Books
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Where Is God When It Hurts (Anniversary)
$19.99Add to cart“If there is a loving God, then why…?” No matter how the question is completed, at its root lies the issue of pain. Does God order suffering? Or did he simply wind up the world’s mainspring and now is watching from a distance? In this Gold Medallion Award-winning book, Philip Yancey reveals a God who is neither capricious nor unconcerned. Using examples from the Bible and from his own experiences, Yancey looks at pain–physical, emotional, and spiritual–and helps us understand why we suffer.
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Beasts Of Eschatology And Related Subjects
$14.99Add to cartThe most important one is represented by the scarlet-colored beast of Revelation 17. His activities are given in verse 8. This is Satan’s demon king who demonizes two of the seven that are represented by the seven heads on the beast. This conclusion is reached by giving equal value to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matt. 4:4) We realize that wisdom only comes from God. He gives it according to His will. So we rejoice in the Spirit, as Jesus did, when the seventy returned with joy. He said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes; even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. (Luke 10:21)
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Tales Of Vandelite
$16.49Add to cartWelcome to the fantasy kingdom of Vandelite, a realm of adventure, allegory and symbolism. These are the stories of forbidden caverns and perilous pathways. They are the tales of adventurers who pursue the highest treasures of hope, healing, and a higher purpose.
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Still Woman Moving
$17.99Add to cartA preacher’s daughter who found it difficult to stay in church. A Yankee bred in the simplicity of rural New England who was thrust into the confusing social strata of a midwestern suburb as a pre-teenager and who bumbled her way through adolescence. A “late bloomer” whose sexuality was repressed by a rigid religious surround but released by a transformative rebirth in therapy. A person who experienced the “mother archetype” in all its complexity, until she was able to integrate its power into a nurturing vocation. A “father’s daughter” who found the freedom to break the bond of adoration and move into marriage with a Jewish artist/poet. A woman who traversed the wilderness of the “dark night of the soul” to its nadir point and found the “hidden treasures of darkness” in contemplative silence and solitude. A person who gravitated toward creating and shaping organizations that were expressive of each stage of her changing approach to healthy spirituality, as well as the surrounding culture and times. And therefore a person filled with hopeful joy and optimism because she believes in the possibilities of change throughout life.
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Covenants And Blessings
$14.99Add to cartThey say promises are made to be broken and, too often, we’re quietly cynical about them, even when they come from God. But, His word is true, and He’s promised to infuse our lives with His grace and blessings! It’s a solemn promise–Scripture calls it an everlasting covenant–and you can count on it. Andrew Murray explains: The secret of abiding joy; God’s strength for daily living; freedom from the power of sin; the delight of blessing others; and the intimacy of a Spirit-filled life. Why struggle to live for God when you can experience the joy of the Spirit of Christ living in you, and receive His promises of new life?
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Joy Of Being Forgiven
$16.99Add to cartYou can live in freedom from the pain, guilt, and shame of the past! Andrew Murray’s in-depth study explains the wonderful effects of being forgiven. As you read and follow the principles in the book, you will discover that: your burden of sin is lifted; your guilt is washed away; you know the freedom of forgiveness; you are able to live in God’s presence; and your joy overflows. You can receive the forgiveness you have been seeking!
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Prophet And The Messiah
$37.99Add to cartIVP Print On Demand Title
What do Christians believe about the Bible? Muslims about the Qur’an? And what do Christianity and Islam each have to say about Jesus and Muhammad? Moucarry describes and compares the central doctrines of each religion, explaining key beliefs and debunking common misconceptions—providing grist for an informed and respectful dialogue.
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Bible In A World Context A Print On Demand Title
$15.99Add to cartIn the West, the Bible is largely read and studied abstractly, without context. This is unfortunate since the meaning and value of Scripture are rooted, first, in the contextual situations of its readers. The West has much to learn from voices in places like Latin America, Africa, and Asia, where people are reading and studying the Bible in direct relation to the often trying circumstances of their daily lives.
The Bible in a World Context is an engaging work that offers a fresh look at the subjects of Bible reading and hermeneutics from a global perspective. Three rising scholars representing three distinct geographical regions each contribute to the volume a programmatic essay on hermeneutics and a shorter Bible study on Luke 2:1-20, the account of Jesus’ birth. In showing the role that context plays in interpretation, these chapters demonstrate a contextual hermeneutics that brings familiar biblical texts to life in new and important ways.
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Symbols Of The Christian Faith
$23.99Add to cartSymbols of the Christian Faith is an illustrated guide to the major visual symbols used by the Christian church throughout history. These stylized illustrations, designed by artist Alva William Steffler, are intended to provide usable, up-to-date resources for contemporary church worship and Christian education. Throughout church history symbols have been used to aid worship and to communicate difficult spiritual ideas. Steffler here collects these symbols, from early Christian catacomb art to the present, offering fresh graphic interpretations of old visual forms. The accompanying text notes the biblical sources for the various symbols and traces their use in church tradition and their links to Greco-Roman culture. Extensive glossaries and indexes round out the book.
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Success Gods Way
$19.99Add to cart“Success is defined by a continuing desire to be the person God called you to be and to achieve those goals that God helps you to set,” says Charles Stanley. In Success God’s Way, Stanley teaches God’s principles for success, including ten steps to help you reach God’s goals in your life, and what to do about the seven success blockers that entangle believers.
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Power Of A Praying Nation
$12.99Add to cartHarvest House Print On Demand Title
Rather than succumbing to helplessness and fear, Christians everywhere are interceding for their country. Find encouragement for today and hope for the future as Omartian reminds believers what it means to be “a nation whose God is the Lord.” Includes sample prayers for our leaders, military, police, and firefighters; national healing; and more.
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UnFreezing Moves : Following Jesus Into The Mission Field
$22.99Add to cartAt the dawn of the third millennium two kinds of churches fill the Western landscape: stuck and unstuck. Most Protestant congregations are stuck in the muck and mire of their institutions with little or no movement toward joining Jesus on the mission field. To these “Controllers,” faithfulness means supporting their church and keeping it open. For churches to be faithful to their God-given mission, they need Dreamers who are freed from their slavery to their institutions, freed to live for others on the mission field, and emancipated to function in a constantly changing world. The same can be said for denominations. This book focuses on how to place disciple – making at the core of a church’s identity. He describes four spheres of congregational culture, and he shows how the Dreams can thaw their congregation by using Nine Unfreezing Moves that will unstick any church.
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Wounded Prophet : A Portrait Of Henri J M Nouwen
$19.00Add to cartHenri Nouwen, a Dutch Roman Catholic priest, was one of the most beloved and important spiritual writers of the twentieth century. Since his death in 1996, his stature has only increased; and his books, including The Inner Voice of Love, The Wounded Healer, and The Return of the Prodigal Son, have become cherished classics. For thousands of readers around the world, Nouwen’s influence as a teacher and author is considered equal to, or greater than, that of the century’s great spiritual writers, C. S. Lewis and Thomas Merton.
Although Nouwen could be radically revealing about his personal thoughts and struggles, there are nonetheless gaps in our understanding of who he was.With Wounded Prophet, readers are given the first extensive look into this man who touched so many, not only through his own words but, most powerfully, through the eyes of those around the world who knew Nouwen best. While researching this compelling biography, BBC producer Michael Ford conducted wide-ranging interviews with Nouwen’s friends, colleagues, and family members. What he discovered was far more compelling than what he had imagined: Though Nouwen was indeed the generous and loving man many thought he was, he was also never able to find consistent peace in his own life. Tormenting him were profound feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and loneliness. This portrait gives an honest and well-balanced account of Nouwen’s life that leaves no stone unturned, investigating his childhood, his family, his sexuality, and his life as a priest and member of the L’Arche Daybreak community in Toronto.
