Pastoral Helps
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Sermons On The Second Readings Series 1 Cycle A
$37.95Add to cartThis superb collection of biblically sound sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary covers every Sunday and major celebration of the church year. Five outstanding preachers from diverse denominations combine imaginative insights into the New Testament epistle texts with fresh, inspiring illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart. By reliving the journey of Jesus through the prism of the early church’s practical and moral concerns, these messages offer valuable lessons for Christian living in the modern world.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* Understanding scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study -
Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 1 Cycle A
$36.95Add to cartFilled with insight, imagination, and inspiration, this anthology offers a treasure trove of spiritual guidance for living in today’s materialistic world. Five distinguished preachers from a variety of denominations and ministry settings contribute compelling messages based on the Gospel texts for each Sunday and major celebration in Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Weaving the story of Jesus’ ministry into the dynamic tapestry of our contemporary human condition, these sermons proclaim the Good News with strength and vision, and they provide abundant witness to the transforming power of God’s Word.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* Understanding scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study -
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit Series 4 Cycle A
$16.95Add to cartJesus considered stories to be an essential teaching tool — his preaching was filled with stories, and he used parables because he knew that people could relate to them. So if you’re looking for a well-told, imaginative, and inspirational story that will take you right to the heart of the scriptures, the newest edition of CSS’ popular Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit series is just the resource you need. Gregory Tolle draws on his gift of storytelling to illustrate Cycle A lectionary texts with thought-provoking, modern parables. This book is not only great for memorable preaching illustrations and “sermon starters” — it’s also a wonderful source for uplifting devotional reading.
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Bucket Full Of Miracles Cycle A
$18.95Add to cartThe stories of Jesus’ miracles challenge our jaded modern sensibilities — with today’s wealth of scientific and technological knowledge, the wonders of our world rarely amaze us anymore. It can be difficult for us to grasp the astounding effect of these events in Jesus’ time, especially when we are sidetracked in a search for logical explanations, but Jeff Wedge maintains that the key to fully understanding the miracles is recapturing our child-like sense of wonder about them. Underlying these familiar stories is the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world in which we live.
Packed with valuable idea starters and rich material for sermon development, A Bucket Full Of Miracles helps evoke that sense of wonder with a detailed exploration of the nine miracle stories appearing in Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Each chapter includes the biblical text and examines the words, the people, and the action of the lesson, as well as providing several illustrations and possible preaching approaches. This volume provides plenty of homiletic material for the busy pastor with limited time — but it’s also stimulating reading for anyone who wants greater insight into these marvelous accounts of God’s power at work.
Chapter titles include:
* Nativity (Matthew 1:18-25)
* The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41)
* Spirit’s Coming (Acts 2:1-21)
* Walking On Water (Matthew 14:22-33)
* The Demon-Possessed Girl (Matthew 15:21-28)
… and four more! -
Sustained To Serve
$9.95Add to cartThe inspiring prayers in Sustained To Serve open a window into the presence of the living Christ in our ordinary daily activities. Originally created for use during the communion and offering parts of worship services, these heartfelt petitions share deep feelings of awe and wonder at Christ’s sacrificial love and offer thanksgiving for God’s infinite gifts. With material for a variety of seasons and circumstances, this book is much more than just a collection of worship aids — it’s also perfect for devotional reading or just to help bring you closer to the Almighty amidst the bustle of everyday life.
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Christmas Treasures : A Collection Of Congregational Resources For Advent C
$25.95Add to cartThis anthology provides an ample selection of seasonal worship, drama, and children’s resources by popular authors from a variety of denominations. Whatever your congregation’s size or worship style, you’re sure to find something in Christmas Treasures to help you create memorable Advent and Christmas services. Copying privileges are included for all segments.
Litany For Advent And Christmas Candle Lighting provides brief responsive prayers and creative congregational activities for the four Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve, and Epiphany. It’s excellent for worship services or as a Sunday school opener.
Christmas Treasures offers three sets of short readings and prayers for the candle lighting portion of Advent and Christmas Eve services. Each 2-3 minute narrative links aspects of the nativity with events in our modern lives, both global and personal, and challenges worshipers to reflect on current issues and respond in ways that glorify the Lord.
Six Christmas Testimonies depicts the Christmas events and their meaning from the viewpoint of John the Baptist, a magus, the innkeeper, Joseph, a shepherd, and Mary. Especially powerful when read in sequence, these concise dramatic readings are an excellent way to have members participate in Advent or Christmas Eve worship services.
The Christmas Gift utilizes a creative approach to the seasonal children’s program — a “talent show” is cleverly included as part of a simple yet powerful play based on Luke’s Christmas scripture. It’s a practical presentation for any size congregation — many of the speaking roles have only a few lines, and some parts can be combined. A prop list, set diagram, and sample rehearsal schedule are included to aid novice directors. Performance time is approximately 15 minutes (plus talent show time).
Who Are You In Bethlehem? and The Promise are two dramatic presentations for the entire congregation with roles that can be performed by any age. Each combines the reading of scripture and singing of familiar hymns with brief narrations to telling the Bethlehem story, focusing on how we respond to the Savior — asking us if we have truly welcomed the babe into our hearts. These inspirational services are flexible enough to be performed by as many participants as are available without requiring extensive memorization.
Revelations Of Jesus, Given From Heaven/Received On Earth, Nativity, and If It Happened Today are four flexible, Bible-based plays with parts for young peopl
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Songs For A Savior
$12.95Add to cartThis comprehensive resource of five sermons with complete worship services provides a solid, thematically integrated worship and preaching program for Advent and Christmas Eve. It celebrates the deep songs of faith which result from personal encounters with Jesus Christ. The four Advent messages examine biblical personalities, revealing in their experiences real struggles as well as profound joy. You’ll explore how Zechariah wrestled to believe what the angel told him concerning the birth of his son; how the prophets searched for God’s Word of hope in times of personal and social ferment; how Mary was willing to sacrifice her life for God’s purpose; and how the birth of Jesus, heralded by the angels and confirmed by the shepherds, combined fear and joy with divine music.
In the final sermon (for Christmas Eve), Oliver links those accounts with our contemporary lives by asking what our personal response will be to the birth of the Savior. Will we allow a song of faith to arise in our lives, in our families, churches, and community?
Illustrated with poignant stories and anecdotes, the sermons in Songs For A Savior invite us to hear again the truly Good News — that our song of faith is not so much what we create for God, as how we respond to meeting the Savior and receiving God’s gift of salvation through Jesus.
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Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series 6 Cycle C
$59.95Add to cartPreachers must understand the teaching techniques of parable and hyperbole, not to mention having a good background in systematic theology, in order to understand what the Bible’s writers really meant…. But our responsibility is also to reduce the complexities of Bible study to such simplicities that our many listeners, ranging from busy young professional people to aging men and women of failing health to youngsters facing a variety of new temptations, can take away a saving word. (from the Preface)
E. Carver McGriff provides the tools preachers need for their daunting task with some of the most timely and thought-provoking research on the lectionary texts ever made available.
Included for each scriptural lesson in the lectionary are:
A listing of the applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts.
A description of the Psalm of the day.
A prayer for the day.
