Pastoral Helps
Showing 1801–1900 of 2694 resultsSorted by latest
-
Hidden Lives Of Congregations
$42.85Faced with crisis, lack of direction, or just plain “stuckness,” many congregations and their leaders are content to deal only with surface issues and symptoms-only to discover that the same problems keep recurring, often in different, and more serious, ways. In The Hidden Lives of Congregations, Christian educator and consultant Israel Galindo takes leaders below the surface of congregational life to provide a comprehensive, holistic look at the corporate nature of church relationships and the invisible dynamics at play.
Informed by family systems theory and grounded in a wide-ranging ecclesiological understanding, Galindo unpacks clearly the factors of congregational lifespan, size, spirituality, and identity and shows how these work together to form the congregation’s hidden life. He provides useful tools for diagnosing and understanding how one’s congregation fits into the various categories he names and suggests what leadership skills are necessary to get beyond the impasse of surface issues and help the congregation achieve its mission.
The Hidden Lives of Congregations provides one of the most far-reaching looks into the invisible nature of faith communities written in recent years. For seminaries and divinity schools, it provides a standard text for getting a solid start in congregational practices; for experienced pastors, it provides support for renewing ministry; for lay leaders and committees, it offers insight to deepening mutual ministry. Israel Galindo has written an indispensable manual that leaders will return to repeatedly for new wisdom and guidance on the unseen mechanisms that drive congregational life.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Becoming Barnabas : The Ministry Of Encouragement
$40.00Western culture has made a cult of success, and the church has accepted the larger culture’s definition, focusing on success as growth in membership and budget, rather growth in faithfulness as disciples of Jesus. When we do not measure up, we become discouraged, disillusioned, and perhaps even envious.
Paul Moots offers a welcome antidote: a vision for the ministry of encouragement. Based on his study of the book of Acts, Moots has identified five incidents from the ministry of Barnabas, an easily overlooked character, that provide a starting point to explore encouragement and how it can work in a congregation. Moots then examines five components of this ministry: partnership, hospitality, courage, reconciliation, and authenticity.
Moots details numerous examples to show how the ministry of encouragement offers a workable, effective pattern for church leadership. “I am convinced,” he writes, “that accepting Barnabas as my model has changed my ministry for the better and that Barnabas’s example can benefit any pastor and congregation who take his lessons seriously.”
Barnabas and his ministry of encouragement offer us a focus for the vital, messy, and exhilarating work required of us as faith communities. Foreword by Robert Reber
“At last! Here is a leadership book that provides practical help for congregations of every size and setting and pastors with a variety of gifts. Drawing from his own experience as a pastor, Moots shares a model of faithful ministry that is within the reach of every pastor, layperson, and congregation.”-Rueben P. Job
“In an age when so many pastors and leaders are discouraged, no work of the Spirit is more needed or more welcome than encouragement. Moots’s book moves beyond diagnosis and actually shows readers how to ‘become Barnabas’ in ministries of partnership, hospitality, courage, and reconciliation.”-Donna Duensing
Paul Moots has served as pastor in a variety of settings in his 22 years of ministry: associate pastor, campus ministry, pastor of an urban congregation, and his current position in the village church of First United Methodist in Mount Sterling, Ohio.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
When Better Isnt Enough
$40.00Many sociologists and a growing number of church scholars have noted that we live in a time of transition-from the modern era to the postmodern. Whenever a shift of this magnitude occurs, it leaves all of life, including the church, in flux. We instinctively strive to stabilize the situation by re-establishing what has worked in the past. Increasingly, however, congregations are finding that the same old things done harder or better don’t seem to make a difference.
Author Jill Hudson argues, “We must identify new criteria for success, and perhaps even for faithfulness, and hold ourselves accountable to them.” Approaching the postmodern era as a tremendous opportunity, Hudson identifies 12 characteristics by which we can measure effective ministry for the early 21st century.
Based on those 12 criteria, Hudson has created evaluation tools, “an early measuring stick” to help congregations evaluate their work in this new era. Not everything of the past is ineffective and best discarded, she says, nor will everything we try in the future be successful. But by faithfully listening for God’s guidance and carefully evaluating progress using Hudson’s tools, looking at the ministry of the whole people of God as well as that of the professional staff, congregations can improve their ministry, help members and staff grow in effectiveness, deepen a sense of partnership, and add new richness to the dialogue about the congregation’s future.
Jill Hudson makes us face the hard reality that the world has changed, but the church hasn’t. This gap can create a problem when assessing the effectiveness of church leadership. Practical and easy to read and understand, this book will prove an effective new tool in assisting pastors to lead today.-Mike Regele
Our kicking and screaming aside, the postmodern church beckons, and Jill Hudson provides guidance and information to equip us for this enormous ministry challenge.-The Rev. Christine Shiber
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Shaped By Gods Heart
$24.95Preface: A Personal Letter To The Reader.
Acknowledgments.Introduction: Sending The Church Into The World.
PART ONE: The Church In A New And Changing World.
1. From Maintenance To Missional: The Church In A World Of Change.
2. Be Church And Be Changed: How Missional Churches Live Their Passion.
PART TWO: The Nine Essential Practices Of Missional Churches.
3. Missional Practice Number One: Have A High Threshold For Membership.
4. Missional Practice Number Two: Be Real, Not Real Religious.
5. Missional Practice Number Three: Teach To Obey Rather Than To Know.
6. Missional Practice Number Four: Rewrite Worship Every Week.
7. Missional Practice Number Five: Live Apostolically.
8. Missional Practice Number Six: Expect To Change The World.
9. Missional Practice Number Seven: Order Actions According To Purpose.
10. Missional Practice Number Eight: Measure Growth By Capacity To Release, Not Retain.
11. Missional Practice Number Nine: Place Kingdom Concerns First
PART THREE: Structures And Strategies For Becoming Missional.
12. They Run Rapids In Rubber Rafts: Church Structures That Can Survive The Rapids Of Cultural Change.
13. Seeing Beyond The Horizon: The Nature And Task Of Missional Leadership.
14. Moving To Missional: Becoming A New Kind Of Church.
Appendix: Missional Church Cultural Assessment.
