Pastoral Helps
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Pastoral Care Of Alcohol Abusers
$16.00Add to cartOver 120 million American teens and adults use alcohol at one time or another. While in most situations these individuals are able to use it responsibly and with moderation, no one is immune to its destructive use – which makes it a significant public health issue. Many drinkers find that their otherwise responsible use turns problematic and abusive when faced with depression, trauma, grief, undue social pressures, or other tempting and potentially addictive behaviors. Not all of these people become full-fledged alcoholics, but they do develop an alcohol problem that needs careful and sensitive pastoral care to understand the underlying issues for their alcohol abuse. Because of this, clergy and other pastoral counselors need to develop competence in recognizing alcohol abuse problems, including alcoholism, identifying when to make referrals, helping persons to find available community resources, and training congregational members to provide support to affected individuals and families.
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And Still The Hour Shines
$23.95Add to cartAre you tired of going with the flow of the rest of the world? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and be counter-cultural, perhaps even revolutionary? While this may seem to be a tall order to many of us, the blueprints for personal and cultural change have been with us for centuries in the words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Considered by many to be the most powerful message ever recorded, the Sermon on the Mount flies in the face of much of what our society esteems. In a world that thrives on stress, irreverence, and greed, Jesus describes a life of spiritual contentment, deep piety, and abundant generosity. And Still the Hour Shines… journeys through the Sermon on the Mount, examining everything from the Beatitudes to its teachings on prayer and giving. As Stephen Crotts unearths the simple yet profound messages in this passage, holding these principles up against our current societal standards, he calls us to embark on a different journey, living as examples of hope and goodness for the rest of the world to see. This resource is ideal not just for personal study but also for sermon inspiration and small group study.
And Still the Hour Shines… calls us to shine as beacons of light, guiding a world in darkness to its savior.
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Ministry And Money
$30.00Add to cartThis book provides a practical resource for pastors and other clergy seeking a better understanding of the relationship between faith and money. In Part I, the authors provide biblical, historical, and theological perspective on money. They address issues such as how we understand the nature of money, how it should be used, and the ways in which responsible stewardship of money can be carried out in the local church. In Part II, these concepts are applied in practical ways, including an excellent primer on accounting practices, church financial reports, and church budgets to help clergy readers work through these dimensions of ministry. Throughout, the authors provide real-life examples to help clarify basic approaches to issues of money in the local church.
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Spiritual Leadership For Church Officers
$22.00Add to cartThis timely new leadership guide for the PC(USA) is written for church officers who are looking for a deepened relationship with God as they serve the church. Author Joan Gray challenges elders and deacons to see themselves as spiritual leaders and equips them to act as spiritual leaders alongside their pastors. After all, even the most dynamic and gifted pastor will be hamstrung if the congregation’s lay leaders are lethargic, conflicted, or spiritually anemic. Gray lays out a variety of leadership styles and helps leaders understand when each might be appropriate. She goes on to provide resources for dealing with interpersonal relationships in the church and identifies ways churches can create an atmosphere that is supportive of the spiritual leadership of elders and deacons. She also explores things the officers themselves can do to become more effective.
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How To Lead A Church To Reach People And Grow
$19.49Add to cartThis book presents a unique approach to church growth. It is written mainly to help churches that are declining, but will help all churches. The underlying premise is that churches do not grow and reach new people because they do not know how, or because they are so poorly structured and organized that they spend most of their time and efforts in conflict. This disrupts the fellowship and leaves very little time and energy for reaching new people. The subtitle could be, “Fifteen Essential Steps To Growth”- Basic growth and administrative principles. The combining of these areas makes this a unique book. Young has brought together these basic elements, from over 40 years of experience. . The book is a practical guide for a local church to follow to function efficiently and effectively, and reach people for Christ. When the steps are followed, and in the proper order, the church can pretty well be assured of growth and effective ministry.
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Church Rituals Handbook
$15.99Add to cartAccent the participation of the whole family of faith by discovering the meaning and blessing of holy rituals!
The Church Rituals Handbook provides pastors with a meaningful tool for the services they perform as shepherds of the flock of God. Covering a wide array of services, from less common rituals to the more known practices, this updated and expanded edition gives pastors immediate practical helps to service preparation. This helpful resource includes: instructions, an order of service, suggested hymns, Scripture readings and ecitations for:
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
The Reception of Church Members
The Sacrament of Baptism
Marriage
Installations
Includes Calls to Worship, Offertories Ideas and Prayers and lesser known rituals
John Wesley’s Covenant Service
A Service of healing
Service of Reconciliation
Seasonal services including Advent, Easter, and Christmas -
Introduction To Pastoral Counseling
$23.99Add to cartGrounded in empirical research and richly illustrated with case studies, this introduction continues the theoretical, practical, and theological expansion of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Because of increasing cultural diversity and the fact that more training is done outside of seminaries in non-seminary related colleges and universities, there is fragmentation in the discipline. This makes a coherent orientation to pastoral care and counseling as a ministry increasingly difficult. To address this confusion, author, Loren Townsend, calls us to readdress basic understandings. He also makes the case that pastoral identity can function as a unifying concept.
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Transitional Ministry : A Time Of Opportunity
$24.95Add to cartMulti-denominational look at transitional ministry
Professional resource for local and national judicatory leaders, local congregational leaders, clergy
Transition is the word we use to describe the time following significant change. In congregations, that change might be the departure of the pastor, a catastrophe such as Hurrican Katrina or 9/11, or simply the changes caused by growth. Transition calls for clergy with special training to respond to the needs generated by the special time. “Task, training, and time limit” are the hallmarks of transitional ministry. Trained intentional interim clergy must have the skill and experience to lead congregations during transition.
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Preaching The Atonement
$32.00Add to cartPreaching the Atonement is a unique teaching tool that offers a theological discussion of ten important Bible passages connected with the sacrifices of Christ. It brings historical and literary questions about the text into dialogue with Christian tradition in order to draw out the implications of the passage for preaching the doctrine today. In each chapter, a complete sermon on the passage in question is presented, followed by a commentary that sets the sermon in the context within which it was preached and highlights the strategy of the preacher in the theological interpretation of the text and its incorporation into the rhetoric of the sermon.
Sermons are provided by the authors as well as David Southall, Spurgeon’s College, London, UK; Kent Anderson, Northwest Baptist Seminary, British Columbia, Canada; A. Katherine Grieb, Virginia Theological Seminary; and David Schlafer, Episcopal priest and preaching consultant, Washington, D.C.
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Making Sense Of Scripture Participant Book (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartAcknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: What Is The Bible?
Chapter 2: Is The Bible True?
Chapter 3: How Is The Bible The Word Of God?
Chapter 4: Where Did The Bible Come From?
Chapter 5: How Can I Read The Bible With Greater Understanding?
Chapter 6: Is There A “Center” To Scripture?
Chapter 7: What Kind Of Authority Does The Bible Hold?
