J. Ellsworth Kalas
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Grand Sweep : 365 Days From Genesis Through Revelation (Large Type)
$29.99Add to cartStudy the whole Bible in a year with J. Ellsworth Kalas. The Grand Sweep: 365 Days from Genesis through Revelation guides adults to read through the Bible in a year, reading three to four chapters daily. The Psalms and Proverbs are scattered throughout the reading as devotional elements. Because the plan moves through the Bible in biblical sequence, readers grasp the grand weep of the Scriptures–something missed in most Bible studies that take up only a certain book or section of the Bible. Also, daily readings are manageable; someone who is just beginning a serious devotional life need not feel threatened or inadequate. By the time readers finish their year of reading, they will have a grasp of the biblical story from beginning to end. And with it, because of the daily discipline, a stronger devotional life. Kalas also provides a faithful daily summary of each day’s reading, but with a devotional quality to encourage warmth of spirit as well as knowledge of mind. Congregations, study groups, and individuals can begin The Grand Sweep at any time during the year with this study. Allow at least 30 minutes daily when using this resource. Includes a reflection from son David Kalas and selected quotations from Kalas’s 35 books. The book includes: Questions or directions and daily devotional summary/commentary for Days 1-7 each week call for written response to the assigned Scripture and provide a devotional element. “Prayer Time” suggests a focus for daily and weekly praying and invites you to identify persons and concerns for prayer. “How the Drama Develops” summarizes the week’s Scripture and situates it in the ongoing biblical story. “Seeing Life Through Scripture” invites you to view life through the lens of Scripture in order to draw guidance and insights for living. Think of yourself in conversation with Scripture. “The Sum of It All” in a verse or verses, sums up the week’s Scripture. Over the course of fifty-two weeks, the verses become a synopsis of the biblical story.
The Grand Sweep is designed for personal use. The added component of a Leader Guide enables congregations and study groups to share the experience. It provides an overview of how to use the book as a study, along with specific content for weekly, monthly, or occasional group meetings.
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Grand Sweep Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$14.99Add to cartStudy the whole Bible in a year with J. Ellsworth Kalas. The Grand Sweep is designed for personal use. The added component of a Leader Guide enables congregations and study groups to share the experience. It provides an overview of how to use the book as a study, along with specific content for weekly, monthly, or occasional group meetings. The Grand Sweep guides readers through the Bible in a year by having them read three – four chapters daily. The Psalms and Proverbs are scattered throughout the readings as devotional elements. Because the reading plan moves through the Bible in biblical sequence, readers grasp the grand sweep of the Scriptures-something missed in most Bible studies. Daily readings are manageable allowing someone just beginning a serious devotional life to have the positive experience of developing a new spiritual discipline. Individuals can start reading at any time of the year. When the year of reading ends, they will have a grasp of the biblical story from beginning to end and a stronger devotional life. Kalas also provides a faithful daily summary of readings, but with a devotional quality to encourage warmth of spirit as well as knowledge of mind. Includes a reflection from son, David Kalas, and selected quotations from Kalas’s 35 books.
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When The Church Was Very Young (Student/Study Guide)
$17.99Add to cartOnce upon a time, roughly 20 centuries ago, there were some very special people on our planet. There weren’t many of them, and at first glance they didn’t seem very special. In truth, even at a second or third glance they weren’t overly impressive. But today the whole world knows what they did and recognizes the cross that was their symbol. Kalas takes readers into the world of the apostles and places contemporary challenges into context. This book contains a discussion guide.
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Parables Of Paul
$17.99Add to cartJesus taught with words; Paul taught with pictures.
For over 2,000 years, the church has looked to the apostle Paul and his letters in order to understand and follow the Christian life. Paul had his own compelling way of sharing Jesus’ message with others, through the use of the metaphor-a brief, imaginative word picture that shows the same truth as a longer story.
From casting himself in the role of a slave, to presenting the Christian as a soldier or an actor, or even showing how we are vessels in the King’s house, Paul’s gallery of enriching, life-changing story pictures paints for us an indelible picture of the Christian faith.