Notes.
About Leadership Network.
The Author
Additional Info
Discover the tools to create a new kind of church and move from merely surviving to thriving. Drawing on an extensive two-year field study of 200 churches from a variety of denominations and geographic regions, Milfred Minatrea–a missiologist, urban strategist and practioner in minister–presents the best practices for re-energizing Christian spirituality in a congregational setting. He provides readers with the tools for assessing their congregation’s position on the continuum between maintenance and mission and for determining the actions that will move them toward becoming a missional community. He also outlines key strategies that successful churches have used to become relevant in a postmodern society without losing what is distinctly Christian in their spiritual practices.
Milfred Minatrea (Irving, TX) is Director of the Missional Church Center for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Prayer (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99This book will explore and define biblical and contemporary images of prayer. All the sessions exploring prayer will be based upon God’s relationship with humans as the ground of all prayer and the essential human need to reach toward God that leads to prayer. Readers will explore definitions of prayer, a variety of scriptures that show Jesus’ teachings and practices related to prayer, methods of prayer, aids to prayer, the varieties of individual and communal words, needs, and emotions that form the content of prayer, ways people interpret answered or unanswered prayer, and the unity between prayer and human action. The book will invite readers to reflect upon questions like: Why do we pray? What is God’s role in prayer? the human role? How is God’s grace involved in prayer? What is prayer? What did Jesus teach about prayer? How do we pray? What do we pray? What is an attitude of prayer? How does God answer prayer? What difference does prayer make in our lives? Have I been praying all along? What happens in the quiet times of my week? in the busy times?
Is prayer possible in both quiet and busy times? Why do I feel like I don’t have
time to pray? Do I need to make time for prayer? How? The book will affirm
persons and groups who struggle with an understanding of prayer or with
a style of prayer. It will provide opportunities for transforming encounters with
God.Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lifetime Of Blessing
$20.99In the same successful formula as ‘World of Blessing’, Geoffrey Duncan has compiled blessings from a great variety of resources to commemorate every conceivable stage of life from planning and praying for a child to bidding loved ones farewell. aaIn between there are a wide range of thanksgiving and blessing prayers for pregnancy, the birth of a baby, adoption and fostering, christening or naming ceremonies,godparents, growing up, starting school, birthdays, confirmation or church membership,friendship, love, work, leaving home, engagement, marriage, moving house, anniversaries, the big’O’s(!)and all important occasions in life-joyful or sad. aaA unique pastoral and personal resource that will be used over and over again.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Postmodern Childrens Ministry
$19.99This practical, thought-provoking book presents a new paradigm for children’s ministry in the emerging 21st century and explores how churches are currently putting that vision into practice. Advocating the need to regard children as full participants in their faith communities, the book provides strategies for building intergenerational community where children feel they belong and have the opportunity to serve.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Making Wise The Simple
$19.36Making Wise the Simple is written for parents, school teachers, Sunday school teachers, and anyone else who works with children, teens, and young adults. It offers biblical and practical procedures for capturing the hearts of those the Bible refers to as “the simple ones,” which is a term for those who have not yet made indelible marks on the blank pages of their lives. Making Wise the Simple explains the concepts of proper biblical chastening, helping the simple one to make wise choices, how to keep the simple one from becoming a scorner or a fool, how to develop good habits, and how to develop a heart for God in the simple one. It is biblical, logical, and intensely practical.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Pastoral Protocol : A Guide To Ministerial Ethics
$29.98Every profession and vocation has rules that govern its operation and dictates the behaviour and conduct of its professors, so also is the church world. The ministry has ethics of behaviour different from all other professions. In this book, the minister’s relation with his church, community, opposite sex and colleagues are all spelt out. Dealing with finances, the family and denomination amongst others have also been dealt with by Dr. Agyin-Asare. Pastoral Protocol emphasises the fact that people’s opinion about God and Christianity and your own church are shaped by the ethical standards the minister maintains. Ministers of the gospel, ministers in training, aspiring Church leaders, lay church workers and in fact every individual believer who sees himself herself as part of the “universal priesthood of the believer” would benefit by this book to prevent spiritual disaster and ministry suicide. Apostle Dr. Michael Ntumy M.Th President of the Ghanna Pentecostal Council, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost I thorougly enjoyed this book “Pastoral Protocol”. It is one of the best I have ever read on this subject. Every minister should read it. Bishop Paul E. Paino D.D., Th.D, D.Lt. Carol Road Christian Fellowship Fort Wayne, Indiana
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Keys To Becoming An Effective Associate Minister And Church Leader
$14.95Joshua Ministry Title
Hopewell shares the truths that he has discovered in his journey that will strengthen the relationship between the pastor and associate minister, and create an atmosphere that allows both to work together as a team, fulfilling God’s purpose.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Pastoral Protocol : A Guide To Ministerial Ethics
$19.36Every profession and vocation has rules that govern its operation and dictates the behaviour and conduct of its professors, so also is the church world. The ministry has ethics of behaviour different from all other professions. In this book, the minister’s relation with his church, community, opposite sex and colleagues are all spelt out. Dealing with finances, the family and denomination amongst others have also been dealt with by Dr. Agyin-Asare. Pastoral Protocol emphasises the fact that people’s opinion about God and Christianity and your own church are shaped by the ethical standards the minister maintains. Ministers of the gospel, ministers in training, aspiring Church leaders, lay church workers and in fact every individual believer who sees himself herself as part of the “universal priesthood of the believer” would benefit by this book to prevent spiritual disaster and ministry suicide. Apostle Dr. Michael Ntumy M.Th President of the Ghanna Pentecostal Council, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost I thorougly enjoyed this book “Pastoral Protocol”. It is one of the best I have ever read on this subject. Every minister should read it. Bishop Paul E. Paino D.D., Th.D, D.Lt. Carol Road Christian Fellowship Fort Wayne, Indiana
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Postmodern Life Cycle
$24.99“Friedrich Schweitzer is knowledgeable of both European and American cultural shifts into postmodernity. This well-written account of the impacts of media saturation, the relativization of religious authority, and the rapid global emergence of varieties of spiritual orientations and practices, is the first of its kind. Schweitzer’s knowledge of practices of faith and his mastery of the available research literature on posmodern conditions make this work indispensable for religious leaders, students of postmodernity, and a broad reading public. A great achievement!”
