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    Pastoral Helps

    • Preaching Marks Gospel

      $23.68

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

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

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

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    • Tour Of The Nations

      $21.23

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

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    • Pastors Guide To Effective Preaching

      $14.99

      12 Chapters

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

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

      $29.99

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

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

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    • Where All Hope Lies Print On Demand Title

      $29.99

      304 Pages

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

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

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

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

      $14.99

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

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    • Help Im Leading A Childrens Sermon 1

      $16.76

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

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

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    • Confessing Jesus Christ A Print On Demand Title

      $32.99

      264 Pages

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

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

      $14.99

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

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    • 17 Indisputable Laws Of Teamwork (Workbook)

      $19.99

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

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

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

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

      $29.99

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

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    • Who Am I

      $33.73

      The great British historian Arnold Toynbee emphasized that “God revealed himself through human history,” and he related that to leaders. That is true-God is calling his people for his kingdom and glory on the earth. When God called Abram, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and Saul, they all obeyed him. Leaders are important. They determine the future and human history. Our society needs spiritual leaders because they teach us God’s will. In this complicated, immoral society, true leaders are essential for spiritual movement and cultural improvement. What is spirituality? It is not Plato’s dualism, which classifies the body and spirit. But it does include the total personality. Christian spirituality represents a deep relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ-a spiritual, deep, meaningful experience with God.

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    • Apostles : Spiritual Fathers To The Church

      $16.86

      Dr. Michael Pangio presents a fresh look at the ministry of the apostle as a spiritual father. In this book you will discover biblical principles that are essential to releasing and receiving the blessing of God upon your life and ministry. As you examine the truths revealed in this book, you will learn about: Building God’s way Apostles: spiritual fathers to the body of Christ Biblical parenting principles, and the release of “the blessing” David and Solomon, the pattern for spiritual fathers and sons The lasting influence of the apostle Faithful to the house You may reach Dr. Pangio for ministry and leadership training by contacting him at: Phone: (724) 962-2232 E-mail: mikepangio@worldnet.att.net Or you may write to: Dr. Michael Pangio 6993 RonJoy Place Boardman, Ohio 44512 U.S.A

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    • Pew Rights : For People Who Listen To Sermons (Reprinted)

      $21.99

      SKU (ISBN): 9780802847843ISBN10: 0802847846Roger VanHarnBinding: Trade PaperPublished: January 2003Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Print On Demand Product

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    • If A Sermon Falls In The Forest

      $29.93

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

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

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    • Alleluia : Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes

      $16.18

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

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

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    • Journey Of Stones

      $9.93

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

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    • Get Up Off Your Knees

      $21.35

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

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    • 21 Positive Principles For A Powerful 21st Century Church

      $19.36

      The author, Dr. Dennis Davis, builds the thesis of this book on the premise that there are irrefutable, undeniable laws, both moral and physical, that govern the universe. He contends that these God-establiched laws cannot be broken. They can be denied, but not broken, as the law will always remain intact. He also contends that God has established “laws” that guide the growth, success, and future of the Church, and that when one operates within the framework of these laws (principles), there will be a natural consequence of both numerical and spiritual growth.

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    • Find A Niche And Scratch It

      $37.14

      Jesus was uniquely adept in the art of “reading” people. He fit his approach to the precise needs and interests of the person with whom he was dealing, and he spoke the cultural language of that individual. In this book, Robert Perry takes what Jesus and others have done intuitively-niche marketing-and provides a framework for applying those principles in everyday practice.

      Convinced that congregations can learn from the wisdom of secular disciplines and apply that wisdom to congregational life without damaging the integrity of the Christian faith, Perry offers a detailed process for using sound marketing principles to identify a congregation’s strengths and the needs of its community, and to develop strategies for effective ministry.

      Perry’s plan: to create a common vocabulary that will bridge the communication gap between the disciplines of business marketing and congregational outreach strategizing. The key: to keep in mind the reason we are working to reach people-not to make money for shareholders, but to share the Good News that God loves us. The goal: to foster genuinely healthy, growing congregations! Foreword by Robert D. Dale.

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    • Leading The Way

      $19.99

      IVP Print On Demand Title

      As we enter a new millennium, there is a growing vacuum of leadership among the younger generation. The need is great for young men and women who will rise to the challenge-in the face of great opportunities and great obstacles-to be obedient to the call of leadership. This is the rallying call Paul Borthwick puts forth in Leading The Way. He asserts that leadership is not just reserved for those with the right education, abilities, status or background. Rather, God is calling all young Christians who have the vision and responsibility to persevere, to fill this growing leadership vacuum.

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    • Addiction

      $21.99

      Chances are, no church is immune to the drug demographics in America. Pointing out that addiction is a pervasive problem in North American society, Lynn Dann provides pastors and other pastoral caregivers with crucial help in understanding the needs of the addicted, their families, and the congregations of which they are a part. He draws on years of experience as a pastor and a certified alcohol and substance abuse counselor to offer practical guidance on how to recognize the addicted and minister effectively to them.

      Dann begins by outlining, in clear and accessible terms, the best contemporary thinking on the nature of addiction. From there he moves to a discussion of the particular resources that Christian churches can add to the treatment of addiction and the support of the addicted and their families. Finally, he includes tools for preaching and teaching on the nature of our drug-obsessed culture and biblical themes related to the care of the addicted. Those who are just beginning in pastoral ministry, as well as those who have engaged in it for many years, will find this an invaluable resource for knowing how to deal with this tragic and increasingly prevalent problem.

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    • Word Before The Powers

      $40.00

      In this examination of the ethical significance of preaching, Charles Campbell provides both fresh insights into the relationship between preaching and ethics, and a challenging moral vision for the contemporary church. Moving beyond a narrow focus on moral decision-making or social-issues sermons. Campbell argues that a particular ethic–nonviolent resistance–is inherent in the practice of preaching and shapes the moral life of the church. In the face of the powers, the fundamental ethical task of preaching involves building up the church as a community of resistance. Employing three dimensions of character ethics–vision, practices, and virtues–Campbell demonstrates the concrete ways in which preachers may undertake this task.

