Wilkens finds that many of their ideas can enhance Christian faith and yield valuable theological insight. In providing this accessible introduction to some of the key ideas and thinkers in philosophy, Wilkens finds strong grounds for living “the examined life” (playing off the famous quote by Socrates), urging Christians to engage in philosophical reflection, which can strengthen one’s faith and deepen one’s sense of wonder with the world God created.
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Preaching As Prophetic Calling
$20.95Add to cartPreaching as Prophetic Calling is the twelfth in a series of books devoted to presenting examples of preaching excellence from parishes throughout the Episcopal Church. This volume addresses the difficult and essential area of preaching a prophetic word. What does a prophetic sermon look like without being shrill, and without being filled with “musts,” “oughts,” and “shoulds”? This collection of sermons includes examples of prophetic preaching that are visionary and that speak in ways that offer radical comfort as well as radical challenge.
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Gift And Task Of Lutheran Higher Education
$19.00Add to cartWhy should Lutherans care whether there are any ”Lutheran” colleges and universities? Why should people who study, teach, and work in colleges and universities care whether they are ”Lutheran” or not? And, maybe most significantly, what does the continued robustness of Lutheran higher education have to contribute to the church and to life and work in the broader public arena? Tom Christenson has thoughtful and persuasive answers to all these questions, and more.
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Cradled All The While
$13.99Add to cartThis book is a beautifully crafted memoir in which the author recounts the story of her mother’s death from cancer. In the midst of a career and child-rearing, Corse becomes her mother’s primary caregiver, but her story is a spiritual journey that will nurture the faith of people of many religious backgrounds. The themes encountered throughout this book parallel the issues dealt with in practical grieving resources. Here, however, they are played out in the lives of a real family.
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Blindsided By Grace
$16.00Add to cartAn active pastor, husband, father, and triathlete, Bob Molsberry was nearly killed in 1997 in a hit and run accident on a rural highway. After a long period of recovery and rehabilitation, he is a paraplegic who has remained active in family, ministry, and athletics. This book reflects on his experience of disability not as a medical condition in serach of a cure, nor as a tragedy to be pitied, but as a cross-cultural adventure similar to learning to live in a foreign country. Molsberry also offers biblical and theological reflection that confronts the Bible’s perspectives on disability–that it is a matter of heroic suffering or miraculous cure, and often interpreted as a consequence of sin.
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Paul On Marriage And Celibacy
$33.99Add to cartThis study overturns the traditional interpretation of Paul’s thinking on marriage and celibacy. By examining established theories about the main influences on his theology, and by reconstructing the Stoic and Cynic discourse on marriage that formed its context, it offers an illuminating reassessment of both Paul’s understanding of marriage and his place in the history of Christian asceticism, and provides new information for discussions of Christian sexuality and feminist evaluations of the Bible.
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Brother Of Jesus Friend Of God Print On Demand Title
$35.99Add to cartA Print on Demand Title
For centuries, the Epistle of James has stirred controversy. These landmark studies broaden the debate. Johnson explores the epistle’s social and historical background; and its place in Scripture, use of Jesus’ sayings, context within Hellenistic moral discourse, and themes of friendship and gender. An accessible collection for scholars and laypeople alike!
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Relentless Tenderness Of Jesus (Reprinted)
$16.00Add to cartDiscover two very different sides of God! Peruse the pages of this book of insightful meditations and you’ll encounter Christ’s explosive power and his incredible tenderness. You will be forever changed as Manning calls you to “adopt the astonishing life of a committed disciple.” Perceptive writing flavored with tough-love honesty.
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Christian Assembly : Marks Of The Church In A Pluralistic Age
$24.00Add to cartWhat is church? What makes the church one? While these questions may seem innocuous, church has become conflicted territory, with internal factions, external pressures, and ecumenical turmoil all calling for a more positive, sturdy, more resilient notion of Christian community.
Wengert approaches the questions as a Reformation historian. He shows how the New Testament notion of ”marks” of the church was taken up by Martin Luther and developed by Phillip Melanchthon not as a descriptive tag but as a criterion for authenticity in Christian community. Lathrop, a liturgical theologian, shows concretely how those marks can stamp the worship life of a congregation as well as the evaluative work of congregations with their pastors, bishops, superintendents, and conference ministers. -
Short Term Spiritual Guidance
$18.99Add to cartA significant departure from other treatments, this unique resource combines deep appreciation for the great classic discipline of spiritual guidance with a very practical focus on meeting the specific needs of the person seeking direction. Through case studies, sample dialogues, and practical tips for the spiritual director, Bidwell’s lucid work shows what directors can learn from the short-term therapy model, enabling people briefly but effectively to listen for God’s presence and to formulate authentic responses. He also shows how such techniques can be helpfully applied not only to individual direction but to group settings, vocational discernment, and family counseling.