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
When Prisoners Return
$14.93“When Prisoners Return” identifies the need for individuals and churches to be involved as prisoners return to society; this book also equips individuals and churches with the information they need to effectively assist former prisoners.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Word Made Plain
$45.00Preaching mediates the word of God into a cultural matrix. And no American preaching has done so more effectively and powerfully than African American preaching, claims noted homiletician James Harris. Known for its rhetorical strength, social-justice orientation, and dead-on connection to the community’s lived experience, black preaching is here analyzed and proposed as a model for all preaching.
Harris grounds black preaching in the self-understanding of the historic black church and its most prominent preachers, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Samuel Proctor. Harris also explores the hermeneutical and aesthetic dimensions of preaching, especially at the intersection of sacred text and the broader culture. He then lays out the specific distinguishing characteristics of black preaching, including verbal cadence and rhythm, use of gestures, and, most thoroughly, the narrative model of the sermon. His last chapter, “Preaching Plainly,” provides specific instructions on how to put the sermon together employing this model.Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Grace And Truth
$21.23“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Those are the words with which J. Oscar Wells inevitably ended each of the radio broadcasts he made as part of his Grace and Truth Broadcasts. Passionately devoted to sharing the Gospel, Reverend Wells, evangelist and former missionary, founded Grace and Truth Broadcasts through which he daily preached God’s plan of salvation to countries around the world. Grace and Truth: Radio Sermons contains transcriptions of twenty-six different sermons. These sermons, primarily collected from the final year of this ministry, raise the question: How many sermons can one pastor preach using John 3:16-18 as a foundation? Reverend Wells would have answered such a question quickly and confidently-never enough, never enough.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Growth By Accident Death By Planning
$22.99A congregation that had been growing in numbers and spiritual vitality reaches a plateau, and then begins to decline. What has happened? Whitesel explains where churches go wrong planning for growth and how they can correct themselves by looking at three related phenomena: the factors that cause initial growth; the erroneous decisions that lead to getting stuck on the plateau; and corrective steps they can take to regain growth and vitality.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Spiritual Direction And The Care Of Souls
$31.99Gary W. Moon and David G. Benner, along with a team of expert contributors, provide a comprehensive survey of spiritual direction in its myriad Christian forms. Specific chapters offer careful historical perspective and contemporary analysis of how Christians from various backgrounds have practiced spiritual direction, with particular attention to each tradition’s definition of spiritual direction, the process of authentic transformation, the role of the spiritual direction, indicators of mature spirituality and other aspects of the spiritual direction process. Chapters also provide psychological and clinical insight into how spiritual direction is similar to, different from and can be integrated with psychotherapy and pastoral counseling. Spiritual direction holds the potential to revolutionize how soul care is practiced in our troubled society. This volume is an extraordinary resource for understanding and helping others experience spiritual transformation and union with God.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Introduccion Al Aseoramiento P – (Spanish)
$22.99La perdida de valores morales que llevan a considerar todo desde una perspectiva groseramente relativista; la situacion social y economica tan critica que lleva a tratar de protegernos de cualquier manera posible; el materialismo contemporaneo que nos hace creer que teniendo mas cosas seremos mas felices; y otros muchos aspectos similares, han provocado una crisis que se refleja y tiene sus efectos en la pareja y familia contemporanea. La sociedad ha contagiado su enfermedad a la familia.
Asi pues, esta unidad basica sufre los devastadores efectos del tiempo y sociedad en que nos ha tocado vivir. Hay algo que se pueda hacer? Hay remedio que alivie esa enfermedad?
El Dr. Maldonado nos muestra que para que la familia pueda procesar cualquier situacion critica que esten viviendo y salir avante por el camino de la recuperacion y el crecimiento, la mayor parte del tiempo requiere de orientacion, consejo, o asesoria. Asi pues, y desde la perspectiva cristiana, en este libro el Dr. Maldonado presenta los elementos basicos de la asesoria, los criterios que serviran para identificar a una familia sana e ir hacia ella, y las metas que se deben perseguir al asesorar y que serviran al asesor o consejero para promover el sano crecimiento tanto de la pareja como de la familia. Porque, a final de cuentas, la familia no es solamente el lugar donde encontramos refugio y alimento. La familia, por sobre todo, es el lugar donde nos formamos como y donde somos verdaderamente humanos y cristianos.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Glory Of The Atonement
$56.99The Glory of the Atonement offers a wide selection of essays by notable scholars in the Reformed tradition presented in honor of Roger Nicole. Divided into three sections-biblical, historical and practical-the essays include Scriptural exegesis of important atonement passages, studies in historical theology examining particular Christian thinkers and eras, and probing inquiries into the practical implications of the doctrine in the Christian life and in contemporary preaching. This insightful and wide-ranging volume includes contributions from Henri Blocher, D.A. Carson, Timothy George, Bruce McCormack, J.I. Packer, Kevin Vanhoozer, and Bruce Waltke, all of whom, examine the atonement from their respective fields of expertise. Although the doctrine of the atonement has fallen under strong criticism in recent times, this volume offers constructive proposals and exegetical foundations for understanding some of its major facets, applying those insights to Christian living, and recapturing the awe of this wondrous doctrine.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Raising The Bar
$20.99Two-thirds of today’s teens are interested in having a meaningful relationship with God, yet less than one-third of them are active in a local church. Alvin Reid – an experienced pastor and youth ministry speaker – suggests that these statistics indicate that it is time to change how the church does youth ministry.