Conclusion
For Further ReadingAdditional Info
In Making Sense of Scripture, David Lose invites the reader to engage in a conversation, one that he imagines discussing around his kitchen table, about seven major questions of the Bible. More than a standard biblical reference book, Making Sense of Scripture is a dialogue that encourages readers to bring their questions or doubts to the table when reading Scripture. During this conversation, there are different opportunities for the reader to interact with the Bible, ultimately leaving room for personal transformation of the heart and mind. -
Making Sense Of Scripture Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$19.99Add to cartIntroduction
Welcome
Convictions
Overview Of The Leader Guide And Session Components
Advice And Counsel
About The Book Of Faith Initiative
Session Schedules And Variations
Using A Retreat Format
Covenant
Invitation Letter
Session 1: What Is The Bible?
Session 2: Is The Bible True?
Session 3: Is The Bible The Word Of God?
Session 4: Where Did The Bible Come From?
Session 5: How Can I Read The Bible With Greater Understanding?
Session 6: Is There A “Center” To Scripture?
Session 7: What Kind Of Authority Does The Bible Hold?Additional Info
Lead your small group as they ask questions and engage in conversation about seven big questions of the Bible. Making Sense of Scripture is a flexible course, and this leader guide contains suggestions for a variety of session times. Options for using this study in a retreat format are also included. -
Emergent Psalter
$32.95Add to cartMany alternative and emerging church communities have begun exploring ancient music and liturgical traditions despite a lack of high-quality, published liturgical music which does not require (or even desire) an organ and a four-part choir. The Emergent Psalter serves to provide that resource. Featuring music written for two emerging communities (Transmission in New York and Church of theApostles in Seattle),this book is an excellent resource for anyone producing an alternative worship service or thinking of starting one.
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Deal With It
$19.99Add to cartEven though anger is a regular part of every teen girl’s world, there are godly and appropriate ways students can respond to situations that make them angry. Deal With It is a curriculum that will help girls deal with their anger. Through activities that include reading and responding to stories about Maria, a fictional teen, students will learn to recognize their anger and find healthy ways to express their emotions.
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Prayer Book Guide To Christian Education
$36.95Add to cartA Christian educator’s one-volume guide for how to teach week by week according to the ethos and tradition of the Episcopal Church ethos while still connected to experience and faith in daily life. This guide to education and formation is based on the Book of Common Prayer, the cornerstone of Anglican liturgy and theology. Keyed to the Revised Common Lectionary, all activities and lessons are structured on the seasons and lessons for Years A, B, and C. The Guide stresses the major themes of baptismal theology and shows how teachers, parents and children can live the liturgical cycle in its Christian formation ministries at church and at home.
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Deacon Relationships Through The Body Of Christ
$16.99Add to cartBe the leader God intended you to be! Churches often elect deacons and fail to give them the training they need to accomplish their task, assuming that if one is qualified to become a deacon, he doesn’t need training. This assumption has proven injurious both to the individual deacon and to the body of Christ. Dr. Ledbetter is one of the most qualified leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention to assist deacons in becoming the leader God intended them to be. As a pastor, he worked with deacons in four growing churches. Since entering evangelism in January 1984, he has conducted several hundred deacon retreats in both small and large churches across America, in addition to conducting revivals. To be an effective leader, a deacon must have a right relationship with Christ, his family, his church, his pastor, and with himself. This book discusses each of these relationships and provides spiritual insights that will help not only deacons, but every Christian leader to become all God intended them to be.
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Walking With Christ
$12.95Add to cartThe road Christ calls us to travel takes us on a journey of learning, in both exciting and mundane times. Through sermons based on his own life’s journey, Michael D. Wuchter illustrates how we can draw closer to the heart of God in stimulating times like overseas missions and also in such simple things as gardening, cleaning out a wallet, camping, or going to an amusement park. For those seeking to deepen their understanding of God, Walking with Christ reflects on one man’s journey of faith, and encourages us to embark on our own.
In this fourth book of sermons, Michael Wuchter gives us even more creative images to convey and carry the words of the gospel. On Earth Day, he imagines a creation bogged down by government regulations; he balances the dangers of prayer with the risks of a roller coaster ride; and he comes to terms with the true meaning of sin and grace while camping next to some unruly families from Brooklyn.
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Psalms For Preaching And Worship
$45.99Add to cartA full, stimulating discussion of the psalm readings in the Revised Common Lectionary by notable contributors. Highlights the literary, spiritual, and theological dimensions of Israel’s prayerbook. There is also a rich discussion of imagery, along with drawings from ancient artifacts, based on Keel’s Symbolism of the Biblical World.
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Christianity Encountering World Religions
$38.00Add to cartGiven the unique religious climate of the twenty-first century and the challenges to Christian mission it poses, Christianity Encountering World Religions proposes a new, albeit very biblical, model for mission. Specifically, it is a model for interacting with people of other faiths. The authors term this model giftive mission, as it is based on the metaphor of free gift. They suggest that seeing mission activity through the lens of giving the greatest gift possible–the gospel message–not only has the potential for greater missionary success but also enables us to more closely imitate God’s gracious activity in the world.
The book begins by addressing preliminary matters: the current state of religion, the biblical material, and the presuppositions readers bring to the subject. Part 2 explores eleven practices that constitute giftive mission. Each practice is illustrated through the story of a figure from mission history who embodied that practice. Part 3 addresses method: how to apply the eleven practices in specific cultural and religious settings. The concluding section of the book ties all the prior discussion together and presents a compelling case and vision for giftive mission. Mission scholars, students, and practitioners will benefit greatly from this probing study.
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Shame And Grace
$14.99Add to cart1. The Heaviness Of Shame
2. The Varieties Of Shame
3. The Sources Of Shame
4. Grace And The Healing Of Our Shame
5. The Lightness Of GraceAdditional Info
Recognizing and remedying the undeserved shame that burdens our spirit and crushes our joy-from the author of Forgive and Forget.If you persistently feel you don’t measure up, you are feeling shame-that “vague, undefined heaviness that presses on our spirit, dampens our gratitude for the goodness of life,” and diminishes our joy. The good news is that shame can be healed.
With warmth and wit, Lewis B. Smedes examines why and how we feel shame, and presents a profound, spiritual plan for healing. Step by step, Smedes outlines the road to well-being and the peace that comes from knowing we are accepted by “the grace of One whose acceptance of us matters most.”
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When Do I Cry Wolf
$13.49Add to cartMany churches have found themselves on the brink of a great breakthrough for God only to have everything torn apart and victory snatched away. Doubts and questions may plague church leaders’ minds concerning what happened to their church. The answer may be that the church has been ravaged by a wolf. Just what is a wolf in the church? How can a wolf in sheep’s clothing be identified? How is a leader to deal with a wolf? Tackling these questions in a straightforward manner, When Do I Cry Wolf? is a book designed to uncover the deception and work of the enemy within the church. It gives valuable tools and insights for dealing with this problem without creating an air of paranoia and confusion. Sound scriptural advice and encouragement give much needed answers that will aid those called to guard God’s “sheep.”