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Jesus I Never Knew
$19.99Add to cartAn old adage says, “God created man in His own image and man has been returning the favor ever since.” Philip Yancey realized that despite a lifetime attending Sunday school topped off by a Bible college education, he really had no idea who Jesus was. In fact, he found himself further and further removed from the person of Jesus, distracted instead by flannel-graph figures and intellectual inspection. He determined to use his journalistic talents to approach Jesus, in the context of time, within the framework of history.
In The Jesus I Never Knew, Yancey explores the life of Jesus, as he explains, “‘from below,’ to grasp as best I can what it must have been like to observe in person the extraordinary events unfolding in Galilee and Judea” as Jesus traveled and taught. Yancey examines three fundamental questions: who Jesus was, why he came, and what he left behind. Step by step, scene by scene, Yancey probes the culture into which Jesus was born and grew to adulthood; his character and mission; his teachings and miracles; his legacy–not just as history has told it, but as he himself intended it to be.Yancey is not alone in his examination of the “real” Jesus. Publishing today is replete with writers committed to setting the story “straight,quot; joining countless others who, over the past 2,000 years, have determined to discover the truth about Jesus. But where others would deconstruct and discount, Yancey disarms and discloses. We become colleagues with him as he examines the accounts of the life of Jesus. And among the things that we discover is that Jesus himself leaves us few options: either he was who he said he was or he was nuts.
Philip Yancey was awarded the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year award for this book in 1996 by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. It’s not the first, nor the last, award Yancey has won for his writing. But the writing is not necessarily the great gift of this book. Yancey allows the reader to discover, along with him, The Jesus I Never Knew.
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Gifts Of Lent
$12.95Add to cartThis book was written for busy pastors and lay leaders who want to provide their congregations with a biblical, informative, and motivational monologue series for the Lenten season. Each monologue features a Bible character who gave something to Jesus during Holy Week, and one who had nothing to give. A children’s sermon accompanies each monologue.
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When The Lord Walked The Land
$49.99Add to cart“Previous studies of revival have tended to approach these remarkable moments in history from either a strictly local or a sweeping national perspective.
In so doing they have dealt with either the detailed circumstances of a particular situation or the broader course of events. These approaches, however, have given the incorrect impression that religious awakening are uniform movements. As a result revivals have been misunderstood as homogeneous campaigns.This is the first study of the 1859 revival from a regional level in a comprehensive manner. It examines this movement, arguably the most significant and far-reaching awakening in modern times, as it appeared in the city of Aberdeen, the rural hinterland of north-east Scotland, and among the fishing villages and towns that stretch along the Moray Firth. It reveals how, far from being unvarying, the 1859 revival was richly diverse. It uncovers the important influence that local contexts brought to bear upon the timing and manifestation of this awakening.
Above all, it has established the heterogeneous nature of simultaneous revival movements that appeared in the same vicinity.”
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Best Is Yet To Come
$22.99Add to cartDo you want to be challenged to deepen your understanding of the characteristics and requirements of Almighty God? The Understanding God Series contains the bulk of Pastor Tony Evans’ compelling and hard-hitting resources on the essentials about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and prophecy. Now available in paperback, readers will not want to be without a single book in the series by this popular and powerful speaker and author.
The Bible’s prophetic passages do far more than simply satisfy our curiosity about tomorrow. They’re supposed to impact our lives today. In this compelling book, Tony Evans explores the crucial topics of prophecy – including Heaven, Hell, the Tribulation, and the Anti-Christ. Readers will come to understand how prophecy shapes our lives today.
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Battle Is The Lords
$16.99Add to cartDo you want to be challenged to deepen your understanding of the characteristics and requirements of Almighty God? The Understanding God Series contains the bulk of Pastor Tony Evans’ compelling and hard-hitting resources on the essentials about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and prophecy. Now available in paperback, readers will not want to be without a single book in the series by this popular and powerful speaker and author.
Just because many of us ignore spiritual warfare does not mean we’re not in an intense battle. Tony Evans tackles this difficult and theologically complex issue with the intensity, skill, and biblical foundation readers have come to expect. He systematically reveals Satan’s strategies and helps readers fight back.
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Who Is This King Of Glory
$17.99Add to cartDo you want to be challenged to deepen your understanding of the characteristics and requirements of Almighty God? The Understanding God Series contains the bulk of Pastor Tony Evans’ compelling and hard-hitting resources on the essentials about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and prophecy. Now available in paperback, readers will not want to be without a single book in the series by this popular and powerful speaker and author.
Jesus’ parables and teaching come alive in this sweeping study of the four gospels. Tony Evans shines fresh light on the words of Jesus, giving readers a more personal understanding of Christ’s personality and His work on earth.
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What Matters Most
$16.99Add to cartDo you want to be challenged to deepen your understanding of the characteristics and requirements of Almighty God? The Understanding God Series contains the bulk of Pastor Tony Evans’ compelling and hard-hitting resources on the essentials about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and prophecy. Now available in paperback, readers will not want to be without a single book in the series by this popular and powerful speaker and author.
What are the central precepts a person should know to fully follow Christ? As only he can, Tony Evans very clearly presents what he terms “four absolute necessities” to following the Lord. Readers will be led into a more intense, passionate walk with Christ as they come to understand what’s required.
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Returning To Your First Love
$16.99Add to cartDo you want to be challenged to deepen your understanding of the characteristics and requirements of Almighty God? The Understanding God Series contains the bulk of Pastor Tony Evans’ compelling and hard-hitting resources on the essentials about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and prophecy. Now available in paperback, readers will not want to be without a single book in the series by this popular and powerful speaker and author.
Addiction, immorality, broken relationships – we all suffer spiritual setbacks. In Returning to Your First Love, readers will learn how to return to God and keep working out the most important relationship in our lives.
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Our God Is Awesome
$19.99Add to cartDo you want to be challenged to deepen your understanding of the characteristics and requirements of Almighty God? The Understanding God Series contains the bulk of Pastor Tony Evans’ compelling and hard-hitting resources on the essentials about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and prophecy. Now available in paperback, readers will not want to be without a single book in the series by this popular and powerful speaker and author.
God’s sovereignty inspires our worship. His omnipotence guides our lives. The more we learn about God’s attributes, the more awestruck we become. In his captivating style, Tony Evans explores the characteristics of God and challenges readers to a deeper level of intimacy with the Father.
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Do This : The Shape Style And Meaning Of The Eucharist
$26.00Add to cart“In introducing eight new eucharistic prayers, “”Common Worship”” has focused fresh attention on the most central act of Christian worship. This text offers a wealth of information on both the words and actions of the Eucharist. Part one focuses on the content of the Eucharist, from the opening greeting to the final blessing and dismissal. Each stage of the service is explored from a biblical and historical perpective and readers discover how the Eucharist has evolved from the days of the Early Church. Part two focuses on the actions of the Eucharist: the posture and movement of the celebrant and participants, ceremonial, symbolism, the role of memory, essentials and variables in the rite. Part Three explores the eight different Eucharistic prayers of “”Common Worship””, their distinctive styles, provenance, theological features and pastoral uses.”
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Charlottes Web
$10.99Add to cartThis beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children’s literature that is “just about perfect.”
Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte’s Web, high up in Zuckerman’s barn. Charlotte’s spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur’s life when he was born the runt of his litter.
E. B. White’s Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E.B. White’s Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, among many other books. -
Scientific Facts In The Bible
$8.99Add to cartIf the Bible proves itself to be the Word of the One who created all things, doesn’t it make sense to search its pages? If there is a one-in-a-million chance that the Bible’s promise of immortality and the avoidance of eternal damnation is true, we owe it to our common sense to take a look.
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7 Rewards Of Problem Solving
$8.00Add to cartHow To Examine And Solve Your Problems Through The Wisdom of God. 4 Keys To Recognizing The Problems You Were Created To Solve / 6 Keys To Establishing Your Legacy As A Problem Solver / 12 Rewards Received When You Solve Problems For Others / 5 Important Keys To Remember When You Face A Problem.