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    • Voices Of This Calling

      $20.00

      Published to mark the tenth anniversary of the ordination of women in the Anglican church, this work includes prominent clergy, both female and male, such as Lucy Winkett, Angela Tilby, Una Kroll, Rose Hudson-Wilkin and Rowan Williams. It tells women’s stories about the reality of life as a priest and reveals defining moments in their own personal journey. Influential men in the church also reflect upon the challenges and opportunities that women’s ministry has created for them.

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    • Perfect Illustrations For Every Topic And Occasion

      $22.99

      Good communicators are always on the lookout for fresh, relevant anecdotes and examples to drive home the point of their words. This handy reference contains 300 anecdotes and illustrations for pastors, writers, teachers, and other Christian communicators on a variety of topics. Each entry includes Scripture references, cross-references to related topics, an anecdote or illustration, and a citation of its source.

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    • Speaking Jesus : Homiletic Theology And The Sermon On The Mount

      $36.00

      Once again, renowned homiletician David Buttrick has written a highly practical book that conveys and makes contagious his excitement for the theological task of preaching. In this book, he delineates the theological issues inherent in the Sermon on the Mount and presents a homiletical strategy for preaching its meaning an relevance. In Part One, Buttrick gives a general overview of the text and raises central theological issues imperative to its preaching, particularly the authenticity of Jesus’ words and the sermon’s relevance for today. In Part Two, he provides commentary on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, provides suggestions for preaching, and includes some of his own sermons as examples.

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    • Art Of Spiritual Direction

      $18.99

      We all need companions and guides on our spiritual journey. W. Paul Jones believes that spiritual direction is essential for every Christian. “Along each person’s pilgrimage are those who can make one’s journey accountable and whose hospitality makes it possible,” Jones says.

      In The Art of Spiritual Direction, you’ll discover the answers to these questions and more:

      What is spiritual direction?

      What is the difference between spiritual direction and counseling?

      How can you know if you are called to the ministry of spiritual direction?

      What should happen in direction sessions?

      The appendixes feature helpful tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a Theological Worlds Inventory, the Enneagram, and other resources. Whether you are a pastor, church leader, or a layperson, you will benefit from the wealth of information contained in this book.

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    • Complete Guide To Godly Play 1

      $34.95

      Contains all the material needed to become familiar with the Godly Play approach, with detailed information on creating a special space for children preschool – 6th grade, planning and presenting the lessons.

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    • Power In The Pulpit

      $28.00

      Scholar and preacher Cleophus J. LaRue brings together the voices of twelve of America’s most influential African-American preachers. Each of these renowned preachers describes his or her method of sermon preparation and includes a sample sermon for illustration. An excellent how-to-manual for pastors and students, this book is both sage wisdom on the art of preaching and an inspiring look at some of the most prominent figures in the black church

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    • Money And The Kingdom Of God

      $21.18

      Conventional wisdom would tell us that money and religion are mutually exclusive entities. It’s easy to understand why: there’s the popular maxim about money being the “root of all evil”, as well as Jesus’ admonitions about our inability to serve both God and Mammon or how difficult it is for a rich man to enter heaven. But Maurice Fetty disagrees – he notes that in Jesus’ view, money and the kingdom of God are intertwined. In these pages, Fetty stresses the importance of our being good stewards of God’s creation, and he points out that what we do with our money is indelibly linked with faithful living. When rightly done, Fetty concludes, the rich can be righteous, and the righteous can be rich. This book is excellent for spiritual growth reading or as a source for stewardship sermons.

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    • Serving As A Church Usher

      $7.99

      Your importance as an usher can’t be overstated. Your impact is enormous both in meeting the needs of people and in keeping the church service running smoothly.
      Serving as a Church Usher sheds light on:

      The Ministry of Ushers
      The Functions of an Usher
      An Usher’s Standard of Excellence
      The Authority and Responsibility of Ushers
      Ushers as Greeters
      Zondervan Practical Ministry Guides provide you with simple, practical insights for serving in today’s churches. Written by experienced pastors and church workers, these easy-to-read, to-the-point booklets address the fundamentals of different ministries as practiced effectively in real life. You’ll find biblical insight and wise, field-tested advice you can apply today, as well as discussion questions to help you think through and integrate what you read.

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    • Word Disclosed : Preaching The Gospel Of John (Revised)

      $16.99

      “While taking account of historical and social dynamics in the setting of John’s community, O’Day offers a subtle but sophisticated literary reading of John to show that the listener must experience the movement of the plot within the text of John in order to understand the text as fully as he can…All preachers should own this book for its specific studies of the passages of John, for its clarity in helping us hear the distinctive Johannine theological voice, and for its model of close reading that can guide a preacher working with almost any text.”
      -Homiletic

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    • Making Of A Vision

      $31.23

      The development and encouragement of Christian leaders has been a hallmark of Frank Damazio’s ministry. In The Making Of A Vision he tackles the breathtaking goal of imparting virtually all the steps necessary for understanding and achieving one’s vision, to discerning and pursuing one’s own vision, and on through implementation and impartation, this is a masterful teaching guide. Extensive scriptural references enrich this ambitious outline. Leaders at every level of ministry will find this challenging and rewarding.