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Footprints Of The Future
$10.99Add to cartYoung people today are experiencing overwhelming feelings of loneliness and rejection. They need to understand that the Savior, Jesus Christ, understands their emotions. He is our High Priest who “can” be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; and that He, like us, was tempted, but He was without sin. This generation faces unique pressures and difficulties. Dr. Proctor helps address these issues with insightful and spiritual advice. In Footprints of the Future: A Youth Journal, Dr. Proctor provides both practical and spiritual answers to pertinent issues facing this generation. These issues include: Anger Attitude Bitterness Forgiving Others Obedience Prayer This book is a must-read for every young person because at some point in their lives, they will confront these emotions. Dr. Proctor has written a book that is very easy to read and he has included ready references and space for journaling.
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More Power In The Pulpit
$28.00Add to cartIn this companion and sequel to the best-selling Power in the Pulpit (Westminster John Knox, 2002), which has sold over 11,000 copies, more of Americas best-known and most influential African American preachers describe how they prepare their sermons. Each preacher also presents a sermon that highlights his or her particular method of sermon preparation.
Contributors to this volume include: Willette Alyce Burgie-Bryant, William S. Epps, C. E. McLain, Otis Moss Jr., Otis Moss III, Veronica R. Goines, Cynthia L. Hale, Melvin V. Wade Sr., Raquel A. St. Clair, and Walter S. Thomas Sr.
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Feasting On The Word Year B 4
$55.00Add to cartSeason after Pentecost 2 (Propers 17-Reign of Christ) With this popular new lectionary commentary series, Westminster John Knox Press offers one of the most extensive resources for preaching on the market today. When complete, the twelve volumes of the series will cover all the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with movable occasions, such as Christmas Day, Epiphany, Holy Week, and All Saints Day.
For each lectionary text, preachers will find four brief essays one each on the theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical challenges of the text. They might focus on the Gospel text, for instance, by reading all four essays provided for that text, or they might explore connections between the Hebrew Bible, Psalm, Gospel, and Epistle texts by reading the theological essays for each one. Each lectionary year will consist of four volumes, one for the Advent and Christmas season, one for Lent and Easter, and one for each half of Ordinary Time.
In Ordinary Time, the Old Testament lections in Feasting on the Word are from the complementary stream for Year A, split between the complementary and semicontinuous streams for Year B, and from the semicontinuous stream for Year C. Essays on the alternate lections will be available on the Feasting on the Word web site beginning for Year C in May 2010.
For each lectionary text, preachers will find four brief essays one each on the theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical challenges of the text. They might focus on the Gospel text, for instance, by reading all four essays provided for that text, or they might explore connections between the Hebrew Bible, Psalm, Gospel, and Epistle texts by reading the theological essays for each one. Each lectionary year will consist of four volumes, one for the Advent and Christmas season, one for Lent and Easter, and one for each half of Ordinary Time.
In Ordinary Time, the Old Testament lections in Feasting on the Word are from the complementary stream for Year A, split between the complementary and semicontinuous streams for Year B, and from the semicontinuous stream for Year C.
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Words Made Flesh
$52.99Add to cartWords Made Flesh draws together a number of Elaine Grahams shorter writings and essays and thereby maps out the work of a pioneer theological thinker and the development of pastoral and practical theology in the last twenty years.aElaine Graham considers the theological significance of topics as diverse as nativity plays, science fiction, gender, consumerism, cyberspace and urban regeneration. They all share a concern with the way the sources and norms of the Christian tradition can enter into a creative and critical conversation with contemporary experience in order to generate the practical wisdom by which the life of the Church can be directed. They reflect Elaine Grahams fundamental conviction that theology as talk about God-in-the-world is always practical and public u and that it begins and ends in the complexities of the human condition: where words become flesh.
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Easter Experience Participants Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99Add to cartPaint yourself into the story and transform Easter into a truly life-changing experience. Once you experience the story of Easter, absolutely everything in your life changes. The Easter Experience is a unique, DVD-driven study which brings the passion and resurrection of Jesus to life through dramatic storytelling and challenging teaching. This companion to The Easter Experience small group DVD follows the six 20-minute episodes, providing additional information, discovery questions, and tips for helping your small group grow spiritually and bond with each other as well as with the eternal message of Easter. Also available are the Easter Experience Church Program and the Easter Experience Ministry Devotional.
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Alphabet Of Grace
$16.99Add to cartWith characteristic eloquence and insight, Buechner presents a three-part series of reflections that probe, through the course of one day, the innermost mysteries of life. Blending an artist’s eye for natureal beauty, the true meaning of human encounters, and the significance of occurances (momentous or seemly trival), with a wealth of personal, literacy, biblical, and spiritual insights, he offers a matchless opportunity for readers to discover the hidden wisdom that can be gleaned through a heightened experience of daily life.
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Agorafobia – (Spanish)
$13.99Add to cartFollowing the theme of the book The Emerging Generation, Junior Zapata describes what he considers to be the condition of many Christians in Latin America concerning daily personal evangelism, and talks about how the Christian church should lose its fear of the world and how to approach the “pre-believer” culture, as he calls it.
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Leaders Who Last
$24.95Add to cartIs helping others overrated? Is ministry a recipe for burnout? How can pastors last the course? Author and pastor Margaret Marcuson introduces the notion of “sustainable ministry,” which trains and empowers pastors to focus on their inner resources for proactive leadership, instead of trying harder to help, fix or change others.
Leaders Who Last draws upon the author’s own pastoral experience and leadership, plus a significant analysis of leadership in both families and churches over generations. Interviews with current church leaders punctuate chapters on stress, spiritual practice, church triangles, relationships, selfawareness, money, and creating a climate where true change can take place.
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Preaching From Memory To Hope
$27.00Add to cartIn this compelling and hard-hitting book, respected preacher and teacher Tom Long identifies and responds to the most substantive theological forces and challenges facing preaching today. The issues, he says, are fourfold: the decline in the quality of narrative preaching and the need for its reinvigoration; the tendency of preachers to ignore Gods action and presence in our midst; the return of the churchs old nemesis, Gnosticism, evidenced in todays new spirituality; and the absence of eschatology in the pulpit.
Long once again has his finger on the pulse of American preaching, demonstrated by his creative responses to these challenges. Whether he is calling for theologically smarter and more ethically discerning preaching, providing a method of interpretation that will allow pastors to recover the emphasis on God in our midst, or encouraging a kind of interfaith dialogue with gnosticism, he demonstrates why he has long been considered one of the most thoughtful and intelligent preachers in America today.
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Best Advice : Wisdom On Ministry From 30 Leading Pastors And Preachers
$30.00Add to cartThis book gathers a diverse group of leading pastors and preachers and asks them: What is your best advice to colleagues in ministry about preaching and being a pastor? The responses are full of wisdom and practical advice, illuminating and helpful for all who are pastors and preachers.