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Postmodern World : Discerning The Times And The Spirit Of Our Age
$20.00Add to cartThrough movies, TV, our schools—even in contemporary worship music and theology—postmodernism is everywhere. Using current events and illustrations, Erickson exposes the rising “spirit of the age.” Explaining how postmodernism is toxic to society and Christianity, this essential resource provides the tools to consistently discern and wisely respond to its influence.
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Money Savvy Kids
$14.99Add to cartYour children can learn to give generously, save wisely, and spend carefully_and you can teach them.Young children are captivated by Saturday morning television commercials pushing the next must-have toy. Older kids think they’re losers if they don’t keep up with the latest fashion trend. Young adults find themselves facing financial temptations_like the lure of credit cards_that seem too good to resist.
Behind all these sales pitches lies the dangerous promise: “You can have it all_just buy now and pay later.” Now, Money-Savvy Kids provides a workable strategy you can use_no matter what your financial history_to prepare your children for financial success today that will carry over into financial security for a lifetime.
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Power Of Personal Prayer
$15.99Add to cartin 19 Chapters
Additional Info
God intends for every believer to have a great prayer life, but few do. Although we may pray fervently when we face a crisis, many of us find it awkward-even impossible-to have a meaningful prayer life at other times. In an easy to understand and encouraging manner, Jonathan Graf presents the keys to a dynamic prayer life. He teaches the foundational truths of what prayer is and how essential it is in our relationship with God. He tackles tough questions about different types of prayer and when to use them. And he offers practical tips on how to pray more effectively.Whether you’re a new believer or one who has struggled with prayer for years, this book will help you grow in your prayer life. Through his knowledge of the Scriptures and his broad experience in the subject of prayer, Jonathan Graf will disciple you in the practice of prayer. He will help you experience more of God through prayer-the believer’s lifeline to God’s heart.
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Why Didnt Noah Swat Both Mosquitos
$13.95Add to cartGod made a few perfect heads, the rest he covered with hair.
Subject: BaldnessA certain church was taking a missionary offering. As the plate was passed to one dour-/aced man, he growled, “I don’t believe in missions.” The usher replied, “Well, then take some out, brother, this offering is for the heathen.”
Subject: OfferingA congregation in Florida installed a sound system on a trial basis. One reaction: “If I had wanted to hear, I would have moved up front.”
Subject: HearingAcross one-half century of Hoover Rupert’s ministry, humor has been a part of his preaching portfolio. This collection includes nearly 300 stories collected by the author that could be used by any preacher.
The stories are listed alphabetically by subject or theme. Themes range from religious to secular. A selection of topics includes: accidents, babies, Bible, complaints, church, Devil, ecumenical, faith, heaven, Jesus, music, offering, prayer, theology, viewpoint, words and others.
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Guide For Godparents
$7.95Add to cartA Guide For Godparents is an aid for pastors who deal with ministering to a parade in our constantly moving parish populations. Often godparents arrive from out of town or state. The parents themselves move more often today than ever before in our society.
With this book you will cover the theological basics of baptism and the spiritual life in a way that is simple and friendly without being simplistic or condescending.
The spiritual basis of the book is suited to the busy couples that the church sees coming for their spiritual nurture and the baptism of their children. The content of this book will not scare off these couples — parents and godparents — returning to their church.
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Gods Game Plan
$12.95Add to cartGod’s Game Plan will add color, warmth, humor, and imagination to any preacher’s message. Its anecdotes can be used by anyone who seeks to interpret more effectively the Good News in our day.
The book includes over 75 sports anecdotes that relate to all age groups. Themes used cover the entire range of athletics from team to individual competition.
Subjects are grouped in nine categories including:
Training
Risking
Losing
Winning
and Witnessing.Author Richard A. Hasler chooses anecdotes Jimmy Carter, John Wooden, Frank Laubach, Martin Marty, and many others. The book includes an extensive scripture index.
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Lighting Of The Acolyte
$12.95Add to cartTo err is human. Fortunately, so is the ability to laugh at our mistakes. And this collection of actual bloopers and blunders from church newsletters, bulletins, and pulpits across the country will keep you laughing for a long time to come.
Thousands of church secretaries, pastors, and parishioners from several denominations in over thirty states were willing to share their most embarrassing typos, stories, and tongue-tied trip-ups. The author has chosen the very best of them all, included them here for your church secretary, pastor, parishioners — and you — to enjoy.
So, if you have ever said to yourself “only I could make a goof like that!” come share a laugh with Linda Jump and several of your fellow human beings.
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Holy Communion Is
$12.95Add to cartWhat can the busy pastor say that has not already been said before, when the congregation gathers to share the Sacrament of the Altar? What new meanings and insights about this special Meal ought to be imparted before the breaking of the bread and passing of the cup?
R. E. Lybrand, also a busy pastor, has created this useful resource to help you give your congregation thirteen thoughtful snapshots of this always-fresh and sometimes-too-familiar sacrament.
Holy Communion is:
Real Presence
Refreshment
Reconciliation
Reunion
Running No MoreThere are messages enough in this brief resource for each month in the year. A special concluding message is designed for use on First Communion Sunday.
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Penguin Principles : A Survival Manual For Clergy Seeking Maturity In Minis
$12.95Add to cartQuestion: Why is a parish pastor like a penguin?
Answer:
Penguins have a way of looking dignified and ridiculous simultaneously.
Penguins are sensitive to heat.
Penguins have treacherous enemies.
Penguins are relatively defenseless.
Penguins have a homing instinct.
No matter what happens to penguins, they keep their heads high. (from the Authors’ Preface)While the surgeon-general has yet to rule publicly on this matter, the evidence suggests that reading this book could be injurious to the professional health and the personality of those pastors who are without fault; who have never had a parishioner or a denominational official or a seminary professor lay a guilt trip on them; and who find it painful to laugh at themselves.
Lyle E. Schaller
Yokefellow Institute
(from the Foreword)I believe this book will be a balm to veterans in the pastoral office and will help new clergy avoid many of the pitfalls that lie hidden in the path …
Paul A. Weber
President, Ohio District, LCMS -
More Bulletin Boarders
$12.95Add to cartMore Bulletin Board-ers picks up where Bulletin Board-ers left off. Over 2,000 one-liners are included in this little book. Suitable for Sunday bulletins, church newsletters, announcement boards, bulletin boards, roadside signs, or even to spice up correspondence, these witty, provocative sayings will wake up the lethargic and make the sober laugh. In addition, they are calculated to make the thoughtful person think more deeply about life and the daily routine.
Examples include:
“Right is right even when everyone is against it.”
“Pigs grunt about everything.”
“Nothing exceeds like excess.”
“Love sees through a telescope — not a microscope.”
“Left-handers have rights, too.”
“Psychiatrists have couches for people off their rockers.” -
Help For The Harried Homeschooler
$19.99Add to cartHomeschooling moms and dads can be overwhelmed by the demands on their time. Between their children’s educational needs; their roles as spouse, parent, and more; and their own individual desires and goals, these mothers and fathers struggle to accomplish all that must be done. In Help for the Harried Homeschooler, experienced homeschooler, author, and mother of four Christine Field offers sound advice for parents who want not only to achieve homeschooling success but also to reach a balance in their lives.
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Zippered Heart : Bringing Light To The Dark Things We Hide Inside
$18.99Add to cartWhat do you do with all the ugly, embarrassing things in your life? We all have them whether or not we can admit it. In The Zippered Heart, popular author and Women of Faith speaker Marilyn Meberg explains that spiritual and emotional well-being require us to acknowledge the less-than-attractive, often shameful aspects of our character that we often try to hide. Meberg believes to admit our weakness is to invite the divine power of God to conquer them. With hope and humor, this book is an important reminder that there is nothing God can’t heal.
