Pastoral Helps
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Stewards Of The Story
$24.00Add to cartIn this insightful study, James Earl Massey offers an expanded version of the Twelfth Annual William E. Conger, Jr. Lectures on Biblical Preaching that he delivered at Beeson Divinity School in February 2004. Through a unique collection of informative lectures and illustrative sermons, the highly esteemed teacher and preacher considers four dimensions of the preacher as steward of the gospel story. Pastors will warmly welcome this book as it provides them with both practical guidance and insight about their identity as preachers.
James Earl Massey is Dean and Professor of Biblical Studies and Preaching, emeritus, at Anderson University School of Theology in Anderson, Indiana. Prior to moving to Anderson, he was for five years Dean of the Chapel and University Professor of Religion and Society at Tuskegee University. Prior to that, he served for twenty-two years as senior pastor of the Metropolitan Church of God in Detroit. For five years he served as speaker on the Christian Brotherhood Hour, the international radio broadcast of the Church of God, in Anderson, Indiana. He has preached and lectured at more than one hundred colleges, universities, and seminaries in the United States and on four continents. He is a life trustee of Asbury Theological Seminary and served on the editorial boards of Christianity Today, Leadership, Preaching, and The New Interpreter’s Bible. His several books include The Responsible Pulpit, Designing the Sermon, The Burdensome Joy of Preaching, and Sundays in the Tuskegee Chapel. He is a frequent featured speaker at national preaching conferences and workshops.
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Preaching Without Contempt
$24.00Add to cartHelps preachers to identify the ways the Christian preachers perpetuate the long tradition of Christian anti-Judaism.
Addresses: supersessionism, portrayals of the law, pharisees, relationship between the testaments, preaching the passion, and misrepresentations of Judaism.
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Remember The Future
$24.95Add to cartA primer for churches on sound asset managment by an Episcopal priest and Controller of the Dioceses of New York.
Remember the Future is a result of years of hands-on consulting work with struggling congregations by Jerry Keucher, who served on the staff of the Diocese of New York for 13 years. Keucher notes that many, if not most, congregations in mainline churches have declined in the past forty years and that this shrinkage in numbers “has deeply affected the psyches” of congregational leaders. Using a positive tone and attitude to help congregations imagine health instead of decline, Keucher offers clear, step-by-step methods and advice on analyzing and managing all aspects of congregational assets.
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Ministry Staff Member
$19.99Add to cartThis comprehensive resource provides counsel and direction for associate staff members. It can be used to train new staff members, for orientation with seminary interns, for in-service training in church staff meetings, or as a reference tool to consult if facing staff tensions and challenges. Topics covered include knowing your job, embracing your role as a servant leader, serving responsibly, getting along with others, living a balanced life, and avoiding things that get in the way.
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Basic Business Principles For Growing Churches
$10.95Add to cartPastors are schooled in theology and ministry, but few receive training in the fine points of church administration. Learning how to handle a congregation’s finances “on the job” can be a harrowing experience. Yet efficiently managing your church’s business affairs is a key element in keeping current members satisfied with their pastoral leadership — and in attracting the new members you need for your church to grow in size and influence.
In Basic Business Principles For Growing Churches, Arnold Cirtin shares expertise gained from more than four decades of corporate and academic experience. He provides a clear and helpful primer for pastors with limited training in business administration on such practical topics as accounting, fiscal management, and marketing.
This is an indispensable book for pastors of small- and medium-sized churches (who typically are also their congregations’ principal financial officers), as well as for church treasurers, trustees, and other financial board members. When you follow the guidelines in Basic Business Principles For Growing Churches, your church will be fiscally responsible, managed efficiently, and able to maximize its growing stewardship of God’s resources.
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Reproducible Pastoral Training
$25.99Add to cartPatrick O’Connor highlights specific action-oriented principles from the teachings of George Patterson as he guides the reader through the various aspects of cross-cultural ministry: the gathering of new believers, the development of new churches, the mobilization of new churches into a movement, the training of new leaders, and the departure of the pioneering ministers.
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Finding Jesus Discovering Self (Student/Study Guide)
$24.95Add to cartThis book invites readers to see Jesus with new eyes and then explore, know, experience, and live questions about how 2,000-year-old stories and events happen in the world and in our lives today.
Each chapter focuses upon a passage from the Gospels. A narrative by one of the authors recalls a personal experience reflecting the ancient text. Questions to which there are no “right” answers offer multi-dimensional opportunities to explore the stories and wonder. -
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series 8 Cycle C
$47.95Add to cartCreating a fresh sermon every Sunday that speaks to the people in your pews can sometimes seem like an overwhelming challenge — but if you have the all-new edition of CSS’ acclaimed Lectionary Preaching Workbook at your fingertips, you’ll never feel that way again! With penetrating reflections on Cycle C lectionary passages and a thorough discussion of preaching themes plus a rich variety of supporting illustrations, this comprehensive volume is the perfect starting point for your weekly homiletic research. Carlos Wilton combines a scholar’s deep insight into the biblical texts with a pastor’s practical understanding of how to connect them with modern life, and his astute commentary is sure to stimulate your thought process and provide plenty of seeds for developing messages with maximum impact. A handy, easy-to-use sermon planning template is also included to facilitate the process of building your sermon. The Lectionary Preaching Workbook is an indispensable tool that helps you to powerfully proclaim God’s Word while getting the most out of your limited preparation time.
Each Sunday’s material includes:
* a listing of applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts
* a theme for the day
* commentary on the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel lessons
* possible preaching approaches
* a pastoral prayer
* numerous illustrations to flesh out the message -
Hear My Voice Cycle A-C
$29.95Add to cartOf the four lectionary texts for each Sunday, the Psalms are the least frequently used as a basis for sermons — yet the Psalms are incredibly rich in the very life substance that makes preaching relevant. From personal suffering to the absence of God, from national failure to the burden of personal sin, the Psalms are filled with the pathos of the human struggle for and with God. If you want to tap into this abundant source of sermonic material, Hear My Voice is an invaluable tool that you won’t want to be without. It’s a comprehensive collection of informative homiletical commentaries on the Psalm texts drawn from the pages of the acclaimed preaching journal Emphasis. Covering the complete three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary, these brief explorations provide numerous starting points for developing solidly scriptural sermons that also speak to contemporary life. Convenient features include cross-referencing of multiple occurrences of the same text so that you can consider alternative approaches, plus a helpful index. While targeted primarily to preachers and homiletics students, Hear My Voice is an inspiring volume with accessible commentary for anyone who wants a better appreciation of the Psalms and how they speak to us today.
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Voices Of Repentance
$12.95Add to cartThis book offers busy pastors a complete package of thematically related resources for Lenten preaching and worship. With services for each week in Lent plus Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, as well as a Good Friday tenebrae service, Voices Of Repentance provides everything needed to create compelling worship throughout the Lenten season, either for a midweek series or for regular Sunday services. Each week’s resources feature a monologue sermon that tells the story of someone who sought redemption in the baptismal waters of the Jordan. These spiritual contemplations view the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion from a unique perspective — that of everyday people who lived through them. Each service also includes a children’s object lesson and a convenient order of worship.
Monologues feature these characters:
* John the Baptist
* a Pharisee
* a Sadducee
* a well-dressed man
* a well-fed woman
* a tax collector
* a Roman soldier -
Spotlight On Jesus
$16.95Add to cartLooking for a novel approach to the children’s sermon — something more creative than a simple story or object lesson? This collection of 40 dramatic sketches in readers’ theater format will teach your young people about the events of Jesus’ life — while also actively involving your members in the worship service. Each scene vividly relates a story from the Gospels in easy-to-read dialogue that can be performed with minimal rehearsal by teenagers or adults — providing a memorable illustration that’s certain to captivate the attention of everyone in your congregation. Discussion questions accompany each skit, so you can maximize the educational value by focusing youngsters’ attention on the main themes. Ideal for use during the “children’s moment” in Sunday morning worship, these brief pieces are also a perfect resource for children’s church, Vacation Bible School, youth meetings, and many other settings.