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Lay Pastoral Care Giving
$18.00Add to cartA distinguished historian, academic and occasional evangelist I know was hushed by his stunned wife after he said to a friend he was visiting in the hospital, “I hope you don’t die.” A sentiment appreciated but oh-so-awkward.
Expressing care to someone in need – whether within the community of faith or beyond – may seem the most natural thing in the world. For some, it is; for others, it’s less so. All can improve.
Learn to reach out with God’s love and care for others as outlined in this practical book. Farabaugh offers a systemic path for pastoral care using the gifts of the laity in the church.
“At a district Council on Ministries’ meeting, our conversation focused on the realization that most of the clergy had no assistance in the area of pastoral care and felt overwhelmed by their many, sometimes conflicting, responsibilities,” writes Farabaugh. “Most of the churches did not train anyone in caring ministries. Today it is time for clergy and laity to partner in caring for one another.”
Unique to this course is the ongoing training and accountability meetings outlined for those in this invaluable ministry. During the monthly meetings, participants report on what they have learned and also learn about aspects of caring for situations and conditions of life, such as illness, suffering, grief and loss.
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Does Your Church Have A Prayer Participants Workbook (Student/Study Guide)
$9.00Add to cartCongregations seeking revitalization can take heart. Jesus has already prayed for their unity so that they may share his love with the world! The Does Your Church Have a Prayer? Participant’s Guide consists of a six week plan of Bible studies that, along with sermons and worship, will help generate congregation feedback critical to establishing a twenty-four month action plan for the congregation. Each week’s study offers a prayer to open the time together, questions to encourage scriptural reflection, and questions to facilitate thought and input as the congregation makes intentional decisions regarding its mission and ministry.
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Does Your Church Have A Prayer Leaders Guide (Teacher’s Guide)
$16.00Add to cartCongregations seeking revitalization can take heart. Jesus has already prayed for their unity so that they may share his love with the world! The Does Your Church Have a Prayer? Participant’s Guide consists of a six week plan of Bible studies that, along with sermons and worship, will help generate congregation feedback critical to establishing a twenty-four month action plan for the congregation. Each week’s study offers a prayer to open the time together, questions to encourage scriptural reflection, and questions to facilitate thought and input as the congregation makes intentional decisions regarding its mission and ministry.
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Intentional Ministry In A Not So Mega Church
$13.99Add to cartChange is rapidly occurring in almost every area of our society. However, the one notable exception to this is often found in the church, especially in smaller churches. Instead of responding to the changes around them, these churches have adopted a maintenance mentality, which is primarily interested in survival and risk-free ministries that are inwardly focused and fail to meet the needs of those outside their church community. If our churches are going to have an impact on today’s culture, we have to move from a maintenance mindset to a missional one.
Intentional Ministry in a Not-So-Mega Church is designed to help leaders of smaller churches guide their people in making their primary focus ministering to and meeting the needs of those outside their church. Drawing from more than twenty years of experience as a small-church pastor, Dennis Bickers explores the qualities of transformational leadership and explains what it takes for leaders to create a climate in their churches that promotes and facilitates necessary change. From willingness and vision to risk-taking and commitment, Bickers challenges leaders to become the agents of change their churches need as they seek to answer and act on the question: Who are we here for?
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Deliberate Simplicity : How The Church Does More By Doing Less
$18.99Add to cartLearn how a “less is more” approach to church can equip believers for eternal influence. Church innovator Dave Browning unpacks the six elements of a new equation for church development. These concepts-minimality, intentionality, reality, multility, velocity, and scalability-provide a realistic plan for streamlining church while maximizing impact.
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Predicador Y La Oracion – (Spanish)
$6.99Add to cartPrayer is the engine of preaching – before, while and after sharing the sermon with the hearers. In order to speak to men about God, you first have to speak to God about men. Prayer keeps the focus on God where it should always be – not on the preacher.
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Cultural Intelligence : Improving Your CQ To Engage Our Multicultural World (Rep
$29.99Add to cartAs twenty-first-century society grows increasingly complex, pluralistic, and multicultural, it behooves Christians to communicate effectively between and among diverse populations. Research indicates that missions often fail because of cultural collision and lack of empathy and understanding between different peoples. David Livermore proposes a meta model–based on sound research principles and social science methodology–for helping Christians intelligently navigate the multicultural maze in Cultural Intelligence. The much-needed skill of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) both at home and abroad is the ability to work effectively across national, ethnic, and even organizational cultures. Livermore explains that CQ is not simply learning how to externally modify behavior but is based on inward transformation. His work is replete with assessment tools, simulations, case studies, and reflective exercises. Professors and students of missiology, practical theology, ministry leadership, intercultural studies, and sociology in Christian colleges, seminaries, and lay training programs will glean needed knowledge to become culturally sensitive, aware, and intelligent. This addition to the Youth, Family, and Culture series will help individuals and organizations share the Christian message with those of different backgrounds.
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Missional Renaissance : Changing The Scorecard For The Church
$28.00Add to cartReggie McNeal’s bestseller The Present Future is the definitive work on the “missional movement,” i.e., the widespread movement among Protestant churches to be less inwardly focused and more oriented toward the culture and community around them. In that book he asked the tough questions that churches needed to entertain to begin to think about who they are and what they are doing; in Missional Renaissance, he shows them the three significant shifts in their thinking and behavior that they need to make that will allow leaders to chart a course toward being missional: (1) from an internal to an external focus, ending the church as exclusive social club model; (2) from running programs and ministries to developing people as its core activity; and (3) from professional leadership to leadership that is shared by everyone in the community. With in-depth discussions of the “what” and the “how” of transitioning to being a missional church, readers will be equipped to move into what McNeal sees as the most viable future for Christianity. For all those thousands of churches who are asking about what to do next after reading The Present Future, Missional Renaissance will provide the answer.
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Pastoral Care In Times Of Death And Dying
$13.99Add to cartCounseling someone who is dying or consoling a family who has suffered a death is one of the hardest parts of ministry. In times like these it’s important for pastors to know what to say and how best to offer their support.
Pastoral Care in Times of Death and Dying is a practical guide that offers step-by-step direction and solid advice for handling the difficult responsibility of ministering to others in situations surrounding death. From visiting and shepherding the terminally ill to overseeing funeral arrangements and comforting grieving families, Danny Goddard helps pastors, chaplains, and lay leaders understand their roles and bereavement responsibilities so they ll know the best way to offer compassion, love, and support to those who need it most.
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Tony Evans Book Of Illustrations
$19.99Add to cartPicture this: it’s Saturday afternoon and you’re putting the finishing touches on tomorrow’s sermon. You’ve been thinking, researching, and praying about this message all week, and, thankfully, feel pretty prepared. That is, except for one small detail-you aren’t sure how to begin. For over thirty years, Tony has been connecting to audiences around the world. Now his tools are available for you. Don’t leave your listeners to connect the dots. Let Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations help you illustrate your point in a way they can’t forget.