Today’s generation of teens is marked by teamwork, authenticity, and a “can – do” attitude. They have incredible potential and a desire to be taught how to be Christian adults. This compelling book provides an impassioned plea for the church to set their standards higher, to reinvent the fundamental ways we minister to teens and their families.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Bivocational Pastor : Two Jobs One Ministry
$15.99Succeed in bi-vocational ministry. Bi-vocational ministers face unique challenges. Often times, you are called to lead smaller churches with few resources, many of which have plateaued or are in decline is looked at by some as a “second-class” ministry performed by people who do not have the opportunity to serve a larger church. Along with your family and church responsibilities, your second job also requires a large amount of time each week.
But you have a special calling, as both of your jobs can provide opportunities for ministry. In his new book, Dennis Bickers provides solid advice to help you succeed in bi-vocational ministry. You’ll learn how to:
*Manage time wisely
*Define success on your own terms
*Develop a vision for your church
*Maintain a passion for the ministry
*And much more!Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
3 Months With Revelation (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Available in English for the first time, Three Months with Revelation is popular author Justo Gonzalez’ study of Revelation. Eminently readable, the study uses the see-judge-act method to bring readers closer to the text and informs and challenges the daily life of the Christian. These thirteen studies can be used for Sunday school, for evening Bible study, for home study meetings, for faith communities, for retreats, and for personal Bible study. In addition, Three Months with Revelation can easily be used as a daily Bible study, as each lesson is divided into seven parts. This is the third Gonzalez title to be translated from the Spanish
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Family (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99What, exactly, is a family? Is it a married couple with 2.3 children, a dog, and a minivan? Couples without children? Single adults? Friends> Church groups? Colleagues? The notion of “family” encompasses these forms and more. In this study, family is shaped and nurtured by our relationship with God, a relationship that encourages mutual growth in love of God, self, and neighbor through our interactions with those whom we identify as “family.” This resource helps users explore their questions about family with insights, images, and stories from Scripture. Each session delves into specific issues about family and contains suggestions about how an individual or group can use the session ot look at family form a Christian perspective.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
On Being A Priest Today
$24.21This important book on priestly identity embraces the many contemporary and denominational varieties of priestly ministry; male and female, paid and unpaid, parish and work-based, catholic, evangelical, charismatic. Examining the “root,” the “shape,” and the “fruit” of priestly identity, On Being a Priest Today is essential reading for priests, priests in training, and everyone considering the ministry. Part One “roots” a priest’s human and church life in the theological convictions derived from the Christian understanding of God as being for and with others. Part Two explores the “shape” of priestly life in relation to worship, word, and prayer, each supported by the three key virtues of love, faith, and hope. Part Three examines the “fruit” of priestly life by focusing on three fundamental features of priestly identity: holiness, reconciliation, and blessing.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Do I Know What The Bible Says
$21.99Your youth group is like no other-so a cookie-cutter curriculum just won’t do. With a single book you have the basics for 15 complete sessions-and you can put it all together in a way that works for you. Each topic has been developed by ministry experts to be teen-relevant and spiritually enriching. Each five-session book also includes a 14-point plan for customizing your program, a selection of ice breakers, thought provokers, reproducible handouts, and an encouraging how-to article from well-known youth ministry experts!
Do I Know What the Bible Says?
In the Beginning…What?–The Bible Talks about Creation (Fresh approach to the topic of creation. Kids will explore issues like beginning of creativity, significance of divine rest, introduction of God’s plan for humankind.)
O.T Speedway–A Zip Through the Old Testament (Takes kids on a whirlwind tour of O.T. Along with creation, covenants, and colorful characters, they’ll see the big picture–that God takes an interest in them and wants to help them make some history of their own.)
N.T. Speedway–A Zip through the New Testament (Fast-track tour of the N.T. Explore the miracles and parables of Jesus, exciting adventures of early believers. Kids will discover the truths of Christianity are as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago.)
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Ministry Of Childrens Education
$36.66This highly anticipated resource establishes the importance of children’s education to the life of today’s faith communities. A very readable textbook, The Ministry of Children’s Education presents foundations for education in the faith, explores contexts in which contemporary faith is nurtured, and suggests practical helps for creating programs that work in congregations.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Educating For Shalom
$30.99In addition to his notable work as a premier Christian philosopher, Nicholas Wolterstorff has become a leading voice on faith-based higher education. This volume gathers the best of Wolterstorff’s essays from the past twenty-five years dealing collectively with the purpose of Christian higher education and the nature of academic learning.
Integrated throughout by the biblical idea of shalom, these nineteen essays present a robust framework for thinking about education that combines a Reformed confessional perspective with a radical social conscience and an increasingly progressivist pedagogy. Wolterstorff develops his ideas in relation to an astonishing variety of thinkers ranging from Calvin, Kuyper, and Jellema to Augustine, Aquinas, and Kant to Weber, Habermas, and MacIntyre. In the process, he critiques various models of education, classic foundationalism, modernization theory, liberal arts, and academic freedom.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Juegos Para Refrescar Tu Minis (Teacher’s Guide) – (Spanish) (Teacher’s Guide)
$13.99A library of ideas Do you want games that are dynamic, that make you run or exercise until you fall exhausted? Here’s a place to find them. Do you need quiet games for a small or passive group? You will find those here as well. In Games To Refresh, you will find more than 400 recreational activities, both indoor as well as outdoor, that adolescents will love. Ball games: Twice the fun for a meeting of the church leadership, with only half the heat. Basketball and volleyball games: Everything about throws and baskets. They go crazy over these extravagant transformations of the sports. Indoor games for large groups: Reserve the church gymnasium or another large room for an evening to develop camaraderie. Parlor games: Great for parties or informal reunions. And much more!