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Preaching In An Age Of Distraction
$18.99Add to cart1 Naming An Age
2 The Distracted Preacher
3 The Distracted Congregation
4 The Benefits Of Distraction
5 Excellence As A Counter Force
6 Creativity And Distraction
7 Packaging And Distraction
8 The Insistent Power Of Sermon Content
9 The Preacher’s Secret ResourcesAdditional Info
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. – Proverbs 4:25-26 Preaching is difficult enough under the best of circumstances. But what are we to do when it seems that all of us–hearers and preachers alike–are constantly distracted? Veteran preacher and homiletics professor J. Ellsworth Kalas offers wise insights for effective preaching in an age of distraction. He examines how people have been distracted in every era and explores how God yet can meet people precisely at the point of their distraction. Regardless of whatever new technologies come our way, this call to pastoral attentiveness, creativity and excellence provides avenues for connecting with congregations with a countercultural clarity of focus. Rediscover how the proclamation of the Word still speaks profoundly to distracted hearers. Invite your congregation to a renewed attention to the things of God. -
Heroes Rogues And The Rest
$16.99Add to cartInsights through inspiring portraits from the Old and New Testaments.The Bible is filled with heroes and rogues, from the first followers of Christ to the dissenters and critics set on uprooting the Christian faith. Some are well known. Others are not. But all have a place in the eternal story of the Bible. What can we learn about these characters? And what can we learn from them?
In 12 chapters, popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas offers a close examination of biblical characters from both the Old and New Testaments. From Adam and Eve to Elijah, from Martha and several Marys to Jesus Christ himself, each of these people have defining characteristics that together create the Biblical narrative. Their stories display strength, courage, and perseverance-characteristics that shaped the lives of the early believers and continue to influence Christians today. As readers reacquaint themselves with each character, they will rediscover the excitement and relevance of the Bible and find new ways to apply biblical teaching to specific circumstances in their lives.
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I Love Growing Older But Ill Never Grow Old
$16.99Add to cartGrowing older is a process. Growing old is a conclusion. If you’re growing older you see some hope because you have perspective and you keep learning. If you’ve grown old, you may cynically think that times have never been as bas as they are now, and that they can only get worse.
This book is about learning how to “make peace with where you are right now.” It’s about learning from the past and then moving past it. It’s about growing – personally, spiritually, and in our relationships with God and with others. If we think properly about growing older we’ll never have to grow old.
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13 Apostles : The Men Who Journeyed With Jesus
$16.99Add to cartIn this engaging book, Kalas reveals a portrait of each apostle as a servant in ministry, a human being, and a unique individual. He draws from Scripture as well as historical writings and traditions. A chapter is also devoted to Mathias, the successor to Judas Iscariot.
Each chapter features a key passage of Scripture. At the end of the book is a 16-page discussion guide.
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Strong Was Her Faith (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartChapters Include:
“Elizabeth: A Friend In Need”
“Anna: She Knew How To Wait”
“Martha, The Disciplined”
“Mary, The Extravagant”
“The Mighty Widow”
“The Anonymous Evangelist”
“Mary Magdalene: When Love Is Greater Than Faith”
“Mary, The Mother Of Mark”
“Dorcas: Worth A Miracle”
“Lydia, The Businesswoman
“Mary In Life And Legend”
“Why Mary?”This Book Also Includes A Study Guide.
Additional Info
In this follow-up to his book The Thirteen Apostles, popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas focuses on several women of great faith who were crucial, in ways both obvious and understated, to the story of the New Testament. Kalas looks into the life and times of eleven different women. With his signature style, Kalas examines the Scriptures to see what we can learn about these women and what we can learn from them, and how each woman fit into as well as shaped the New Testament story. -
Faith Of Her Own (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartChapters Include:
The Ultimate First Lady (Eve)
A Woman Who Married Trouble (Cain’s Wife)
The Compleat Woman (Sarah)
A Mother Who Played Favorites (Rebecca
They May Have Been Twins — But Not Identical (Leah & Rachel)
The Original Big Sister (Miriam)
God Saw Beyond Her Profession (Rahab)
Israel’s First Female Prime Minister (Deborah)
The Perfect In-Laws (Ruth & Naomi)
The Ladies Chorus (The Women Of Bethlehem: Ruth 4: 13-17)
Counslor To The Clergy (Huldah)
Married To A Husband’s Career (Wives Of Old Testament Prophets)A Discussion Guide Is Included.