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Childrens Spirituality : What It Is And Why It Matters
$16.99Add to cartChurch House Publishing
This concise guide is an ideal introduction to the increasingly popular topic of children’s spirituality. Mixing theory with tips on ‘good practice’, leading expert Rebecca Nye shows how choices made in churches and homes can stimulate or stifle a child’s spiritual development. Mixing theoretical background and good practice tips, she focuses on: Childhood as a natural source of spirituality Ways to help children value and express their spirituality The role of Christian nurture and worship in early spiritual development
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Ethical Leadership : The Quest For Character Civility And Community
$29.00Add to cartWe live in a leadership crisis. “In an age when incompatible worlds collide and when scandals rock formerly stable institutions,” says Walter Fluker, “what counts most is ethical leadership and the qualities of personal integrity, spiritual discipline, intellectual openness, and moral anchoring.” Fluker finds these characteristics exemplified in the work and thought of black-church giants Martin Luther King Jr. and Howard Thurman.
This volume, for leaders and emergent leaders in religious and other settings, sets forth the context and principles for ethical leadership, particularly for ministries and other professions whose mission directly advances the common good. Fluker’s volume grounds leadership in story, the appropriation of one’s roots, as a basis for personal and social transformation. He then explores the key values of character, civility, and community for ethical action on the personal, public, and spiritual realms. From these considerations he develops a model of the specific virtues that embody each realm of ethical leadership before applying them to the practical aspects of leadership and decisionmaking.
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Middle School Talksheets
$22.99Add to cartThis book provides youth workers with 50 lessons, using the “talksheets” format, that focus students’ attention and interest on the life of Christ. Each lesson attempts to connect students to the story and its biblical and practical implications. The lessons are in approximate chronological order, but each talksheet is self-standing and can be used independently or linked with two or three others to create short series.
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High School Talksheets
$22.99Add to cartThis book provides youth workers with 50 lessons, using the “talksheets” format, that focus students’ attention and interest on the life of Christ. Each lesson attempts to connect students to the story and its biblical and practical implications. The lessons are in approximate chronological order, but each talksheet is self-standing and can be used independently or linked with two or three others to create short series.
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Strategic Leadership For A Change
$31.00Add to cartMany congregations are experiencing significant change both within and beyond their walls, and both members and leaders feel a sense of loss in the midst of these changes. In the midst of change, loss, and grief, congregations yearn for leadership-typically with differing expectations of what constitutes effective leadership in response to their needs, hopes, and priorities. At the same time, congregations resist leadership. After all, leadership assumes those who follow will be open to more change.
Strategic Leadership for a Change provides congregational leaders with new insights and tools for understanding the relationships among change, attachment, loss, and grief. It also helps to facilitate the process of grieving, comprehend the centrality of vision, and demonstrate theological reflection in the midst of change, loss, grief, and attaching anew. All this occurs as the congregation aligns its vision with God’s and understands processes of change as processes of fulfillment.
Drawing on attachment theory, leadership studies, and biblical and theological resources, McFayden’s work is invaluable for leaders whose congregations face change, experience loss, wonder about their future, and yearn for leadership.
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Write Stuff : Crafting Sermons That Capture And Convince
$28.00Add to cartIn this book, gifted preacher Sondra Willobee shows how to enliven sermons by using the techniques of great writers. With clarity and wit, Willobee explores the joyful process of crafting effective sermons. The book includes three sections: (1) hook, how good sermons begin with something that grabs listeners attention; (2) book, how to shape a sermon with narrative pulse and ascending emotional intensity so that listeners experience the gospel; and (3) stone, how good sermons use specific, concrete language. By explaining these techniques, offering many examples, and reflecting on her own successes and failures, Willobee has provided a resource that will rekindle the creativity of experienced preachers and help new preachers develop their own compelling voices.
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Pastor Pacificador – (Spanish)
$14.99Add to cartThoroughly exploring the theology of reconciliation, Poirier adds lessons from personal experience and lists practical steps for effective mediation. With this comprehensive guide, you can embrace peacemaking confidently as a way to glorify God through the overcoming power of the gospel. And, as Jesus promised all peacemakers, you will be blessed.
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Strategic Disciple Making
$18.00Add to cartFor many people, church is there to meet their needs–with programs designed with them in mind. Strategic Disciple Making teaches these churchgoers to develop a servant’s heart. Readers will discover that they control the destiny of their church. If they seek personal contentment, they must grow as disciples, and church expert Aubrey Malphurs explains the true meaning of the word.
This refreshing resource offers a radical “how-to” for renewing faltering faith. It is perfect for burned-out ministers and downcast church leaders who want a more authentic discipleship experience.
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Crisis Counseling : Third Edition
$18.99Add to cartCrisis Counseling unites the historic skills of pastoral care and counseling with current methods of crisis intervention from the fields of psychology and psychotherapy. Like the original edition, the present book is written for ministers – both clergy and lay – who are called upon to care for those in crisis. Its concepts and methods will be of value to mental health professionals and crisis hot-line volunteers as well.
Crisis Counseling discusses the minister’s role as a crisis intervener, incorporating the understanding of recent crisis intervention theory and exploring how the dynamics of crisis is vital for effective crisis management.
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3 Simple Rules For Following Jesus (Teacher’s Guide)
$16.99Add to cartIdeal for showing children how to be effective stewards of the world around them
This leader’s resource helps plan six sesions that will help children
* Learn what it means to care for the world and God’s people
* Consider the ways to do good things for their families, their church, their community, and the world
* Discover the value of spiritual disciplines and how to practice themThe three simple rules of “Do No Harm”, “Do Good”, and “Stay in Love with God” are easy enough for children to understand and profound enough to begin a lifelong journey of faith.
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Good Sex 2.0 Leaders Guide
$18.99Add to cartWhether you’re a youth worker, associate pastor, CE director, or volunteer, this book is an upfront, truthful, process-centered resource that invites students to consider and understand their sexuality in light of the God who loves them and who made them sexual beings.
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New Intrepreters Handbook Of Preaching
$73.99Add to cartThe New Interpreter’s Handbook of Preaching is a major reference tool for preaching, with articles on every facet of Christian sermon preparation and delivery. This resource is both scholarly and practical. It focuses on the most distinctive feature and greatest strength of homiletics as a discipline: It is rooted in interdisciplinary scholarship and it develops theory geared to practice. Its theory arises out of the study of both excellent preaching past and present and actual sermon preparation and composition. When theory and practice critique each other, it is possible to produce guidelines that assist greater excellence and economy in preaching the gospel. Excellence in standards is an area in which homiletics needs to grow, and this project will be both a means to encourage and develop it. A guiding question throughout will be, Will it preach? The answers will be offered in the sense that “here is something that works well,” rather than “here is something to try.”
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Sustainable Youth Ministry
$22.99Add to cartOne of the big problems in youth ministry is the constant turnover of youth ministers. Mark DeVries addresses the problem with a systematic answer: churches need to take corporate responsibility for establishing a vision and structure for effective ministry, rather than leaving it all up to the youth minister.