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Help Im Leading A Childrens Sermon 2
$16.761. Common Lectionary Year A
2. Common Lectionary Year B
3. Common Lectionary Year C
ApendixAdditional Info
Children are an important part of the worshiping community and need to have opportunities that create for them a sense of belonging. Children’s sermons provide this opportunity and should be events of proclamation. Help! I’m Leading a Children’s Sermon, Volume 2 continues a collection of children’s sermons designed to involve children creatively in worship and in the proclamation of the Word.Like the first volume, this collection contains two sermons for each Sunday with an emphasis on Scripture, including key verses to be read within the sermon. The sermons invite children to participate in corporate worship in a meaningful, creative way by asking questions and using hands-on activities to explain themes such as grace, discipleship, repentance and miracles. Help! I’m Leading a Children’s Sermon, Volume 2 is an essential book for any worship leader
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Ordination : Celebrating The Gift Of Ministry
$34.99For graduating seminary students, Stephen Sprinkle has written a practical theological guide for preparing for ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Church of Christ, American Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and other closely related denominations. He provides a theology of what ordination is and what it means to the person being ordained, to the life of the church at large, and to the congregation gathered for the celebration. Sprinkle includes “hands-on” practical guidance on how to plan the service, plus samples of ordination services from each of the four traditions.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching Hebrews
$26.58The Rochester College Sermon Seminar and the series of books it has inspired have been built on the conviction that Christian preaching today needs revision. Such reforming begins with a close and faithful reading of Scripture, an engagement so serious that the world of Scripture ultimately sets agendas and invents expectations for meaningful life…In this present volume, too, we wish to grant the book of Hebrews the opportunity to pull all of us into the world it envisions, allowing it the power to judge, convict, and form us into a community God desires. This is not an easy task for several reasons, most notably the fact that the world of Hebrews is quite alien from our own…Like previous volumes in the Rochester Lectures on Preaching, the current work is divided into two parts. The first is a collection of four related essays meant to orient the reader to the world clearly conceived in Hebrews. The second half appropriates this orientation with sermons for particular Christian congregations.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Practicing Passion : Youth And The Quest For A Passionate Church
$30.99Focusing on the theological resonance between the Passion of Christ and adolescents’ experience of passion, the author develops a framework for youth ministry that draws on the historic practices of the Christian community as a “curriculum of passion”.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching As Prophetic Calling
$21.95Preaching as Prophetic Calling is the twelfth in a series of books devoted to presenting examples of preaching excellence from parishes throughout the Episcopal Church. This volume addresses the difficult and essential area of preaching a prophetic word. What does a prophetic sermon look like without being shrill, and without being filled with “musts,” “oughts,” and “shoulds”? This collection of sermons includes examples of prophetic preaching that are visionary and that speak in ways that offer radical comfort as well as radical challenge.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Short Term Spiritual Guidance
$31.65A significant departure from other treatments, this unique resource combines deep appreciation for the great classic discipline of spiritual guidance with a very practical focus on meeting the specific needs of the person seeking direction. Through case studies, sample dialogues, and practical tips for the spiritual director, Bidwell’s lucid work shows what directors can learn from the short-term therapy model, enabling people briefly but effectively to listen for God’s presence and to formulate authentic responses. He also shows how such techniques can be helpfully applied not only to individual direction but to group settings, vocational discernment, and family counseling.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Christian Counsel Manual
$29.98It has been estimated by many that 80 percent of believers have little or no knowledge of what is in their Bibles. Could this be because we “don’t see the trees because of the forest”? Can it be that we lose the beauty of each Scripture verse (tree) because of the totality of the Bible (forest)? This Manual strives to bring out the beauty of each “tree” (God’s Word) so it becomes alive in the spirit of answer-seeking believers. It is hoped that this work has served God’s purpose. Since many believers do not know many of the 7,500 promises that God has provided for us in His Word, how can they stand fast in faith on them? This Manual seeks to open up more scriptural answers to believers who are seeking peace, contentment, and victory in their walk with the Lord. Luke 17:5: “Increase our faith.”
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Worship Resources For Special Sundays
$16.18Here’s a practical collection of thoughtful material to help you celebrate several special occasions during the fall and winter months: Rally Day, Reformation Sunday, All Saints’ Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Youth Sunday. Included are:
* The Saga Of Bobby Wildgoose, a service and sermon specifically tailored for the fall kick-off of Sunday school and commissioning of new Sunday school teachers. The message relates the inspirational story of the beginnings of the Sunday school movement, illustrating the difference that one person can make in the lives of young people.
* Facing The 21st Century With A 16th Century Faith, a message and service for Reformation Sunday that examines what motivated Martin Luther in his disagreements with the established church and suggests that Luther’s ideas about the authority of the Bible, the priesthood of all believers, and justification by faith alone remain the durable bedrock of our Christian faith today.
* Running With The Cloud, a stirring All Saints’ Day sermon and service reminding us that we who are living are only a small segment of the church universal, and noting that we can draw great strength from the lives of the “saints” who have gone before us.
* A Solid Place To Stand, a Thanksgiving message and service that explores how the Bible’s promise of God’s presence with us gives us a firm foundation to base our lives on.
* The Measure Of A Man, A Heart Prepared, Night Watch, and Tidings, a set of four first-person monologue sermons for Advent that tell the old, old story with a twist. We see the birth of the Christ child unfold through the eyes of Joseph, the innkeeper’s wife, a shepherd, and an angel. Key Advent themes such as watching, preparation, and righteous action are raised as each character struggles to make sense of extraordinary events.
* A Youth Sunday worship service with a charming children’s story honoring the presence and participation of the church’s young people. The service celebrates their fresh vision and courage in risking, praying, and creating the future.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Heroes Of The Faith Speak
$16.18Learn the fascinating stories of seven historical and biblical personages in this wide-ranging collection of first-person monologue sermons from the pen of popular CSS author Stephen Crotts. Perfect for presentation from the pulpit, these delightfully creative pieces are excellent for varying routine preaching fare or covering pastoral vacations. And the concise biographical portraits also make informative programming for men’s, women’s, or youth groups, as well as inspiring devotional reading.
Characters profiled include:
* William Bradford
* Christopher Columbus
* Martin Luther
* Saint Patrick
* Saint Nicholas
* Paul
* The Tenth Leper (from the parable in Luke 17:11-19)Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Sermons On The Second Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$52.43Wherever you are in your walk with Christ, this anthology offers practical, scripture-based wisdom as well as delightfully serendipitous surprises on every page. Three outstanding preachers from diverse denominations provide a complete set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the Second Reading from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Weaving together illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart with fresh insight into New Testament epistle texts, these creative messages invite you to experience God’s presence anew. Each biblically grounded sermon draws on a deep understanding of the human condition, reaffirming the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ and challenging you to a more intense faith relationship with the Almighty.