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Fair Spoken And Persuading
$17.95Add to cartWithin the last two hundred years, critical scholarship has come to recognize that Chapters 40-55 of the Book of Isaiah are the work, not of the eighth century Isaiah of Jerusalem, but of an anonymous sixth century disciple standing in the Isaiah tradition. This “Second Isaiah” spoke to a community who had once lived in Judah and Jerusalem, but now, a half century later, were settled in Babylon.
Critical scholarship discovered Second Isaiah through its scientific methods. The successive fads and fashions of that scholarship — source criticism, then form criticism — have onesidedly determined interpretation. Fair Spoken and Persuading criticizes previous approaches that took the book to be a series of fragments, outbursts of a great lyrical poet. It argues instead that Isaiah 40-55 is a collection of substantial speeches that reinterpret national traditions to answer a sixth century question: how could the exiles be Israel outside of the sacred land? The prophet’s answer: by making a fresh Exodus and Conquest. The Judahites would become Israel through their brave and trustful journeying to Zion (Second Isaiah’s name for Jerusalem).
Second Isaiah is therefore not just a poet but an orator. His program of action — one becomes Israel through action — is still relevant today for both Jews and Christians who seek authenticity through their actions.
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Shadows To Sunrise
$19.95Add to cartAre you looking for fresh, vibrant material for Holy Week worship? Do you want your congregation to experience the unforgettable drama of Jesus’ suffering, so that they more fully appreciate the celebration and joy of Easter? If so, then you’ll want this anthology that provides several innovative choices for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter sunrise worship. Copying privileges are included for all six segments.
Beyond The Shadows combines communion with gradually extinguished candlelight to create a moving Maundy Thursday tenebrae experience. As each part of the Passion story unfolds, more candles are snuffed out, and the service concludes in total darkness. By reminding us that the Light of the World came to us, yet was engulfed in total darkness as his life slipped away, Beyond The Shadows focuses worshipers’ attention on the coming resurrection, and how that brightness contrasts with the darkness of the crucifixion.
When The Son’s Light Failed is a poignant Good Friday dramatization that imagines the presence at the crucifixion of many women whose lives were profoundly affected by Jesus. The women all share their stories with each other as they witness our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice. It’s a moving portrayal which reminds us that Jesus’ ministry touched the lives of everyone.
The tenebrae service Choices At The Cross explores some of the choices faced by those involved in the events of Christ’s Passion — ones of far greater magnitude than what we often face on a daily basis. Choices At The Cross emphasizes that the most important decision we ultimately face is our response to the question posed by Pilate: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
Based on John’s account of Christ’s passion, Good Friday Readings, Meditations, And Prayers is a series of seven brief contemplations and prayers that can form the basis for a remarkably effective Good Friday service or be used for personal devotional reading during Lent. Filled with vivid imagery, the meditations make the scriptures come alive while relating them to contemporary life.
Good Friday: I Was There is a stark, gripping Good Friday worship experience which confronts us with the powers of darkness and destruction which were responsible for Christ’s crucifixion. Brief monologues from seven shadowy personae (Doubt, Sorrow, Fear, Shame, Agony, Hate, and Death) dramatically recall how our Lord suffered as he took the sins of humanity upon himself.
Designed as a co
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At The Cross With Jesus
$12.95Add to cartBy combining a compelling sermon series with an insightful group of monologues, At The Cross With Jesus offers flexible, effective resources that will keep the cross central in your congregation’s minds and hearts during Lent. Practical for use in any church, large or small, the material in At The Cross With Jesus is perfect for midweek worship or Holy Week services, and could also be used for a Bible study.
The five moving messages in The Symbols Of The Cross examine Jesus’ final days by focusing on powerful images from the Passion story. Each homily relates these events to our everyday lives by exploring a specific symbol and the human characteristic it exemplifies. There are also directions for creating a searing memory of these symbols by placing visual representations of each image on a wooden cross.
Symbols included are:
* The Palms (a symbol of our fickleness)
* The Money Bag (a symbol of our greed)
* The Towel (a symbol of servanthood)
* The Crown of Thorns (a symbol of mockery)
* The Nails of the Cross (a symbol of suffering)In Five Who Knew Jesus, five persons who were intimately acquainted with Jesus describe their personal relationships with him. Through hearing the perspective of those who played critical roles in Jesus’ life, we are encouraged to look more closely at our own relationships with Christ during the introspective season of Lent. The monologues may be performed in readers’ theater format, but are even more effective if memorized. Few props are required, and costumes are a nice touch but not essential.
Characters represented are:
* John — a hot-tempered man who becomes the disciple of love
* Mary, the mother of Jesus — a woman who suffers a mother’s pain while humbly accepting God’s will
* Peter — an arrogant man who becomes a humble disciple
* Judas — the disciple who failed because he thought he knew best
* Mary Magdalene — a woman of the world who strives to love herself as Jesus loved her -
Laity Lifelines
$12.95Add to cart“Help! It’s Laity Sunday! What shall we do?” That panicked call is a familiar one, particularly in small and midsize congregations, on those occasions when lay members “take over” the service. It can be overwhelming for people who aren’t used to the planning and production of an entire service. Laity Lifelines offers four complete, easy-to-produce services that are just what’s needed when worshipers find themselves in charge on Sunday morning. Each imaginative service includes prayers, responses, a children’s sermon, suggested music, and a script for the service with prop lists and staging instructions. There’s even a form for your bulletin! So panic no longer – these “instant” worship experiences allow for maximum participation and celebration with a minimum amount of headache. It’s a great way to build a sense of unity and purpose as members of Christ’s church.
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Life Injections 2
$17.95Add to cartLife Injections II shows how the scriptures can provide help, comfort, and insight into life’s problems. Father Richard Zajac’s heartfelt and thought-provoking messages draw inspiration from many sources, including his extensive hospital experience. Whether you’re interested in striking sermon illustrations, wisdom for coping with difficult circumstances, or just bedside reading with a message of hope and peace, Life Injections II is just what the doctor ordered!
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I Believe Help My Unbelief
$19.95Add to cartHas the Apostles’ Creed become such a routine part of worship that you recite it with all the passion of reading items on a grocery list? If so, this book will help you recapture the heartfelt conviction of a historic article of faith! There is a fire in Ron Lavin’s belly about the time-tested truths of the Apostles’ Creed, which have reassured many Christians in life’s travails. He says we need to study this often misunderstood and generally neglected resource more than ever, because it encapsulates what so many people seem to be searching for. Sprinkled with humor and anecdotes, each chapter analyzes a statement from the creed, and includes discussion questions, ideas for digging deeper into the biblical and historical background, and possibilities for further application. And there’s a special bonus – in a fascinating appendix, former missionary Mel Kieschnick shares the remarkable story of how the Apostles’ Creed sustained him when he found himself in the midst of the 1989 massacre at Beijing’s Tienanmen Square.
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Let Me Tell You
$12.95Add to cartEven though the sermon is perhaps the central element of Protestant worship, preachers sometimes have difficulty capturing the imagination of their audiences and communicating the spiritual resources that worshipers need. But the messages in David Rogne’s latest book, Let Me Tell You…, provide the living connection that worshipers are hungering for. Rogne makes a further presentation of an autobiographical homiletic style described in his previous CSS release, Telling It Like It Was. Readers will see how the preacher can assume the identity of featured characters, stressing aspects of their spiritual pilgrimages which are relevant for today’s faithful living. Following an introductory chapter in which Rogne briefly touches on issues raised by the characters represented, he presents twelve monologues highlighting the experiences of both biblical and more recent personalities. You’ll meet such fascinating personages as Abraham, Jeremiah, Thomas, Paul, Father Damien, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The monologues depict individuals who persevered through difficulty and emerged with their faith intact.