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Chasing Chariots
$10.95Add to cartBecause the New Testament speaks directly to us as Christians, it can be tempting to focus more of our attention there at the expense of the Old Testament. However, the Hebrew scriptures still have relevance even for 21st-century Christians. Chasing Chariots is an exploration of 11 scripture passages featuring the chariot, an ancient symbol of power and strength. In each account, K. D. Weaver draws out ancient wisdom that still speak to our contemporary lives concerning faith, judgment, healing, and destiny.
Some of the lessons included in this collection are:
Deal with Change
Execute Your Exodus
Seize What God Has for You
Mature in ChristThis collection is perfect for sermon inspiration, small group Bible study, or personal reflection. Each of the accounts explored in Chasing Chariots fosters spiritual maturity and draws us closer to the God of both the Old and New Testaments.
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Preparing For Ministry
$24.99Add to cartMost seminaries now require their students to get real world training by way of supervised theological field education. This volume presents the wide array of issues that must be understood in order to integrate theological education and practical ministry, including the importance of theological field education, its purpose and challenges, the need for flexibility in meeting different students’ needs, and the resources available to create a meaningful and educational experience.
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Performance In Preaching
$30.00Add to cartWhile there are no shortage of texts offering advice on the writing and delivery of sermons, most of them adopt a fairly traditional approach to the subject. This volume takes a unique approach by examining the role of performance in preaching.
The contributors, who teach in seminaries and divinity schools across the nation, bring a variety of theological and denominational perspectives to the subject. They are united, however, in their concern for the importance of the performance of the sermon-not in a shallow or theatrical sense but as an essential aspect of bringing God’s word to life for the congregation. To that end, they offer wide-ranging studies that examine theological, artistic, and musical aspects of a compelling performance.
This volume inaugurates the Engaging Worship series from Fuller Theological Seminary’s Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts. It offers an innovative approach and alternative perspectives to the subject of preaching that will engage and challenge clergy who are already in the pulpit as well as students in seminary classes. The volume comes with a 90-minute companion DVD that complements the text, covering practical subjects that range from warm-up exercises to the mechanics of oral presentation.
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Creative Ideas For Quiet Days
$36.99Add to cartGoing a day retreat or quiet day is a regular activity for many local churches. During the preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent, they are especially popular. While many retreat houses and religious communities offer a program for such days, many groups prefer a do-it yourself approach. aaThis resource contains twelve complete day-long programs that are focused around different themes and are appropriate for use at varying times of the Christian year. It is suitable for all ages and assorted pastoral contexts. It also gives step-by-step instructions on creating your own program from scratch. aaEach session includes: opening worship, short talk 1, reflection exercise, short talk 2, second reflection exercise, prayers and blessings. Additionally there are leaders’ notes on all practical aspects of planning and conducting such a day, from booking the venue to handout templates. This new edition comes with download able worship and reflection materials to enrich your program.
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Courage To Carry On
$8.95Add to cartUsing the Hebrew scriptures and the book of Acts as a guide, David Webb journeys through the First Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Lent and Easter seasons. The Courage to Carry On not only draws people into a deeper appreciation and understanding of the meaning of Lent and Easter, it also offers insight into living the Christian life in today’s world. Ideal for sermon inspiration and preparation as well as small group Bible study and personal reflection and meditation, The Courage to Carry On is a valuable addition to any library.
Some of the sermons included in this collection are:
* Relentless Grace
* A Precious Gift
* Salvation Is Coming
* The Church’s DNA
* Confident Faith -
40 Dias Con Proposito Guia De (Student/Study Guide) – (Spanish) (Student/Study G
$12.99Add to carthe Purpose Driven Life DVD Study Guide is a six-week, video-based small group study of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren-the book Publishers Weekly declared the “bestselling nonfiction hardback in history.”
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Vocation Of The Child
$42.99Add to cartRather than discussing their possible vocation, discussions of children tend to center on their rights or duties. Does God have intentions for their young lives – before they grow up and become “real” people? Distinguished jurist Patrick McKinley Brennan has gathered sixteen authors to approach this idea in various ways, from historical to psychological to theological. The authors explore throughout whether it is possible for adults to either squander their children’s vocations or instead to help discover and embrace them.
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Christian Weddings : Resources To Make Your Ceremony Unique (Revised)
$18.99Add to cartThis exciting resource will help engaged couples design a unique and meaningful wedding service. With guidance from their pastor, the couple can select the different elements of their wedding liturgy from a menu of choices in ceremonies from over twenty denominational traditions from around the world.
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Fly In The Ointment
$26.95Add to cartAn ecumenical resource that helps churches and church leaders begin to think about how to transform themselves into vital, flourishing organizations-transformation that requires deep, systemic change on the part of the bodies that are meant to help congregations live into their mission in the world.
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Together And Apart
$21.95Add to cartIn an easy, conversational style, the author, a nun for over 40 years, gives readers the facts and fictions of the monastic life: how the choice is made; what lies behind the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; the nuts and bolts of monastic calling; what monks and nuns do all day; how they support themselves; and why they live as they do. Brushing away the stereotypes of sainthood, she provides an enlightening glimpse into a vibrant female subculture that is richly diverse, faith-filled, and often supremely rewarding.
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Downtime : Helping Teenagers To Pray
$24.99Add to cartA practical book for youth ministers, pastors, parents, and teachers who want to teach prayer to teenagers. The book will be written in short, meditative chapters that provide readers with the appropriate history, theology, pedagogy, and examples for introducing teens to the life of prayer.
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Aqua Church 2.0 (Revised)
$14.99Add to cartWe live in a fast-paced, fluid world. A postmodern place where people are drifting, making mid-course corrections in every aspect of life, from careers, to relationships, to beliefs.
Church leaders must continually reshape their ministries to reach a society adrift. They must move from being adaptive to being proactive, remaining flexible while delivering an uncompromising message.
AquaChurch is a guide for developing responsive and relevant church leadership. Fusing biblical wisdom and modern-day insights, acclaimed author Leonard Sweet explores the essentials of leadership arts, including vision, creativity, and teamwork. Thus updated and revised edition will enable ministries to navigate today’s cultural currents, provide a beacon to their community, and connect with a postmodern world.