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Breaking The Conspiracy Of Silence
$18.00Add to cartIt’s been estimated that perhaps 7,000 people die each day due to AIDS. It is an epidemic that has no easy answer, but Messer prophetically calls upon Christian churches worldwide to respond in ways to increase awareness, help with both prevention and treatment, and offer concrete love and compassion.
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Loving God Up Close
$32.00Add to cartWho is the Holy Spirit? How do Christians track His comings and goings? And how can they realize His presence in their lives? In this book, Calvin Miller reminds believers of the power of the Holy Spirit and explores the six symbols of His presence: the cleansing wind; the purging fire; the dove (the descending presence); the gift of communication; the refreshing wine; and the counselor. While many have experienced one or more of the defining presences, many also disagree as to their authenticity. Now, in this insightful book, Miller seeks to relieve some of the mystery surrounding the Holy Spirit and encourages readers to simply make use of his loving guidance.
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20001 Names For Baby (Revised)
$19.99Add to cartContents
Part 1: It’s A Girl
Part 2: It’s A Boy P. 205Additional Info
Choosing a name for your babyYou’ll whisper it softly, sing it tenderly, and call it out countless time in the years to come. It may be a name that warms the hearts of all who hear it, or even one that becomes known throughout the world. Here are thousands of possibilities for one of the first–and most delightful–decisions you’ll make in your baby’s life.
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Fixing The Indemnity G A Smith
$34.99Add to cartWhen Old Testament scholar George Adam Smith (1856-1942) delivered the Lyman Beecher lectures at Yale University in 1899, he confidently declared that “modern criticism has won its war against traditional theories. It only remains to fix the amount of the indemnity.” In this biography, Iain D. Campbell assesses Smith’s critical approach to the Old Testament and evaluates its consequences, showing that Smith’s life and work still raise
questions about the relationship between biblical scholarship and evangelical faith. -
Christ Before Creation
$8.95Add to cartUntil now, all Christian literature has been one-dimensional and earthbound. Here, at last, is a way of knowing Christ outside the confines of this realm. For 1300 years Christians have been trying to now Christ intimately with their minds. Now your spirit is invited to join the Lord in unseen realms.
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Saxon Math 54 Complete Home School Kit
$220.30Add to cartKit Includes:
Student Textbook
Tests And Worksheets Booklet
Solutions ManualAdditional Info
Math 5/4 helps students extend their understanding of critical skills and concepts such as number sense, numeration, numerical operations, measurement and geometry, patterns, relationships, math functions, and data manipulation through charts. With a Lesson, Investigation, or Test per weekday, a Middle Grade level can be completed in about seven months. -
Jesus Hero Of Thy Soul
$20.95Add to cart(When placing your order, please mention that this is a Lightining Source book.)
All of us yearn for a hero…someone to spark a flame in our souls, someone to inspire us to live beyond ourselves, someone to help us live up to the potential our Creator has placed within us.
Jesus is the hero in your soul. His awe-inspiring love enables you to reach beyond your limitations and become the person God created you to be. Your heart will soar as you read Jim McGuiggan’s stirring devotional and inspirational stories about everyday men and women who have been touched by the Savior’s hand and who live to reflect his nature.
Allow the Rescuer to touch your life–you’ll be forever changed by the impressions left by the Savior’s touch.
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Revelation 20 And The Millennial Debate
$12.99Add to cartOften quoting the propronents of each view regarding premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism, this book summarizes and contrasts the arguments of the three positions as they relate to Revelation 20. Though premillennial in its conclusions, it provides a valuable and clear resource as to how each school of prophecy deals with this watershed passage.
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Global House Church Movement
$13.99Add to cartA major church shift is happening all around the world. God is once again bringing back the power and simplicity of New Testament style Christianity. The Lord is raising up the global house church movement. Do you want to reach your friends and your nation with an approach to church life and church planting that is biblical and effective? If so, read this book. “This is an excellent, scholarly and pastoral introduction into the fascinating phenomenon of the house church movement.”-Wolfgang Simson
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Refired Not Retired
$13.49Add to cartAm I really saved? Can I know for sure where I am going when I die? These questions troubled the author as a young boy. They are the same questions that many people fearfully, though quietly, are still uncertain about. The account of this search is charmingly woven within a description of country life in rural South Dakota through the eyes of a boy. The autobiography describes what it was like as far back as the thirties when times were hard. The search for meaning suddenly began to lead to answers that amazed the author, and he continues to be amazed at what else God chooses to reveal, including things about the Holy Spirit. It was, as God Himself might have called it, greater than you could ask or think. This author has found that anyone can experience closeness with God, and he urges the reader to “Go For It!”