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    • Overhearing The Gospel (Revised)

      $21.99

      Part I: The Illusion
      1. Concerning Method
      2. Concerning The Listener
      3. Concerning The Teller
      4. Concerning The Story

      Part II: An Attack Upon The Illusions
      5. By Way Of Kierkegaard
      6. To A Proposal: The Experience Of The Listener
      7. To A Proposal: The Method Of The Teller

      Part III: Sermons
      8. “Don’t Be Afraid” (Matthew 28:1-10)
      9. “The Bottom Line” (Matthew 7:21-29)
      10. “Old Story, New Ending” (Luke 16:19-31)

      Additional Info
      “This is a classic in the literature of narrative preaching. It is also vintage Fred Craddock. The reader enjoys the telling of the tales and the flow of the prose so immensely that one hardly notices that the homiletical universe is being rearranges in the process.”

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    • Running With The Giants

      $30.00

      Old Testament heroes can teach 21st-century believers invaluable lessons about life and leadership—if we’re willing to listen! In this engaging volume, best-selling author and “leadership guru” Maxwell discerns timeless principles from the lives of David (“Overcome adversity!”); Noah (“Don’t fear the impossible!”); Rebekah (“Give and serve generously!”); and others.

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    • Growing Together : Spiritual Exercises For Church Committees (Revised)

      $16.65

      Growing Together offers church committees a way to grow spiritually as individuals and together as a group. Each of the fifty exercises in this book includes an opening prayer, a personal sharing exercise, a Bible reading and discussion questions, and a closing prayer. The exercises are grouped according to the needs of church committees: First meetings, Discovering Gifts and Setting Goals, Discerning What God Asks of Us, Receiving God’s Guidance as We Work, Growing Closer to Each Other, Facing Challenges Together, Working Through Conflict, and Celebrating Accomplishmnents and Closure.

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    • Mystery

      $9.99

      This book targets adult learners in their 20’s and 30’s. It will challenge you to examine the mystery of God and offers you the opportunity to delve into Christian mystery questions in order to experience the great mystery of Christian faith revealed in Jesus Christ. While God is ultimate mystery, no part of life is outside of God’s love and care.

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    • Tenets Of The Doctrine Of The Spirit Filled Church Vol 1

      $13.99

      I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure (Psalm 119:162 NKJV). How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33). These Scriptures declare the awesome greatness of God; and to some born-again believers, they issue a challenge to search the scriptures (Acts 17:11), to Study to show thyself approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15), and to live and move and have our being in Him (Acts 17:28). It is a God-ordained desire and call for all people to find as much as they can about God and His perfect will for mankind.

      With this divine emphasis on a born-again believer’s life, the Holy Spirit issued the call; and by His grace, the next few volumes titled Tenets of the Doctrine of the Spirit-filled Church are a continuation of the first book, Doctrine of the Spirit-filled Church.

      Each tenet in these volumes is examined in greater detail and gives deeper insight into the spiritual meaning and its application. The examination also compares the original Apostolic Church of the first century to the current Spirit-filled church; and in so doing, references to the earliest writings from the ancient records help clarify the original church’s structure, as well as the doctrinal and theological understandings of that time, and how that structure has progressed until this day.

      The one overriding constant in all these examinations and explanations is the fact that they are biblically based. If there is no Scripture to support the tenet’s explanation, then it is supposition, assumption, and speculation and thus unworthy of discussion. The plumb line (Amos 7:7 NKJV) is always the Word. The basis of every tenet is always the Holy Writ. The implementation of every tenet is always according to the Bible.

      The church is traveling at lightning speed towards the soon return of Jesus Christ. The onslaught and evil outpouring of the diabolical, immoral, and total blasphemy against the Holy God has never been more vicious than it is today. The blatant evil and acceptance of anti-God living which is thrown into everyone’s face today, coupled with many nations’ corrupt laws legalizing people’s actions that are contrary to God’s holy instructions, have brought and will continue to bring many to a disastrous end.

      While believers do not get distraught by the world’s actions (God said in His word it would happen.), they must keep their eyes steadfastly fixed on Jesus the author and finisher of [their] faith (Hebrews 12:2). To do this, be

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    • Company Of Preachers

      $45.99

      483 Pages

      Additional Info
      Sit at the feet of the giants: Augustine, Chrysostom, Baxter, Wesley, Cassian, Craddock, Herbert, Bonhoeffer, Luther, Wainwright, Broadus, Gonz<#225>lez, and more. Advice on how to proclaim the Word, the importance of rhetoric, focusing on the listener, the character of the messenger, etc.

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    • Wild Truth Journal Dares From Jesus

      $22.99

      Features 50 two-page journaling devotionals sends students straight into the words of Jesus to discover the truth–then it dares them to live that truth today.

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    • Boundaries In Marriage (Student/Study Guide)

      $14.99

      You long for a marriage marked by lifelong love, intimacy, and growth. And it can be yours–if you set wise boundaries. Boundaries are the “property lines” that define and protect each of you as individuals. Get them in place and you can make a good marriage better and possibly even save a less-than-satisfying one.
      By the time you’ve completed this Groupware, you will know yourself and your mate better than ever before. You’ll also understand and practice the ten laws of boundaries in ways that can make a real difference in your relationship. Step by step, the Boundaries in Marriage Groupware helps you apply the biblical principles discussed in the book Boundaries in Marriage so you can–
      * Set and maintain your personal boundaries and respect those of your spouse
      * Establish values that form a godly structure and architecture for you marriage
      * Protect your marriage from different kinds of “intruders”
      * Work with a spouse who understands and values boundaries–or work with one who doesn’t

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    • Help Our Church Is Growing

      $16.76

      It’s the secret, unspeakable dream shared by every minister. After years of diligent work in an average-sized church, you glance up one Sunday and notice a new family. The next month you notice another. Soon it seems like somebody new arrives almost every week. Suddenly you are the leader of a living, breathing, growing church!

      Like any roller coaster ride, this one begins with a long, slow ascent. Attendance climbs. Giving climbs. Expectations climb. Of course a few problems crop up along the way, because, as with every other roller coaster, this one has a long and often scary downside. Even as your church continues to climb in every measurable statistic, you, the spiritual leader, may well find yourself in a virtual free-fall as you struggle over how to manage the impact this change will have on your congregation.