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Planting Churches That Reproduce
$15.95Add to cartThe goal of Planting Churches that Reproduce Starting a Network of Simple Churches is to simplify the church planting process in order to start a network of simple, reproducing churches. This book will give invaluable information to those contemplating church planting or in the process of planting a church. Comiskey has been gathering material for this book for the past ten years. He has also planted three churches in a wide variety of settings. Planting Churches that Reproduce is the fruit of his research and personal experience. Comiskey uses the latest North American church planting statistics, but also extends the illustrations to include worldwide church planting. In the first section, Comiskey lays out the Biblical basis for church planting, including the all important question what is the church? In order to understand how to plant a network of reproducing churches, its essential to know how the New Testament defines Christs church (and the New Testament definition is a simple one). Paul the apostle was the first centurys model church planter and arguably the most effective church planter the world has ever known. The book goes into detail about how Paul planted churches and the important lessons that we can apply twenty centuries later. The book then moves from the Biblical basis to the contemporary scene. Comiskey answers the question of how in todays complicated society we can plant churches that reproduce and even start a network of simple churches. The book shows statistically why church planting is absolutely essential to keep up with the population growth. Many statistics are noted to demonstrate the grave need for continual church planting today. Then Comiskey tackles the question of the modern day church planter. What makes a modern day church planter successful? What are the key characteristics that todays church planters need to successfully plant a church in the 21st century? Comiskey provides indepth information from recent studies about the character qualities necessary to plant a church. Comiskey provides helpful information on church planting barriers. These barriers come from the fieldboth from those who have planted churches andor those who are currently doing so. The book reveals what church planters would do differently if they could do it over again. This information will help future church planters avoid similar mistakes. The second section goes into detail about the three main church planting strategies the celebrat
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Trekking Toward Wholeness
$35.99Add to cartIVP Print On Demand Title
Stephen Greggo presents a resource for trained leaders of ministry care groups in a variety of church-related contexts. Its purpose is to assist group leaders in facilitating the development of healing, transforming relationships in the group setting.
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Sabbath In The City
$24.00Add to cartDrawing on their research involving urban pastors from across the United States, Bryan Stone and Claire Wolfteich identify and examine spiritual practices that foster excellence in urban ministry. After discussing the specific challenges facing urban pastors and presenting the kinds of excellence required of them, Stone and Wolfteich explore several practices that help sustain ministers working in urban contexts, such as cultivating holy friendships, practicing Sabbath, maintaining lives of prayer and study, and setting appropriate boundaries. Throughout, the authors weave together stories from urban pastors from a variety of denominations with insights from the history of Christian spirituality and theology to chart a theological course for the formation and renewal of pastors in diverse contemporary contexts.
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Sticky Church
$18.99Add to cartThe greatest challenge facing most churches today isn’t getting people through the front door-it’s keeping them from leaving through the back door. In his new book, Larry Osborne reveals what it takes to cultivate a “sticky” church and reveals the strategy of sermon-based small groups to retain members while leading your church into even deeper levels of discipleship.
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Celebration And Experience In Preaching
$22.99Add to cartHenry H. Mitchell’s great contribution to the study of preaching has been his insistence that the homiletical practices of the Black church are gifts to the whole church. Nowhere has he made this point more forcefully than in Celebration and Experience in Preaching. In this classic text he advocates a way of preaching that genuinely engages all aspects of the congregation’s attention, especially the ability to both understand and to feel the sermon’s message. In this revised edition Mitchell builds on this groundbreaking work by examining in greater depth the multiple ways in which we experience the preached word, by defining the different kinds of claim on the behavior of the hearer that biblical texts express, and by exploring various genres of sermon to discover the concrete manifestations of celebration and experience.
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Simple Small Groups (Reprinted)
$13.99Add to cartOver the past two decades, small groups have gone from spontaneous gatherings among friends to a major and elaborate phenomenon in the church. Many evangelical churches have some form of small groups ministry in place. But there’s just one problem, says Bill Search–what started as a simple get-together has become a complicated process, especially for small group leaders. They are often not sure what is expected of them or what to expect from their groups as a result of their efforts. In Simple Small Groups, Search lays out the three C’s of small groups–connecting, changing, and cultivating. This paradigm helps to simplify leading small groups in a way that is helpful, rewarding, and life changing. Unlike many other books geared toward small group leaders, Simple Small Groups does not require a church-wide adoption of an intricately designed system of assimilation, making it useful to any small group leader looking for guidance.
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Growing Up Christian
$16.00Add to cartMcGuffey’s Readers. Public school. Family prayers. In the 1800s, these were primary and successful strategies by which children learned to become Christians. Sunday school was developed to support what was already being done at home and in school. Today many churches still rely on the nineteenth-century model to encourage young people to become disciples of Christ. In Growing Up Christian, Dr. C. Ellis Nelson explores why these strategies are inadequate for the twenty-first century and offers practical, specific guidance for congregations who wish to nurture disciples of Christ more effectively. Part 1 describes the pattern of influences that form our images of God. Given the way culture and family influence the rising generation, Part 2 outlines a strategy for nurturing disciples that capitalizes on the persuasive power of the congregation in fellowship, worship, and instruction. A detailed discussion guide further assists congregations who wish to form a study group to assess and improve their Christian education.
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1001 Illustrations That Connect
$32.99Add to cartHere are 1001 of the best illustrations assembled by the editors of Christianity Today’s PreachingToday.com. They’re contemporary, proven, memorable, and illuminating-these illustrations will preach! Furthermore, they’re carefully arranged and indexed so it’s easy to find the right one. An included CD-ROM makes getting the illustration into your sermon or lesson a breeze.
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Spiritual Direction : A Practical Introduction
$36.99Add to cartSpiritual direction has been an intrinsic part of the Christian tradition since the earliest days of the church when desert mothers and fathers were sought out for their wisdom and guidance. Today, the popularity of retreats and renewed interest in monastic spirituality has put spiritual direction in the spotlight. It is shedding its rather exotic, mystical associations and is increasingly regarded as a core component of Christian ministry. This guide aims to equip clergy and laity engaged in this task, or in training for it. It includes, Part One: What is spiritual direction? This is an exploration of biblical, historical and contemporary models of spiritual direction. What makes a good spiritual director? Part Two covers listening and responding to God, prayer, paying attention, discernment, interpreting religious experience, recognising God in the every day, journalling, and holy leisure. Part Three covers listening and responding to others, listening to stories and experience, looking for signs of grace, pain
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Transforming Disciples
$26.95Add to cartMaking disciples through Christian formation too often looks like a limited number of educational programs offered to child, teen, and adult “consumers” who move on if they don’t find what they want. How can we make the transition from consumer religion to participatory faith by building congregational relationships that nourish people spiritually and empower them to risk living, worshipping, learning, and serving God and each other in new and enlivening ways?
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Unbinding The Gospel (Revised)
$20.99Add to cartPart One:
1. Breaking The Curse
2. Why Do Evangelism?
3. If You Don’t Like Statistics, Skip This Chapter!Part Two:
4. Unbinding The Gospel: Three Stories Of Victory
5. Real Life
6. What New Members Want – Transformed LivesPart Three:
7. How’s Your Church Doing? Bandwidths, Barriers And Bridges
8. The Holy And The Practical: Who Does What?
9. Smart Sailing: Navigating Through Growing Pains, Conflict And Distractions
10. Getting StartedPart Four:
Your 40-Day Prayer Journal
Afterword By Brian McLaren
Works CitedAdditional Info
After the transformation of thousands of congregations, your could be next! The Unbinding the Gospel Series presents the most effective way to help mainline churches want to do evangelism.After quickly becoming one of the top-selling religious books in the U.S., Unbinding the Gospel expanded into the creation of two more books – Unbinding Your Heart and Unbinding Your Church. Together, the three books give churches a yearlong, intensive faith and faith-sharing experience.