Sketches include:
* Jesus And The Shepherds Of Bethlehem
* Jesus And The Devil
* Jesus Preaches In Nazareth
* Jesus’ Parable Of The Prodigal Son
* Jesus And The Rich Young Man
* Jesus Predicts Things To Come
* Jesus In The Upper Room
* Jesus On The Road To Emmaus
…and many more! -
Services For Special Days
$18.95Add to cartLooking for worship material specifically tailored for holidays and other special, out-of-the-ordinary occasions? If so, then you’ll draw on this compendium of services for fresh ideas throughout the year. Each of these 13 services actively involves the congregation through the singing of several hymns, as well as scripture and dramatic readings which can be performed either with or without costumes. Because these flexible services can be presented with as few or as many participants as desired, they are ideal for both large and small congregations. Many of these versatile pieces can even be used without a pastor, so this is an excellent resource to have on hand for pastoral vacations or other occasions when the laity is in charge of worship. Best of all, this collection couldn’t be more convenient to use — every service comes with brief instructions and a sample form for your worship bulletin.
Services are included for:
* New Year’s Day
* Valentine’s Day
* Ash Wednesday
* Lent
* Palm/Passion Sunday
* Maundy Thursday
* Good Friday
* Easter
* Pentecost Sunday
* Trinity Sunday
* Reformation Sunday/All Saints’ Day
* Thanksgiving
* Christmas Eve -
People Who Met Jesus
$14.95Add to cartIn the latest installment of his popular series examining the basics of the Christian faith, Ron Lavin takes another look at the final days of Jesus’ life on earth through the eyes of the people whose lives were changed by their encounters with the Lord. Lavin examines their stories, both familiar and little-known, and highlights how their experiences intersect our lives. By telling the story of Jesus, they point us toward God.
People Who Met Jesus is an ideal Lenten group study resource — each chapter includes questions for stimulating discussion. It’s also excellent for adult Sunday school or new member classes throughout the year, as well as for sermon preparation or personal meditation.
Other titles in the Another Look series:
* I Believe; Help My Unbelief (on the Apostles’ Creed)
* Stories To Remember (on the Parables of Jesus)
* Abba (on the Lord’s Prayer)
* Saving Grace (on the Word and Sacraments)
* The Big Ten (on the Ten Commandments) -
Sharing The Easter Faith With Children
$25.99Add to cartIt is easy to share the Christmas story and faith with children. The story lends itself well to pageants and other celebratory events for children. It is not as easy to share the Easter story and faith with children because the messages and images are complex. In many congregations, children are featured in palm parades on Palm Sunday but not specifically planned for at other holy week services. This book explores what the Easter message can mean for children as they grow up. Brown helps congregations and families share the Easter message with children and include the children meaningfully in Lent, Holy Week, and Easter observances. The volume includes a reproducible booklet for parents.
This carefully researched and well-grounded, practical resource from a respected Christian educator will strengthen a congregation’s educational ministry with children and support parents as they shape the faith of their children.
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Instant Skits : Using Improv To Create Memorable Moments In Ministry
$24.99Add to cartUsing Improv to Create Memorable Moments in Ministry The Skit Guys bring you more than 200 skits to use in your youth group. Indexed by topic and Scripture reference, you can illustrate just about any lesson you want. Plus, each skit is ready to go and will allow all your students to participate in the teaching, whether or not they can act. They’ll laugh, they might cry, and in the end, they’ll learn something important.
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Fivefold Ministry Made Practical
$15.99Add to cartHow to release apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip today’s church
Taking a look at how the fivefold ministers relate to the church today…Discover how the fivefold ministry was created to work within the local church, the training ground for ministry. These ministers-apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers-are coaches who equip and train God’s people in releasing His power for works of service. Learn how proven fivefold ministers can be mentored and released in the body of Christ.
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Jump With Jesus
$12.95Add to cartGet children excited about church while guiding them to the knowledge and love of Jesus with this resource book brimming with fun and educational material based on Bible verses and Bible-related themes. Specifically targeted for preschool and early grade youngsters, Jump With Jesus provides an endless source of creative, engaging ideas for parents, Sunday school teachers, and Christian daycare providers.
Included are dozens of…
* craft and activity ideas
* short action rhymes with physical movements
* poems for recitation
* brief dialogue skits that let children role-playJump With Jesus is a treasure trove of classroom and program material that stimulates young children while promoting Christian values and spiritual growth.
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Wounded For Us
$10.95Add to cartBy focusing on the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf — and powerfully linking it to our lives today — this comprehensive resource offers a compelling approach to observing Lent that truly prepares worshipers to experience Easter’s new hope, new possibilities, and new life. Based on the ancient tradition of the five wounds of Christ, Wounded For Us identifies places where we find ourselves hurting, then connects them to one of the wounds Jesus suffered and explores how Christ’s resurrection offers reconciliation and healing.
Wounded For Us draws an imaginative analogy between Jesus’ wounds and these areas in our lives where we are wounded:
* Head (crown of thorns) — our thoughts
* Side (piercing) — our spirit and emotions
* Back (scourging) — our hopes and dreams
* Hands (nails) — our relationships
* Feet (nails) — our actionsWith sermon and worship material for Ash Wednesday, the Sundays in Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, Wounded For Us provides a complete package with everything needed for developing meaningful, thematically unified services throughout the Lenten season. Each sermon suggests an action plan that applies the “cure” of the gospel to our wounds, and reproducible outlines that help the congregation focus on the main themes are also included.
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Lent Holy Week Easter And The Great 50 Days
$19.95Add to cartThis long-awaited companion volume to Howard E. Galley’s classic The Ceremonies of the Eucharist provides clergy, liturgical assistants, and altar guild members with clear, step-by-step guidance for the liturgies of Lent and Easter. In addition to background material for the traditions and theology of each season, Mitchell includes specific preparations and instructions for each liturgy of the paschal cycle-Ash Wednesday through Pentecost-as well as Tenebrae, the Way of the Cross, the Vigil of Pentecost, the liturgies of the catechumenate, and the chrism mass. He also provides helpful ideas for how the often complex liturgies of these seasons can be done simply and well by small congregations.
Based on the liturgies of The Book of Common Prayer and the latest edition of The Book of Occasional Services, this ceremonial guide also draws on the paschal liturgies of other Anglican traditions, including those in Canada’s Book of Alternative Services.
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Committed To The Call
$16.49Add to cartMinisters have a wonderful privilege, yet an awesome responsibility of proclaiming the gospel. God is calling men and women to be His voice to this generation, but many are being attacked from every direction. Temptation, stress, burn-out, financial strain, and other problems are causing some to trade the Bible for another career that appears to be less demanding. Reports indicate that for every ten individuals who enter the ministry at age twenty-one, only one of them will retire from the ministry. This book deals with some of the issues causing them to walk away from their calling. Ministry can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Each day ministers are wounded and bruised because of unfair treatment by peers and parishioners alike. Ministry can be a lonely life and the demands can be overwhelming. How does a minister continue when it seems like the promises of God have failed? How can he stay clean in a dirty world? How should the minister respond to injustice and unfair treatment? In order to complete the calling victoriously, ministers must keep their eyes on the One who called them. Each minister has been uniquely gifted and called to fulfill God’s mandate to the world.
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Where 20 Or 30 Are Gathered
$29.00Add to cartWhile worship is the primary purpose of all churches, worship in the small church is distinctive. Whether a house church, a new church plant, a rural church along a country road, or a city church whose neighborhood demographics have shifted, these small faith communities present unique opportunities and challenges for worship leaders.
Peter Bush and Christine O’Reilly draw on their passion and experience equipping lay people to plan and lead worship to answer the question, what makes for effective worship leadership in family-size congregations, where fewer than 50 people gather Sunday by Sunday to worship? Addressing the needs of small churches in rural, suburban, and urban contexts, the authors discuss the characteristics of family-size congregations, the variety of ways they are organized, the joys and challenges of worship and preaching in small congregations, and best worship practices in small congregations. The challenges of the multi-point or yoked pastoral charge and of congregations without clergy receive special consideration.
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Mile Post Devotional 1
$13.99Add to cartThe Next Mile resources are designed to assist local churches and agencies plan and conduct effective ministry. Participants in the short-term mission experience include the goer, sender, local church, goer’s family, mentor, host, and those to whom the STMer ministers.