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Getting Our Feet Wet
$12.95Add to cartLent is a great time to work dramatic presentations into your congregation’s programming — and Getting Our Feet Wet, a collection of 14 thoughtful sketches depicting Lenten themes, is a great resource for communicating the Gospel in fresh and exciting ways. Written with grace and style, the scenes probe common assumptions about faith, making a vivid impression on audiences while stretching their theological imagination. Most of the dramas explore familiar biblical events from novel vantage points: the proprietor of the upper room, two anonymous women at the crucifixion, wine-weary disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Some of the stories bring out the humor and theological edge in scripture, while others leave readers yearning for the Good News of Easter. Appropriate for intimate gatherings or large worship services (particularly during Holy Week), many of the scenes require only one or two characters, and each comes with specific directions for props, sound, and lighting. Performance time of the scenes varies from approximately 5 to 12 minutes.
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Come In And Worship
$12.95Add to cartCome In And Worship offers a complete worship resource for your Holy Week needs, including a festival celebration for Palm Sunday, a Holy Communion service for Maundy Thursday, and a tenebrae service for Good Friday. Each features lengthy scriptural readings supplemented with stirring messages that place worshipers in the emotional turmoil of the passion events. The Palm Sunday ceremony includes a charming children’s story, “The Donkey’s Tale.”
Anyone who has to plan or lead worship will find these services to be a wonderful way of bringing Holy Week to life for congregations. Use them in combination with Bankhead’s other Lenten titles for a complete interrelated seasonal program.
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Jesus Lonely Road
$7.95Add to cartBased on scripture passages from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ Lonely Road includes two devotional guides for personal meditation and prayers during Lent. The first section covers Ash Wednesday through Passion Sunday, focusing on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and his increasing isolation from the disciples as well as his growing conflict with Jewish leaders. The second section, for Holy Week, follows Jesus each day as he walked the Road to the Cross.
These devotional resources are perfect for distribution to church members as part of your Lenten activities — use them in combination with Bankhead’s other Lenten titles for a complete interrelated seasonal program.
Also by Robert C. Bankhead:
* A Trail Of Tears: Bible Study For Lent
* Come In And Worship: Liturgies And Sermons For Holy Week -
Shepherd And His Sheep
$12.95Add to cartOne of the most striking representations of Jesus in the scriptures is that of a shepherd. Based on John 10’s statement that He is the Good Shepherd, this series of eight lessons teaches youngsters of Jesus’ unfailing love and care (even to the point of death on the cross). Like all of her previous collections, each children’s message is accompanied by a two-sided activity page — one side that’s a coloring page for younger children, and the other with numerous puzzles and activities to reinforce the lesson’s theme for older children. Bland has a well-earned reputation for biblical faithfulness, creativity, and practicality. Busy pastors and teachers have found her ready-to-use materials just what they need for their children’s time — we know you’ll love her latest release!
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Trail Of Tears (Student/Study Guide)
$8.95Add to cartDrawing on texts from all three Synoptic Gospels, this series of seven lessons traces the events of Jesus’ final journey into Jerusalem and toward crucifixion. Through the study of parallel passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, readers will discover both common elements and disparate viewpoints in the passion narratives.
Drawing on texts from all three Synoptic Gospels, this series of seven lessons traces the events of Jesus’ final journey into Jerusalem and toward crucifixion. Through the study of parallel passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, readers will discover both common elements and disparate viewpoints in the passion narratives.Each study includes a listing of texts and themes, plus a preparation guide for class members and discussion suggestions for group leaders. These practical resources will be useful not only for pastors, but for anyone who plans educational opportunities for adults during Lent. Use them in combination with Bankhead’s other Lenten titles for a complete interrelated program focusing on the journey to the cross.
Also by Robert C. Bankhead:
* Jesus’ Lonely Road: Devotional Guides for Lent and Holy Week
* Come In And Worship: Liturgies and Sermons for Holy Week -
Lenten Discipline
$12.95Add to cartAn acclaimed Luther scholar revisits the wisdom of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism in this complete Lenten program. Based on the six sections of the catechism, A Lenten Discipline provides instructive homily/meditations and worship services for each week in Lent, including Maundy Thursday. An initial chapter examining the Word of God as Law and Gospel sets the tone for the series and can be used as the basis of an Ash Wednesday sermon. Subsequent weeks explore the basic teachings of the faith on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and Holy Communion.
Though perfectly suited for congregational use during Lent, this series has a multitude of other applications. In addition to catechism or confirmation instruction, it’s also excellent for a sermon series, as a theological resource, or for classrooms, workshops, and retreats. But whatever the setting, these informative homily/lectures and worship experiences will give users new insight into Luther’s genius.
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Inspiration For The Choir
$12.95Add to cartIn the rush to prepare for weekly rehearsals, does it sometimes seem as if your choir isn’t always focused on why they are there? Inspiration For The Choir offers 40 attention-getting devotions that are a wonderful way to precede the warm-up and start the rehearsal on an inspirational note. Each includes a brief story expounding on a musical or seasonal topic and concludes with a short prayer. This collection is a great way to increase your choir’s commitment to God. After all, the choir is just a part of the overall proclamation of the gospel! You’ll laugh at the humorous anecdotes … while deepening your faith.
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Thespian Theology
$12.95Add to cartMany congregations are searching for fresh approaches to telling the good news – and Thespian Theology is just what you need to inject a healthy dose of fun into the scriptural message. Twelve of Jesus’ parables are depicted in a humorous, offbeat way in scripts that were originally developed for presentation by a high school-age youth group. While the plays are especially appropriate for adolescents, they also maintain a focus on the biblical text and will appeal to all ages. Pastors and youth leaders will discover that these simple, easy-to-perform sketches can be an excellent tool for reaching out to unchurched people and getting them excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone who participates in (or witnesses a performance) of these sketches will enjoy them while learning about God in the process.
Some of the amusing titles include:
Who Is My Neighbor? or The Parable of the Good Geek (The Good Samaritan)
Wilfred Wonderful’s Weightless Wooden Widget Works (The Unforgiving Servant)
Hey … Who’s in Charge Here? (The Laborers in the Vineyard)
Irkum D. Judge, Esq. (The Judge and the Widow) -
Lessons We Can Learn From The Animals
$11.95Add to cartChildren learn that Jesus is their Lord and develop Christian character through attention-getting pictures and rhyming words in this book of children’s sermons and activity pages from the prolific pen of Julia Bland. Like all of her other popular CSS titles, these messages come with two-sided activity pages. Busy pastors and teachers will appreciate the coloring pages for younger children and the numerous activities reinforcing the lesson for older children.
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Toward A Christian View Of A Scientific World
$14.95Add to cartModern science and science-based technology have changed traditional understandings of the world in profound ways. A pastor who is also a trained scientist draws on his diverse background to help readers put today’s scientific knowledge in the context of Christian faith. Murphy sees the world described by today’s science as the creation of God revealed in Jesus Christ, and technology and modern medicine as ways to carry out God’s purpose for the world. This book is a useful tool for introducing readers to the crucial conversations and interactions now occurring between the fields of science, theology, technology, and ethics. It’s a clear and accessible text that’s appropriate for adult classes and lay groups of all levels.
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Worship Innovations 2
$23.95Add to cartIn Worship Innovations: Easy Bible Drama, you will meet Bible persons just outside their recorded stories. Listen to Sarah and Isaac on the evening he returns from Mt. Moriah; watch Joseph (in Potiphar’s jail) confront Satan about whether integrity pays. Agonize with Anne (the mother of Mary) as she sends her daughter off to register for taxes in Bethlehem; hear the private conversation of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea following Nicodemus’ secret meeting with Jesus.
Each of these fifteen sketches raises issues and questions designed to take readers deeper into a study of the Bible story itself. They can form the heart of a dynamic worship service, inspire a sermon, brighten a Bible study, or energize a personal walk in the word of God. Also included is “Everything You Need To Know About Easy Bible Drama,” a chapter of “how-to’s” for any church that wants to initiate the use of drama in worship.