Additional Info
In A Faith of Her Own: Women of the Old Testament, popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas focuses on women who were crucial-some in obvious and some in less obvious ways-to the story of the Old Testament. Kalas takes a look at several different women of the Old Testament. He examines the Scriptures to see what we can learn about them and from them, including their defining characteristics, how they fit into as well as shaped the Old Testament story, and how their stories of strength, courage, perseverance, and faith have shaped our lives as believers today. -
Genesis (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartWith the input of leading Bible scholars and teachers, Immersion features a format that focuses on readers, encouraging them to explore key events, people, teachings, and ideas throughout the Bible. Written in inviting and welcoming language, Immersion helps readers:
Discover the love of a Creator who sustains and nurtures us, saves us, and makes us new
Explore the knowledge of God who teaches believers how to live as God’s people through Jesus Christ
Enjoy the opportunity to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus
Each volume contains 6-8 sessions with leader helps. -
Will Of God In An Unwilling World
$19.00Add to cartKalas offers a challenging and hopeful reflection on a conundrum that every human being deals with at some time in life, usually when facing a horrible tragedy, the death of a loved one, or the simple grinding pain of everyday existence: Why does God allow such suffering to exist? Is our pain God’s will?
Pastors, students, and general readers will all benefit from the reflections of this seasoned pastor and theologian as he explores the concept of the will of God in a shattered and stubborn world.
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John (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartA fresh new look at the Bible, from beginning to end, and what it means in your life
We’ve asked some of the leading Bible scholars and teachers to help us with a new kind of Bible study. Immersion remains true to Scripture but always asks, “Where are you in your life? What do you stuggle with? What makes you rejoice?” and then helps you read the text to discover the Scriptures’ deep, abiding truths. Immersion is about God and God’s word, and it is also about you-not just your thoughts but your feelings and your faith.In each study you will preview the focus of the Bible reading, prayerfully read and reflect upon it, then identify ways you can put into practice what you have learned from the reading. This process of engagement with the biblical foundations of Christian faith is intended to help people deepen their faith and grow in love of God and neighbor.
Immersion makes use of, but is not limited to, an exciting new translation of Scripture, the Common English Bible (CEB). Immersion, like the CEB, will offer adults:
the emotional expectation to find the love of God
the rational expectation to find the knowledge of God
reliable, genuine, and credible power to transform lives
clarity of languageWhether you are using the Common English Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, the King James Version, or another translation, Immersion Bible Studies will offer a refreshing plunge into God’s word, your own life, and your life with God.
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Luke (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartA fresh new look at the Bible, from beginning to end, and what it means in your life
We’ve asked some of the leading Bible scholars and teachers to help us with a new kind of Bible study. Immersion remains true to Scripture but always asks, “Where are you in your life? What do you stuggle with? What makes you rejoice?” and then helps you read the text to discover the Scriptures’ deep, abiding truths. Immersion is about God and God’s word, and it is also about you-not just your thoughts but your feelings and your faith.In each study you will preview the focus of the Bible reading, prayerfully read and reflect upon it, then identify ways you can put into practice what you have learned from the reading. This process of engagement with the biblical foundations of Christian faith is intended to help people deepen their faith and grow in love of God and neighbor.
Immersion makes use of, but is not limited to, an exciting new translation of Scripture, the Common English Bible (CEB). Immersion, like the CEB, will offer adults:
the emotional expectation to find the love of God
the rational expectation to find the knowledge of God
reliable, genuine, and credible power to transform lives
clarity of languageWhether you are using the Common English Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, the King James Version, or another translation, Immersion Bible Studies will offer a refreshing plunge into God’s word, your own life, and your life with God.
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Matthew (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartA fresh new look at the Bible, from beginning to end, and what it means in your life
We’ve asked some of the leading Bible scholars and teachers to help us with a new kind of Bible study. Immersion remains true to Scripture but always asks, “Where are you in your life? What do you stuggle with? What makes you rejoice?” and then helps you read the text to discover the Scriptures’ deep, abiding truths. Immersion is about God and God’s word, and it is also about you-not just your thoughts but your feelings and your faith.In each study you will preview the focus of the Bible reading, prayerfully read and reflect upon it, then identify ways you can put into practice what you have learned from the reading. This process of engagement with the biblical foundations of Christian faith is intended to help people deepen their faith and grow in love of God and neighbor.