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Word Without End
$39.99Add to cartWord Without End advocates a canonical approach to biblical interpretation, one that does not allow the New Testament to eclipse the interpretation of the Old Testament. By attending to “theology,” “exegesis,” and “practice”–the three divisions of the book–Seitz models a reading of the Old Testament as scripture that lays out a theological foundation for the life of the church.
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Weapons Of Mass Deliverance
$15.49Add to cartA weapon is effective only in the hand of a warrior. As the Holy Spirit began to reveal the power of the material in this book, it became clear that He was unveiling a very significant weapon-with the ability to deliver masses of people trapped under the influence of sin and darkness. This book, Weapons of Mass Deliverance, puts the weapons into the hands of the warriors.Who are these warriors? They are the worshipers,musicians, dancers, and prophetic intercessors. Weapons of Mass Deliverance examines three key factors in spiritual warfare: The Gates-Where they’re found, what they represent, what occurred at gates, and how that relates to intercession and worship. Demonic Strongholds-How the enemy keeps us from entering the gates, and experiencing breakthrough. Exercising Your Authority-Unleashing the power of God’s Word through declaration!
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Becoming One : Emotionally Spiritually Sexually
$15.99Add to cart(When placing your order, please mention that this is a Lightining Source book.)
Joe Beam’s amazingly successful formula for bringing intimacy back into marriage has been chronicled on Good Morning America. He has brought healing and renewal to thousands of marriages through countless seminars conducted around the world. Now he reveals his compelling knowledge and groundbreaking insight in Becoming One. Whether you believe your marriage is in critical condition or simply in need of some vital attention, this book opens the door to astonishing results. You will learn how to bring an intimacy, involvement, and sexual intensity back into your marriage that perhaps you haven’t experienced in some time. God doesn’t want you to simply exist in your marriage; he wants you to flourish and thrive to his glory. Open this book, and you will open the way to the intimacy you’ve always wanted.
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Longing For Daddy
$18.00Add to cartWhere Was Daddy When You Needed Him?
The absence of fathers is an epidemic plaguing our society, affecting families from every corner of our world and from all walks of life. Whether our fathers left us entirely during our childhood or were physically present but emotionally distant, those who missed out on an affirming, intimate father-love continue to experience the devastating consequences of that loss.
Are you angry at the world and don’t know why?
Do you inadvertently sabotage relationships or smother those closest to you?
Do you rarely take risks or step out on faith?
Is there an undercurrent of anxiety in most tasks you perform?
Do you struggle to connect with God?
Do you have little or no self-confidence or minimal self-worth?For women who answer yes to these questions, the common denominator is often an absent father. Far too many daughters have been stripped of a healthy relationship with their earthly dad. But real healing is within your reach.
Discover how the absence of your father has impacted your entire life your attitude, your actions, your beliefs, your decisions, and your identity and learn how you can stop resulting negative behaviors, beak free, and experience a confidence-building, empowering love that will heal your hurts and fulfill your deepest longings.
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Healing The Orphaned Heart
$13.99Add to cartIf you sometimes feel as though you can’t handle the ongoing problems you may be struggling with an orphaned heart. Casey Treat explains that an orphaned heart is an “unhealed heart” fostered by a lack of biblical parenting. Quite often, a person with an orphaned heart wants to be loved but is afraid to reach out for fear of being rejected. The author shares that the heart is the control center of all the success you will experience in life. As you allow your heart to be healed and made whole, you will break the negative cycles, such as sort-term relationships, debt, and marriage and family problems. You will begin to have fun in your relationships, you will enjoy your job more, and you will feel a sense of destiny. Make a decision today that you want a whole, healthy, healed heart and being taking steps towards healing your orphaned heart!
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Gentle Words In A Raging Storm
$16.95Add to cartGary Weaver says that “prayer is part poetry, part free-association, and part love letter to God. When spoken, it is the most intimate, sacred speech we utter. When written down, it becomes a diary of the heart.” And that’s a perfect description of this compelling collection of more than 160 prayers. Some are songs of celebration and joy that “dance before the Lord,” while others are desperate pleas for clarity, direction, and meaning amidst loss, divorce, suffering, injustice, fear, and anger. But all of them bring the gentle words of thoughtful introspection and a sustained conversation with the Almighty to the raging storm of daily life with its overwhelming cacophony of motion, noise, and imagery.
These prayers can be used in almost any setting from the sanctuary to the stadium, as well as in study groups, prayer circles, nursing homes, or for private meditation. If you’re looking for a prayer resource that speaks clearly about the Christian faith while addressing serious human questions, concerns, doubts, and distress, Gentle Words In A Raging Stormis a first-rate compilation you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.