      What can you, as a minister in a growing church, do to survive the pitfalls that lie just around the corner? What do you do when the old ways no longer work?

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    • Crisis Ministry : A Handbook

      $17.94

      How can caregivers help families facing a crisis? What can friends say and do to assist church members who turn to them for guidance under stress? What are the first steps compassionate people can take to respond to individuals and families during a traumatic event?

      This addition to the Smyth & Helwys Help! series is a collection of short, helpful responses to different crises, designed as a “first steps” guide for ministers and caregivers in a congregation. It assumes biblical principles and values for believers rendering “first care.” Resources for appropriate referral are mentioned at the end of each topic, and further reading is suggested for more extensive care. In each case we assume that the emergency caregiver is not an expert on the issue, but one who can direct hurting people to proper sources of care, coping, and help.

      Topics covered include abortion, abuse, death and dying, guilt and shame, gender issues, hospitalization, imprisonment, birth defects, infertility, job loss, mental illness, panic-anxiety, rape, stress, and suicide. Suggestions are also made about how to listen attentively, how to use prayer and scripture in caregiving, and how to set realistic boundaries in ministry.

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    • There Are Demons In The Sea Cycle B (Revised)

      $24.93

      This book offers valuable and superbly organized background information on whether Jesus provided a cure from something or for something – Hoefler’s scholarship, perceptive insight, and potent illustrative material make this volume an invaluable aid to preaching preperation or scriptural study. It studies ten miracle stories from the Gospel of Mark featured in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary

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    • Virtual Incarnation

      $16.18

      In a time when spiritual hype is rampant and modern Pharisees sometimes seen to drown out all other voices, the quiet, reflective messages of William Kincaid offer a refreshing journey for the soul. His relaxed, conversational style will engage readers, and the insights of this master preacher into both scripture and modern life will leave them thirsting for more. Virtual Incarnation? is a superlative collection of sermons-it is don’t-miss reading not only for ministers and teachers, but also for personal worship and devotions.

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    • Bethlehems Closet A Reunion Of Grace

      $16.18

      If you want to try something different for Advent this year, Bethlehem’s Closet — A Reunion Of Grace is a great resource that provides congregations with an intriguing learning experience. It’s a unique series of five monologues telling the fascinating stories, warts and all, of the women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. Donald Neidigk believes that the embarrassing events in some of these women’s lives are important for us to know, since they demonstrate that Jesus was born into an imperfect family, with secrets in the closet, just like you and me. And that makes him a sympathetic Savior — exactly what we need. So even though the shepherds and wise men may be more typical of the season’s characters, Bethlehem’s Closet — A Reunion Of Grace offers a refreshing way to celebrate Christ’s birth. Each monologue comes with a children’s message (using easily obtained objects to reinforce the lesson) and a convenient order of worship.

      The monologues examine these women:
      * Tamar — A Wronged Widow
      * Rahab — A Former Prostitute
      * Ruth — A Moabite Convert
      * Bathsheba — A Violated Wife
      * Mary — A Young Mother

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    • Preaching The Parables Cycle B (Revised)

      $17.43

      The parables of Jesus are timeless stories-and with the current popularity of narrative preaching, the parables are a familiar topic in the contemporary pulpit. But preaching on the parables is not as easy as it looks at first glance. Should we simply tell the parable in our own words and let it stand on its own feet, or is its lesson most effectively communicated by constructing a sermon around the central theme? Or should the preacher spiritualize the parable by probing for allegorical meaning?

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    • Sermons On The Second Readings Series 1 Cycle B

      $46.18

      The sermons in this anthology reaffirm the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ, and challenge readers to a deeper and more intense faith relationship with the Almighty. The collection provides a complete set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the Second Reading from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. Outstanding preachers from across the denominational spectrum draw on texts from the New Testament epistles to explore how the practical and moral concerns of the early church offer lessons for modern Christian living. Each biblically grounded message confronts real issues with Christ-honoring solutions that bring challenge, comfort, and conviction to those who look at life with the eyes of faith.

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    • Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 1 Cycle B

      $44.93

      Filled with wit, insight, and inspiration, this anthology includes sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on Gospel Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. The Thoughtful and imaginitive messages from preachers across the denominational spectrum proclaim the Good News in today’s language – helping readers apply the lessons of scripture to their personal situations. Unforgettable in their power and witness, these sermons offer strength, support, and vision to those hoping to enrich their Christ-centered life.

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    • Sermons On The First Readings Series 1 Cycle B

      $46.18

      Full of gripping illustrations that bring the Scriptures to life, this anthology includes sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the First Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. The powerful messages from preachers across the denominational spectrum interpret texts from the Old Testament and Acts in fresh ways that proclaim the Good News for the 21st century. Building upon stories in which God moves ordinary people to extraordinary heights, these sermons combine creative imagination with abundant insight into vital current issues to transform our human despair into trust in the Lord’s divine providence.

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    • Call To Worship

      $17.43

      Busy pastors and worship leaders are always searching for worship elements that underline the scripture passages and provide a unifying theme. A Call To Worship answers that need, supplying a range of calls to worship, prayers, and litanies for each Sunday, all based on the readings for Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. A special feature is a weekly “childrens” benediction” that summarizes the day’s theme in a brief phrase that young people can understand and repeat with the congregation. A Call To Worship is a valuable library of resources that you’ll want to have right at your fingertips.

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    • Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series 7 Cycle B

      $48.68

      Providing a fresh, timely reflection every week on assigned scripture passages is one of the most daunting tasks facing pastors. So when time or inspiration is flagging and you need the jump-start of creative ideas, the latest edition of the classic CSS resource Lectionary Preaching Workbook is just what the doctor ordered! Prominent pastor, former seminary president, and prolific author Jerry Schmalenberger draws upon the experiences of a lifetime in the ministry to help readers effectively share God’s Word with crisply written insights. This outstanding set of practical aids explores many homiletical approaches and is sure to help preachers prepare more vital, incisive sermons.