The mission experience that is well-planned and carried out will affect the life of each participant in their continuing journey to become more like Christ. These devotionals are designed to keep the passion and joy of service alive long after the experience is over.
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Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit Series 5 Cycle C
$17.95Add to cartWhether it’s bedtime stories for young children, scary tales around the campfire, or shared narratives from the “electronic hearth” of television, stories are a primary mode of human communication. For preachers, they’re a key part of the homiletic toolbox — captivating stories are an essential way to connect with listeners and capture their attention. Jesus knew this — he was a master storyteller, and in his sermons he didn’t lecture, he told parables to illustrate his message and help his audience remember important points.
With Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit, you’ll have an invaluable source of fresh, imaginative stories right at your fingertips. Gregory Tolle sheds new light on Cycle C lectionary texts with modern parables that take you inside scripture in memorable and inspiring ways. Tolle’s thought-provoking reflections remind us that God’s grace is always present in our daily lives, especially in places and events we least expect to find it. This book isn’t just a collection of preaching illustrations and “sermon starters” — it’s also powerfully uplifting devotional reading that’s certain to enrich your spiritual life.
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7 Wonders Of The Faith
$8.95Add to cartIn Seven Wonders Of The Faith, Charles Reeb addresses some of the most burning questions that people in the pews are asking — about issues that often become stumbling blocks to faith. He offers scripture-based answers that will enrich and strengthen the faith of believers while also planting seeds of faith in the hearts of unbelievers. His dynamic messages engage readers and speak to our elemental concerns, inviting us to confront them in an effort to discern a truly mature spirituality. This is an excellent resource for adult Sunday school curriculum, a sermon series, or enlightening personal reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of God.
Chapters include:
* I Wonder If God Exists
* I Wonder Why Bad Things Happen To Good People
* I Wonder Why My Prayers Go Unanswered
* I Wonder About God’s Will For My Life
* I Wonder About The Miracles In The Bible
* I Wonder About The End Of The World
* I Wonder About Life After Death -
Sunflowers Sparrows And Salt
$29.95Add to cartSunflowers, Sparrows, And Salt provides a year’s worth of simple, Bible-based lessons perfect for use in the classroom or the sanctuary, coupled with easily reproducible, ready-to-use activities that keep young people interested while helping them grasp the main concepts. There are coloring pages for younger children, plus puzzles and word games for older children — all working together to reinforce scriptural wisdom and Christian values. The lessons follow the seasons of the year, with material for both general and special occasions. This all-new collection of children’s sermons and activity pages from popular CSS author Julia Bland is sure to become an indispensable resource for pastors and Sunday school teachers.
Lessons are included for these special days:
* New Year’s Day
* Valentine’s Day
* Palm Sunday
* Easter Sunday
* Mother’s Day
* Memorial Day
* Father’s Day
* Independence Day
* Labor Day
* Thanksgiving
* Christmas -
Life Everlasting : The Essential Book Of Funeral Resources
$49.95Add to cartThis comprehensive volume is a must-have resource for every pastor. It contains over 100 sample sermons from preachers across the denominational spectrum, plus a vast array of prayers, scripture readings, and other material for planning and conducting meaningful funeral services. A convenient CD with text files for quick tailoring to specific circumstances is also included.
The sermons cover a wide range of topics, including:
* honoring the long and fruitful lives of faithful Christians
* comforting the families and friends of children who left this world too soon
* dealing with troubling questions about God raised by those who have suffered
* offering solace to the loved ones of those who have died suddenly and unexpectedly
* demonstrating how the image of God is present even in difficult and unsavory people
* celebrating a variety of distinctive “characters”
* addressing the difficult issues associated with those who have committed suicide
* witnessing the Christian message of salvation to the unchurchedLife Everlasting is also packed with other valuable resources:
* children’s messages that help young people grasp the meaning of death
* prayers and other liturgical material, including calls to worship and responsive scripture readings
* an extensive selection of scripture texts, each with brief “sermon starter” ideas
* lists of appropriate musical repertoire, including hymns, choral music, instrumental music, and music for soloistsWith all this in one volume, Life Everlasting provides a complete set of practical tools for making funerals powerfully effective moments of ministry that reaffirm the central Christian message of Jesus Christ’s victory over death.
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Mans Question Gods Answer (Revised)
$24.99Add to cartFilled with discussions on more than 200 topics and issues that separate us from the perfect will of God, Man’s Question, God’s Answer is not just a book for counsellors. It is also a vital and powerful tool for personal evangelism. LuAnn Bransby has designed this book to reveal the consequences of sin as well as the blessings of God to those who overcome. Its easy-to-use format will help you take control over your life and circumstances, and help others who face similar problems and issues. If you are searching for the right answer to a difficult situation or sinful behavior, this is the book to read!
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Christian Woman Set Free
$14.95Add to cartSeventeen hundred years is enough! Edwards leads the call to vanquish the inequality of women in the kingdom of God. His weapons of revelation? History, the Greek language, and his own witness of women in churches who are free.
The author challenges Christian ministers to take up the cause of eliminating inequality in the church and dare to discover what happens in the body of Christ when all members function.
The author goes to the root of our present-day Bible translations and lays the axe to the centuries-old tree of mistranslation. You will be shocked to discover that the King James Version does not say what the original Greek text said about women in Paul’s letters (and neither do most other Bible translations).
This book brings to light the mindset that has held both women and men prisoners of misconceptions through the centuries. Reading The Christian Woman…Set Free liberates the reader of any doubt regarding a woman’s place in the kingdom of God. (You will be awed as you see that the greatest friend of women in all of human history, the Lord Jesus Christ, broke all the rules of his day in regard to the treatment of women.)
Best of all, what makes The Christian Woman…Set Free unique is that it is not based on theory, nor is it an intellectual treatise. It is a revolutionary document forged on the anvil of the author’s experiences in daily church life. Edwards writes from a matrix where equality is a way of life and full participation in the church is the territory of both men and women. Edwards give you the practical how-to of the way to experience this freedom in your gathering. There are testimonies in the book of women who experience freedom to share in all the functions of the church. In their churches there is no specific leader, but all are joint leaders.
The Christian Woman…Set Free is a fast paced, high-energy book that takes dead aim at the very foundation of our present-day mindset concerning women and men in church life.
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Holy Hospitality : Worhsip And The Baptismal Covenant
$17.95Add to cartWhat does it really mean to “proclaim the good news of God in Christ” and to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?” These promises from the baptismal rite of the Book of Common Prayer have become very familiar to most Episcopalians, but they have yet to be fully lived out in most congregations. In this lively and accessible guide, Clayton Morris argues that everyone present on Sunday mornings has a ministry of hospitality, coming together in a proclamation of welcome to all.
Praise for Holy Hospitality
“For some, Holy Hospitality will raise eyebrows, and for others it will bring a sigh of relief. Morris has named the elephant in the worship space and recognized that its tail and trunk extend into daily life. He does not give the answers but pointedly asks congregational leaders to contextualize worship in terms of mission and ministry. It is well worth reading and reflecting upon by persons who are seeking to embody the fullness of the gospel imbedded in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer or its equivalent books in Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist, and other churches.”
–The Rev. Daniel Benedict, retired Worship Resources Director, General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church“Holy Hospitality is an excellent primer for those who are just beginning liturgical leadership and is full of wisdom and friendly reminders for those who have been at it for a while. Everyone involved in parish worship–presiders, deacons, musicians, altar guilds, ushers, worship committee members–will profit from the rich experience that Dr. Morris brings to bear.”
–The Right Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta“Holy Hospitality sets the stage for a renewed conversation about worship and how people are drawn into God?s own mission. Though written from an Anglican perspective, the shape and content of this book invites worship planners from other traditions into the dialogue, the hospitable back and forth of feeding and being fed.”
–The Rev. Michael Burk, Ph. D., Executive for Worship, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America“Clayton Morris has crafted a useful and very thoughtful handbook and guide to congregations intending to enhance the welcome they offer newcomers. The theology offered here, always mindful of matters of justice, has a hospitable baptismal heart.”