Commentary that is more than academic exegesis — McGriff brings to the forefront those points in the lessons that relate most poignantly to our contemporary reality.
Suggested sermon titles for each of the three texts for each Sunday.
Themes and suggested directions for preaching on each text.
Several additional illustrations to enliven your preaching. -
Preaching The Miracles Series 2 Cycle C
$17.95Add to cartWhile this book offers information for the sermon writer, the design of its contents provides more than the ho-hum. It avoids presenting a ready-made cloak of words for a morning sermon. Instead it invites preachers and their audiences to explore the gap between the “back then” and the “now.” It not only helps answer questions, it generates them- a crucial element in understanding the miracles of Jesus.
Five sections are devoted to each of the nine miracles in cycle C:
Text — For Easy access the entire lectionary text is provided, preventing the need to flip back and forth to a Bible.
What’s Happening? — A synopsis of points of action within each miracle story. By reviewing the story action, readers define its movement, the conflict and the change or resolution.
Connecting Points -Conversations — This section offers the central material of each chapter. Here Brauninger engages the preacher in an imaginary exchange before the text is given its usual preparatory attention. Visits with main characters and an occasional bystander nudge the reader toward stepping into their sandals. This section invites the preacher and the listening audience to ask questions relevant for them, thus expanding their questioning, and therefore their understanding
Words — Here significant words are examined. While this work is not intended as a scholarly study, it assists in placing things in proper context.
Gospel Parallels — This section highlights similarities and differences among parallel stories in the other gospels.There is also a helpful bibliography included.
This new series from Brauninger promises to be a favorite among preachers. Through it audiences will become aware of how God speaks to them through the miracle stories and will enable them to hear their inner voice and more clearly understand it and themselves.
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Choosing Church
$50.00Add to cartWidely known theological educator and sociologist Carol Lytch presents this well-researched study of what attracts teenagers to the church and what keeps them there. The cogent research includes interviews of a number of teenagers and their parents from mainline Protestant, evangelical, and Roman Catholic congregations. Groundbreaking and fascinating, Choosing Church ultimately serves as a highly useful description of the most effective ways that congregations and parents can foster faith in early teenagers that will help them value the church as a place to obtain identity, belonging, and growth.
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Ushers In Ministry
$13.49Add to cartBiblical Perspectives and Personal Reflections for Ushers, Greeters, and Lay Ministry These writings are not simply lists of ironclad duties and actions that need to be taken by ushers or those in lay ministry. Rather, they are a product of biblical understandings and personal reflections of the author, having evolved from hundreds of hours of consideration and experiences on the essentials of what would make the ministry of ushering more effective. Anyone engaged in the ministry of ushering or greeting should find much of value in these writings, as one will be exposed to biblical perspectives regarding these ministries. Overseers of these ministries should find their workload lightened by using these writings as a framework for providing direction to those who are so serving, since time for meetings and training sessions is always in short supply. Any of these essays may also be used effectively in group discussions and should result in a higher level of attainment.
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Pastors Guide To Growing A Christlike Church
$14.99Add to cartIn The pastor’s Guide To Growing A Christlike Church, you’ll discover the keys to creating a vibrant, biblical, spiritually healthy church. William Willimon, Kennon Callahan, George Hunter III, and other well-known church leaders will teach you how to:
*Develop servant leaders among the laity
*Get laity involved in serving the community
*Nurture healthy spirituality in the church
*Develop authentic Christian community and fellowship
*Plan worship services that bind church members together
*Cast a vision for the future of the church
*And much more! -
Counseling Survivors Of Traumatic Events
$24.99Add to cartIt is a known fact that many people turn to their pastor in times of crisis and trauma. Clergy are often just as much “first responders” as are police and firefighters. Through case illustrations, Weaver, Flannelly, and Preston offer practical helps and resources to access needed information when every minute counts.
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Claiming Theology In The Pulpit
$29.00Add to cartEncapsulating years of experience integrating critical theological thinking with the preaching task, Claiming Theology in the Pulpit will be a welcomed resource to both preachers and students. Through the use of a theological profile, Burton Cooper and John McClure help preachers become more aware of not only the broad theological traditions of the church but of their own particular theological appropriations. Part One lays out the eight categories of the theological profile, offering a worksheet for readers to identify in summary fashion their own theological position. Part Two suggests specific ways that preachers can use the profile as a tool to become more theologically intentional in their preaching.
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Tending The Holy
$28.95Add to cartInterest in the practice of spiritual direction has grown in recent years. With the increased number of people seeking direction have come a number of new issues confronting spiritual directors. This volume of essays by seasoned spiritual directors from a variety of faith traditions, addresses issues of concern to directors today such as direction with: abused persons, the poor, church drop-outs, gays and lesbians. Other essays look at spiritual direction in new contexts, such as the congregational setting, the corporate arena, spiritual direction and generational issues, and direction at the turn of the century. The final section of the book addresses some specific circumstances: working with the addicted, with those who are dying, using art in spiritual direction, and direction and social justice. Contributors include: Joseph D. Driskill (Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA); Juan Reed (Chicago, IL); Rich Rossiter (Oak Park, IL); Sandra Lommason (Davis, CA); Howard Rice (Santa Rosa, CA); Tom Cashman (Federal Way, WA); Steven Charleston, Episcopal Divinity School; Barry Woodbridge (Rancho Cucamonga, CA); Margaret Guenther (Washington, D.C.); Betsy Caprio Hedburg (Culver City, CA) and Kenneth Leech, (London), Janet Ruffing, and Norvene Vest. Norvene Vest is a spiritual director, author, and workshop leader, well known especially for her books on Benedictine spirituality for the common life. She is an Episcopal laywoman, oblate of a Roman Catholic monastery, and graduate of a Protestant seminary. She lives with her husband, Douglas, in Altadena, California.
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Shared Wisdom : Use Of The Self In Pastoral Care And Counseling
$29.00Add to cartEmploying insights in this groundbreaking book, Pamela Cooper-White offers a new relational paradigm for pastoral assessment and theological reflection. She uses the caregiver’s own responses and feelings as a primary instrument for deepening discernment and better care. She innovatively combines postmodern, psychoanalytic, and theological perspectives with illuminating case studies to illustrate this use of the self in pastoral care, counseling, and psychotherapy.
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10 Commandments For Pastors New To A Congregation
$17.99Add to cartThe opening months of a new pastorate are decisive for how that ministry will unfold, so great care should be taken to begin wisely and well. Simply transplanting programs and habits that worked elsewhere, ignoring the specific dynamics of the new congregation and its people, making too few significant changes, or making too many insignificant changes will create problems for the new pastor that may never be overcome. “Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation” offers specific, down-to-earth principles and guidance on how to make a good beginning, one that will lay the foundation for years of fruitful ministry.
Drawing on twenty-five years of parish ministry, during which he has mentored many new and transitioning pastors, Lawrence Farris here provides ten guidelines, illustrated with relevant examples, that identify potential pitfalls and show how to avoid them. Such areas as preaching, pastoral care, self-care, community and denominational commitments, and role clarity are addressed with an emphasis on practical approaches to ministry in a new setting. Farris also gives clear advice on how to learn the new congregation and its setting, how to set appropriate personal and professional boundaries, and how to stay focused on what matters most in a new ministry.Lively, practical, and brief enough for the new pastor to have time to actually read it, “Ten Commandments for Pastors New to a Congregation” is a must-read both for pastors on the move and for individuals preparing for first-time ministry.