Themes include:
* Personal prayers
* Pastoral prayers
* Prayers about the seasons of life
* Prayers about suffering, dying, and grief
* Prayers for the journey of faith
* Prayers for special occasions -
Doing Business By The Good Book
$37.00Add to cartIn Doing Business By the Good Book, David Steward, founder and CEO of World Wide Technology, a privately held, billion-dollar company, takes selected scripture and applies it to business life with clarity and promise. Following a Bible passage for each week of the year, readers will increase their bottom line, as well as the capacity of their souls – a great return on investment!
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Simplify Your Life
$18.99Add to cartKnowing every woman desires to reduce the mess and stress in her life, Marcia Ramsland offers a grace-oriented approach to organizing a home and life. Filled with specific ideas that have been proven true, charts, diagrams, and real life examples, Marcia unveils her trademark PuSH philosophy. PuSH stands for Projects, user-friendly Systems, and Habits and is a sequence of doing things that will help women get and stay organized. Things the reader will discover: The “two minute pickup” for cleaning any room How to spot red flags of disorganization The get-it-done paper system Five steps to clean any room How to create a Personal Organizing Center The “PuSH” Sequence” secret to staying organized Simplify Your Life encourages and motivates women to be a better manager in three major areas: her time, her home, and her life. A prayer at the end of each chapter is a fresh reminder that how we live our lives is important to God. So does God care if your bathroom is clean or your desk is tidy? Of course not but He knows it does give you peace of mind and less stress. His Word is filled with principles to help us live more organized and less stress-filled lives. Join Marcia as she incorporates those principles into practical tips to organize and simply your life!
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Exegetical Dictionary Of The New Testament 1
$77.99Add to cartThe English translation of the three-volume Exegetisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament, this monumental work by an ecumenical group of scholars is first of all a complete English dictionary of New Testament Greek. Going beyond that, however EDNT also serves as a guide to the usage of every New Testament word in its various contexts, and it makes a significant contribution to New Testament exegesis and theology. EDNT’s thorough, lengthy discussions of more significant words and its grouping of words related by root and meaning (with alphabetical cross-references) distinguish it from simpler Greek-English lexicons. Advancing the discussion of the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, EDNT summarizes more recent treatments of numerous questions in New Testament study and takes into consideration newer viewpoints of linguistics.
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10 Commandments In History A Print On Demand Title
$28.99Add to cartKuntz’s magnum opus, this work sees the Ten Commandments as a set of universal principles to be applied in concrete situations, hence vital to social stability. Interacts with 20 giants of the past: Philo, Palamas, Rolle, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Wycliffe, Montaigne, Pascal, Locke, Kant, and others.
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Psalms Of Comfort
$7.95Add to cartWe all must cope with life’s trials and tribulations — and there’s no greater source for the comfort and support we need than the book of Psalms. Not only can the Psalms help us make it through difficult times, but they can also help us become stronger in our faith and in our ability to face each new day and its problems.
Combining brief scripture excerpts with prayerful reflections, the uplifting meditations in Psalms of Comfort provide wisdom and sustenance for dealing with life’s struggles. Whether you’re facing serious illness, risky surgery, the death of a loved one, a faltering marriage, the betrayal of a friend you trusted, the wrongdoing of others (or yourself), or the stark reality of our eventual departure from this earth, Jesus reaches out his loving arms and says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
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Destination Bethlehem
$17.95Add to cartThis anthology provides you with a great selection of dramatic material for memorable Advent and Christmas worship. With a variety of approaches, there’s ample material to choose from to fit your needs, whatever your congregation’s size or worship style.
Five Advent Candle Dramas (Anne W. Anderson) explores the traditional meanings of the Advent wreath candles in brief 3-5 minute sketches which incorporate the lighting of each week’s candle. The Advent themes of hope, love, joy, and peace are couched in contemporary dramatic settings yet connected to the powerful reality of Christ’s coming. Each scene includes concise instructions for costumes, props, and settings.
The Savior Of The World (Nelson Chamberlain) is a five-scene play that tells the traditional Christmas story — with a touch of humor and a few unexpected twists. With roles for children from preschool age through sixth grade, this fun, easy-to-produce program is perfect for that special day when the church is full and you want to highlight the young people in your congregation.
Time Travelers’ Tale Of The Carols (Linda Buff & Sharon Cathcart) is an entertaining and educational presentation that combines the story of Jesus’ birth with the stories of several beloved Christmas carols. Through the imaginative device of a time machine, audiences will hear from some of the musicians and writers who created these familiar classics. Sets and costumes are minimal, and this simple play can be produced by churches of any size — while there are parts for many children, the script can be easily adapted for any age or number of participants. Performance time is approximately 35-40 minutes.