This is an essential resource that’s useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* A clearer understanding of scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday’s readingsAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$48.68Full 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 readingsAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Sermons On The First Readings Series 1 Cycle C
$53.68Filled with wit, insight, and inspiration, this anthology includes sermons for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the First Readings from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Three outstanding preachers from diverse denominational backgrounds interpret texts from the Old Testament and Acts in fresh ways that proclaim the Good News for the 21st century. Their powerful messages remind us that the Hebrew scriptures are much more than just ancient history and explore what they mean for us today. Proclaiming timeless themes of justice and righteousness, as well as God’s faithful covenant and enduring forgiveness, these imaginative homilies call us to lead better, more God-centered lives.
This is an essential resource that’s useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Preaching illustrations
* A clearer understanding of scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday’s textsAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Ordinary Words Extraordinary Deeds Cycle C
$16.18The stories of Jesus’ miracles can be challenging to modern sensibilities, conditioned as we are to believe that there must be a logical explanation for water being turned into wine or nets suddenly overflowing with fish. But John Wurster suggests that for contemporary preachers and their listeners, the most important question raised by these remarkable accounts is not “How did they happen?” but rather “What do they mean?”
Ordinary Words, Extraordinary Deeds helps answer that question by exploring the theological significance of the nine miracle stories appearing in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Each chapter includes the biblical text along with interpretive reflections that set the passage in its literary context and connect it to major themes of the gospel writer. There’s also a section investigating a variety of preaching possibilities and offering brief thoughts about what these texts tell us about the sacraments, since (like the miracles) the sacraments make grace evident in ways we can touch and feel.
Specifically geared for the busy pastor with limited time, this is an excellent volume packed with valuable idea starters and rich material for sermon development. But it’s also stimulating reading for anyone who wants greater insight into these marvelous stories of God’s power at work.
Chapter titles include:
* The Star (Matthew 2:1-12)
* Wedding At Cana (John 2:1-11)
* Jesus Transfigured (Luke 9:28-36)
* The Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
… and five more!Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching The Parables Series 3 Cycle C
$28.68Jesus used his parables to teach ordinary persons with mundane concerns about the kingdom of God; and because these simple stories contain universal truth that transcends time and culture, they still strike a powerful chord with us nearly two millennia later. Preaching The Parables provides a gold mine of background material on each of the eighteen parables appearing in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Dallas Brauninger brings a fresh, imaginative approach to these familiar texts, probing them to reveal what they tell us about God and inviting further reflection on what they mean for us today.
Preaching The Parables is more than just a sermon preparation resource; it’s also stimulating reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how God speaks to us through the parables. Modeled on the format of Brauninger’s popular Preaching The Miracles series, each chapter in Preaching The Parables includes five sections:
* Text — the entire parable text is reproduced, eliminating the need to flip back and forth to a Bible
* What’s Happening? — a synopsis of points of action within the story, defining its movement, conflict, and change or resolution
* Spadework — significant terms are examined through a survey of Hebrew and New Testament writings
* Parallel Scripture — similarities and differences with parallel stories in the other Gospels are highlighted; where the story is unique, parallel words and concepts are examined
* Chat Room — readers are creatively engaged in a variety of imaginary online exchanges, ranging from interviews with parable characters to browsing ideas to self-driven conversations.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit Series 4 Cycle C
$19.93If you’re looking for imaginative reflections that take you right to the heart of the scriptures, the newest edition of CSS’ popular Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit series is the perfect resource for you. Timothy Merrill offers 65 thought-provoking contemplations on Cycle C lectionary passages that draw out the biblical theme by relating it to aspects of modern life we have all experienced. This book is not only great for preaching illustrations and “sermon starters” — it’s also a wonderful source for inspiring devotional reading.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching And Reading The Old Testament Lessons Cycle C
$26.18Prominent author and biblical scholar Elizabeth Achtemeier provides an outstanding preaching and study resource with this collection of brief expositions on all of the First Lesson texts contained in Cycle C of the Revised Common and Lutheran Lectionaries. Infused with her customary insight into the Hebrew scriptures, this compendium of Achtemeier’s stimulating contributions to the preaching journal Emphasis furnishes a plethora of fruitful starting points for preparing sermons solidly rooted in the Bible yet connected to modern life. But as the book’s title suggests, this volume isn’t just for preachers and homiletics students — it’s also a powerful commentary for study groups and personal devotional reading. Achtemeier’s unrelenting focus on the promises of God appearing in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament, combined with her outstanding scholarship, make these faith-filled essays an enriching resource for anyone who wants a clearer understanding of God’s Word contained in the scriptures.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Pray Like This
$11.18Prayer is a powerful force — in Tennyson’s oft-quoted phrase, “more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” But the Lord’s Prayer is so familiar that we often take it for granted, reciting it by rote and missing its deeper meaning. Pray Like This… is an informative volume that helps you rediscover the simplicity and strength of the prayer that Jesus taught us. Alex Gondola carefully analyzes each of the prayer’s ten petitions, and explores how it is Christ’s template for communicating with God. Suitable for personal devotions, adult study groups, sermon preparation, or gift-giving, Pray Like This… is a versatile resource that will unclog your spiritual arteries and open new pathways in your own prayer life.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Seasons Of Faith
$19.99Building on the success of Symbols of Faith, Marcia Stoner has written a follow-up volume, Seasons of Faith. Based on the seasons of the Christian Year, the activities in this new volume may be used for short-term studies for older children, preteens, youth, and even adults. This book includes photocopiable patterns and charts that will enhance ease of use, an Advent worship booklet for church and/or home use, a Lenten study, All Saints’ Eve activities, and multicultural activities for Christmas, Pentecost, and World Communion Sunday. The author includes a brief history of each season.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Places You Go
$23.99To be effective, pastors must minister in a variety of settings, each of which brings its own unique challenges. Each setting–hospital room, jail, nursing home, pastor’s study–has its own dilemmas and resources. Here Urias Beverly offers concrete steps to minister artfully in a variety of contexts encountered Monday through Saturday.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Voicing The Vision
$26.95For more than a decade popular homiletics professor Linda Clader has been helping her students become attentive to how the Holy Spirit is speaking to them, and eventually through them to the congregation. In Voicing the Vision she shares her ideas about what preachers can do to be open and receptive to the Spirit once the exegesis is done.