      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; and
      * additional illustrations to flesh out the message.

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    • 10 Commandments : A Preaching Commentary

      $24.99

      Plenty of resources help preachers explore and understand the lectionary texts—but what if you don’t follow the lectionary, or occasionally depart from it during the year? Offering valuable assistance for preparing sermons on The Ten Commandments, John Holbert’s helpful preaching commentary—the first volume in The Great Texts series—will help you to powerfully proclaim this keystone of the faith.

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    • Enacting The Word

      $18.00

      The addition of simple drama to sermons is effective in bringing Bible passages alive and involving a variety of church members in preaching. In this book, James O. Chatham invites clergy to develop a use of drama to proclaim the gospel. Chatham writes that the Bible is comprised primarily of stories–stories of the relationship between God and God’s people spanning over more than a thousand years–many of which are so good that they need little explanation. There is no more engaging way to tell these stories, he says, than through effective sermon drama. Chatham offers seven example dramas that are ready for use, complete with lines, stage directions and a list of characters and needed props. Drawing from both New Testament and Old Testament texts, Chatham’s dramas tell the stories of the persistent widow in Luke 18, of Rahab, and of Jonah; give testimony to the re-creative power of God. God’s continued calling of God’s people, and the importance of the Easter story in modern contexts, and provides a lesson for discerning light from darkness.

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    • Help Im A Small Church Youth Worker

      $19.99

      Practical help for volunteer, part-time, and full-time youth workers in small churches
      Eighty-five percent of the churches in America are classified as small. This book provides youth workers with processes and ideas that enable them to address their particular needs as part of small churches.

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    • Church As Learning Community

      $37.99

      Norma Cook Everist contends it is meaningful to say that in ministries of adminstration, outreach, and pastoral care, the church is functioning as a learning community. Whenver and wherever Christians are being formed into the image of Jesus Christ through ministry. Christian education is taking place. Christian education is the name of this process of formation. Building on this central insight, Everist has written a major new introduction to the tasks and practices of Christian education.

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    • Childrens Sermons For Special Days

      $17.43

      Children’s stories are important times for pastors and laypeople to relate to children in the context of worship. But resources that will hold their attention and help them learn about the Bible and the Christian faith are hard to find. Children’s Sermons For Special Days is both relevant and easy to use. The biblically based stories are told in a manner children can understand, and the pictures and activity sheets help to reinforce the learning experience. I highly recommend this book as a valuable tool for enhancing worship and learning for children.
      Marvin Zehr
      Conference Minister
      Western District Mennonite Conference

      Looking for children’s material specifically tailored for holidays and other special, out-of-the-ordinary days? If so, then Julia Bland’s latest collection is a practical resource that you’ll draw on for fresh ideas throughout the year. Like all of her other popular titles, each children’s message in Children’s Sermons For Special Days is accompanied by a two-sided activity page — one side is a coloring page for younger children, while the other has a variety of puzzles and activities that emphasize the lesson’s key points for older children. Busy pastors and teachers who have little preparation time will love these scripturally sound and ready-to-use presentations — and better yet, so will your young people!

      Lessons are included for:
      * New Year’s Day
      * Valentine’s Day
      * Palm Sunday
      * Easter Sunday
      * Mother’s Day
      * Father’s Day
      * Independence Day
      * Start of School
      * First Day of Autumn
      * Halloween
      * Thanksgiving
      * Christmas

      During nearly 50 years as a pastor’s wife, Julia E. Bland has taught church groups of all ages from children through senior adults. She has been active in United Methodist Women and served as district chairperson of Global Concerns as well as Publicity and Public Relations. Bland’s award-winning oil, watercolor, and pen and ink artwork has appeared in private and public collections. Among her many CSS titles are Lessons We Can Learn From The Animals and Praises From The Psalms.

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    • Soaring Where Christ Has Led

      $38.68

      Believing that Christian worship should be both exciting and stimulating and respectful of God and worshipers and liturgical traditions, Dick Avery and Don Marsh have put their considerable talents together to bring you ideas and music that make worship soar. As you read these groundbreaking ideas tailored to the seasons of the church year, you’ll find yourself saying, “Yes! YES! YES!” — and you’ll be eager to put them in place with your congregation.

      Everything Avery and Marsh describe in this remarkable volume has been done successfully in their congregation at the regular Sunday morning service of worship, so you will find no off-the-wall suggestions pushed for mere novelty’s sake or just to “shake things up.” Rather, every principle, every suggestion, every idea has a purpose and goal befitting the Gospel and designed to help worshipers tune in to the mighty Lord of All.

      With all of this plus several samples of original Avery & Marsh music, written especially for Sunday morning worship, Soaring Where Christ Has Led is a resource you will use week after week in planning worship services that delight congregations, honor God with momentous expressions of joy, and teach the way of Christ in today’s world.

      Nationally renowned for their creative worship celebrations, Richard Avery and Donald Marsh were colleagues in ministry for 40 years at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Jervis, New York, where Avery served as pastor and Marsh as choirmaster (directing 3 choirs) and director of arts (producing 83 major plays and working with educational projects). They have collaborated in composing hymns, songs, and anthems, of which more than 150 have been published. During the last 30 years they have led regional and national church assemblies, conferences, and workshops on worship, music, and drama for many denominations and in virtually all 50 states.