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Shepherd Leadership : Wisdom For Leaders From Psalm 23
$24.95Add to cartThe Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me bedside the still waters;
He restoreth my soul.Today’s professionals need reliable models to teach them how to become better leaders. In this remarkable book, leadership experts Blaine McCormick and David Davenport introduce us to a new kind of leader by offering a new image of leadership- the leader as shepherd.
Drawing on the wisdom of the timeless Twenty-Third Psalm, King David’s psalm, the authors provide professionals with ancient wisdom for grappling with today’s leadership challenges. Shepherd Leadership offers a much-needed lens through which to consider our own leadership as well as the leadership of those around us. This important book teaches us important lessons about leadership: we can be vigilant without being adversarial, we can serve without being passive, and we can guide without commanding. Shepherd Leadership offers a visionary new model for transforming leadership practices in both corporate and small business settings. This is whole-person leadership. It’s not just a matter of thinking or doing things a certain way. It’s a fully integrated life- a matter of head and hand and heart. It’s a way of thinking and doing and being. -
Weary Throats And New Songs
$31.99Add to cartExamines the rich heritage of African American women who have proclaimed–and still proclaim–God’s word. Against all odds, African American women have passionately proclaimed the goodness of God and lifted up Jesus’ name despite barriers of race, class, denomination, education and gender. In response to a sense of deliverance from evil and in gratitude for answered prayers, these women have related their faith and trust in God in sacred places such as ships, fields, homes, barns, factories, hospitals, schools, pulpits, missionary societies, and over kitchen sinks. Even when disenfranchised in the religious communities they helped create, African American women continue to “say a word” about God, whether they are ordained or not.
This book provides a brief review of the rich heritage of African American female proclaimers and examines contemporary African American women’s sermon preparation, content, delivery, and personhood. Brown draws heavily on interviews and conversations, as well as audio and video tapes of women proclaiming God’s word to relate how and why African American women tell others about God despite resistance (weary throats) and with the help of support (new songs) in religious and social communities. -
Healing Bodies And Souls
$19.00Add to cartHale and Koenig, national leaders in health ministries, offer a practical and engaging primer on developing a variety of initiatives for pastors, parish nurses, lay leaders, and concerned parishioners. Their short volume mixes real-life congregational case studies with vital information to equip congregations in helping properly manage illness, navigate the healthcare labyrinth, manage or avoid disability, and even provide some life-saving and presentative medical services. While their case studies report on the many kinds of engagement congregations have taken on, each chapter also provides basic information on the most common healthcare challenges – diabetes, skin cancer, strokes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, breast cancer, prostate cancer, glaucoma, and depression – and what can be done in local congregations.
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Walking The Small Group Tightrope
$12.99Add to cartA time-tested resource for pastors and small group leaders to help them understand how to manage the tensions that result when a variety of good objectives compete for a group’s attention Foundational resources such as Building a Church of Small Groups and The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry were written for those who launch and lead small group ministries. Now there is a proven resource from Willow Creek created specifically for small group leaders who serve in the trenches of small group life. Walking the Small Group Tightrope applies “polarity management” training to group life. Polarity management teaches that in every area of life we must learn to manage the tension that exists between two good things rather than choosing one over the other. There are six challenges or “tensions” every small group leader faces and must learn to manage well. Each challenge must be met by managing two good values that exist along a continuum: * Learning Challenge: Truth_Life Continuum * Relational Challenge: Friendship_Accountability Continuum * Development Challenge: Care_Discipleship Continuum * Reconciliation Challenge: Kindness_Confrontation Continuum * Impact Challenge: Task_People Continuum * Connection Challenge: Openness_Intimacy Continuum
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Lay Eucharistic Ministers Handbook
$23.99Add to cartThis practical volume explores every aspect of serving as a eucharistic minister in the Catholic church. It offers in-depth teaching on the meaning of the Eucharist; personal preparation for the rite of commissioning; an explanation of the practical skills required; pastoral advice on giving communion at home or in hospital as well as help for those unexpected moments when something may go wrong. A warm and encouraging companion for all who serve in this ministry.
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Your Church Can Thrive
$17.99Add to cartThe author describes the four main groups of people churches can reach with their ministries: those in the pews, those who walk in, friends and family of current members, and those who live in the neighborhood. He then provides short-term steps and long-term strategies for teaching out to these groups, drawing them into the church, and helping them grow into disciples of Jesus Christ. This book helps readers focus the development of the ministries and programs of the church on those whom the church is trying to reach.
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Take The Next Step
$25.99Add to cartTransformational leaders know how to build on their church’s identity. They know how to make the story of change the next chapter in the book of the congregation’s life, rather than throwing the book away and trying to start over. An astute student of management and leadership theory, Weems offers congregational leaders essential insights into how they can bring about authentic and faithful growth. Includes congregational case studies, visual illustrations of key ideas, and insights from other leadership experts.
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Modeling The Master
$10.99Add to cartThis book presents an intriguing integration of the use of parables by Jesus, the Master Teacher, and the therapeutic approach of Milton Erickson, the master of metaphor. The author reviews much counseling literature that involves the use of metaphor to understand and influence counselees, and considers numerous examples in Scripture of indirect, metaphoric communication. Insights gained from both Scripture and counseling literature are incorporated into an approach appropriate for use in contemporary Christian counseling. Several basic principles emerge that facilitate the formulation and delivery of metaphoric stories that are empathic, engaging, earthy, efficient, and enigmatic. Examples are presented along with suggestions to help the reader develop therapeutic stories from his or her own experience. Attention is also given to the use of metaphoric activities that may augment the counseling process. Practical concerns are addressed, including timing and frequency of stories and activities, interpretation, and seeding. The hope of the author is to challenge Christian counselors to access the powerful potential of effectively using metaphoric stories and activities to increase positive outcomes. The book is designed to serve as a supplemental text in a variety of Christian counseling courses at all levels.
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Spirit Filled Teaching
$22.98Add to cartAcclaimed teacher Roy B. Zuck reveals how teachers can tap into the power of divine energy to fulfill their calling and use their gifts at a deeper level. By applying these timeless, spirit-focused principles, teachers will learn how to teach more effectively and inspire students spiritually.
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Search To Belong
$19.99Add to cartA practical guide for those struggling to build a community of believers in a culture that wants to experience belonging over believing Who is my neighbor? Who belongs to me? To whom do I belong? These are timeless questions that guide the church to its fundamental calling. Today terms like neighbor, family, and congregation are being redefined. People are searching to belong in new places and experiences. The church needs to adapt its interpretations, definitions, and language to make sense in the changing culture. This book equips congregations and church leaders with tools to: * Discern the key ingredients people look for in community * Understand the use of space as a key element for experiencing belonging and community * Develop the “chemical compound” that produces an environment for community to spontaneously emerge * Discover how language promotes specific spatial belonging and then use this knowledge to build an effective vocabulary for community development * Create an assessment tool for evaluating organizational and personal community health
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Empowered Church Leadership
$25.99Add to cartIVP Print On Demand Title
Have you been guiding your church using secular marketing ideas and leadership strategies? Instead, Dodd issues a clarion call for pastors and laypersons to build their ministries on the New Testament apostolic principles of prayer, followership, partnership, servanthood, and willingness to run against the current. Learn to lead where God wants you to go.