Immersion makes use of, but is not limited to, an exciting new translation of Scripture, the Common English Bible (CEB). Immersion, like the CEB, will offer adults:
the emotional expectation to find the love of God
the rational expectation to find the knowledge of God
reliable, genuine, and credible power to transform lives
clarity of languageWhether you are using the Common English Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, the King James Version, or another translation, Immersion Bible Studies will offer a refreshing plunge into God’s word, your own life, and your life with God.
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Mark (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartA fresh new look at the Bible, from beginning to end, and what it means in your life
We’ve asked some of the leading Bible scholars and teachers to help us with a new kind of Bible study. Immersion remains true to Scripture but always asks, “Where are you in your life? What do you stuggle with? What makes you rejoice?” and then helps you read the text to discover the Scriptures’ deep, abiding truths. Immersion is about God and God’s word, and it is also about you-not just your thoughts but your feelings and your faith.In each study you will preview the focus of the Bible reading, prayerfully read and reflect upon it, then identify ways you can put into practice what you have learned from the reading. This process of engagement with the biblical foundations of Christian faith is intended to help people deepen their faith and grow in love of God and neighbor.
Immersion makes use of, but is not limited to, an exciting new translation of Scripture, the Common English Bible (CEB). Immersion, like the CEB, will offer adults:
the emotional expectation to find the love of God
the rational expectation to find the knowledge of God
reliable, genuine, and credible power to transform lives
clarity of languageWhether you are using the Common English Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, the King James Version, or another translation, Immersion Bible Studies will offer a refreshing plunge into God’s word, your own life, and your life with God.
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All Creation Sings
$16.99Add to cartJ. Ellsworth Kalas, adapted from chapter 1:
There’s an old hymn you may be familiar with that contains these words: “This is my Father’s world, / And to my listening ears, / All nature sings, and round me rings / The music of the spheres. / This is my Father’s world, / He shines in all that’s fair; / In the rustling grass, I hear him pass, / He speaks to me everywhere” (Maltbie D. Babcock, “This Is My Father’s World”; 1901). It is true still today that “all nature sings,” but it is increasingly difficult to catch the melody. Almost anywhere we go, nature’s voice is now muted by the sound of traffic and assorted electronic devices. Those who go out to walk or jog are likely to wear a device that keeps them in touch with news or music or speech-so that, intentionally or not, they have shut out nature’s sound and dulled its influence.
Which brings me to the point of this book. I rejoice greatly in the “green” movement that has made new millions conscious of the wonder of our creation and the blessed necessity of caring for it passionately. This is a magnificent step in the right direction, and it puts quality content into what might otherwise be little more than sentimental feelings. But I want us to go farther than that. I want us not simply to see-and indeed, to be grateful for-the wonders of nature. I want us to go beyond nature’s exquisite beauty until we learn some of the lessons it would teach us, lessons about both life and God. When nature sings (as it does every moment) its melody draws us to God, if only we listen with our whole being.
This book will contain a discussion guide.
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Detective Stories From The Bible
$16.99Add to cartWhen we think of a detective story, we often think of murder mysteries. But the Bible contains some different kinds of detective stories. How is it, for instance, that some of the key personalities in the Bible story slip into the story almost unnoticed-like Judah, for example, an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ. How did the symbolism of blood in Communion get started? When Cain was warned that the ground would no longer yield for him because he had killed his brother-did that set a precedent for connecting moral behavior with environmental harshness? These themes and many others are investigated in this study, accompanied by a discussion guide.
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Easter From The Back Side
$12.99Add to cartUsing an approach similar to the one he took in Parables from the Back Side and other books in the popular Back Side series, author J. Ellsworth Kalas opens up new possibilities of insight into the biblical Easter story. The author looks beyond the traditional gospel scriptures to connect the story of Christ’s resurrection with other stories and scriptures throughout the Bible, including both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Kalas’s creative approach both clarifies basic teachings and introduces new possibilities of meaning, even for those who are most familiar with the Easter story. Enriched with contemporary illustrations and personal experiences, this volume will provide new perspectives on Easter.