      A native of California, Avery is a graduate of the University of Redlands and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Marsh has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston, and worked for 17 years in New York’s music and theater world as a composer, choreographer, pianist, and actor. Avery and Marsh continue their collaboration in composing for the church and in leading special liturgical and musical events while living in retirement in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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    • Your First Two Years In Youth Ministry

      $22.99

      In this sequel to his bestseller Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry, Fields offers 10 valuable steps to beginning a successful program. You’ll learn the importance of going before God, focusing on relationships, communicating your desires, identifying your personal values, developing and teaching your purpose, pursuing leaders, evaluating and creating programs, and more. Ideal for veterans or first-timers.

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    • Battle For The Soul

      $22.48

      “This book is extremely helpful in ministering to others. It will give you the information to get past the game playing, guessing, and excuses and get right to the bottom-line issues in a person’s life. Clear and simple. Best of all, the focus is total reliance on the Person of Jesus Christ and His being in every way, shape, and form, all in all, to each individual believer.” –Mrs. Janie Glover, Christian Worker, Nampa, ID “I am amazed at the deep level of inspiration and revelation in Battle for the Soul. God is using GSM to reveal truths and depth that He has entrusted with few others on the face of the earth. The completed book will be a must-have for any minister seeking to break enemy strongholds in others’ lives, and I highly recommend it to any Christian who is ready to stand up and fight the good fight, move to another level with God, and get serious about letting Christ control his or her life. I asked one co-worker what he thought of a certain passage, and this was his response: ‘Again, another bottom line–sounds like Watchman Nee or possibly Francis Schaffer.’ He had no idea where the passage originated.” –Crystal Garvin, Editor, Patrick AFB, FL “Chapter 5 quite frankly about blew my mind–about Adam needing to be transfigured. WHOA. Totally new concept here.” –Trent Glover, Data Warehouse Manager, Nampa, ID

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    • Art Of Listening

      $25.50

      224 pages

      Additional Info
      Availability and confirmation—key concepts of philosophers Gabriel Marcel and Martin Buber—are central to this fresh approach to pastoral care, which Pembroke has structured around a practical theological framework. He also explores the possible effects of shame clergy often feel when they fall short in these areas. Essential wisdom for all pastoral counselors!

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    • Ministry And Money

      $37.14

      Frank, straightforward guidance for clergy seeking to develop a sound theology of money and skills for church administration, Ministry and Money also puts forth a new strategy for self-care, and a confident approach to managing both personal and congregational finances. Alban Senior Consultant and author Dan Hotchkiss wants to help clergy overcome their own anxieties about money matters so they can help others address the personal, social, and congregational aspects of this challenging and often difficult topic.

      Hotchkiss observes that clergy are anxious about money for all the same reasons other people are and for some special reasons, as well:

      Many people believe that what is “spiritual” excludes money and power.
      Many clergy’s own finances are in difficulty.
      Clergy depend on their congregations for their livelihood.
      And in many congregations, clergy effectiveness may still be judged in financial terms.
      Drawing on the full spectrum of American religious life, Hotchkiss addresses these important issues, offering practical assistance to clergy who wish to become more effective leaders by examining their own unique anxieties and convictions about money.

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    • 12 Dynamic Shifts For Transforming Your Church

      $18.99

      That today’s mainline churches are in crisis is apparent; a solution is less obvious. In this constructive new book E. Stanley Ott points a way ahead, describing twelve shifts in philosophy and practice that can help congregations build need-responsive, disciple-growing churches full of life and vigor.

      Arguing that the weakness of the church today is a loss of personal spirituality and congregational vitality, Ott challenges local churches to discover how to adjust the style of their ministries to attract new people while encouraging current members. Ott examines the characteristics of “traditional” churches, extols the features of new, “transformational” churches, and lays out proposals to help established congregations make the transition.

      Well balanced by an honest assessment of the church’s present and a positive vision for its future, this book is must reading for pastors, church leaders, and members of every congregation.

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    • Servants Manual : Christian Leadership For Tomorrow

      $26.66

      Christians and their institutions are stuck, says Michael Foss, stuck in the thinking and dilemmas of the past. This short volume is a plea for Christians to rethink their point and purpose in light of larger cultural changes and a crisis in leadership. Foss detects a crisis in leadership in declining rates of church participation, stagnant levels of students preparing for ministry, and burnout among clergy. To energize a new generation of leaders able to transcend yesterday’s thinking, Foss encourages a new style of ecclesial thinking. He first traces the larger cultural shifts that affect the church’s position in the world and styles of leadership. He then diagnoses church thinking as largely reproductive of past successes and ineffective in this new context. Advancing to productive thinking empowers Christians to leave behind the most important and frustrating dichotomies or polarities in today’s church: evangelism vs. social justice, control vs. freedom, growth vs. discipleship. Foss’s model of moving from issues into conversation and then into compassion is a blueprint for new leadership “equipped to think productively for the sake of the reign of our God in the world.” This book is aimed in part at bringing the key ideas and energy of Foss’s earlier book, Power Surge, to a wider audience of concerned Christians, potential leaders for the next generation.

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    • Name Your Favorite

      $10.99

      In the best-selling line of Would You Rather?, What If?, Have You Ever?, and Unfinished Sentences comes a fifth collection of discussion starters, guaranteed to get teenagers talking and thinking about their favorite things. This book includes 700 phrases that can be used anytime, anywhere, for breaking the ice, stimulating discussions, building community, or just having fun.

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    • Age Of The Reformation

      $55.99

      Hughes Oliphant Old’s survey of preaching throughout the history of the Christian church has been heralded as a monumental achievement. This fourth volume of Old’s history brings the story of preaching up through the Protestant Reformation to the end of the seventeenth century.

      This is the pivotal volume in Old’s project because it covers not only what the Reformers preached but also their reform of preaching itself. Luther made a clear break with the preaching traditions of the Middle Ages, while figures like Bucer and Calvin developed a strong expository approach to preaching. Old traces the main events and people involved in the development of distinctly Protestant forms of preaching, giving due attention to how and in what sense preaching was itself an act of worship.