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Developing The Leaders Around You Workbook (Workbook)
$17.99Add to cartDr. John C. Maxwell is committed to more than just being a leader_he’s also committed to nurturing and mentoring thousands of potential leaders around him. This passion is what caused him to found INJOY and EQUIP, and it is the driving force in his ministry. Both practical and inspirational, Developing the Leaders Around You is crammed with strategies that help you effectively transform your goals into reality by building leadership in the people around you. Emphasizing that an organization can’t grow until its members grow, Dr. Maxwell encourages readers to foster a productive team spirit, make difficult decisions, handle confrontation, and to nurture, encourage, and equip people to be leaders.
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Making Small Groups Work
$26.99Add to cartHere’s a one-stop small-group leader’s guide for gatherings of all sorts—from divorce recovery and marriage enrichment to spiritual formation. Facilitators will learn God’s plan for growth and how to promote it; what makes a group work; the roles of members; and how to find solutions for problems, including boredom, noncompliance, aggression, overneediness, and nonstop talking.
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Creative Bible Lessons In Revelation
$22.99Add to cart12 exciting faith-building studies from the book of Revelation about the future Teenagers can’t help but think about the future, especially in these uncertain times. The book of Revelation offers both a tantalizing look at what lies ahead and a powerful message of hope for those who put their trust in God. This curriculum takes youth leaders through the book of Revelation, and provides teaching tools and lessons on John’s vision of the future, Jesus the Redeemer, pure worship, the destruction of the earth, the ultimate showdown, the throne, and God’s mighty hand in the future of all humanity.
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Tough Topics
$14.99Add to cartThis collection of provocative discussion questions is guaranteed to get teenagers talking, thinking, and debating. It follows in the footsteps of the best-selling Would You Rather?, What If?, and Unfinished Sentences. Each set of questions is followed by thought-provoking ideas, facts, and verses to think about. Adaptable content makes the book an easy-to-use resource for large or small groups_at youth meetings, retreats, small group discussions, mission trips, and more. With its compact size, it’s convenient to carry along wherever you go.
Examples of questions include:
*Which would be better? To have your prayers answered or to be constantly full of joy?
*Which would be worse? To eat what you don’t like or to crave what you can’t have?
*Which would be better? Fresh-baked, soft, chewy cookies or a nice thick, juicy steak?
*Which would be worse? To have a parachute fail or to ski into a tree? -
Ushering In Todays Churches
$12.49Add to cartUshering in Today’s Churches was written to assist usher ministries to serve God in an effective and excellent manner. The contents of this book are for any churches that desire to take their usher ministries to the next level. The book will give ushers the knowledge to serve God with a spirit of excellence and elevate God with a well-organized ministry. I offer my assistance as a workshop instructor to any church organization that has the desire to further educate its usher ministry. The workshop will equip the usher ministry with knowledge and techniques that God has blessed me with. To have a workshop at your church, please refer to the workshop information page at the end of this book.
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Beyond The Scandals
$24.00Add to cart(PUBFortress)What constitutes misconduct? Which legal, moral, and religious norms apply? How is the church liable? A leading national expert investigates the current scandals, discusses how and why they happened, and proposes useful guidelines for preventing such behavior in the future.
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Afterlife (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99Add to cartAfterlife: Finding Hope Beyond Death is targeted to adult learners in their 20’s and 30’s. Author David deSilva says, “The extent to which we can come to terms with our own death directly impacts our psychological stability and well-being. The denial of death leads to all manner of personality disorders and ultimately to an insecure, inauthentic life.” The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims the hope of life in the presence of God forever and the invitation to live in and for this hope. Seven easy-to-lead sessions with clear teaching helps on every page challenge you to examine this powerful biblical theme and will encourage to look at your own questions and beliefs as you study the Scriptures.
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Whats Good About This News
$28.00Add to cartIn this study of the Gospels and the book of Galatians, David Bartlett explores how to reconcile the biblical text’s message to our contemporary context and a particular congregation’s character and need. While, as he shows, important continuities exist in the way the good news is understood throughout the New Testament, precisely what it looks like and how Christians respond to it differs between Mark, Paul, John, and the rest of the writers. Consequently, he demonstrates, preachers have options as they try to discern what news a congregation needs to hear on a particular Sunday. Including sample sermons, What’s Good about This News? shows how each of these biblical texts remains a redemptive word for today’s people.
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From Pastor To Pastor
$9.99Add to cart25 Chapters
Additional Info
From Pastor to Pastor provides encouragement for pastors from someone who knows what it’s like to go through the trials and the triumphs of the job. Part memoir, part devotional, these reflections will help both new and experienced pastors improve their leadership skills as they learn from the reflections of a pastor who’s been in ministry for over 20 years. -
Preparing Couples For Marriage
$39.95Add to cartWith today’s alarming divorce rate, pastors bear a special burden to get couples off to a good start. This comprehensive guide walks you through the process from the initial counseling session to wedding planning to “You may kiss the bride.” Topics include family profiles; resolving conflicts; finances; interfaith, interracial, and second marriages; and more.
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Stories Told Under The Sycamore Tree
$19.95Add to cartPoets and the scriptures have often spoken of Jesus as the “lily of the valley” or the “rose of Sharon,” and the Bible is filled with intriguing references to a wide variety of flora. But what did these plants look like? You’ll find out, and learn much more as well in this fascinating follow-up volume to the popular Learning From The Lizard.
Stories Told Under The Sycamore Tree examines 52 notable flowers, trees, fruits, and other plants in the Bible. Each lesson includes an informative description based on scientific research and scripture, a reflection on the plant’s symbolism, and a prayer, along with superb color illustrations from award-winning nature artist Scott Patton.
These attention-getting, inspiring, and enriching messages are perfect for use with children — there’s a year’s worth of fresh material. But they’re not just for youngsters; they’re also excellent for personal devotions and sermon preparation. Stories Told Under The Sycamore Tree is a visual and meditative feast that will give you a greater appreciation for the wonders of God’s creation.
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Years Worth Of Childrens Church
$23.99Add to cartHere are fifty-two weeks of fun, easy-to-use, faith-building programs for the children of your church. Whether Children’s Church is as short as thirty minutes or runs an hour or more, this book has exactly what you need to fill the time and to fill the hearts and minds of your children with God’s Word. Suitable for both small and large groups, these programs provide a meaningful experience for children, not just babysitting during the worship hour. Like adult worship, Children’s Church is grounded in the Scriptures. Beloved Bible verses, stories, and poetry from the Psalms are the basis for the programs.
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Beyond The Collection Plate
$20.99Add to cartThis is a comprehensive guide to building healthy congregational attitudes and practices toward managing and spending financial resources.