Chapter titles and Scriptures include: “Why We Need Easter” (Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24); “Easter from an Ash Heap” (Job 19:13-27); “Easter for the Disillusioned” (Ecclesiastes 2:14-26); “Ezekiel Celebrates Easter” (Ezekiel 37:1-10); “Easter Is a Love Story” (John 20:1-18); “Late for Easter” (1 Corinthians 15:1-11); and “Forever Easter” (Revelation 21:1-4).
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Beatitudes From The Back Side (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cart11 Sessions
Additional Info
Using his method of approaching Bible passages from an unusual angle or a unique starting point, J. Ellsworth Kalas presents new insight into the beatitudes, Jesus’ blessings from the Sermon on the Mount.The book contains sessions and a study guide for personal use or for use in groups.
This book continues Kalas’ popular series of “Back Side” books.The beatitudes form the introduction to what is no doubt the best-known sermon ever preached. We call it the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7), and of course it was preached by Jesus.
When we start examining the beatitudes we realize that in Jesus’ view, happiness is not something we get by pursuing it; indeed, almost the contrary. We are told that we will be happy-or blessed, if you prefer-in what appears to be the near antithesis of happiness. If we choose to live by the beatitudes, we make a declaration of dependence. We put ourselves into bondage to such things as poverty of spirit, purity of heart, and a readiness for persecution. This isn’t the sort of product they advertise on prime-time television; indeed, I’m not sure that it appears overly often in our prime-time worship services. That is because this is not a spiritual quick fix. It doesn’t come in a five-easy-lessons capsule. Instead, it is largely contrary to the way we live and to the way we think.
Before we go any further, however, let me say that over the past twenty centuries a very great many people have found in these beatitudes a depth of peace and joy beyond anything our common culture promotes and seeks. But it isn’t easy, and it isn’t obvious. There’s nothing easy or soft about this kind of dependence. Rather, it is an attitude that demands a huge store of courage. It’s the kind of dependence the trapeze artist displays when he or she lets go of the bar and with no safety net awaiting, flies off into space, trusting.
Welcome to the beatitudes. And may you be eternally happy, beginning now.
-adapted from the introduction
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Hop Skip And A Jump Through The Bible (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartChapter Titles Include:
“The Eternal Plot” (Introduction)
“In The Beginning” (Genesis)
“From Slavery To Dignity” (Exodus To Deuteronomy)
“A Flag Is Born” (Joshua Through David’s Reign)
“The People Of The Book” (Solomon Through Nehemiah/Esther)
“Poets And Philosophers” (Job Through Song Of Solomon)
“Truth And Consequences” (Isaiah Through Malachi)
“The Plot Takes Its Big Turn” (Introduction To The New Testament)
“Good News From Prejudiced Reporters” (The Four Gospels)
“The Church Is Born” (The Acts Of The Apostles)
“The World’s Premier Letter Writer” (The Pauline Epistles)
“The Other Letter Writers” (The Other Epistles)
“The Curtain Falls, But The Drama Continues” (Revelation And Summary).Additional Info
In this book, popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas presents the grand story of the Bible in twelve chapters, plus an introduction. Writing in his engaging, narrative style, Kalas takes readers through the different books of the Bible and shows how there is an overarching plot that binds all of the varied writings of the Bible together. In writing this book, the author aims to highlight wonders of the Bible for readers both familiar and unfamiliar with them, and he also seeks to show how the Bible isn’t just a collection of stories of the past, but rather our own continuing story of God and God’s relationship with the human race. -
Men Worth Knowing
$20.00Add to cartAuthor J. Ellsworth Kalas believes there is much we can learn about our own walk with God from the people in the Bible. In this inspiring book he gives us meditations about sixteen men from Scripture, some of them well known, others not even named. Each of them, he tells us, can teach us something about ourselves and our relationship with God, “not only through their wisdom but sometimes through their errors and obvious humanness.”