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No Shame : A Study Of Six New Testament Women (Student/Study Guide)
$7.95Add to cartCindy Bailey believes that many women allow shame and embarrassment to cripple their walk with Christ. She has witnessed women who seem to feel that they aren’t qualified or “good enough” to use their God-given talents. No Shame refutes that premise and spotlights women in the New Testament who served the Lord boldly and effectively, confident of God’s will. Despite the odds against them and their humble backgrounds, these women were not ashamed to repeat an unanswered prayer or rise to God’s call. A great study with excellent documentation, this book is perfect for women’s groups and adult Sunday school classes, as well as for personal reading and devotion.
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God Has A Plan For You (Student/Study Guide)
$26.95Add to cart“I read the Bible, but I don’t get anything out of it.” “I want to know what the Bible says, but I need a guide to understand it.” “I just don’t have time to read the whole Bible, but I want to know its message for me.” If any of these statements describe you (or your parishioners), then this is the book for you. Arranged in 52 weekly sessions, God Has A Plan For You! provides an easy-to-follow structure for a one-year plan to read through the entire Bible. It offers a broad overview of the message of scripture, as well as practical applications to daily Christian living.
Each chapter includes a clear explanation of the biblical text and its meaning for today. And study questions and thought-provokers help readers to deepen their understanding. The unique format makes this an excellent resource for a preaching series, Sunday school lessons, or a group Bible study, as well as for personal Bible reading.
Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, this book can help you reach your spiritual goals by fostering a clear understanding of the Bible’s message and God’s plan for you.
God Has A Plan For You! celebrates the message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation…. This approach helps make all of the written Word — not just the more familiar favorite passages — the basis of a life lived in obedience to God and his kingdom agenda for the church. Dr. Prescott-Ezickson wisely avoids secondary issues and dubious interpretations, consistently focusing on the central message of salvation as it is found from the beginning to the end of the Scriptures. Readers, whether from the laity or the clergy, will come away from this volume with a new appreciation of the fundamental message of the Bible.
Robert T. Coote, Associate Director
Overseas Ministries Study Center
New Haven, Connecticut -
Proverbial Marquee
$20.95Add to cartAs freelance advertising copywriters, Tina Rabb and Deborah Davies were selling supersonic subwoofers and touting Tijuana getaways on everything from billboards to fast food tray lines when it hit them: They were using their expertise to persuade people to buy things they may not really need — so why not use that knowledge to help churches get the most mileage from their billboards? Why not promote something people truly need in their daily lives — the love of God?
There are probably more than a million church signs and marquees in the United States, each offering an unparalleled chance to promote the kingdom of Christ. Yet passersby are often greeted with muddled and ungrammatical messages. The Proverbial Marquee is the cure for what ails many church marquees today. It’s a complete collection of proven proverbs and original wisdom, all especially suited to signage. And it couldn’t be more practical:
Maxims are categorized for easy reference
Each message is formatted line by line for easy drive-by reading
Line lengths are calculated to fall well within the average church sign’s width
Best of all, a convenient letter count is providedSo while this book may have started out as atonement for their advertising sins, Rabb and Davies discovered that The Proverbial Marquee became a labor of love that was too gratifying (not to mention too much fun) to count as penance. But isn’t that how a wise Father often works?
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Telling It Like It Was
$12.95Add to cartEven though the sermon is the centerpiece of Protestant worship, preachers sometimes fail to capture the imagination of their audiences and communicate the spiritual resources that worshipers need. But David Rogne’s messages in Telling It Like It Was provide the living connection that worshipers are hungering for. Rogne introduces readers to an autobiographical homiletic style in which the preacher assumes the identity of a featured character. He shares his method of preparation, describes how to overcome obstacles, and then presents twelve monologues highlighting the experiences of both Biblical and more recent personalities. Each presentation is prefaced by a few paragraphs detailing considerations related to that particular individual. Some of the characters you will meet are Pharaoh, Solomon, Herod, John the Baptist, Pontius Pilate, St. Francis of Assisi, and Albert Schweitzer.
This book will be invaluable for preachers and seminarians who are interested in expanding their repertoire of sermon styles, as well as for anyone who wants a concise biographical portrait of the people who have shaped our faith.
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Gathering At Golgotha
$7.95Add to cartGathering At Golgotha provides a simple yet dramatic way for a group of readers to present the human drama at the heart of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion by focusing on the emotions of those with whom Jesus was most intimate. Including an original song, the script gives fresh voice to the feelings of Jesus’ close companions on that black night. This easy-to-produce piece uses very few props and needs minimal rehearsal time to create a lasting effect.
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Life On The Edge Of Faith
$12.95Add to cartFive characters bear witness to a world-changing event that forces them right to the edge of faith in this series of midweek worship services for Lent, which also includes services for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Each service contains a brief sermon, and the five midweek services also feature monologues from the perspective of someone who was present at our Lord’s Passion (a sleeping disciple, the high priest, a maid, a soldier, and a city resident). The bewilderment experienced by these characters will help worshipers find a voice for the confusion that we all feel from time to time.
Life On The Edge Of Faith is a complete package of thematically-related worship resources for the busy pastor looking for midweek programming. The monologues can be read by parishioners, and it’s a great opportunity to have your young people participate in worship activities.
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Were You There
$7.95Add to cartThe story of Good Friday and Easter Day is dramatized through the device of “man-on-the-street” interviews. As a radio reporter tries to obtain details of the crucifixion, we hear the viewpoints of many people who witnessed the events, from children to a Roman soldier to a rabbi to some of the disciples. Then we hear radio announcers “on the scene” reporting the astounding good news of the resurrection. With parts for 6 men, 2 women, and 3 children, Were You There? is an excellent way to bring the Passion story to life while involving many members of your congregation.
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Empty Spaces Empty Places
$7.95Add to cartWhile we often try to fill the empty spaces in our lives with family, work, and material things, a lingering sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction seems to remain. The connections between biblical characters and these empty spaces in our lives are the focus of three dramatic sketches. By revisiting the stories of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection through interviews with the innkeeper’s wife, the centurion, and Mary Magdalene, Empty Spaces, Empty Places shows us the lives Jesus touched then (and continues to touch today). The centurion who witnessed the crucifixion tells how he became convinced that Jesus was the Son of God in the monologue Filling In The Empty Spaces: The Soldier. And the Apostle Paul’s life and Christian witness is depicted in Filling In The Empty Spaces: Saint Paul. Each presentation confronts audiences with the same question: “What do you fill your empty spaces with?”
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Gods Top 10 List
$12.95Add to cartGod’s Top Ten List approaches the Ten Commandments not as a list of do’s and don’ts, but rather as a path toward personal peace and social renewal. In messages liberally sprinkled with gripping illustrations, Robert Kopp explores the timeless truth of the commandments, and notes that they are God’s recipe for achieving a happy and satisfying life.
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All About Eve (Student/Study Guide)
$12.95Add to cartThe stories of women throughout the Bible are among the most remarkable in all of literature. Many of these women have inspired faith and been shining examples of God’s place in our lives. In a set of captivating and thought-provoking sermons, Robert Allen takes a closer look at ten of these women, both the well-known and the overlooked, and reveals how they share a common humanity with modern Christians.
Chapters include:
All About Eve — Genesis 2:21-25; 3:1-7
Don’t Look Back! — Genesis 19:26; 10:24-26
Letters In The Sand — John 8:1-11
The Touch Of Faith — Mark 5:25-34
… and more! -
Returning Home
$12.95Add to cartGod’s never-ending pursuit of all prodigals, whether they’re far from home or nearby, is the theme of this complete package of preaching and worship resources. The timeless story of the Prodigal Son is examined through first-person portrayals of its characters: the prodigal, the elder son, the father, the mother, and a servant. The five monologues are perfect for use in midweek services — and with companion sermons for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday plus seven orders of worship, Returning Home provides everything busy pastors need for a total Lenten program. The material is also excellent for a sermon series, small group discussion, or personal devotional reading.