Much has been written about how churches can raise money. Less guidance is available to congregations about what to do with financial resources once they have been gathered in. Even less has been offered by way of a comprehensive view of congregational finances, one that demonstrates how individual attitudes toward giving money and congregational attitudes toward managing and spending money are inextricably linked together.
In this book Michael Durall paints a wide-ranging picture of how churches can engender healthy attitudes and practices toward money among their members. How can churches counteract the consumerist mentality in society in ways that lead to simpler living and more sacrificial giving? How can churches tell which stewardship practices and programs are genuinely helpful, and which are seriously outdated? How can we build a strong bond between the day-to-day lives of parishioners and their charitable giving? What opportunities for better stewardship do the unique natures of each individual congregation present?
Written for pastors, finance committees, and everyone involved in the financial life of congregations, Beyond the Collection Plate will serve as an indispensable guide to how the priorities of God’s kingdom can determine how money in the church is raised, managed, and spent.
This book is intended to help readers strengthen the bond between parishioners’ daily lives and their charitable giving. It analyzes prevailing attitudes in church toward giving and managing money, demonstrates how many prevailing practices in stewardship campaigns and fundraising have lost their effectiveness, and provides strategies for encouraging more sacrificial giving.
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Design For Preaching
$29.00Add to cartAn extremely modern approach on how to preach, stressing the individuality of each sermon. An aid to the experienced preacher as well as the seminary student. Choice of mode, tense, proper use of voice, words, logic, etc.-all these and more topics are treated.
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Practical Guide To Pulpit Ministry
$21.99Add to cartThere is a need within the leadership of the Church (the body of Christ) to place a particular emphasis on public speaking dynamics used in pulpit ministry. Many of God’s ministers have received or already accepted the call to publicly minister the Word of God directly from the pulpit, yet may not have the opportunity to receive any practical training or considered the dynamics needed to accomplish the will and purpose of God for their ministries. A Practical Guide to Pulpit Ministry (Public Speaking Dynamics) addresses: Pulpit ministry overview of goals and responsibilities Motivation techniques and instruction Principles of learning Effective communication Preparing outlines/lesson plans Outline/lesson plan personalization And much more! This offering to church leadership and current/prospective ministers embodies the true essence of giving God your best, while keeping Him as the absolute focus!
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Practical Guide To Pulpit Ministry
$13.49Add to cartThere is a need within the leadership of the Church (the body of Christ) to place a particular emphasis on public speaking dynamics used in pulpit ministry. Many of God’s ministers have received or already accepted the call to publicly minister the Word of God directly from the pulpit, yet may not have the opportunity to receive any practical training or considered the dynamics needed to accomplish the will and purpose of God for their ministries. A Practical Guide to Pulpit Ministry (Public Speaking Dynamics) addresses: Pulpit ministry overview of goals and responsibilities Motivation techniques and instruction Principles of learning Effective communication Preparing outlines/lesson plans Outline/lesson plan personalization And much more! This offering to church leadership and current/prospective ministers embodies the true essence of giving God your best, while keeping Him as the absolute focus!
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Youth Ministry From The Inside Out
$16.99Add to cartFlash! Ping! Whiz! Pop! Boom! Bang! Crash! Such are the sights and sounds of modern youth ministry. We look for the bigger, the louder, the brighter. And we work long and hard to make our ministry the biggest, the loudest, the brightest. But look out and listen up: God is not caught up in sound and fury. And he doesn’t want to see youth workers disengage–letting the momentum define their purpose. Mike Higgs, reflecting on more than two decades of work with youth, thinks the greatest need among youth workers today is a reminder of who we are. We need to set aside the distractions of an emphasis on performance and focus instead on connecting with God in his work in us, our students and other youth workers. When a renewed spirit shapes our work with youth, our ministry will become less a muddled chorus of strategies and targets, and more a symphony of purpose and practice.
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Restoring Sexual Identity
$16.99Add to cart1. Three Stories
2. Where Does Same-Sex Attraction Come From?
3. Classic Development Of Lesbian Attraction
4. Healthy Female Gender Development
5. Establishing A Support System
6. Healing From Abuse
7. Overcoming Temptation
8. Healthy Female Friendships
9. Men: Friendships, Singleness, And Marriage
10. Parenthood And The Ex-Gay Woman
267 PagesAdditional Info
Harvest House Print On Demand TitleCan a lesbian change? Yes says author Anne Paulk, who left her lesbian lifestyle twenty years ago as she responded to Christ’s invitation to an abundant life.
“Very early, I felt the tug of sexual attraction toward some members of my gender. I remember being both confused and excited by these feelings. After many years of having been attracted to other women, I embraced a lesbian identity and lifestyle. Later, after an encounter with God, I began my journey out of homosexuality. . .”
Restoring Sexual Identity offers answers to the difficult and often wrenching questions asked by both women desiring change and by friends and relatives of women struggling with same sex attraction.
* Is lesbianism a genetic predisposition or is it developed during childhood?
* Does becoming a Christian immediately eliminate all desire for members of the same sex?
* Can a woman be a lesbian and a Christian at the same time?
* How does childhood sexual abuse relate to the development of lesbianism?
* What support is available for women who struggle with lesbianism?For every woman sexually attracted to other women, here’s another choice.
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Literature Of Theology (Revised)
$33.00Add to cartThis updated reference guide directs students to over five hundred significant theological resources across a wide area of theological research. It details bibliographic sources for encyclopedias, dictionaries, and electronic resources in biblical studies, historical studies, theology, and practical theology.
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Sermon Maker : Tales Of A Transformed Preacher
$12.99Add to cartPastor Sam knows all about how to preach-but he’s got a lot to learn about how people listen. All of this is about to change. An unexpected heavenly visitor is coming Sam’s way with a few pointers designed to connect Sam-and every preacher who longs for significance-with the life-changing soul of the sermon. Sam is soon to learn that the sermon is a season of creation-a compass and a call to new directions. With extensive notations for study or discussion
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Angry Christian
$48.00Add to cartThe Christian tradition has long held that anger is sinful and to be avoided, but respected scholar Andrew Lester argues that the capacity or anger is one of God’s good gifts. Here, Lester incorporates the newest behavioral research models, biblical and theological scholarship, constructivist philosophy, and narrative theory into a pastoral theology of anger. Comprehensive and critically important, The Angry Christian will be of help to Christian caregivers and counselors, to clergy, and to all individuals looking to understand the experience of anger.
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Movie Based Illustrations For Preaching And Teaching
$24.99Add to cartA handy reference volume of movie clip illustrations that connect with today9s audiences and reinforce biblical truths Movies have become the stories of our culture. People love to discuss favorite movies and actors, and this interest can help you communicate God9s Word with power_if you have exciting, movie-based illustrations at your fingertips. Now the editors of PreachingToday.com have gathered the best movie-based illustrations, the scenes that convey biblical truth convincingly. This collection contains 101 complete illustrations straight from popular movies that your listeners can relate to. Each illustration is easy to use_you don9t even have to be familiar with the movie to share the truth it portrays. * Complete index includes multiple keywords and relevant Scripture passages for easy selection. * Each illustration provides plot summary and detailed description of the scene_you can tell the story well even if you haven9t seen the movie. * Exact beginning time and ending time are given for each illustration, if you9d like to show the video clip. * Each illustration gives background information on the movie, including year created, MPAA rating, and more. Bring home biblical truths for your congregation or class in a dramatic way by incorporating these movie illustrations into your future messages and lessons and then receive a FREE 90-day trial membership and access to over 7,600 sermon illustrations at PreachingToday.com!