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What I Learned When I Was 10
$19.99Add to cartIn this book, popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas reflects back on the tenth year of his life and talks about how that year shaped him and his Christian faith in so many important ways. (That was the year in which he first read the entire Bible cover to cover, for example, and the year in which he first felt a calling to Christian ministry.) Kalas shares many stories about what it was like growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great Depression, and he recounts many people and events that shaped and have continued to shape his life to this day.
Themes explored include the importance of connecting with one’s past, salvation, hearing God’s call, living life with urgency, self-worth, the importance of investing and giving wisely, discovering the richness of the Bible, having confidence in God’s promise, and the importance of looking back over your life to make sense of all the lessons you have learned.
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Longing To Pray
$17.99Add to cartThe Psalms are much more than ancient poetry. They represent, in a moving, kaleidoscopic way, a vast catalog of very real humans with an unquenchable need to relate to their Creator. In spite of experiencing a wide array of troubles, inconsistencies, and questions, these writers were indeed sants who left behind the greatest collection of prayers in the possession of our human race. Best-selling author J. Ellsworth Kalas invites readers to study with ancient experts in prayer – the people who wrote the Book of Psalms. Kalas contends that is was the quality of their friendship with God that fueled them to begin the prayerful conversations that today’s readers across the globe admire and hold dear. The psalmists do not, however, offer any secret precept or a hard set of rules for effective praying. Still, if their prayers are read carefully, their secret of “the Ultimate Friendship” can truly be discovered. Kalas helps readers start down the path of an incredible journey of stimulating, challenging conversation with God. Also includes a study guide by John D. Schroeder.
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More Parables From The Back Side (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartChapter Titles:
1. The Value Of The House–Matthew 7:24-27
2. The Man Who Talked With His Soul–Luke 12:13-21
3. What Chance Does An Average Sinner Have?–Luke 7:36-48
4. The Importance Of Downward Mobility–Luke 14:7-11
5. The Danger Of Being Good And Empty–Matthew 12:43-45
6. Risky Business–Matthew 13:45-46
7. Miracles Can Be Overrated–Luke 16:19-31
8. Second Chance For A Poor Manager–Luke 16:1-13
9. A Laugh And A Prayer–Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8
10. It Happens While We Sleep–Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
11. The Importance Of Being Dressed For The Party–Matthew 22:1-14
12. The Genius Of Effective Waiting–Luke 12:32-40Additional Info
This study is an addition to the author’s popular “Back Side” books .
J. Ellsworth Kalas presents new insight into twelve of Jesus’ parables by entering them through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new “lens,” or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. The book also will contain a study guide. -
Grace In A Tree Stump
$19.00Add to cartChristians often assume too sharp a distinction between the Old and New Testaments, argues preacher, author, and teacher J. Ellsworth Kalas. They are too quick to view the Old Testament as a strict book of laws and commandments and the New Testament as a witness to grace. The God of the Old Testament is misperceived as a God of wrath and judgment, while the God of the New Testament is viewed as a God of love and mercy. This book will help laypeople see that grace has always been part of the character of God and that the Old Testament demonstrates that fact in a variety of ways. The character of God has not changed, says Kalas. In exploring various Old Testament texts, he helps us understand this more clearly.
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Preaching The Calendar
$25.00Add to cartPastors face a perennial challenge of knowing how to treat special days in the calendar. For days marked in the church year, the challenge is how to speak a fresh word about a familiar theme or story. For days marked in the civil calendar, the challenge is to discern within secular celebrations appropriate connections with the Christian gospel. In Preaching the Calendar, masterful preacher Ellsworth Kalas discusses the importance of embracing holidays and special days as occasions when sermons can enlarge and deepen spiritual yearnings. His words of wisdom demonstrate how this type of preaching can be done well and serve as valuable sources of stories and sermon illustrations for pastors eager to help people find new and renewed relationships with God.
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Life From The Upside
$16.99Add to cartUsing an approach similar to the one he took in his popular Back Side books, author J. Ellsworth Kalas looks at some familiar Old and New Testament Bible stories through the lens of a time-tested faith and hope to open up new possibilities of insight and meaning. Each of the twelve chapters features a key passage of Scripture and is centered on a theme such as overcoming a bad start in life, dealing with rejection, capitalizing on adversity, not letting others define you, never giving up, finding the gain in your loss, and measuring your true self-worth.