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Conversations With The Savior
$12.95Add to cartNine dialogues built around the “I AM” sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of John offer a fresh perspective while meeting the demands of extra services during the Lenten season. Through their interaction with Jesus, various characters gain insight into who Jesus Christ is and turn to him in faith. Each dialogue can be performed by two readers, and may be staged as elaborately or as simply as desired. Accompanying each conversation is a children’s message that uses easily obtained objects to reinforce the day’s featured “I AM” statement.
The conversations explore the following statements:
I AM the Bread of Life
I AM the Gate
I AM the Good Shepherd
I AM the Resurrection and the Life
I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life
I AM the True Vine
I AM He
I AM the Light of the World -
Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side Cycles A B And C
$12.95Add to cartThe miracles of Jesus are some of the most striking passages in the New Testament — they bring the power of God “up close and personal” by dramatically rearranging human situations and teaching us great spiritual truths. But how can we translate the sometimes arcane historical content of the miracle stories in a way that will be meaningful to contemporary sensibilities?
Jerry Schmalenberger has come up with an original solution in these 13 well-crafted sermons on miracle stories contained in the Revised Common Lectionary. Using the analogy of old 45 rpm records which were usually released with a “hit” side and a “flip” side, Schmalenberger shares a structure for presenting the miracles in narrative form. He initially focuses on the traditional approach to each miracle (the “A” or “hit” side), and then offers a fresh look at the “other side of the story” (the “B” or “flip” side). Schmalenberger’s punch, contemporary language, and narrative style produce hard-hitting and inspirational messages that offer a unique twist in the interpretation of these fascinating stories.
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Come As You Are
$12.95Add to cartCommunion is an inexhaustible mystery — a gift of God’s grace. Yet because it is familiar we sometimes take it for granted. Though theologians may disagree about exactly what happens in and through the sacrament, we all agree that something happens — at the Lord’s Supper we are changed. Gondola explores the wonder of communion in these captivating and well-illustrated sermons.
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Affirming The Ash Heap
$12.95Add to cartThese seven sermons will penetrate the hearts and souls of every listener…because each one of us has been touched by the tragic side of life. Like Job, everyone sitting in a church pew has at one time or another screamed for a reason why, or even wondered (like Jesus), “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. Including sermons for five Sundays in Lent, along with Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, Kirby’s meditations will help worshippers understand the process of coming to grips with these difficult questions
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And The Sea Lay Down
$11.95Add to cartHere are all the pastoral resources you need for a complete and integrated Lenten season of preaching and worship — Ash Wednesday through Easter, including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Included for each Sunday or worship service are:
* Call to worship
* Suggested processional hymn
* Children’s message
* Prayers
* Scripture passages
* Sermon
* Suggested hymn
* Pastoral prayer
* Affirmation of faith
* Suggested closing hymnWard’s first book for CSS, Asking For Wonder: Resources For Creative Worship And Preaching, has become a favorite resource for thousands of busy pastors.
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Cows In Church
$24.95Add to cartThese children’s object lessons use an interactive presentation. Topical and scriptural indexes are helpful in selecting the appropriate message.
The outstanding feature of these children’s object lessons is the interactive approach Fannin takes in presenting them. Children are involved through leading questions.
The topical and scriptural indexes at the back are helpful in selecting the appropriate children’s message for the time of year or to correspond with the adult sermon.
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Dramatic Sketches From Romans
$23.95Add to cartDramatic Sketches From Romans is a series of thirty dramatic “parablizations” of the principles taught in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Each scene is designed to take one to four minutes to read within a group setting.
The sketches are …
hard-hitting, but not harsh
biblical, but not preachy
entertaining, but not lightweightStudy groups — Sunday school classes, Bible study groups, discussion groups — will love the variety of styles used. Audiences will find themselves anticipating “what’s coming next?” Many vignettes are left open-ended, leading to discussion and discovery in order to resolve the issues. Though designed primarily for an expository adventure through Romans, any group will find this an invaluable anthology of resources for nearly any occasion.
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Preaching Eyes For Listening Ears
$18.95Add to cartOne of the master preachers of today reveals how sermon styles can bring scriptural texts to life. This is a classic for students of the art of preaching.
This collection of sermons by one of the master preachers of the century reveals how a scriptural text can be brought to life through the story sermon style. But Ormond is not limited to that style alone, as this book reveals. He also cleverly employs deductive and inductive reasoning to call the believer to faith and action.
Students of homiletics and sermonic form will find the Introduction and Comments of Dr. Lucy Rose extremely helpful. Until her recent death from cancer at the age of 50, Dr. Rose was associate professor of preaching and worship at Columbia Theological Seminary as well as a noted scholar and theological leader who served as president of the Academy of Homiletics. Her commentary will help make this book a classic text for students of preaching.
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Lectionary Scenes Cycle A
$30.95Add to cartStudies have indicated that 75% of what an audience learns and remembers is a result of what they see, while 13% comes from what they hear. Drama puts them both together and prepares the audience with a sermon illustration that kindles their anticipation of the pastor’s sermon. The majority of these mini-dramas run 3 to 5 minutes in length, with a few as long as 7 to 10 minutes. Each introduces the theme of the Gospel lesson in the Cycle A lectionary. Written with wit, wisdom, and humor, they help to plant the Gospel theme in an unforgettable, poignant, contemporary application. The scenes require minimal preparation. Few props are needed and 2 to 4 characters are involved in each sketch.
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Case For Excellence
$17.95Add to cartHere are over 50 case studies of very real clergy/church situations: crises, problems, legal issues. Each one provides background to the situation, a description of the event, an analysis, and an evaluation by the person(s) involved suggesting how it might have been handled differently.
This fascinating collection of studies describes clergy life on the front lines. Pastors, seminary students, and even congregational staff and members will learn not only what those other churches have faced, but what they might encounter in the parish … and how they might best deal with it.
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Living Parables
$12.95Add to cartThese brief 3- to 5-minute skits provide an effective introduction for a talk or sermon. Other uses are for family night programs, Bible study introductions, youth meetings, and special times of the year such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Easter. A topical index lists dozens of subjects the skits address: from aging, business practices, children, and friendship to lying, marriage, mid-life crisis, relationships, and work.
The index lists over 100 topics:
The dysfunctional marriage/relationship
Stressful living
Ethics and reputations
McChurch — church attendance
Easter service
1-900-Midlife (crisis)
Mother’s Day
Cults
… and dozens more!These clever, witty, inspirational skits will inspire discussion and promote deeper faith and commitment.
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Time To Plant
$13.95Add to cartThis collection of 52 children’s sermons is designed to captivate and educate young children. Busy clergy are constantly searching for ready- to-use, interactive children’s sermons that will stimulate the thinking and capture the interest of both youngsters and adults in the congregation. These messages are presented to challenge, nurture, teach, and enlighten children as they take their first steps of faith. They cover a wide variety of topics. Some are object lessons while others are story lessons, but all are lessons that will leave an impression on those who hear them.
Imagine the curious anticipation of the children and the congregation as the pastor/leader reaches into a plastic garbage bag and distributes empty pizza boxes, old newspapers and soft drink cans to introduce “God, the Recycler,” the One who can make everything new. Watch them readily grasp the concept as they observe a game of tug-of-war in which all the participants are on the same team, demonstrating how in the church we all pull together for a common purpose and no one struggles to pull anyone into the mud. These brief sketches are representative of the many well-loved children’s sermons created, collected, and delivered during the years of this staff pastor’s ministry.
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Conversations Over Bread And Wine
$12.95Add to cartNo occasion offers greater opportunity or a more imposing challenge for communicating the Gospel than Holy Communion. The sacrament itself takes one to the very heart of the Christian faith. What a pastor says to congregants who come to share the Eucharist ought to focus on the central realities of Christian truth. And it needs to be said succinctly!