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    • Difficult But Indispensable Church

      $31.66

      Why is it so difficult to be church today? Of course, Christian community is marked by ennobling worship, mutual care, and joyful celebration. But just as often it is marred by staid routine, insularity, and disagreement over leadership, budgets, ethical stances, or even the shape of congregational prayer itself. Alienation, blame, and power struggles ensue. Is church worth it? In this volume of fresh thinking about life in Christian community, twenty-one theologians from Wartburg Seminary strongly attest to Christ-centered community, offering new views of church as the indispensable site of radical Christian commitment and an essential healer for a hurting world. Reflective churchgoers will find here a virtual theological guide to church renewal. In part 1 the authors show how church can model an alternative vision of community, helping people achieve well-being and health, even as their differences are affirmed. Part 2 gets to the heart of Christian practice through creative discussions of belief, fellowship, encounters with Scripture, preaching, and moral deliberation. Part 3 finds the church in motion in new ways of understanding discipleship and mission near and far. Part 4 shows how a Christ-inspired openness can reveal new perspectives on tough issues of public policy, race and class, and ordination of gays and lesbians. Modeling what they espouse, the authors find unanimity in affirming the strengths of diversity, the unsuspected key to church renewal. Contributors include: James L. Bailey, Karen L. Bloomquist, Norma Cook Everist, Roger W. Fjeld, Ann L. Fritschel, Paul Hill, Peter L. Kjeseth, L. Shannon Jung, Duane H. Larson, Elizabeth A. Leeper, David J. Lull, Craig L. Nessan, James R. Nieman, Daniel L. Olson, Winston Persaud, Duane A. Priebe, Ralph W. Quere, David A. Ramse, Gwen B. Sayler, Thomas H. Schattauer, and H. S. Wilson.

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    • Too Deep For Words

      $32.00

      Exploring fundamental ways in which verbal expression in worship relates to aesthetic expression, Clayton Schmit provides a vitally important book for all homiletics students and scholars. Worship isn’t just a sequence of “holy” words. Schmit reflects theologically on the relationship between verbal and aesthetic expression and the aesthetic responsibility of those who preach, pray, and lead in public worship.

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    • Preaching John

      $41.66

      The Gospel of John and 1 John exhibit a peculiar Christian language and thought that need to be understood and employed in the preaching ministry. The preacher’s task involves penetrating the thick and often confusing language of the Gospel and comprehending its frequently paradoxical theology. The preacher can find new and powerful resources for preaching in Johannine language and thought, as well as its use of narrative and discourse. These discoveries facilitate preaching John in ways that are consistent with recent trends in homiletic theory. The method of this book is to combine the practical (how to preach John) with proposals for understanding the Gospel and 1 John. The author offers a variety of sermon ideas and designs throughout each chapter based on numerous passages selected from the Revised Common Lectionary.

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    • John Wesley On Christian Beliefs

      $36.99

      This is the first volume of The Standard Sermons of John Wesley, transcribed into today’s English. The volumes in this series accurately transcribe Wesley’s eighteenth-century language into a form suitable for today’s readers. Volume 1, 1-20 contains the first twenty sermons, in which Wesley deals with theology. Appropriate for individual and small-group study.

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    • Pastors Guide To Effective Ministry

      $14.99

      12 Chapters

      Additional Info
      Systematic theology. . . Philosophy of religion. . . Old Testament exegesis. Just about every seminary-trained pastor is educated in these areas. But how about nurturing the congregation? Don’t forget administration of the church and pastoral counseling. And on a more personal note, they must keep their family life in shape, care for their own physical and emotional health, manage their finances, and maintain a pure life and witness.

      Larry Burkett, Dallas Willard, William Willimon, and Dale Galloway, along with other well-known church leaders, provide solid advice for the personal and professional development of pastors. This book will be a desktop companion for pastors who are in the trenches and facing the day-to-day challenges of ministry.

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    • Preaching Is Believing

      $28.00

      This practical handbook will help preachers equip congregations to grasp core Christian convictions so that the community can believe, live, and witness with integrity. Allen encourages preachers from the broad spectrum of theological families to bring their perspectives more boldly to the surface of the sermon. This volume does not so much advocate a special kind of preaching as it commends more conscientious and critical attention to systematic theology throughout the preparation and preaching of all sermons.

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    • Transitioning : Leading Your Church Through Change

      $22.99

      A biblical look at how to steer a congregation in a new and exciting direction aligned with God’s unique purpose for them

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    • Making A Difference In Preaching

      $25.88

      Brief chapters provide an overview of Haddon Robinson’s theory, method, and practice of biblical preaching which can make a difference in people’s lives.

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    • Presbyterian Worship

      $26.00

      SKU (ISBN): 9780664502188ISBN10: 0664502180Dudley J WeaverBinding: Trade PaperPublished: April 2002Publisher: Geneva Press Print On Demand Product

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    • New Tools For A New Century

      $25.99

      Is your church bewildered by the new technologies? Newell tours the most important options, keeping in mind the financial constraints of small- to medium-sized churches. Sane, careful explanations of how to set up a congregational website, use PowerPoint presentation software, and plenty more.

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    • Nurturing Faith In Families

      $25.99

      A family crisis is occuring in church-going families. Often church leaders are perplexed about the best way for their congregation to care for their families within their midst and in the community. This book offers 425 creative ideas that pastors, teachers, and other leaders can use to help families grow spiritually and feel more connected to the church.

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    • Grace (Student/Study Guide)

      $9.99

      Have you ever felt that you wanted to get closer to God but didn’t derserve even to try? This book explores God’s love for us and how it isn’t something we earn, but something that is; how that love leads us into relationship with God and with others; and how our hearts and lives are changed as we use the gifts God has given us to build community, growing toward perfect love.