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Passion Driven Congregation
$25.99Add to cartWhat can sustain a church’s growth over a lengthy period of time, especially across a change in senior pastors? Long, successful pastorates are customarily followed by brief, unhappy ones, and then by a period of stagnation and even decline. Succesive pastors of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, demonstrate how a theologically and socially progressive church can be faithful to its particular character and still experience significant, sustained numerical growth.
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Called To Teach
$40.00Add to cartPresbyterian educators Duncan Ferguson and William Weston argue that the calling to teach in higher education is distinctively Reformed and a primary mission of the Presbyterian church. This collection of essays first lays the biblical, theological, and historical foundations for this calling, then explores how it is lived out today in educational institutions-church-related as well as secular. Concluding that today’s church must have the nurture of the teacher as a central part of its mission, Called To Teach will be a welcomed resource for all those who have the vocation of teaching.
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Strength In Weakness
$20.99Add to cartHelp and hope for men . . .
undermined by silent fathers
harassed by pornography and sexual temptation
afraid of failing those they love most
angered by past relationships with womenHelp and hope for women . . .
lost in their relationships with others
betrayed by fathers, husbands or male leaders
wounded by sexual assault
paralyzed by self-hatredAndrew Comiskey sees our weakness as “a threshold for holy power”–the point at which God can meet us for healing and equip us for service. He has seen it happen again and again. During many years of ministry, Comiskey, his wife, Annette, and their fellow “strugglers” have accompanied hundreds of wounded men and women to transformation at the cross of Christ. Telling real-life stories of despair, hope and lasting change, Comiskey lays out the foundations for healing from relational and sexual sin. With chapters focusing on particular areas of vulnerability for men and women, on the battle over homosexuality in church and culture, and on the essential role of the church in ongoing healing, Strength in Weakness makes clear the way to the cross–God’s sufficient answer to our deepest needs.
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5 Pillars Of The Apostolic
$15.99Add to cartMichael Scantlebury, seeks to find a biblical, balanced and logical approach to explainging the ministry of today’s apostles. It is a timely expression since so much of what is being said and written today about apostles and apostoloic ministry lacks strong biblical basis and is often extreme and contradictory. This book provides an excellent tool for the Church to measure apostolic claims by the yardstick of the author’s five-pillars of apostolic grace. This book set the standards appropriately gigh for those who have the high-calling of apostle. Best of all the book is Christ-centered in its approach, revealing Jesus Christ as the real answer to each fundamental and eternal question rather than apostles in themselves.
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When God Walked On Campus
$16.99Add to cartA brief history of evangelical awakenings at American colleges and universities. Do you long for revival on your college or university campus ? Is your heart burdened for the students you interact with each day? Here are some accounts of revivals in the past two centuries that will whet your appetite for the transforming work of God’s Spirit on your campus today. From the academic halls of America-Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, Middlebury, Union, Bethel, Wheaton, Williams, Trinity, Ashland, and many others-comes the stirring stories of awakening and revival. On both secular and Christian campuses, the moving of God was evident as men and women were converted and stirred to ministry and foreign service. Out of these pockets of awakening came the formation or strengthening of student and campus fellowships such as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Youth for Christ, Campus Crusade for Christ, Navigators and the YMCA. The powerful ministries of men such as Timothy Dwight, J. Edwin Orr, Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Charles Spurgeon were used to promote revival in these seasons of collegiate awakening and a sermon from each has been selected to quicken your heart and challenge your thinking. May this brief look at history equip you with fresh hope for revival today!
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Help I Teach Childrens Sunday School
$12.25Add to cart1. Today’s Children
2. Characteristics Of Effective Teachers
3. Birth-2 Years Old
4. 3-5 Years Old
5. 6-7 Years Old
6. 8-9 Years Old
7. Pre-teens – 10-12 Years Old
8. Applying Effective Teaching Methods
9. What About Discipline
10. Children With Special NeedsAdditional Info
A teacher in a Sunday school program is a valuable asset in a child’s spiritual formation. Much of what they do lays the foundation for a child’s growth in the Christian faith and life. They are a vital resource to children and their parents. What they do during this crucial Sunday morning time truly matters. Help! I Teach Children’s Sunday School is an aid book for these special teachers of infants through sixth graders. This guidebook to teaching excellence in the Sunday school will be a help to beginning and experienced teachers alike. -
Contemporary African American Preaching
$34.99Add to cartL. Susan Bond reveals the full range and diversity of African American preaching in this exploration of African American homiletical theories. Portraying the many approaches that are empowering preaching in African American churches today, Bond shows how different theological perspectives produce different methods of sermon preparation and delivery, different strategies for selecting illustrative material, and even different ways of beginning and ending sermons. Her goal is not to lift up the “right way” to preach in the African American tradition, but to show the richness and nuance contained within this powerful cultural expression.
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Practicing Gospel
$38.00Add to cartFor seminarians and pastors too often tempted to equate pastoral care with popular psychology, good preaching with snappy public speaking, and Christian education with flashy curriculum, esteemed theologian Ed Farley offers a more faithful approach to the tasks of ministry in this collection of groundbreaking essays. By holding theology and practice in an inescapable partnership, Farley rightly refocuses the Church’s life on its proper object and subject: a mysterious, transforming God.
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Unfinished Business : Returning The Ministry To The People Of God (Revised)
$24.99Add to cartA comprehensive listing of field-tested programming material designed to supplement a church9s creative process of service planning The Source is an encyclopedic catalog of music, drama, and video resources compiled by the Willow Creek Association. It provides worship planners and creative directors with a quick, topical reference to help them relate sermon topics, drama, music, and movie clips to a unifying theme. Complete with a clear, thorough user9s guide, this one-stop workbook for effective worship planning covers more than 130 topics. Major headings include Christian Life Issues, Holidays and Special Services, Identity of God, Life Issues, Relationships with God, Social Issues, Seeker Issues, and Relationships. This revised edition is geared to meet the needs of both seeker-oriented churches and traditional churches that use contemporary music or drama or video in their services.
New features include:
* A worship chorus section, including over 150 songs from Integrity, Maranatha!, EMI, Vineyard, Word, and more
* Interviews with programming directors from various WCA churches focusing on how different churches use the arts in their specific settings -
New Mercies I See
$12.95Add to cartIn New Mercies I See, Stan Purdum does for the ministry what James Herriot did for veterinary medicine in All Creatures Great and Small. Set in rural Ohio churches, Stan’s stories are humorous, poignant, thought-provoking, pathos-filled, and heartwarming. But above all, they are hopeful. Whether it’s sudden rain falling on a pain-wracked young man clinging to his brother’s coffin, the guilty woman whose love for an abused baby brings resurrection to them both, or the overly enthusiastic pastor who has to serve communion with walnut juice freckling his face, these accounts recognize that the persistent grace of God is never far from any one of us.