–The Rev. William Seth Adams, B.D., Ph.D., retired Professor of Liturgics, Episcopal Seminary o -
3rd Level Tithing
$12.49Add to cartThe inspirational writing for this book is the result of a question the Holy Spirit dropped into my spirit … Who gets the tenth part? As a result of this question, I began to search the Scriptures referencing the “tenth part tithing,” which revealed the process leading to tithing at the third level, who gets it, and the blessings thereof. Tithing at the Third Level is a biblical ordinance of God in representing a holy offering without sin. This method of tithing is revealed in Scripture. It is designed to add increase to tithers (Deuteronomy 8:18) for the purpose of promoting the work of the kingdom. This intriguing study will not only inspire you, it will also instill a greater desire to sow with purpose into the kingdom. It’s my belief and experience that third-level tithing is God’s method of rebuking the devourer, sowing up bags with holes (Haggai 1:6; Malachi 3:11), and as a result causing tithers to reap a bountiful harvest.
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From Pew To Pulpit
$18.99Add to cartIn recent years, many lay preachers and bivocational pastors have assumed responsiblity for weekly preaching in local churches. While many of these individuals can preach a fairly good sermon, they haven’t necessarily gotten detailed instruction in the how-tos of preaching. This practical guide addresses choosing the right text and topic; listening to one’s first impressions of the text; keeping liesteners in mind; making engaging use of stories; and delivering with passion. It also includes suggestions for resources, including Bibles, commentaries, other print resources, and websites.
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Touch One : How Much Is One Soul Worth To God
$15.49Add to cartTouch One is about Chris Schimel’s experience with a dropin client while Chris was pastor of a church in Northridge, California. This client was “on the edge” from stresses at his job. The counseling experience, based on a true story, lasted more than two years. Chris is forced to focus his attention upon the bizarre antics of this unique visitor, seemingly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. You will feel this strange caller’s pain as he unfolds his tragic circumstances. Chris finds himself caught in the tension between successfully growing a church and feeling compelled to help this one lost soul who keeps showing up at the most inconvenient times. But as Chris reluctantly submits to these awkward visits from this mysterious individual, God teaches him lessons about true success, big and growing ministries, and reaching the masses, as opposed to touching “the one.” Touch One is a moving story that entertains while it gently pierces the soul, changes the heart, and heals emotional wounds. Its biblical soundness is unmistakable, and the honesty it exudes will rejuvenate the spirit. This unique account of one pastor’s encounter with a troubled soul will make you laugh and cry and reevaluate many of your ideals concerning ministry. The author’s honesty and perspectives on the lessons God taught him through the experiences he shares are refreshing, uplifting, and eye opening. Other writings may broach similar ideas, but none addresses these subjects as directly and with such brutal honesty as this book does. Furthermore, Touch One is a fluid story helping to make it and the lessons it contains readable and entertaining to a wide audience beyond pastors and ministry leaders. Through the circulation of Chris’ experience, it is hoped that God might impress upon His church what His heart is concerning ministry motives. This book contains a message that is crucial for the church culture of our day.
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Whats Theology Got To Do With It
$30.00Add to cartTheology can be a loaded word for mainline Protestant congregations. It often suggests the dogmatic or implies fault lines for conflict. But when unleashed from its narrow academic sense, “theology” offers a powerful way to get at many of the issues that impact the health and vitality of congregations.
Anthony Robinson carefully defines theology as the “core convictions” that help members of a congregation understand their common perspective and shared identity. Theology is the foundational Christian experience, the wisdom that both forms and transforms lives. Rather than avoiding theology, congregations should openly express their beliefs and values to clarify their purpose, argues Robinson. Instead of trying to define the boundaries of belief, a “center-set” congregation will zero in on a reasonably clear core faith.
He examines the problems that occur when congregations are reluctant to focus on theology and are unsure of their beliefs. They risk having a weak identity with nothing at stake. They risk being little more than an exclusive social club. Absent core convictions, structure replaces Spirit, indirection replaces healthy dialogue, and agendas replace leadership.
Central to the book is the notion that Christianity is a revealed religion apart from our own personal preferences. The Bible as Scripture offers a doorway to God and a critical unifying narrative. The Trinity, as a powerful metaphor, provides a balanced approach to fulfilling a congregation’s purpose. Core convictions about God as creator, the person and work of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are crucial to a congregational vitality.
Too many mainline Protestant churches are theologically “underfunded.” Congregations are strengthened when what they believe backs what they do. Indeed, theology, it turns out, has everything to do with it.
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Competent Pastor : Skills And Self Knowledge For Serving Well
$30.00Add to cartWhat does it mean to say that a pastor is competent? And how does a competent pastor function? This book is intended to help pastors, seminarians, and lay people who work with pastors understand and answer these two questions.
Competence in ministry is a moving target. A ministry technique that works in one parish may not work in another. What works today may not work five years from now. But a competent pastor will be able to adapt to changing locations and changing times. A competent pastor will be happy in her job-or able to figure out why she’s not happy and how to move forward. A competent pastor won’t get stuck-or when he does get stuck, he’ll know what steps to take to get unstuck. Competence, defined by author Ronald Sisk as “the ability to do what needs to be done,” requires ministers to understand themselves and others and to keep a realistic perspective on their lives. Competent pastors function by moving toward this kind of understanding and perspective.
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Loving The Church Blessing The Nations
$30.99Add to cartIVP Print On Demand Title
Rediscovering the role God designed for the church in mission is a critical issue facing the missions movement today. That role is to glorify God by planting churches among every tongue, tribe, and nation. Planting churches amid unreached peoples is a complex process. It calls forth every ministry gift and the contribution of every believer.
Imagine a businessman, a construction worker, a schoolteacher, and an engineer all working together to support the development of a local church amongst an unreached people group in another part of the world. Most Christians will not leave home and go elsewhere to minister. If they are to participate in God’s global mission, they must be affirmed, developed and released right where they live, in the context of their local church. This book shows how churches can become centers of mission vision and implementation and so accomplish God’s design for the local church.
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Clergy Burnout : Recovering From The 70 Hour Week And Other Self Defeating
$23.00Add to cart1.Painful Pastoring
2.Burnout And Codependence
3.Personalities And Codependence
4.The Church And Codependence
5.Holiness And Spirituality
6.Becoming Gospel-centered
7.Developing Spiritual Maturity
8.Regaining Balance
9.Stretching And Bridging
10.Knowing The Boundaries
11.Becoming Empowered
12.Un-trashing The TempleAdditional Info
In this highly accessible book, Fred Lehr clarifies the nature and practice of clergy codependence. In short, insightful, and highly readable chapters, filled with many examples and stories from his own life and those he has counseled, Lehr identifies the typical forms codependence takes in the life and ministry of clergy:1.the chief-enabler, the one who keeps things functioning;
2.the scapegoat, the one on whom everything’s blamed when it goes wrong, the one who’s responsible;
3.the hero, the example, the pure and righteous one;
4.the lost child, the one no one really knows or cares about;
5.the rescuer, the one who saves the day, makes the visit, fixes the problem, makes everything all right again;
6.the mascot, the cheerleader, the one who offers comic relief, brings down the tension level after a heated discussion. -
Myth Of The 200 Barrier
$18.99Add to cartThere are two different ways of being a church – pastor size and program. The transitional church is really a hybrid of these two cultures, and this dual nature produces stress and tension where the idea of a 200 barrier often becomes a self-fulfilling expectation.
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7 Deadly Sins Of Small Group Ministry
$22.99Add to cartAssessment and solution for seven common obstacles to building small groups. It’s one thing to start a small group ministry. It’s another to keep the groups in your church healthy and headed in the same direction. Whatever your church’s approach may be-whether it is a church with groups or of groups- sooner or later, as a leader, you’ll need to do some troubleshooting. That’s when the expert, to-the-point guidance in this book will prove its worth. The beauty of this book lies in its unique diagnostic process. It allows you to assess, diagnose, and correct seven common “deadly sins” that can drain the life from your church’s small group ministry. In The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry, what would take you years to learn through trial and error is distilled into some of the most useful information you can find. Drawing on the knowledge they’ve gleaned from working inside Willow Creek Community Church, from consulting with hundreds of churches, and from conducting conferences and seminars worldwide, small group experts Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson furnish you with proven, real-life solutions to the toughest problems in your small group ministry. This is not theory-it is hands-on material you can read and apply today.