Scripture records numerous conversations Jesus held around the dinner table: with Matthew and Zacchaeus; in Simon the Pharisee’s home; meals shared with his special friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Well known are his feeding of the multitude with the loaves and fish and his Last Supper with the disciples. For Jesus mealtime was uniquely an occasion for God’s truth to be shared and for significant decision-making to take place.
This book offers messages that provide themes, ideas, and illustrations appropriate for Holy Communion that both pastors and lay persons will find helpful.
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From A Mustard Seed
$13.95Add to cartFrom A Mustard Seed … 52 messages for children … one for each Sunday of the coming year.
One of the biggest challenges of parish ministry is to capture and motivate the imagination of our children so that they relate to the Gospel in more direct ways. From A Mustard Seed is filled with creative approaches. It builds on the everyday experiences of children, using the most common of household items, to give them a point of identification with the living God.
The interactive approach of these messages will not only have the children of your congregation relating to God more directly, it will have your adult members thanking you for speaking so clearly and powerfully to their faith as well.
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Bad And The Good
$10.95Add to cartThis activity-oriented series of children’s sermons deals with word opposites. The lessons are based on the example found in Jesus’ teachings that the bad is followed by the good, through trust and obedience in God.
This series of children’s messages help young people understand the suffering and death of Jesus in a positive way. Throughout the series the children are asked to participate with word opposites. The lessons are planned so that each child may take back to the pew an activity sheet. One side is a coloring page for younger children. The other side has word puzzles and games for older children.
The usefulness of this series will become evident:
They require little preparation
The coloring pages will appeal to the younger children
The activity page will keep older children interested
The series can be used for worship services, Sunday school, or other times -
Rules For Happy Living
$17.95Add to cartDuring 44 years as a pastor’s wife, Julia Bland was often given the task of presenting the children’s sermon. Her presentations were always well-received.
Busy pastors and worship leaders who are searching for Bible-based lessons can use these with a minimum of preparation. Each sermon has suggested visual aids and activity sheets to reinforce the lesson taught. The activity sheets are for all ages, with a coloring page for younger children on one side and puzzles and word games for older children on the opposite side. The messages are based on the love laws of Jesus found in Matthew 22:34-40. -
Faithful Men Of God
$7.95Add to cartThese six monologues are accompanied by a worship service which includes a call to worship, scripture readings, a pastoral prayer, and suggested hymns.
Monologues include:
Noah
Abraham
Joseph
Moses
A Wise Man
ChuzaThe script is fascinating and fast-paced from the start: “I was considered strange at best and at times mentally ill, I suppose.” (Noah)
This series will be useful for any season and in a variety of ways: Lenten services, retreats, summer worship series, or high school or adult education classes.
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Great I Am
$13.95Add to cartWho is Jesus Christ? These fourteen chapters answer that question in his own words: I AM the light of the world … I AM the way, the truth and the life … I AM the Good Shepherd … I AM the alpha and the omega…, Why a book on the I AM sayings of Jesus? Because so much of our religious emphasis today focuses on “feeling more fulfilled …” or “improving our relationships with others.” While these are important and have their place in our discussions, this book puts the emphasis on the place of God in our lives.
The questions are practical: What shall I believe? What shall I do? And so Lavin writes for the people in the pews as well as for their pastors.
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Psalms Were Made For Lent
$12.95Add to cartThe Psalms have long been recognized as a rich resource for individual spiritual enrichment and for magnificent corporate liturgical expression in the life of the church.
The Psalms Were Made For Lent provides a collection of six sermons which translate some of the deep themes inherent in the Psalms into meaningful language for the average person sitting in the congregation.
The book includes:
Six sermons based on the Psalms
Liturgical responses with each sermon (Call to Worship, Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, Declaration of Pardon)
Three hymns based on the Psalms, which can be sung to well-known hymn tunesAltogether this resource invites the congregation to experience the Psalms in a new and meaningful way.
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Life Of Christ And The Death Of A Loved One
$12.95Add to cartPastors will receive solid theological and practical assistance with the important task of creating and presenting the funeral homily. Because time is usually limited for meditation creation, they will find invaluable help time and again from this volume.
The first part of the book addresses the actual art of crafting a funeral homily with a step by step description or the process. The second part consists of actual sermons written using the process. Besides illustrating the methods, Schmitz, provides starting points for constructing sermons based on the liturgical year. Also included are canticle and music suggestions which highlight each homily’s theme and give insights into planning the entire funeral service.
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Come Dine With Jesus
$12.95Add to cartWhy did Luke include ten occasions of Jesus sharing meals with people, seven of those scenes found only in Luke? How many hundreds or thousands of times did Jesus eat with other people? These ten occasions must have been preserved in the Christian community and related to Luke because Jesus had used them to meet deep, widespread needs or to convey important truths. Luke clearly recognized that Jesus had some purpose, some meaning to convey in these mealtime conversations. While all four Gospels show this theme, Luke gives the most specific examples.
In the ten meals addressed by Scott, we see the importance Jesus placed on meeting people socially and interacting with them in their personal settings. Found in these occasions are strong bonds of affection and sharp confrontations. It is in the intimacy of sharing a meal that emotions are brought to the surface: indignation, thanksgiving, forgiveness, sorrow, overflowing joy. Scott shows Jesus exposing these emotions and meeting them with searching insight, sometimes confirmation, sometimes deserved reproof, and always his offer of healing grace.
Included with each sermon is a litany that is coordinated with the teaching of the meal. Also included at the beginning of each chapter is a suggested “Worship Focus” — one or two easy to find objects which serve to illustrate Jesus’ purpose at each meal.
Originally written for midweek Communion services during Lent, they also are quite suitable for Communion services throughout the year.
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Preaching To A Church In Crisis
$13.95Add to cartThe title of John Killinger’s newest book, Preaching To A Church In Crisis, is meant to underline the uniqueness of the present situation in mainline Protestantism, and perhaps the urgency of it, but not to sensationalize it. He makes the point that inasmuch as the mainline churches for so many years established the social and political norms in our country, as well as the spiritual norms, any crisis in their existence becomes a major crisis in modern Christendom, and, by extension, in American life as a whole.
In the opening chapters of the book Killinger creates a general understanding of the malaise now affecting our churches. He then extrapolates from that understanding a sense of the moods and feelings affecting the people in America’s congregations. Answering the question of what influence the disintegration of the mainline church has on the psyche of the persons attending these congregations, he places the preacher in a better position for thinking about preaching and what its hallmarks must be in order to speak truly and effectively for the gospel in our time.
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Pray Like Jesus
$15.95Add to cart13 Chapters
Additional Info
Is it humanly possible to pray like Jesus?
Since God knows what we need even before we pray, why bother to pray?
To what extent does one’s relationship with God affect one’s prayers?
With questions like these, John Brokhoff takes you on a 13-chapter journey of prayer in Pray Like Jesus.This book will help develop more effective prayer for persons and groups. It examines and studies the nature of Jesus’ prayers. It examines methods and techniques Jesus used. It explores a theology of prayer, and a study of prayers in the Bible, which culminates with a study of the Lord’s Prayer.
This book is ideal for personal use, group study or a sermon series. Each chapter concludes with a series of discussion questions.
Chapter titles include:
The Contents Of Prayer
The Variety Of Prayer
Prayer And Healing
The Power Of Prayer -
Counseling Families Across The Stages Of Life
$38.99Add to cartThis case-study book which will be used both as a resource for clergy and other pastoral workers and for those in training in those fields. The case studies translate technical material into real-life situations while highlighting practical implications for pastors. The authors provide readers with treatment options, referral procedures within the context of the religious community and beyond, and additional national, self-help, and cross- cultural resources, emphasizing those available on the internet.
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Living Grace : An Outline Of United Methodist Theology
$43.99Add to cartLiving Grace offers readers a clear exposition of Methodism’s theology, founded as it is upon the biblical witness and enriched by the traditions of the apostolic fathers, the Prostestant Revival, and the Wesleyan revival. It will be helpful both to the Methodist constituency and to its partners in ecumenical dialogue.