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Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$38.95Add to cartFull of gripping illustrations that bring the scriptures to life, this anthology of sermons for the entire church year offers readers a treasure trove of spiritual guidance. Five distinguished preachers representing a variety of denominations and ministry settings contribute messages based on gospel texts for each Sunday and major celebration in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Their thoughtful meditations proclaim the Good News for today’s world and exemplify the transforming power of God’s Word in our lives. Unforgettable in their power and biblical witness, these sermons provide readers with strength, support, and a Christ-centered vision.
This is an essential resource that’s useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* A clearer understanding of scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday’s readings -
Christmas From The Back Side (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartBook Session Titles Include:
The Scandal Of Christmas
Three Votes For An Early Christmas
Christmas Comes To A Back Fence
How The Government Helped The First Christmas Happen
Celebrating Christmas In A Hotel
Christmas Comes To A Church
Christmas And The Impossible DreamAdditional Info
Ellsworth Kalas opens up new possibilities of insight into the biblical Christmas story of Jesus’ birth by entering the Gospel scriptures through the “back side” – through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new “lens,” or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character.
Kalas’s creative approach both clarifies basic teachings and introduces new possibilities of meaning, even for those who are most familiar with the Christmas story. Enriched with contemporary illustrations and personal experiences, this volume will provide new perspective on Christmas. -
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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New Testament Stories From The Back Side (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartUsing an approach simlar to his other “Back Side” books, J. Ellsworth Kalas opens up new possibilities of insight into selected New Testament stories by entering them through the “back side” – through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new “lens,” or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. Includes 12 stories and a study guide.
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10 Commandments From The Back Side (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartUsing an approach similar to the one he took in Parables from the Back Side and Old Testament Stories from the Back Side, J. Ellsworth Kalas opens new possibilities of insights into the familiar Ten Commandments. Restating them in the positive, Kalas explores how these “prohibitive” laws actually are our dear friends, intended to make life richer and more fulfilling. Kalas uses contemporary illustrations and personal experience to show how these timeless laws give us an appetite for divine excellence.
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Parables From The Back Side Volume 1 (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartKalas presents new insight into twelve of Jesus’ parables by entering them through the “back side” – through the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. By approaching the stories in this way, Kalas releases new meaning and clarifies basic teachings
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Parables Of Jesus
$11.99Add to cartWritten by noted biblical scholar J. Ellsworth Kalas, Parables of Jesus provides new insight to some of your most troubling or most beloved parables: The House on the Rock: Matthew 7:24-27, The Sower: Mark 4:1-20, The Father and His Two Sons: Luke 15:11-32, The Mustard Seed: Matthew 13:31-32, The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37, The Widow and the Unjust Judge: Luke 18:1-8, The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids: Matthew 25:1-13, The Pharisee and the Tax Collector: Luke 18:9-14, The Nobleman and the Pounds: Luke 19:11-26. Scripture references are based on the New Revised Standard Version. Each session is self-contained and includes study helps and questions for reflection that are all you need to lead a group or pursue the study on your own.
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Old Testament Stories From The Back Side (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartUsing an approach similar to his Parables from the Back Side, Kalas now opens up new possibilities of insight into selected Old Testament stories by entering them through the “back side” through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new “lens,” or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. Kalas’ creative approach both clarifies basic teachings and introduces new possibilities of meaning, even for those who are most familiar with the stories. Enriched with contemporary illustrations and personal experiences, this volume will provide new perspectives on Old Testament stories. Study Guide included.
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Reading The Signs Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartIf you are like many parish pastors, you find the Christmas season to be the most frustrating season of the church year — so much to do, so much to celebrate, so much to say — and so little time to prepare it all!
That is why J. Ellsworth Kalas has prepared these twelve thoughtful sermons — to help you present the meaningful and coherent messages you want your congregation to hear during this busiest of seasons.
Within are sermons for every Cycle C gospel text during the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons from the Common, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic lectionaries, including:
– The Signs of Summer
– The Hinge of History
– Songs of the Season
– Return to the New
– From Empty Nets to Full Lives
– Awake to GloryUse these complete sermons as presented — or as jumping-off points for your own meaningful messages.