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Pastoral Care To The Aged
$14.95Add to cartHere, in handy pocket or purse-sized format, is a nuts-and-bolts guide to visiting the elderly in a variety of settings, to offer pastoral care and spiritual comfort. Kirkwood offers readers a thorough overview of the aging process, including the challenges of dementia and a look at the unique emotional and spiritual needs of the elderly. This book offers help to those who want to make visits to the elderly more meaningful.
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Prayers From The Darkness
$20.95Add to cartThe “difficult psalms” shock us with their cries of pain, anger, and alienation. Lyn Fraser, following the lead of Walter Brueggemann, shows how to integrate these “psalms of disorientation” in Sunday morning worship, pastorla care, and any situation of extreme need.
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Images Of Pastoral Care
$34.99Add to cart“Robert Dykstra’s reading of the pastoral theological tradition is masterful. This book is at once a history of the field, woven together around living illustrations of key moments and metaphors, and a fresh conceptualization. Its three-part grouping of classical, paradoxical, and contemporary/contextual ‘images of care,’ its well-chosen and carefully edited excerpts of each image, and its wisely crafted introductory remarks make this a real gold mine. Seldom does one find a book that is so useful both for ministers desiring a basic introduction to pastoral care and doctoral students seeking a sophisticated understanding of the field. We are indebted to Dykstra for this multifaceted contribution.”
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Organic Church : Growing Faith Where Life Happens
$29.95Add to cartAbout Leadership Network.
Foreword.
Preface.
Introduction.Part One: Roots Of The Organic Church.
Part Two: The Organic Nature Of The Kingdom Of God.
Part Three: From The Microscope To The Telescope.
Part Four: The Epidemic Kingdom And How It Spreads.
Part Five: The Call To Organic Church.Notes.
Acknowledgments.
About The Author.
Subject Index.
Scriptural Index.Additional Info
Churches have tried all kinds of ways to attract new and younger members – revised vision statements, hipper worship, contemporary music, livelier sermons, bigger and better auditoriums. But there are still so many people who aren’t being reached, who don’t want to come to church. And the truth is that attendance at church on Sundays does not necessarily transform lives; God’s presence in our hearts is what changes us. Leaders and laypeople everywhere are realizing that they need new and more powerful ways to help them spread God’s Word. According to international church starter and pastor Neil Cole, if we want to connect with young people and those who are not coming to church, we must go where people congregate. Cole shows readers how to plant the seeds of the Kingdom of God in the places where life happens and where culture is formed – restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, parks, locker rooms,and neighborhoods. Organic Church offers a hands-on guide for demystifying this new model of church and shows the practical aspects of implementing it. -
Touching Place : A Handbook For The Ministry Of Healing In The Local Church
$12.99Add to cartThis is a practical handbook for all local churches that are developing the ministry of healing. It explores biblical teaching on healing, healing through the sacraments, creating prayer ministry teams, training, planning and conducting healing services, accountability, boundaries and confidentiality, the ministry of listening and much more. In a sensitive area where the highest standards of conduct are vital, here is a wise and balanced guide.
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Children Matter : Celebrating Their Place In The Church Family And Communit
$35.50Add to cartChildren today are no longer expected to be “seen and not heard,” yet in many churches children are involved only in programs designated for them. “Children Matter” offers a full discussion of children’s spirituality and shows how the faith community can effectively nurture its youngest members.
Speaking from their experience with children’s ministry in a range of Protestant traditions, the authors draw on the Bible, history, and psychology to lay good foundations for such ministry before discussing the specific content and contexts of faith formation. Finally, they provide wise and practical advice on putting together interesting programs without losing sight of their main purpose. Rather than focusing on innovative ways to use technology, “Children Matter” emphasizes relationships between people and encourages the church to welcome all children as valued participants in the people of God. It will challenge and refresh anyone invested in ministry with children. -
Wondrous Depth : Preaching The Old Testament
$34.00Add to cartEllen Davis is concerned by what she calls a “shallow reading” of Scripture–a reading of what we think we already know instead of an attempt to dig deeper for new insights and revelations. Wondrous Depth is a collection of essays in which Davis argues for a more engaged reading of Scripture that opens the reader up to new knowledge and understanding. Davis also demonstrates that preaching and biblical interpretation are essentially related to one another in that it is essential for preachers to engage in thorough reading and interpretation of Scripture from the pulpit and to encourage their congregations to read the Bible with depth and sensitivity as well.
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Super Simple Bible Lessons
$19.99Add to cartHave you ever needed a Bible lesson QUICK! This resource solves your problem. Super Simple Bible Lessons contains sixty Bible lessons covering both the Old and New Testaments. Each lesson includes a story, a Bible verse, and a super simple craft activity that will reinforce the story. Each craft activity is reproducible. Make as many copies as you need for your class of two or twenty. An easy-to-use index helps you locate specific stories for the children
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Soul Stories : African American Christian Education (Revised)
$23.99Add to cartStories take on a fresh cross-generational orientation with emphasis on linking stories of family identities, events, relationships, and story plot with Bible stories and exemplary Christian faith stories in the African Diaspora.
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Living A Life That Matters
$9.99Add to cartIf It Makes You Happy … – If It Makes You Happy … It Could Be Very Bad – Who Knew Pleasure Would Be So Disappointing? – If It Feels Good, Do It? – What Does It Mean? Fill in the blank: My life would be meaningful if _________________. If you’re observant, you’ll see all kinds of ways people are trying to fill in that blank. Some want more money, more influence, more pleasure-MORE. So, does it work? Will devouring all that the world has to offer lead to satisfaction? The book of Ecclesiastes is about by someone who tried to answer that question. Whether it was sex, drugs, money, power, food, relationships, or knowledge, King Solomon tried it all and documented what he discovered as he searched for a purpose to his life. Look Around lets you gaze over Solomon’s shoulder as he indulges every pleasure, exercises every power, and emerges with a radical conclusion about how to live. You’ll find ways that his search for meaning connects with yours, and how your story can connect with your friends’ as they seek meaning in the world.
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Super Simple Bible Lessons
$19.99Add to cartHave you ever needed a Bible lesson QUICK! This resource solves your problem. Super Simple Bible Lessons contains sixty Bible lessons covering both the Old and New Testaments. Each lesson includes a story, a Bible verse, and a super simple craft activity that will reinforce the story. Each craft activity is reproducible. Make as many copies as you need for your class of two or twenty. An easy-to-use index helps you locate specific stories for the children.
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Leading From The Second Chair
$26.95Add to cartAbout Leadership Network.
Foreword (Greg L. Hawkins).Preface.
1. Living In The Paradoxes.
2. Am I A Second Chair Leader?
THE FIRST PARADOX
Subordinate-Leader.3. Taking It From The Top.
4. Crossing The Line.
A Word To First Chairs On The Subordinate-Leader Paradox.
THE SECOND PARADOX
Deep-Wide.5. A Matter Of Perspective.
6. Building The Team . . . One Relationship At A Time.
7. Putting It Into Practice.
A Word To First Chairs On The Deep-Wide Paradox.
THE THIRD PARADOX
Contentment-Dreaming.8. Contentment In The Second Chair.
9. Dreaming In The Second Chair.
10. Leaving The Second Chair.
A Word To First Chairs On The Contentment-Dreaming Paradox.
Epilogue.
The People Behind The Stories: Profiles Of Second Chair Leaders.
Bibliography.
Acknowledgments.
About The Authors.
Index.
Additional Info
LEADING FROM THE SECOND CHAIR will raise awareness of the need for strong leaders in secondary positions. It will describe the value they can bring to their organization and to primary leaders when they are serving at their full potential. It will reshape the way they view their role, with an emphasis on their own responsibility as leaders. It recognizes the unique challenges and frustrations of serving in a subordinate position and equips these leaders with the attitudes and skills that they will need to survive and thrive in this new paradigm.