Clader’s approach to inspired and prophetic preaching is a holistic one, filled with suggestions about how the preacher’s spiritual life and practice affect openness to the Spirit, as well as how various creative exercises can create spaces in which the Spirit can flourish. Her careful analysis of the biblical texts that illuminate how the Spirit works in those texts is supplemented by practical suggestions for noticing how the Spirit also works in the everyday life of preacher and congregation.
This book will be a welcome companion for the seminarian who is just learning to preach, as well as the seasoned preacher who is looking for new inspiration
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching And Reading The Old Testament Lessons Cycle A
$29.93Prominent author and biblical scholar Elizabeth Achtemeier provides an outstanding preaching and study resource with this collection of brief expositions on all of the First Lesson texts contained in Cycle A of the Revised Common and Lutheran Lectionaries. Infused with her customary insight into the Hebrew scriptures, this compendium of Achtemeier’s stimulating contributions to the preaching journal Emphasis furnishes a plethora of fruitful starting points for preparing sermons solidly rooted in the Bible yet connected to modern life. But as the book’s title suggests, this volume isn’t just for preachers and homiletics students — it’s also a powerful commentary for study groups and personal devotional reading. Achtemeier’s unrelenting focus on the promises of God appearing in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament, combined with her outstanding scholarship, make these faith-filled essays an enriching resource for anyone who wants a clearer understanding of God’s Word contained in the scriptures.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching The Parables Series 3 Cycle A
$24.93Jesus used his parables to teach ordinary persons with ordinary quandaries; yet because these simple stories contain universal truths that transcend time and culture, they still provide us with powerful lessons. Preaching The Parables provides a gold mine of background material on each of the fourteen parables appearing in Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Dallas Brauninger brings a fresh, imaginative approach to these familiar texts, probing them to reveal what they tell us about God and inviting further reflection on what they mean for modern living.
Much more than just a sermon preparation resource, Preaching The Parables explores questions like:
* What dimension of the soul that needs tending does the parable address?
* What is the parable’s surprise?
* What moves us into hope?
* How does its point become obvious?
* How do its characters relate to us today?Brauninger identifies points of action, examines significant terms, and engages in imaginary exchanges with a variety of characters. The complete text of each parable is also included, along with an analysis highlighting similarities and differences in parallel passages. Modeled on the format of Brauninger’s popular Preaching The Miracles series, each chapter includes five sections:
* Text
* What’s Happening?
* Spadework
* Parallel Scripture
* Chat RoomAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Big Book On Small Groups (Revised)
$26.99Small groups can make a BIG difference by encouraging individual growth, strengthening the church, and involving the community! In this revised bestseller, Arnold explores the basics of “Body Life” and explains how to start a group, develop relationships, train leaders, launch outreach programs, and more. Includes a “small-group starter kit” and training resources.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series 3 Cycle C
$47.43Practical preaching strategies to help the over-burdened parish pastor communicate God’s Word in vital, meaningful ways.
This is the third volume in CSS’s third series of popular preaching workbooks — Designed to help you get the most out of every moment you spend in sermon preparation.
Special Features Include:
Commentary on Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Common Lectionary texts
Sermon Starters for First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel texts for every Sunday in Cycle C
“Theological Clues” to help you explore the relationships among all the texts for each Sunday
Wide Margins and Stay-flat binding for ease of use
Overviews of preaching challenges and possibilities for each liturgical season
Extensive Bibliography of exegetical and homiletic resources for Cycle C preaching
And All-new Insights from one of CSS’s most well-respected and successful authorsThis workbook is an exercise in liturgical, as well as lectionary preaching. It springs from the rationale that most lectionary helps ignore the liturgical setting of the lessons assigned to the various Sundays. It is this author’s contention that the exegetical/homiletical process begins with the church year. The year, cycles, seasons, Sundays, and festivals establish the themes and provide theological clues for worship and, particularly, preaching, especially in the first half of the church year. This approach is the outgrowth of the author’s doctoral dissertation and four of his books, The Renewal Of Liturgical Preaching, The Song And The Story, and Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Cycle A and Cycle B. Each deals with preaching from the lectionary texts in the context of the worship, work, and lives of the people of God.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Get Ready Get Set Grow (Revised)
$22.43Estimates are that as many as three-quarters of mainline Christian congregations are located in small towns or rural areas — and many of these areas are diminishing in population. So is it inevitable that small town and rural churches will decline in membership and close in the next few decades?
“Not necessarily!” says Gary Exman. During his years as the pastor of a small-town parish, his congregation reversed the trend and grew dramatically. By applying the principles of the “church growth” movement, Exman’s church revitalized a dying Sunday school, increased average worship attendance by 50 percent, and quadrupled church offerings.
Get Ready… Get Set… GROW! is a practical handbook that shows how you can achieve results like that in your congregation as well. Exman identifies the unique problems facing small town and rural churches, and in this book he offers proven strategies for conquering the cancer of declining membership and building stronger congregations.
There is untapped potential in the small towns and open country of our land — and Get Ready… Get Set… GROW! can help you discover it.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Training Ministry Teams
$19.99Provides practical instruction to help pastors and congregational leaders bring clarity and purpose to the role of elders or deacons, and to help deacons or elders learn and refine their ministry. Each of the nine sessions in Training Ministry Teams reflects on Jesus’ method of training leaders and works toward a specific outcome. Topics include: working as a ministry team, decision-making, mediating conflict, visitation, partnering with the pastor, and more. Sessions conclude with group assignments designed to move participants from theory to action. Also included are resources to help in calling, commissioning, and nurturing elders and deacons.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Holidays Are Holy Days
$26.18Almost every month in the year has a secular holiday — and on those “special” Sundays, preachers need to balance honoring the occasion with maintaining their focus on the proclamation of God’s Word. It can be a challenging task, but it also presents a great opportunity to uncover the religious significance of our civic celebrations. In this extensive volume of inspiring messages, Alex Gondola draws on the rich variety of American culture and scriptural insight to remind us that holidays truly are holy days. Great for personal reading, adult study groups, or fresh sermon ideas, Holidays Are Holy Days is a versatile resource that you’ll draw on throughout the year.