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Story Time At The Altar
$13.95Add to cartJesus told stories, and the scriptures are the sacred story of God and his people … and since children love stories as well, what could be a more appropriate way to plant the seeds of faith than with stories? This outstanding collection provides 86 enchanting parables that you can share during “children’s time” on Sunday morning, as well as at home, school, camp, or any other setting where young people are gathered together and want to hear a story. Brief talking points and questions in each message help youngsters clearly understand the good news of God’s incredible grace and unconditional love. Many of the stories illustrate biblical themes — but a wide variety of other topics and approaches are included, along with a convenient scripture index. Written in a simple, direct style that children of all ages can easily relate to, these delightful stories will inspire joy and hope.
Stories include:
* Elijah And The Voice (1 Kings 19:11)
* Timothy’s Questions (Psalm 100:3a)
* The Aspen And The Wind (Mark 10:44)
* The House On The Rock (Matthew 7:24-27)
* Teach Us To Pray (Matthew 14:22-33)
… and many more! -
Gods Word Alive And Active
$13.95Add to cartHere are more ready-to-use children’s sermons from the prolific pen of Julia Bland which are sure to appeal to busy pastors and teachers. In this collection, Bland compares God’s Word to a variety of concrete objects, teaching youngsters that although the scriptures were written a long time ago, they remain a powerful and unequaled guide for good and holy living. Like all of her other acclaimed CSS titles, each message in this collection comes with a two-sided activity sheet including a coloring page for young children along with puzzles and word games for older children that reinforce the lesson’s theme and key concepts. In addition to “children’s time” during the worship hour, this resource is also excellent for Sunday school or Vacation Bible School.
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Built By The Owners Design
$14.95Add to cartEvery church needs to reach out and bring in new members in order to remain a living, vital entity — yet there are many different ideas about what is the best way for Christian congregations to foster real growth. In recent years, what has been termed the “Church Growth Movement” (as exemplified in such best-selling books as The Purpose Driven Church and The Habits Of Highly Effective Churches) has come to the forefront with its agenda of meeting felt needs and targeting specific audiences. At the same time, there has been a less-publicized but pointed reaction to what some perceive as the church growth movement’s misdirected zeal. And while the church growth movement has been very successful with new churches, its methods often fall short of satisfying the growth needs of established congregations.
In Built By The Owner’s Design, Danny Von Kanel invites you into the drawing room of the Master Designer to examine His blueprints for evangelism and church growth. Employing the plumb line of God’s Word, he makes it clear that God’s way of growth and outreach is most effective. Von Kanel draws on a careful analysis of more than 50 churches in the Southern Baptist, United Methodist, and Presbyterian (USA) denominations to offer a viable alternative that charts a middle ground between overzealousness and declining attendance, identifying a proven framework that can support lasting growth in diverse situations. Several checklists are included that help you systematically evaluate your own congregation and develop a tailor-made growth plan based on your specific circumstances. Grounded in solid research and Von Kanel’s own experience in several growing ministries, Built By The Owner’s Design is an immensely practical resource that belongs in every pastor’s library.
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Sermon Warm Ups
$12.95Add to cartCould you use an attention-getting introduction to set up a talk or sermon? If so, the brief sketches in this collection are exactly what you need to create living illustrations of scriptural themes that will stick in your audience’s memory. Jesus explained concepts about God’s kingdom through parables utilizing elements familiar to his listeners; likewise, the modern storytelling in these short, easy-to-prepare scenes helps worshipers understand the gospel by depicting the biblical message in the context of our daily lives. And they’re effective. Since drama draws on both our visual and auditory senses, it’s a proven vehicle for increasing learning and retention rates. When you want a change of pace that will really make a difference, these scenes are great for use in place of the sermon or for various types of fellowship programs.
Contents include:
* The Inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 6:14-29)
* Cooking With Carol (John 6:24-35, 41-51)
* The Pray-er (James 5:13-20)
* Are You Calling Me? (Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-40)
… and many more! -
Gospel Telling : The Art And Theology Of Childrens Sermons
$16.95Add to cartWhen was the last time you took a moment to consider the purpose and effectiveness of your children’s sermons? After all, nothing is more important than sowing the seeds of faith early in life. In this comprehensive look at all aspects of preaching the gospel to young people, Richard Coleman challenges you to examine your approach with a critical eye and gives you plenty of practical guidance for developing simple, direct messages that help children form a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In the first section of Gospel-Telling, Coleman discusses what constitutes meaningful children’s sermons, offering a thoughtful rationale for the idea that we must proclaim the gospel so youngsters experience God’s love. You’ll learn how you can mine your own experience for inspiration and proclaim gospel stories that flow from your specific circumstances. Then in the second portion of the book you’ll see this process at work, with over 30 examples illustrating several different types of children’s sermons.
Whether you’re a pastor, Christian educator, or engaged in the teaching ministry, you’re sure to profit from the practical advice and in-depth reflection in these pages. With Gospel-Telling, you’ll be equipped to share with young people the Good News — with creativity and theological integrity.
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Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
$20.95Add to cartIf you want to stimulate your creative juices and avoid dull, cliche-filled preaching, then you’ll love this collection of 150 imaginative “sermon starters.” Each idea consists of a clever title that’s sure to catch the interest of the person in the pew along with a purpose statement and a brief discussion of the topic (including appropriate scripture references). There are a variety of suggested approaches with striking imagery, providing you with plenty of seeds for developing interesting, thought-provoking messages. And with a convenient subject index included, Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees is certain to be a treasured addition to any pastor’s library. But this volume isn’t just for preachers — it’s also an excellent source of meditations for men’s, women’s, or youth groups as well as inspiring devotional reading.
Here’s a sample of some of the inventive entries:
* Daring To Be A Lion’s Breakfast!
* Is There A Lightning Bolt With Your Name On It?
* How Many Will Your Garbage Can Feed?
* We Have Met The Monster And It Is Us
* Will Your Bones Dance Again?
* Cain’s And Einstein’s Theory Of Relativity -
Old Wine In New Skins 2
$16.95Add to cartAcross the broad spectrum of the Christian faith, worship services are in transition. There is a richness of expression in traditional worship structures that needs to be maintained, yet there is a vitality and joy in contemporary praise celebrations that is an essential part of the Christian spirit. But whatever the style of service, whether it’s traditional, contemporary, or “blended,” meaningful worship that makes a powerful impact is directly connected to our daily lives, addressing our hopes and fears.
Like the first volume of Old Wine In New Skins, this comprehensive collection provides plenty of resources for strengthening and reinvigorating your worship services. There are two years’ worth (104) of calls to worship in a wide variety of styles that can be used in almost any setting. Each weaves together suggested hymns or praise songs with spoken material utilizing everyday language and images, creating a strong thematic thrust that truly prepares the congregation to stand before the Lord in praise and petition. There’s also a group of brief reflections that can be used as sermon illustrations, theme-setters for the service, or newsletter features.