Because of the scarcity of resources for second chair leaders, particularly those in the church, this book will offer a practical way to improve the performance of any organization. Leading Congregational Change discussed the importance of a “vision community”–a diverse group of key members who discern and implement the vision for a congregation–to guide the transformation of a church. This work will extend the theme of an empowered leadership team as we explore how individual clergy and laity can lead effectively. -
Welcome Pastor : Building A Productive Pastor Congregation Partnership In 4
$12.95Add to cartA 40-day devotional guide to help churches with new pastors strengthen their relationships with God and one another. Much time, effort, and prayer goes into selecting a new pastor. However many pastors get off to a poor start because the members of the congregation and the new pastor don???t have an effective means for getting to know each other.
This study helps congregations and pastors get off on the right foot and build a successful partnership that starts strong and endures. A poorly begun pastor-congregation relationship results in hurt and frustration, eventually lurching to a miserable conclusion. Churches invest a lot into finding a pastor, and this book will help make sure your church gets the relationship off to a great start.
Getting a new pastor off to a good start is critical to the over 100,000 churches facing changes in leadership each year. This 40-day congregation-wide study provides the foundation for a successful ministry partnership.
“Welcome Pastor” is the first book to offer a clear, simple process for building a successful partnership between a new pastor and a congregation. Its combination of devotional readings and dialogue is easy and pleasurable to read without being simplistic or trite.
People Who Will Benefit From This Book
Congregational Group Study
Pastors and Church Leaders
Pastoral Search Committees
Denominational Leaders
Seminaries: Teaachers and Students -
New Perspectives On Breaking The 200 Barrier
$12.99Add to cart1. What Are Choice Points?
2. Common Choice Points
3. A Choice Point Growth Strategy
4. The 200 Barrier
5. Spiritual Preparations
6. Planning
7. Implementing
8. Leading
9. Conclusion: You Can!Additional Info
Your church can rise from its plateau and Break The 200 Barrier!New Perspectives On Breaking The 200 Barrier is directed to both the pastor and the layperson and offers insights and strategies that will help your church move beyond the average and into the extraordinary. Based on current church trends, new research, and years of experience, strategist Dr. Bill Sullivan returns to the topic of his earlier work, Ten Steps To Breaking The 200 Barrier (1988), and revisits the challenges churches face when trying to grow beyond an attendance of 200. This time he focuses on how the decisions of the congregation affect the church as a whole. He stresses why it is important to train the people, as well as the pastor and church leaders, to understand and accept the changes that come with growth and the desire to expand Christ’s kingdom.
New Perspectives On Breaking the 200 Barrier will help your church:
* Examine the decisions made toward church growth and understand how to make better choices
* Develop a strategy for dealing with tacit assumptions that remain fixed and unresponsive to change without placing all of the responsibility on the pastor
* Focus on prayer and faith with new insight
* Recognize that the gate of change is locked on the inside and it is the congregation that holds the key -
Pastoral Care In Hospitals (Reprinted)
$39.95Add to cartBringing comfort to the sick or dying is never easy. Drawing from his own experience, Kirkwood shows laypeople and clergy what’s helpful—and what’s not—and provides a “theology of visitation” to guide your time with friends and patients. Includes an all-new section on the best practices for hospital chaplains; and prayers for specific circumstances.
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7 Power Principles I Learned After Seminary
$12.00Add to cartGod is moving with power in the world today. From the operational role of the Holy Spirit to warfare worship, from prophecy to miraculous healing, from demonic deliverance to powerful prayer and the new power levels taking place. God is at work in our daily lives. But are we actively taking part in His manifestation of power? Whether readers are seminary graduates or not, everyone who reads this book will come away with important lessons and practical applications of the power of the Holy Spirit. God wants to work with power in and through individuals, churches and seminaries in more ways than we may realize.
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Tween Bible Puzzles
$18.99Add to cartTween Bible Puzzles is a reproducible book of Bible activities that can be used with Tweens in Transition or can be used as a stand-alone activity book for tweens. Tween Bible Puzzles contains two puzzles per week for an entire year and covers the Old and New Testaments. Reproducible puzzles allow teachers to select activities that supplement learning in their classroom for only pennies a week. Through reflection questions included with each puzzle the students will begin discussion of the lesson to assist in long-term memory and life application.
Tweens Bible Puzzles contains 104 Bible activities, a scripture index, topical index and answers sheets for all the puzzles. Clear, easy to use indexes help teachers find just the right activity in a snap!
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Guide To Preaching
$20.99Add to cartPreaching can be an extremely daunting experience for many but is an essential part of any service or Christian occasion. It is so important for the preacher to engage with their listeners and present their message clearly. A Guide to Preaching will do just that – an authoritative, comprehensive yet immensely readable book containing a treasure chest of facts, styles, inspiration and lively examples from around the world for old hands or those new to preaching. A Guide to Preaching covers every aspect of the task of preaching, from planning a sermon that takes account of biblical, personal, church and liturgical background through to using stories, imagination, dialogue, drama, news bulletins and much more. An entire chapter is devoted to developing the skills of rhetoric, and it includes plenty of practical advice and examples to help you understand, develop and review your own style. Roger Bowen has edited this guide with contributions from David Edwards, David Gitari, Simea Meldrum, Esther Mombo and Vinoth Ramachandra. “”This is a helpful book from which most preachers will learn something.”” Stella Mills, Rural Theology (vol. 5, issue 68)
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Ready To Go Youth Group Activities (Teacher’s Guide)
$23.99Add to cartReady-Made Event Packages
…Just Add Youth Group
FULLY LOADED
All Options, Extras & Side Items Included
These ready-made event packages are completely accessorized with everything you need to easily prepare and smoothly execute fun and instructive youth activities.You can spend less time on planning event details, and more time directly engaging your teens.
These plans cover every detail, even laying out hour-by-hour schedules for you.
Think of the convenience. Think of all the up-front prep time you can save.
The unique benefit of the Ready-To-Go series is that these activity materials go beyond merely offering ideas.
Ready to Go resources instead provide fully developed activity & event plans. These allow the youth leader to host youth events of substance & quality, with a minimal up-front time investment.
It’s like offering a baked cake instead of a cake recipe & ingredients. Or, offering a fully-assembled ready-to-use playground set…instead of loose components in a box with assembly instructions.
This book features 101 ready-to-go lessons that Youth Leaders can use in a Sunday School setting, in youth meetings, or retreats.
It also contains meeting ideas and lessons that can be utilized quickly and effectively when the need arises. Ready-to-Go Youth Group Activities includes —
Meeting starters
Short Bible studies
Test worksheets
Fliers
Parable studies with skits
Games
Small events with little or no prep time
Meeting closers
A scripture index.
All materials are reproducible.Ready-To-Go resources are equipped with event themes that target contemporary issues teens face in the real world. These relevant messages are delivered with impact, through coordinated devotional plans, discussion frameworks, and captivating activities.
All the event accessories you need, down to publicity fliers and parental forms are included.
Just add youth.
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Substance Of Faith
$26.00Add to cartTo read The Substance of Faith is once again to experience Clarence Jordan at his best: the flashing witt that could illuminate even as it entertained, the blazing concern that knew how to lay its burden on the heart of even the causual listerner, the biting irony that pierced shame and pretense, the depth of spirit that saw fresh meaning in the most familar passage of Scripture. With in the pages of this book, you’ll discover the basic themes of Clarence Jordan’s life: “Incartational Evangelishm”, the “God Movement” and his prophetic insight into the enemies of authentic faith, such as Mammon. Dallas Lee has brought all this together from what Clarence Jordan siadn in the pulpit, classroom and lecture hall.
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Servant Leadership : Jesus And Paul
$24.99Add to cart“Efrain Agosto provides a rich and textured study of religious leadership as exercised by Jesus and the apostle Paul. The study is not only exegetically thorough, it provides an implicit challenge to contemporary religious leaders to rethink and reform our own roles. In the last chapter, Agosto makes that challenge explicit in ways that are clear, helpful, and appropriately demanding. A fine book for those who provide leadership to religious communities and to those who teach those leaders.”