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    • 3 Months With Matthew (Student/Study Guide)

      $14.99

      Available in English for the first time, Three Months with Matthew is popular author Juso Gonzalez’s study of the Gospel of Matthew. Eminently readable, the study uses the see-judge-act method to bring readers closer to the text and to inform and challenge the daily life of the Christian. These thirteen studies can be used for Sunday school, evening Bible study, home study meetings, retreats, or personal Bible study. It can easily be used as a daily Bible study, as each lesson is divided into seven parts.

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    • Fling Open The Doors

      $27.99

      The temptation to focus only on their own internal problems and issues is powerful for congregations. Without realizing it, even churches that have a long tradition of outreach and social involvement become centered on issues of institutional survival and preservation. Worst of all are congregations that adopt a “fortress mentality,” addressing the larger community rarely, and only in the “language of Zion” when they do. In this book, Paul Nixon paints a picture of what community-based ministry is all about. Drawing on his experiences within a congregation that has seen twenty-five years of increased worship attendance, he lays out practical steps that churches can take to plant themselves firmly within the lives of the communities they serve. Written with an infectious sense of hope, this book will become a critical tool for church leaders seeking to transform their congregations into outward-looking.

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    • Lutheran Higher Education

      $16.65

      SKU (ISBN): 9780806638492ISBN10: 0806638494Ernest SimmonsBinding: Trade PaperPublished: February 2002Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers – 1517 Media Print On Demand Product

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    • Winds Of Hope For A World Out Of Breath

      $16.18

      How can the past speak to the present? How can the ancient make itself known in the contemporary? Many feel that it cannot — that nothing can be learned from the past – that everything to be learned is in the present and in the future. Perhaps this is where we have missed the true meaning of life. (from chapter 4)

      Robert G. Tuttle brings the 23rd Psalm to life for the 20th Century Christian. His approach aids study groups, clergy seeking preaching background material, and persons wanting personal devotional reading.

      The book is filled with countless illustrations in its eight chapters.

      Chapter titles include:
      The Good Shepherd
      Finding God In The Narrows Of Life
      God’s Extravagance
      The Final Dimensions of Life

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    • As The Shadows Lengthen

      $23.68

      As one of the most noted preachers and pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for nearly 50 years, Richard Boye has seen just about everything. And readers of these messages are the fortunate beneficiaries of his experience as he shares much of what he has “learned along the way.” Both clergy and laity alike will find inspiration and many ideas in these distinctive messages, which Boye describes as being “the best of me.” Those who are climbing the arduous slopes of contemporary ministry will discover that Boye’s wisdom, accumulated from years of service in some of the most prominent Lutheran churches in the country and always rooted in the gospel, will be a great help and comfort as they chart their own course toward the summit. Among the many outstanding sermons in this volume is one that Boye preached at the ELCA’s first churchwide assembly.

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    • Gospel Subplots

      $18.68

      If over the centuries Christians have become used to sermons being a string of assertions, explanations, or exhortations — with a sprinkling of stories as illustrations — the sermons have not been preached in a manner consistent with how the Bible communicates reality. Most of the Bible is stories. Story sermons do today what Jesus did in his stories — they sneak up on people. Listeners can ward off moral exhortations, and they become resistant to three points, a poem, and a prayer. Intellectually they can parry with information doled out in a series of reasoned arguments. But stories win us over before we understand what is going on. Stories quietly tip the scale of our minds toward agreeing with God’s graciousness. (from the Introduction)

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    • Backside Of God

      $16.18

      The fifteen sermons in this volume will provide busy pastors with a resource for several occasions:
      * A mini-series for summer – The Christian Journey
      * Two sermons for weddings (or the wedding season)
      * Two sermons for the beginning of school or the church program year
      … and more!

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    • Speaking The Word

      $16.18

      What is the condition of the public reading of scripture in your church? If you are searching for new ways to present meaningful scripture reading in the worship setting, this book will help you.

      The creating of a speaking choir is one way to elevate oral reading of scripture. This can be a small or large group, depending on the talents and size of your congregation.

      Once a choir is formed, it needs direction and reading material. This book offers both. The author provides 30 choral readings and directions on making the choir an effective ministry in your congregation.

      The readings are based on Old and New Testament scripture. Topics range from Christmas and Easter to Mother’s Day, praise, missions, and service.

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    • Keeping In Touch

      $19.93

      Anyone involved in a leadership role, at one point or another, encounters the need for “prayer handles” — prayers that can be used as written, or ones users can adapt for themselves. This collection of 377 prayers will give them plenty to “grab on to” for those occasions when plenty comes to mind, but little leaves the tongue.

      These prayers are not necessarily designed to take the place of one’s own heartfelt prayers. Rather, they are intended to widen prayer horizons, spark prayer imagination, expand prayer language and enrich personal encounter through prayer.

      Following each prayer is ample space for personal or pastoral notes. Also included is an exhaustive subject index.

      Keeping In Touch is also perfect for:
      Personal devotion
      Preparation for special events
      A special prayer with a “care note”
      Newsletters and pastoral letters

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    • Gifts Of Lent

      $16.18

      This 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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    • Outbreak

      $13.99

      SKU (ISBN): 9780802417916ISBN10: 0802417914Greg StierBinding: Cloth TextPublished: January 2002Publisher: Moody Publishers

      Only 1 left in stock

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    • Holy Communion Is

      $16.18

      What 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 More

      There 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

      $16.18

      Question: 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

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    • Lessons We Can Learn From The Animals

      $14.93

      Children 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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    • Telling It Like It Was

      $16.18

      Even 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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    • Affirming The Ash Heap

      $16.18

      These 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

      $14.93

      Here 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 hymn

      Ward’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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    • Time To Plant

      $17.43

      This 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

      $16.18

      No 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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    • Bad And The Good

      $13.68

      This 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

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    • Rules For Happy Living

      $17.95

      During 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.

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    • Counseling Families Across The Stages Of Life

      $40.99

      This 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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