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Preaching To Myself
$12.95Add to cartA compelling preacher shares her unique method for creating memorable sermons in this practical, down-to-earth manual that’s chock-full of excellent ideas for homiletical preparation. It’s an engaging look at what characterizes outstanding preaching as well as a humorous catalog of the hazards facing those who enter the pulpit. Schmitz relates numerous amusing and instructive anecdotes from her own preaching experience, and offers valuable advice on how to write and deliver messages with maximum impact. For example, Schmitz notes that compelling stories which resonate with hearers are a crucial ingredient of great sermons — and Preaching To Myself illustrates how to tap into this endlessly renewable resource. Simple, funny, field-tested in the trenches with real people — if you want to enjoy a chuckle while learning what makes top-notch sermons that change lives, then this is the book for you.
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Feasts Of The Kingdom
$21.95Add to cartFeasts and festivals are a central part of many cultures, and for Christians there is no more important “meal” than Holy Communion, in which we commemorate our liberation through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Yet there are many other occasions in the Bible where Jesus taught his friends and disciples as he ate and drank. In The Feasts Of The Kingdom, Maurice Fetty examines a wide variety of sacred meals in scripture, ranging from the Lord’s supper to banquets in the parables. He connects these occasions to our mealtimes today, where we can develop a sense of community and Christian fellowship that is emblematic of the spiritual feast at the heart of the Church’s worship. With 26 messages included for all seasons of the church year, this volume is an especially valuable source of preaching ideas. But most of all, Fetty’s insights provide sustenance for the soul!
Chapter titles include:
* Faith And Fast-Food Religion (John 6:67-68)
* The Hunger Pangs Of Success (Philippians 2:5-7)
* Breakfast On The Beach (John 21:9, 12)
* The Ultimate Wedding Reception (Revelation 19:9)
* Table Manners In A Hungry World (Luke 16:20-21)
… and many more! -
Teaching Prayer In The Classroom (Revised)
$19.99Add to cartIn this revised and expanded edition of Teaching Prayer in the Classroom, Delia Halverson provides children’s teachers and leaders with practical guidance for teaching the elusive, and often mystifying, topic of prayer to children and young people. As in the original volume, Teaching Prayer in the Classroom offers step-by-step activities that engage children in different prayer experiences, while also providing specific examples of age-appropriate prayers for preschoolers to twelve-year-olds. In addition, age-level understandings and experiences of prayer are presented, as well as guidance for integrating different prayers into existing Sunday school lessons and creating a variety of unique prayers. Along with a number of reproducible handouts that provide useful information for teachers and students, this volume offers guidance and suggestions to help parents use prayer with their children at home.
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Giant Book Of Childrens Sermons
$49.95Add to cartThe youngest members of your congregation have trooped up the aisle in their Sunday best. Be prepared with these 260 object lessons and simple visual aids such as crayons, scissors, and salt shakers! Features five years of 10-minute “sermonettes” that complement New Testament Scripture passages. Includes a companion CD-ROM.
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Preaching Marks Gospel
$18.95Add to cartIn a classic case of failing to see the forest for the trees, Jensen, a homiletics professor and author of two works on narrative preaching, says that preachers tend to analyze biblical books to glean the slightest bits of exegetical data, yet miss the thrust of the overarching story they try to convey. Jensen contends that preachers get too caught up in an analytical, left-brained mentality that obscures the power and meaning of the good news story.
In these pages Jensen helps us approach Mark’s gospel with eyes wide open rather than with microscope in hand. He treats Mark’s gospel as a narrative whole and challenges preachers to tell the gospel’s story to their congregations. In doing so, Jensen emphasizes the strength of biblical stories. He says that these stories are powerful in and of themselves, that they work without much explanatory help. The problem is that listeners never hear the entire story, because it’s always told to them in bits and pieces.
Jensen’s adaptation of what Robert Alter (author of The Art of Biblical Narrative) calls narrative analogy assumes that “… parallel acts or situations are used to comment on each other in biblical narrative.” In other words, if Mark told story “B” to flesh out the reality of story “A,” then perhaps preachers today can do the same thing in their preaching. Students of Jensen have enthusiastically embraced this approach: “This is great, we never get to hear them (stories) whole!” How did it ever occur to us that we could improve on the story of the Prodigal Son, for example, by reducing it to ideas?
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Pastors At Greater Risk
$23.00Add to cartSome of today’s pastors are relatively untroubled but need help in releasing the pressure inherent in ministry to others. Others are close to running on empty, both spiritually and emotionally. All of them would like someone to confide in who can provide realistic help based on firsthand experience. This is precisely what Pastors at Greater Risk is all about! First published in 1993, this edition is completely rewritten, with updated stats, interviews with contemporary pastoral leaders, and a special emphasis on today’s hot-button issues, such as job turnover, pornography, spiritual burnout, congregational turnover, and more. The result: A book that is rich in wisdom and understanding and one that provides pastor-to-pastor help at a time when it is needed more than ever!
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Youth Workers Guide To Parent Ministry
$24.99Add to cartBoth a theoretical and practical framework for parent ministry by youth workers in a local or parachurch setting In order for youth workers to be truly effective in ministering to parents, it9s important to lay a careful relational groundwork to ensure that the “right to be heard” has been earned. This book presents a ministry model with 9 evolving levels, each one strengthening the credibility of the youth worker and opening doors to deeper and more meaningful parent support. Each of the 9 levels includes practical ideas and strategies for implementation. The book provides useful tools for youth workers in a variety of ministry settings dealing with a range of family structures.
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Preaching From The Soul
$22.99Add to cartCareful biblical interpretation; insights into contemporary life; polished delivery; humorous anecdotes; these are the building blocks of preaching that genuinely reach people. Right? Wrong, says Ellsworth Kalas. We have all encountered preachers who seem to know all the fine points of exegesis and inflection, yet whose sermons leave us surprisingly unmoved, aware that we were in the presence of good speaking, but not great preaching.
The difference, Kalas reminds us, lies in that hard-to-describe, yet essential quality known as soul. Soul is the collection of those perspectives and convictions that matter most to the preacher. Soul preaching means offering one’s particular ideas, attitudes, and convictions fully to the congregation. When one preaches with soul, one engages the biblical text with the core of one’s values and beliefs. Soul preaching is, in other words, simply giving the whole self to the task of proclamation. While the concept may sound simple, the reality is anything but.In the clear, insightful style for which he is known, Kalas takes readers on a path of discovery, introducing them to the unique gifts that they can bring to preaching, and the best way to engage those gifts in preparing and delivering the sermon.
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Tour Of The Nations
$16.99Add to cartTour 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
$14.99Add to cart12 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. -
Christs Own Forever Leaders Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$25.95Add to cartThe Leader’s Guide provides clergy and lay people with a flexible, succinct framework for meeting with parents, informally or in a group setting. Includes background on baptism and Christian initiation, as well as guidance on preparation for baptism in the Episcopal Church today. Guidance is provided for preparation and follow-up with parents who are parish members and those who are unchurched. (Living the Good News)
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Christs Own Forever Parent Godparent Journal
$10.95Add to cartThis interactive journal invites parents and godparents on a child’s spiritual journey as he or she takes this important first step.
If you are ordering a quantity of 30 or more, please call 1-800-824-1813 to receive your volume discount.
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Christly Gestures : Learning To Be Members Of The Body Of Christ
$29.99Add to cartThe 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.