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Pulpit Science Fiction
$12.95Add to cartTo keep the Christian message relevant in our rapidly changing times, it’s vital that churches come to terms with how modern technology and scientific knowledge have changed the way we understand the world. And because preaching is the church’s primary mode of communication (especially with adults), it offers a significant opportunity to shape how we think about the larger questions of our existence.
One innovative way for preachers to address these concerns is through popular science fiction. Because many of the genre’s stories deal with the impact of science and technology on individuals and cultures, they often have implicit religious implications. Pulpit Science Fiction is a fascinating collection of creative story sermons that shows how you can use elements drawn from science fiction to boldly proclaim the Christian faith. In addition to 14 imaginative “science fiction parables,” a pair of essays are also included that illustrate how references to science fiction films and stories can be utilized in preaching.
Story titles include:
* Improving The Species — Genesis 6:1-4
* Exiles — Ezekiel 34:11-16, 23-24
* Time Travel — Mark 1:12-15
* The Aliens Are Puzzled — John 10:11-16
* Burying The Seeds — John 12:20-33
* The Signal — Ephesians 3:7-12
* erhero: Sort of a Sequel — Hebrews 12:1-2
…and seven more! -
Church And Stage
$16.95Add to cartChurch and Stage is a guide for people in churches who want to employ theater in ministry, and for theater people who want to create opportunities to work in churches. The points of contact between religion and theater are numerous, and Dean J. Seal offers guidelines for making the connection work no matter what level of experience or financial commitment a congregation brings to the task. The author, who has worked in the worlds of both church and stage, provides background on the historical and theological relationship between religion and theater. He then offers practical advice and guidelines for the use of theater in the context of ministry-from discussion groups to bibliodrama to play-going to ultimately producing a show. This book is a resource for ministers, lay leaders, youth groups, and members of the theater community who desire greater integration of faith and work.
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Almost Every Answer For Practically Any Teacher (Reprinted)
$24.99Add to cartQuestions? Answers. Teachers face the threat of burnout, the challenge of discipline, and the complexity of different learning styles. Here’s your chance to get a firm grasp on every issue from A to Z! This book contains 100 articles that provide insight, inspiration, and instruction for those who communicate God’s truth at school, home, church, or in the workplace. Edited by bestselling author Bruce Wilkinson, this is your resource for making a life-changing impact on your students. Includes articles by a variety of Christian leaders, from Charles Swindoll to Joni Eareckson Tada and A.W. Tozer.
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Primer On Pastoral Care
$21.00Add to cartEditor’s Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction1.The One-Room Schoolhouse
2.The Grammar Of Care: Pointers And Precepts
3.The Prism Of Pastoral Care: Scripture Refracted
4.The Community As Classroom: Avoiding Compassion Fatigue
5.The Open Classroom: Places Of Care
6.The Open Classroom: More Places Of Care
7.An Alphabet Of GraceNotes
Additional Info
Based on her twenty years of teaching and on her own experience in pastoral care, Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner has written a basic pastoral-care text to assist in the emotional and spiritual preparation of pastoral caregivers.Stevenson-Moessner sees pastoral care as the interconnection and interplay of love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. Her brief book engenders confidence and caring in the initiate, and assuages the fear and anxiety that naturally occur when one accompanies people in life-changing pain and travail. Through bibical parables – especially the Good Samaritan and the Good Shepherd – and stories from her own experience, Stevenson-Moessner imparts genuine wisdom and meaningful support to those who courageously dare to offer caregiving ministry in whatever situation or through whatever method or paradigm.
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Outside Of Eden 1
$23.99Add to cartOUTSIDE OF EDEN: Part One is an aspect of God’s Love story. This is a great resource for ministry in pastoral care and counseling and healing, restoration, and transformation. The discourse examines the process and application of the Love of God in the African American Pentecostal Church, specifically toward those who have transgressed church dogma and Biblical instruction. Psychological crucifixion, “the process” of propelling pregnant teens before the church to express penitence while the impregnator remains seated, is cross-examined. Church dogma, spirituality, sexuality, genderism, penitence, forgiveness, and Christian and secular education are engaged while examining “the process.” Statistics reveal that transgressors often become repeat offenders; therefore, spiritual nourishment is essential. This discourse is brimming with information for seminarians, parents/guardians, youth, parishioners, and church leaders. Prayerfully, persons whose soul-state saunters or who have a zeal to help those who are Outside of Eden will also find this discourse resourceful.
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Small Group Leaders Handbook
$19.99Add to cartThe Small Group Leaders Handbook provides a solid scriptural foundation upon which to build your small group ministry. By combining biblical teaching with practical guidelines, the Small Group Leaders Handbook provides a balanced and thorough exploration of small group ministry in the twenty-first century.
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Praying Congregation : The Art Of Teaching Spiritual Practice
$29.00Add to cart“I believe that God is calling all of us into deeper prayer and is longing for our congregations to become places of prayer,” writes Jane E. Vennard. Pastors and others who want to develop their skills as teachers of prayer and spiritual practices will find in this book not only wisdom for themselves but easily accessible lesson plans, so that they can share Vennard’s insights with others while infusing the activities with their own spirit and creative ideas.
Readers are invited to gently explore questions such as, Who taught you to pray and how? What do you believe about prayer? What is your image of the God to whom you pray? And, What is prayer anyway? Through this book, readers’ hearts are made ready to explore the wonder of strengthening their relationship with God through prayer.
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This Holy Mystery
$14.00Add to cartIt’s Communion Sunday. The service is a little longer, and the sacrament is observed with gravity. You know it’s important, but the wonder is lost. What does it all mean, really?
According to the results of a survey, you’re not alone. United Methodists have a strong sense of the importance of Holy Communion, but they also lack a meaningful understanding of the theology behind it. Reclaim a richer sacramental life in your congregation through a group study of This Holy Mystery.
In 2004, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted an official interpretative document on Holy Communion. (Go here to download a copy.) For the first time in our history, the denomination has an official, comprehensive statement of the practice and theology of the Lord’s Supper. Now, it’s time for congregations to help members understand the observance.
“We believe that study of this document will yield increased appreciation for the sacrament in the worship experience and enable United Methodist people to draw nourishment and strength for their ongoing journeys of faith,” writes Felton.
This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion is a study guide of the General Conference approved document. An all-in-one resource, this book is for both participants and leaders. It’s divided into seven sessions, providing commentary on the history, practice, and principles of Holy Communion in United Methodist congregations. It also points to implication of the sacrament for ministry and mission.
We come to the Table of the Lord seeking to have our spiritual needs met. The benefits include forgiveness, nourishment, healing, transformation, ministry and mission, and eternal life. Renew your appreciation for the divine grace made available through this sacrament.
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Understanding Church Growth (Revised)
$34.99Add to cartAuthor Donald A. McGavran is considered a founder of the Church Growth Movement in America. In this 3rd edition of his standard work, McGavaran analyzes the causes, methods and strategies for successful church growth both in America and abroad.
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Empowering Your Preaching (Student/Study Guide)
$24.99Add to cartRevitalize your preaching ministry with “Empowering Your Preaching”. This one-day course is an intense spiritual, mental, and practical encounter. Find your spirit empowered as you work though each chapter and receive a fresh new hunger to preach the Word.
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Vocation Of The Christian Scholar (Revised)
$25.99Add to cartRichard T. Hughes’s highly praised book on the relationship between Christian faith and secular learning – originally published as “How Christian Faith Can Sustain the Life of the Mind” – is now available in a revised edition that brilliantly incorporates recent interest in the topic of vocation.
While the vocational dimensions of the earlier book were implicit, this revised edition makes them explicit. In the first of two completely new chapters, Hughes recounts his own vocational journey, telling how he drew on Christian theology to discover his talents and how best to use them. The second new chapter focuses on the vocation of Christian colleges and universities, including the purpose and goals of church-related education. The story offered here provides a compelling argument that faith, properly pursued, nourishes the openness and curiosity that make a life of the mind possible. -
Pastors In Transition
$28.99Add to cartWhether they leave out of preference for another ministry or due to serious conflict, pastors who relinquish parish ministry face misunderstanding and even hostility. Pastors in Transition brings clarity to this little-examined aspect of the pastorate by examining the main reasons why pastors in five Protestant denominations have left parish ministry.