Here We Come To Bethlehem (Pamela Honan Peterson) is a Christmas pageant and congregational worship service that lets audiences eavesdrop on the thoughts, stories, and questions of ancient travelers as they make their way to Bethlehem. There are roles for 18 performers ranging from age three through high school, but with this flexible program it’s easy to involve as many children, youth, and adults as desired. Performance time is approximately 20-25 minutes.
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Windows For Life
$15.95Add to cartWhether you’re looking for a great collection of sermon illustrations, or just want to enjoy reading amusing and inspiring anecdotes drawn from a lifetime in the ministry, Windows For Life is a fascinating book you’ll want to include in your library. In this companion to his popular Windows For Sermons, Don Yocom shares a treasure trove of humorous and insightful stories on a wide range of topics. Each “window” sheds light on faith and life, and is an excellent source of material for preaching and teaching. And a convenient topical index makes it easy to quickly locate items on a specific subject.
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Saving Grace
$14.95Add to cartRon Lavin says that we desperately need to re-examine and return to the basics of the Christian faith — and what better source of inspiration is there than the word of God and the sacraments, God’s holy pipelines from heaven?
In the latest installment of his popular Another Look series, Lavin explores God’s Word, baptism, and communion, and demonstrates that far from being meaningless rituals, they are extremely relevant for modern living. Weaving together time-tested biblical truths with a series of vignettes about Grace Livingstone, a fictional character who is a typical church “outsider,” Lavin illustrates how faithful proclamation of the Word and celebration of the sacraments can be effective tools for evangelism and outreach. The ups and downs of Grace’s life, and her need for the Word and sacraments, are sure to resonate with you.
Structured in three four-session sets, Saving Grace is an ideal group study resource — each chapter includes a “digging deeper” section plus stimulating discussion questions, and there are tips to assist small group leaders. Saving Grace is also great for new member or adult Sunday school classes, personal meditation, and sermon preparation.
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What Does The Lord Require
$16.95Add to cartContemporary life is filled with a host of contentious moral and social issues. There are many thorny topics, both personal and political, which bring out a cacophony of opinions that can overwhelm us. While we are inundated with questions, there often seem to be no clear answers. So how should we respond? As Christians, we must constantly ask ourselves, “What does the Lord require of me?”
In this outstanding collection of meditations, James Killen examines many of today’s hot-button issues with an eye toward helping readers think through their beliefs and responsibilities. Mindful of our call to live in faithfulness to God’s purpose, each essay draws on the Bible and the Christian faith to discern how God would have us respond to the emerging situations of our world’s history.
What Does The Lord Require? is topical, inspiring reading — and with thoughtful discussion questions at the end of each meditation, it’s an excellent resource for adult classes or study groups, as well as for a sermon series that is sure to connect with congregations.
Among the issues addressed are:
* religious pluralism
* economic justice
* materialism
* environmental stewardship
* gender roles
* suicide
* abortion
* personal integrity
* homosexuality
* AIDS
* race relations
* war -
Come Follow Me Student Book (Revised)
$19.95Add to cartAcolytes can be much more than just cute little kids who light and extinguish the candles on Sunday morning — they have a very important role as congregational worship leaders. But acolytes can only fulfill that responsibility if they understand what worship is, why it is important, and how we do it.
Come, Follow Me is an excellent teaching tool that helps prepare young people to become effective acolytes. It provides a thorough overview of worship — its specifics, its history, and its significance. Students will grow in knowledge and faith as they learn about the meaning of worship, the sanctuary, ritual and liturgy, Christian symbols, and the sacraments.
The teacher’s guide of this completely revised and updated edition includes extensive aids, such as practical suggestions on how to organize an acolyte program, a brief service of consecration, and several quizzes and tests that can be used “as is” or adapted to individual needs. And the material for students is presented in clear, easy-to-understand language appropriate for junior high age youth. Each chapter also includes a brief “How Much Do You Remember?” summary that facilitates review.
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Come Follow Me Teachers Guide (Revised)
$17.95Add to cartAcolytes can be much more than just cute little kids who light and extinguish the candles on Sunday morning — they have a very important role as congregational worship leaders. But acolytes can only fulfill that responsibility if they understand what worship is, why it is important, and how we do it.
Come, Follow Me is an excellent teaching tool that helps prepare young people to become effective acolytes. It provides a thorough overview of worship — its specifics, its history, and its significance. Students will grow in knowledge and faith as they learn about the meaning of worship, the sanctuary, ritual and liturgy, Christian symbols, and the sacraments.
The teacher’s guide of this completely revised and updated edition includes extensive aids, such as practical suggestions on how to organize an acolyte program, a brief service of consecration, and several quizzes and tests that can be used “as is” or adapted to individual needs. And the material for students is presented in clear, easy-to-understand language appropriate for junior high age youth. Each chapter also includes a brief “How Much Do You Remember?” summary that facilitates review.