Start by having your church leaders read Gospel, and work up to an all-church saturation study with Heart. Church will be used along the way to help guide your leaders through it all.
The new 2nd edition of Gospel now includes an all-new, 40-day personal prayer journal!
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Skys The Limit
$12.95Add to cartDo you have the desire to create or expand your church s ministry to children, but don t know where to start? The Sky s the Limit offers valuable insight into how to create a kids club in your church where children can not only have fun, but also learn more about God and grow in their Christian faith. Although the idea of starting a children s ministry may seem overwhelming, The Sky s the Limit takes you step by step through the process to ensure a smooth transition for both children and teachers. Drawing from her own experience, Kathy DeGraw guides ministry leaders in every aspect of the creation of a kids club — from assembling a ministry team to choosing snack ideas to creating fun activities, and so on. According to DeGraw, having a kids club can be a powerful evangelistic outreach, because by reaching out to the children in your community, you are also reaching out to their entire families, drawing them not only into your church, but into a relationship with God. In taking this first step to establishing a children s ministry in your church, the sky truly is the limit on the impact you can have in your community!
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Scenes Of Glory
$22.95Add to cartJesus was a master storyteller. He could weave timeless, eternal truths into the seemingly simplest of stories. His tales not only disarmed his listeners, but they also imparted powerful insights into the nature of God in familiar terms.
In this same spirit, Scenes of Gloryis a collection of story sermons that communicate the truth of God’s word through familiar images like a vacation drive, two friends sitting under an apple tree, or football season. While each of the stories may take the reader into familiar territory, they may also offer a view of the gospel in a rather unfamiliar and thought-provoking way.Complete with study questions at the end of each chapter, this resource is great for personal Bible study and devotion as well as group studies. It is also valuable for pastors needing either sermon inspiration or simply an alternate view of a particular biblical text.
Our life is a series of stories. Scenes of Gloryis an enriching addition to anyone’s personal story.
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Ministry Of Administrative Assistants
$11.99Add to cartThis ministry guide has been written to provide information about how to provide support ministry to the people with whom you work. This guide is also for people who work in many different ministry settings, a church or denominational administrative office, a small or medium size church, a parachurch or missions focused organization, and large churches. It will assist them with how they look at their ministry, and the level of support that is needed for their particular setting.
A call to ministry is an important thing to understand for an administrative assistant; your heart and the way you deal with people and tasks are different if you understand your position as a call to ministry rather than a job for a paycheck. If you understand that you represent not just your pastor and your church, but Christ to every person who calls, stops by, e-mails, etc., you approach your tasks and people differently. Working as the assistant to a pastor, or any person in ministry, you have to approach your tasks with an understanding of who you are serving, and you are serving Christ and his people.
The position of Administrative Assistant is a vital part of the over-all ministry of your church and the congregation. You are the gate-keeper, bridge-builder, keeper of the “information”, soother of wounded feelings, and the deliverer of unwanted news. You are the person who has your finger on the pulse of your congregation and your community. You are the person people will come to for answers. You will handle thousands of details related to dozens of different projects and commitments for your pastor. You will help make your pastor’s ministry seamless.
While all of these descriptions may make your head spin, this is a part of the ministry of being an assistant. You can look at each day as a challenge or an adventure. If you understand your job as a ministry and understand your call to this ministry you are ready for a great adventure. Begin each day with a prayer for wisdom and strength, surrender your mind and will to God, and prepare yourself to work with the heart of a servant.
As Christ walks alongside you in your daily life, -
Aging And Ministry In The 21 Century
$13.00Add to cartAging faithfully is a blessing and a challenge and Richard Gentzler is an expert on the subject. In his newest book on aging, Gentzler offers church leaders a structured approach to implementing strong ministries by, with, and for older adults. In addition to the practical issues of programming, the book takes on more difficult topics of aging including chronic conditions, depression, and death. He also recommends that churches pay special attention to the needs of the boomer generation, since they are now becoming the older adults who will determine the church’s path for years to come.
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Youth Work After Christendom
$29.99Add to cartYoung people have been leaving the church for several decades and are largely absent from many of our congregations. Most young people have no desire to embrace a church perceived as old-fashioned but remain interested in spirituality. How can young people be empowered to follow Jesus in a relevant and new way that is responsive to the challenges of the current context? How can real hope and opportunity be realized so that the next generation will approach faith without a Christendom mindset?
By examining the influences of the past, exploring the stories of those young people who have been partaking in church and by considering the views of those not connected to church, this book offers insights, theology, practical application and some hope for the future. Those charged with responsibility are encouraged to seriously consider
passing on the baton to young people now for the sake of the future. Like it or not, the destiny of the church is in their hands. -
Como Participar En La Liturgia – (Spanish)
$14.95Add to cartExcellent resource for Latino families entering the Episcopal Church
Endorsed by the Episcopal Church’s national Office of Latino-Hispanic MinistriesThrough the interactive games and puzzles in this fun-filled activity book, children can grow to a deeper understanding of Anglican worship life.
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Fireproof Your Marriage Participants Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$8.95Add to cartFireproof Your Marriage will challenge you to love better, love first and love for a lifetime. This six-week study is founded on Biblical principles for strong, God-centered, lifelong marriages. The Fireproof Your Marriage study integrates movie clips from FIREPROOF, along with key Scriptures, thought-provoking questions and devotionals, including concepts from The Love Dare book. For use with the Fireproof Your Marriage Leader’s Kit or Couple’s Kit. Great for small groups or sunday school class. Fireproof Your Marriage includes these six sessions:
He Said/She Said: appreciating the God-designed differences between men and women. He First Loved Us: God’s love for you and how it enables you to love others.
Love for a Lifetime: marriage as a lifelong covenant.
Breaking Free: freeing yourself from temptations that can destroy a marriage.
Forgiveness: offering and receiving forgiveness.
A Better Way of Loving: unconditional love -
Folk Like Me
$37.95Add to cartLives of the Saints for kids are either too grisly for little kids or too saccharine for older ones. This collection appeals to both groups with a combination of gentle humor and frankness – battle-tested at the author’s weekly chapel services at the school where she teaches. It’s organized into two full school years, with each saint’s story falling on or near his or her special day, so that each story can be a springboard to a creative seasonal teaching unit or small festival. Saints represent a wide variety of ethic and geographic backgrounds, and a CD included will provide ancillary material including pictures and maps.
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Manual Para Ceremonias Religio – (Spanish)
$11.99Add to cartMany evangelical people prefer to avoid any discussion of liturgy.
However, because many ceremonies are a necessary part of church life, the church cannot rely on any improvisation that might leave room for damaging errors.
This guide offers a useful tool for pastors of many denominations.