Sermons are included for:
* New Year’s Day
* Martin Luther King Day
* Super Bowl Sunday
* Valentine’s Day
* Presidents’ Day
* St. Patrick’s Day
* April Fool’s Day
* Earth Day
* Mother’s Day
* Memorial Day
* Father’s Day
* Independence Day
* Labor Day
* Grandparent’s Day
* Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
* Halloween/All Saints’ Day
* Reformation Sunday
* Veterans’ Day
* Thanksgiving Sunday
* ChristmasAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Cycle A (Revised)
$58.68One of the most comprehensive lectionary preaching resources available, the Lectionary Preaching Workbook is the one tool you will want to have close at hand to help you get the most out of every minute you spend preparing your Sunday sermon. This completely revised and updated volume provides you with a host of practical aids for effectively proclaiming God’s Word. In addition to theological reflections on the three lessons for each Sunday, each chapter also explores a theme for the day (including a prayer and a suggested hymn) and outlines numerous preaching options. You’ll also find a handy, easy-to-use Sermon Planner template to facilitate the process of building your sermon.
Special features include:
* an introduction to Matthew’s gospel
* overviews for each liturgical season that pinpoint preaching goals and possible sermon series — and examine the season’s customs, history, meaning, and message
* a listing of applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts
* commentary on each Sunday’s Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel lessons
* theological reflections to help you explore the relationships among all the texts
* a variety of preaching options, complete with suggested outlines
* available in either paperback or 3-ring binder formats, with wide margins for convenient, easy useAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Sermons On The Second Readings Series 1 Cycle A
$47.43This 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 studyAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 1 Cycle A
$46.18Filled 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 studyAdd to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit Series 4 Cycle A
$21.18Jesus 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Bucket Full Of Miracles Cycle A
$4.95The 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!Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Sustained To Serve
$12.43The 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Christmas Treasures : A Collection Of Congregational Resources For Advent C
$32.43This 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
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Songs For A Savior
$16.18This 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preaching The Miracles Series 2 Cycle C
$22.43While 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Tending The Holy
$28.95Interest 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Dialogo Ministerial – (Spanish)
$7.99The complexity, demands and pressure of ministry are the main topic in many studies and debates. However, only a pastor knows about the defeats and victories of the ministry. This is a dynamic and inspirational book written for ministers with the purpose of clarifying some of the confusing aspects of the job.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Principios De Educacion Cristi – (Spanish)
$22.99This book invites anyone, regardless of their profession, to participate in the great adventure of teaching Scripture. It stresses the importance of Christian education as it relates to the church’s mission, and provides a profile that Sunday school teachers should strive toward. It also provides instruction for developing an effective and attractive class plan, as well as techniques and activities that make the gatherings more interesting and transformational.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Church In Emerging Culture
$19.99A feisty, entertaining, and educational conversation about the shape of the church of the 21st century. Five stellar Christian thinkers from diverse walks and perspectives present their views of how the church should respond to culture and specifically to cultural shift, focusing on the message of the gospel and the means used to present it. They comment on and critique each other’s chapters and compose five rejoinders. The book does not take sides, but lets readers decide how to take the discussion further.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Bosquejos Selectos Para Predic – (Spanish)
$10.99: If you are a: _ Pastor or evangelist _ Minister or layman _ Student of homiletics _ Bible teacher You will find practical and inspirational help in the two works included in this book. In this study of homiletics, Jay E. Adams focuses on the need for messages that flow from a heart devoted to God so that the words may penetrate the heart of the listener. This book will help you to receive the Biblical message of God for the church and to preach it from the heart.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Walking The Small Group Tightrope
$12.99A 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
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Lay Eucharistic Ministers Handbook
$23.99This 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Your Church Can Thrive
$18.99The 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Take The Next Step
$26.99Transformational 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Spirit Filled Teaching
$22.98Acclaimed 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Making Sense Of Church
$16.99Samplings of online discussions about God, truth, and church_from theOoze.com Our culture is rapidly changing andpeople are searching for new models and paradigms to find meaning in their lives. As in all transitional periods, this search takes place in grass-roots conversations where the “new” is taking form. No other place so uniquely captures this struggle more than the message boards at theOoze.com, the premier melting pot of emerging spiritual conversation. Making Sense of Church is a snapshot of this “community conversation” as it tries to make sense of God in the emerging worldview. It represents a gathering of individuals with different points of view, theologies, life contexts, and feelings. Author Spencer Burke, creator of theOoze.com, provides the framework writing for each chapter and acts as a “guide” to the accompanying e-mail postings that supplement the chapters. Subjects discussed include: * Authentic Community * Experiential Worship * The Internet and God * Art as a Vehicle for Communicating Truth * Spirituality and Sexuality * What Is the Church? * What Is Postmodernism?
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Desechando Habitos : Ayida Par – (Spanish)
$20.99Highly motivating reading for any congregation which has stagnated or is caught up in a seemingly irreversible decline. Offers 20 shocking truths that thriving congregations have discovered to help overcome self-destructive practices. Serves as a much-needed early warning system
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Search To Belong
$19.99A 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
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Empowered Church Leadership
$26.99IVP 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Developing The Leaders Around You Workbook (Workbook)
$17.99Dr. 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Making Small Groups Work
$26.99Here’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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Ushering In Todays Churches
$15.61Ushering 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Beyond The Scandals
$40.00(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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Afterlife (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99Afterlife: 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Whats Good About This News
$28.00In 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
From Pastor To Pastor
$9.9925 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.Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
-
Preparing Couples For Marriage
$49.93With 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.
Add to cartin stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