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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.
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Worship Innovations 3
$17.95Add to cartDedicated to providing fresh ideas for busy ministers and worship planners in a variety of settings, the Worship Innovations series offers practical resources that will bring the Bible to life and brighten your worship services. The easy-to-produce dramas and programs can be used in any size church, yet are flexible enough to fit almost any worship style. And each user-friendly resource comes with detailed instructions, including a complete list of everything you need to prepare for.
In this Worship Innovations volume, the focus is on the Lent and Easter season. Like the first two books, this is a rich storehouse that will supply you with many seasons worth of compelling, scripturally authentic material. Included are:
* The Paths to Calvary — a series of six short dramatic monologues for the weeks leading up to Easter in which biblical characters tell of their encounters with Jesus
* Our Place at the Table — a dramatic re-enactment of the events preceding the Last Supper, culminating in a congregational communion service
* A Passover to Remember — a complete Maundy Thursday service with a modified Passover seder as the centerpiece
* A Growing Darkness — a Good Friday tenebrae service featuring seven readings about the day’s events, brought to life with several costumed monologues
* Seven Words to Die By — based on Christ’s seven last words, this tenebrae service finds meaningful truths in the somber events of the crucifixion through monologues, scripture readings, music, and prayers
* Surprise at Sunrise — an Easter sunrise service depicting the resurrection discovery in four vignettes using child actors
* The Week of Weeks — a set of interactive scripture readings for each of the Sundays between Easter and PentecostOther titles in the Worship Innovations series:
Hanging The Greens For Christmas
Easy Bible Drama -
Paradise Restored
$12.95Add to cart“Children’s time” — a brief lesson specifically targeted for preschool and elementary age youngsters — is an important part of the Sunday morning worship service in many churches today. But many of those who are called upon to provide these lessons feel too intimidated to write their own material. Pastors, children’s ministry leaders, and Sunday school teachers who need fresh, exciting messages that captivate their young people will find that this collection of easy-to-prepare lessons is just what the doctor ordered.
Geared toward the typical age range of the “children’s time” audience — toddlerhood to age 13 — Ping-Pong Words is a valuable resource for anyone who presents children’s sermons or devotionals. Each of the 31 lessons is scripture-based and runs 3-5 minutes in length, and many include demonstrations using simple visual aids such as ping-pong balls, family pictures, a flashlight, and clothespins to illustrate common precepts in ways that clearly communicate God’s Word to young ears, eyes, and hearts. The lessons are flexible, and can be incorporated into a variety of churches and ecumenical settings. Appropriate for Sunday school, worship services, religious schools and day care programs, Bible clubs, and anywhere else where young people gather to learn about God, this volume is certain to earn a trusted place on the bookshelf.
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Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series 7 Cycle C
$38.95Add to cartDelivering a fresh, timely reflection every week on assigned scripture passages is a formidable challenge for even the most resourceful preacher. So when you’re short on time or need creative ideas to jump-start your sermon preparation, the newest edition of this classic CSS resource is just what the doctor ordered! Prominent pastor, former seminary president, and prolific author Jerry Schmalenberger draws on the experience of a lifetime in the ministry to help you prepare vital, incisive messages that are sure to connect with the people in your pews. The Lectionary Preaching Workbook explores a variety of approaches for Cycle C lectionary passages, providing you with plenty of practical aids for effectively proclaiming God’s Word.
Each chapter includes:
* a listing of the applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts;
* a theme for the day’s service;
* commentary on the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel lessons;
* suggestions on preaching possibilities;
* an outline of possible sermon moves;
* a prayer for the day; and
* additional illustrations to flesh out the message. -
Worship Resources For Special Sundays
$12.95Add to cartHere’s a practical collection of thoughtful material to help you celebrate several special occasions during the fall and winter months: Rally Day, Reformation Sunday, All Saints’ Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Youth Sunday. Included are:
* The Saga Of Bobby Wildgoose, a service and sermon specifically tailored for the fall kick-off of Sunday school and commissioning of new Sunday school teachers. The message relates the inspirational story of the beginnings of the Sunday school movement, illustrating the difference that one person can make in the lives of young people.
* Facing The 21st Century With A 16th Century Faith, a message and service for Reformation Sunday that examines what motivated Martin Luther in his disagreements with the established church and suggests that Luther’s ideas about the authority of the Bible, the priesthood of all believers, and justification by faith alone remain the durable bedrock of our Christian faith today.
* Running With The Cloud, a stirring All Saints’ Day sermon and service reminding us that we who are living are only a small segment of the church universal, and noting that we can draw great strength from the lives of the “saints” who have gone before us.
* A Solid Place To Stand, a Thanksgiving message and service that explores how the Bible’s promise of God’s presence with us gives us a firm foundation to base our lives on.
* The Measure Of A Man, A Heart Prepared, Night Watch, and Tidings, a set of four first-person monologue sermons for Advent that tell the old, old story with a twist. We see the birth of the Christ child unfold through the eyes of Joseph, the innkeeper’s wife, a shepherd, and an angel. Key Advent themes such as watching, preparation, and righteous action are raised as each character struggles to make sense of extraordinary events.
* A Youth Sunday worship service with a charming children’s story honoring the presence and participation of the church’s young people. The service celebrates their fresh vision and courage in risking, praying, and creating the future.
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Heroes Of The Faith Speak
$12.95Add to cartLearn the fascinating stories of seven historical and biblical personages in this wide-ranging collection of first-person monologue sermons from the pen of popular CSS author Stephen Crotts. Perfect for presentation from the pulpit, these delightfully creative pieces are excellent for varying routine preaching fare or covering pastoral vacations. And the concise biographical portraits also make informative programming for men’s, women’s, or youth groups, as well as inspiring devotional reading.
Characters profiled include:
* William Bradford
* Christopher Columbus
* Martin Luther
* Saint Patrick
* Saint Nicholas
* Paul
* The Tenth Leper (from the parable in Luke 17:11-19) -
Sermons On The Second Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$41.95Add to cartWherever you are in your walk with Christ, this anthology offers practical, scripture-based wisdom as well as delightfully serendipitous surprises on every page. Three outstanding preachers from diverse denominations provide a complete set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the Second Reading from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Weaving together illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart with fresh insight into New Testament epistle texts, these creative messages invite you to experience God’s presence anew. Each biblically grounded sermon draws on a deep understanding of the human condition, reaffirming the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ and challenging you to a more intense faith relationship with the Almighty.
This is an essential resource that’s useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* A clearer understanding of scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday’s readings -
Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$38.95Add to cartFull of gripping illustrations that bring the scriptures to life, this anthology of sermons for the entire church year offers readers a treasure trove of spiritual guidance. Five distinguished preachers representing a variety of denominations and ministry settings contribute messages based on gospel texts for each Sunday and major celebration in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Their thoughtful meditations proclaim the Good News for today’s world and exemplify the transforming power of God’s Word in our lives. Unforgettable in their power and biblical witness, these sermons provide readers with strength, support, and a Christ-centered vision.
This is an essential resource that’s useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* A clearer understanding of scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday’s readings -
Sermons On The First Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$42.95Add to cartFilled with wit, insight, and inspiration, this anthology includes sermons for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the First Readings from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Three outstanding preachers from diverse denominational backgrounds interpret texts from the Old Testament and Acts in fresh ways that proclaim the Good News for the 21st century. Their powerful messages remind us that the Hebrew scriptures are much more than just ancient history and explore what they mean for us today. Proclaiming timeless themes of justice and righteousness, as well as God’s faithful covenant and enduring forgiveness, these imaginative homilies call us to lead better, more God-centered lives.
This is an essential resource that’s useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* A clearer understanding of scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday’s texts -
Ordinary Words Extraordinary Deeds Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartThe stories of Jesus’ miracles can be challenging to modern sensibilities, conditioned as we are to believe that there must be a logical explanation for water being turned into wine or nets suddenly overflowing with fish. But John Wurster suggests that for contemporary preachers and their listeners, the most important question raised by these remarkable accounts is not “How did they happen?” but rather “What do they mean?”
Ordinary Words, Extraordinary Deeds helps answer that question by exploring the theological significance of the nine miracle stories appearing in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Each chapter includes the biblical text along with interpretive reflections that set the passage in its literary context and connect it to major themes of the gospel writer. There’s also a section investigating a variety of preaching possibilities and offering brief thoughts about what these texts tell us about the sacraments, since (like the miracles) the sacraments make grace evident in ways we can touch and feel.
Specifically geared for the busy pastor with limited time, this is an excellent volume packed with valuable idea starters and rich material for sermon development. But it’s also stimulating reading for anyone who wants greater insight into these marvelous stories of God’s power at work.
Chapter titles include:
* The Star (Matthew 2:1-12)
* Wedding At Cana (John 2:1-11)
* Jesus Transfigured (Luke 9:28-36)
* The Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
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Preaching The Parables Series 3 Cycle C
$22.95Add to cartJesus used his parables to teach ordinary persons with mundane concerns about the kingdom of God; and because these simple stories contain universal truth that transcends time and culture, they still strike a powerful chord with us nearly two millennia later. Preaching The Parables provides a gold mine of background material on each of the eighteen parables appearing in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Dallas Brauninger brings a fresh, imaginative approach to these familiar texts, probing them to reveal what they tell us about God and inviting further reflection on what they mean for us today.
Preaching The Parables is more than just a sermon preparation resource; it’s also stimulating reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how God speaks to us through the parables. Modeled on the format of Brauninger’s popular Preaching The Miracles series, each chapter in Preaching The Parables includes five sections:
* Text — the entire parable text is reproduced, eliminating the need to flip back and forth to a Bible
* What’s Happening? — a synopsis of points of action within the story, defining its movement, conflict, and change or resolution
* Spadework — significant terms are examined through a survey of Hebrew and New Testament writings
* Parallel Scripture — similarities and differences with parallel stories in the other Gospels are highlighted; where the story is unique, parallel words and concepts are examined
* Chat Room — readers are creatively engaged in a variety of imaginary online exchanges, ranging from interviews with parable characters to browsing ideas to self-driven conversations.
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Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit Series 4 Cycle C
$15.95Add to cartIf you’re looking for imaginative reflections that take you right to the heart of the scriptures, the newest edition of CSS’ popular Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit series is the perfect resource for you. Timothy Merrill offers 65 thought-provoking contemplations on Cycle C lectionary passages that draw out the biblical theme by relating it to aspects of modern life we have all experienced. This book is not only great for preaching illustrations and “sermon starters” — it’s also a wonderful source for inspiring devotional reading.
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Lectionary Worship Aids Series 6 Cycle C
$22.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship each Sunday is a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this all-new edition of a favorite CSS reference. It’s a handy, easy-to-use resource with several prayers and a worship theme relating to the assigned scriptural passages for every Sunday and major observance in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. For each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text there’s a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, an offertory prayer, and suggested hymns. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for creating sincerely reverent, meaningful worship.
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Preaching And Reading The Old Testament Lessons Cycle C
$20.95Add to cartProminent author and biblical scholar Elizabeth Achtemeier provides an outstanding preaching and study resource with this collection of brief expositions on all of the First Lesson texts contained in Cycle C of the Revised Common and Lutheran Lectionaries. Infused with her customary insight into the Hebrew scriptures, this compendium of Achtemeier’s stimulating contributions to the preaching journal Emphasis furnishes a plethora of fruitful starting points for preparing sermons solidly rooted in the Bible yet connected to modern life. But as the book’s title suggests, this volume isn’t just for preachers and homiletics students — it’s also a powerful commentary for study groups and personal devotional reading. Achtemeier’s unrelenting focus on the promises of God appearing in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament, combined with her outstanding scholarship, make these faith-filled essays an enriching resource for anyone who wants a clearer understanding of God’s Word contained in the scriptures.
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Pray Like This
$8.95Add to cartPrayer is a powerful force — in Tennyson’s oft-quoted phrase, “more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” But the Lord’s Prayer is so familiar that we often take it for granted, reciting it by rote and missing its deeper meaning. Pray Like This… is an informative volume that helps you rediscover the simplicity and strength of the prayer that Jesus taught us. Alex Gondola carefully analyzes each of the prayer’s ten petitions, and explores how it is Christ’s template for communicating with God. Suitable for personal devotions, adult study groups, sermon preparation, or gift-giving, Pray Like This… is a versatile resource that will unclog your spiritual arteries and open new pathways in your own prayer life.
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Dateline Jerusalem : Dramatic Dialogue Sermons For Lent
$8.95Add to cartYou’ll feel like you are right on the scene viewing the events of Holy Week as this innovative series presents the familiar story of Jesus’ death and resurrection in a novel, engaging, and entirely modern way. In a television-style interview format, six witnesses share their point of view in up-to-date language and references — making each personage more accessible to contemporary congregations.
Dateline: Jerusalem is a flexible resource that can be used in many different settings: during Lenten worship services, as part of a Christian education curriculum, or for a youth program. Scripture lessons accompany each script, and a character summary provides further insight into the personality of each interviewee. Easy to produce with a minimum of staging, these dialogues provide a fresh, engaging approach to the timeless story.
Characters interviewed are:
* Pontius Pilate
* Caiaphas
* Peter
* Mary Magdalene
* John
* the Centurion -
Preaching The Parables Series 2 Cycle C
$27.95Add to cartParables provide insights and lessons that are timeless. When they are employed in preaching the hearer receives images which are easy to remember. Preaching the parables provides a means of communicating the teachings of Jesus for modern Christians.
With each parable Keeney includes:
Scripture Text so readers do not have to refer to the Bible
The theme of the parable
The context of the parable
how it fits into the church year
how it relates to the other scripture passages for the day
Some issues that the parable addresses
Ideas for preaching the parable
Creative illustrations which can be used in preaching