The fruit of careful sociological research, Pastors in Transition presents the findings of the largest-ever study of recently ended ministries. More than 900 ex-ministers, representing the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Methodist Church, were surveyed or interviewed. Besides gathering facts and figures, the book contains personal stories, forthright opinions, and concrete recommendations from former pastors for strengthening parish ministry in the future.
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Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church
$24.99Add to cartA perceptive evaluation of the new “emerging church” movement showing how we must not only interact with a fast-changing culture but also have our vision and practice of ministry shaped by biblical theology with Scripture as the norm.
From the Back Cover
A careful and informed assessment of the “emerging church” by a respected author and scholar
The “emerging church” movement has generated a lot of excitement and exerts an astonishingly broad influence. Is it the wave of the future or a passing fancy? Who are the leaders and what are they saying?The time has come for a mature assessment. D. A. Carson not only gives those who may be unfamiliar with it a perceptive introduction to the emerging church movement, but also includes a skillful assessment of its theological views. Carson addresses some troubling weaknesses of the movement frankly and thoughtfully, while at the same time recognizing that it has important things to say to the rest of Christianity. The author strives to provide a perspective that is both honest and fair.
Anyone interested in the future of the church in a rapidly changing world will find this an informative and stimulating read.
D. A. Carson (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of over 45 books, including the Gold Medallion Award-winning book The Gagging of God, and is general editor of Telling the Truth and Worship by the Book. He has served as a pastor and is an active guest lecturer in church and academic settings around the world.
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Experiencing Healing Prayer
$30.99Add to cartOne restless night Rick Richardson was disturbed throughout his sleep by an image of a man coming at him with a knife. Taking that image seriously set Rick on a profound journey of healing and prayer around issues of masculinity and relationships.
Sometimes we feel spiritually numb, find ourselves emotionally dependent, struggle with addictive behavior, or see a trail of broken relationships behind us. These can be signs that we are in need of God’s healing touch in our lives through prayer–prayer that we can learn and practice in community. In this biblical and very human book, Richardson walks us through the steps we need to receive this gift of healing from God as well as to begin praying for others in their pain.
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Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 2 Cycle B
$36.95Add to cartPacked with inspiring illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart, this complete collection of thoughtful sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year is a gold mine of creative preaching ideas — and an invaluable source of insight into faithful Christian living amidst the challenges of today’s secular world. Five outstanding preachers from diverse ministry settings reflect on the events of Jesus’ life and their contemporary meaning in messages based on Gospel passages from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. Combining a strong foundation in the scriptural text with a deep understanding of vital current issues, these sermons passionately proclaim the Good News while pointing readers toward a strengthened and renewed spiritual relationship with Christ, the rock of our salvation.
This essential resource is useful for:
? Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
? Preaching illustrations
? Understanding scripture passages
? Adult study and discussion groups
? Personal devotions and Bible study -
Sermons On The First Readings Series 2 Cycle B
$36.95Add to cartThe Old Testament details the epic faith story of ancient people who, just like us today, seek God’s answers to complex problems. Yet because pastors sometimes overlook this rich source of preaching texts, many people in the pews are not as knowledgeable as they could be of the Hebrew scriptures and their profound lessons for modern living. In this inspiring collection of spiritually enlightening messages based on the First Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, four master preachers demonstrate the continuing relevance of passages from the Old Testament and the Book of Acts. Building on stories in which God moves ordinary people to extraordinary heights, these sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year powerfully proclaim timeless themes of justice and righteousness while reminding us that God’s grace is the model for the Christian community’s core values of self-giving love and forgiveness. Each thought-provoking message is filled with compelling stories and illustrations from everyday life, and challenges readers to love and serve the Lord, trusting in divine providence even in the midst of a world that sometimes seems cruel and senseless.
This essential resource is useful for:
? Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
? Preaching illustrations
? Understanding scripture passages
? Bible study and discussion groups
? Personal devotions and inspirational reading -
3 Months With John (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartAvailable in English for the first time, Three Months with John is popular author Justo Gonzalez’ study of the Gospel of John. Eminently readable, the study uses the “see-judge-act” method to bring readers closer to the text, informing and challenging them to apply the biblical material to their own lives. 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 John can easily be used as a daily Bible study, as each lesson is divided into seven parts. This is the fourth Gonzalez title to be translated from the Spanish. Previous titles include: Three Months with Matthew #0687094550, Three Months with the Spirit #0687045991, and Three Months with Revelation #0687088682.
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Your Faith Has Made You Well Cycle B
$15.95Add to cartThis is an admirable example of pastoral theology at its best. Aaron’s discussions of the historical background and theological significance of each text are thoroughly informed and articulate. Equally helpful are the insights he brings to the understanding of the pastoral implications of each text and the strategies appropriate to preaching the text. This book proves that some of the best biblical theology for pastors can be written by a pastor.
David Bartlett
Lantz Professor of Preaching
Yale University Divinity School
The moving accounts of Jesus’ astonishing power to cast out demons and heal physical ailments are singularly compelling preaching texts with rich possibilities for proclamation — they have much to teach us about God’s grace and the ministry of the church, as well as the spiritual dimension of evil. But these passages are also fraught with homiletic peril, presenting preachers with a tangle of problems and conflicting beliefs. In light of modern scientific knowledge and technological sophistication, some Christians question if these miracles really occurred. Others wonder why only some people experience such healings, and there is a temptation to simplistically equate lack of healing with lack of faith. Should we expect similar miracles today? What is the link between faith and wellness? And most important of all, what do these strange yet fascinating stories mean for us today?
Your Faith Has Made You Well helps preachers negotiate this minefield with a detailed exploration of eleven miracle narratives appearing in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. It’s packed with stimulating ideas and illustrations for developing dynamic sermons, including a supplemental chapter with numerous examples of contemporary miracles and healings. Each miracle is examined from several perspectives to produce a holistic understanding:
? historical background — What Old Testament narratives or ideas are reflected in the story? What do we know about the understanding of medicine and health in Jesus’ time?
? literary analysis — How does the plot unfold? How are the characters developed? What literary devices are employed?
? theological reflection — What does the text affirm or imply about God, creation, the ministry of Christ, salvation, and the meaning of evil? What does it teach us about faith, the Christian life, and the mission of the church?
? pastoral reading — What insight does the text give us about the human condition
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Selling Swimsuits In The Arctic (Student/Study Guide)
$15.99Add to cartThe pastor of one of today’s most dynamic churches illumines the basic principles of attracting the unchurched to the Christian message.
Using the story of Bob, a successful swimsuit salesman whose business takes a turn for the worse when he moves to Alaska, Adam Hamilton reminds us that all of life is about sales. Whether we are in a job interview, a candidates’ debate, or a classroom, we are selling something: our skills, our convictions, our selves. The same is true of presenting the gospel to the unchurched. In leading a friend to a saving relationship with Christ, in inviting them to join us at church, we are presenting them with something that we believe they need, that will make all the difference in their life. Yet if we don’t understand what we are presenting, who we are presenting it to, if we don’t believe in the message we are offering, or if we don’t believe that people need that message more than anything else, then we will not be faithful witnesses to it. In short, says Hamilton, if we don’t understand some of the most basic principles that all successful salespersons know, then we will not succeed in presenting the message of Christ to those who most need to hear it.
By telling the humorous and quirky story of Bob trying to sell swimsuits in the Arctic, Hamilton explains the fundamental concepts of sales that also apply in how we spread the gospel message. Drawing on his experience as the leader of one of the country’s fastest-growing churches, he offers pastors and other Christian leaders solid, simple guidance on how to share the faith, and grow one’s congregation.
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He Speaks To Me Bible Study Book (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartHe Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear from God – Member Book by Priscilla Shirer includes study material for six weeks of in-depth, interactive daily assignments and seven small-group sessions plus a leader guide for facilitating the study. Priscilla draws life lessons from the account of God speaking to the boy Samuel in the beloved Bible story found in 1 Samuel 3.
Priscilla relates six characteristics found in Samuel that are applicable to women today as they tune their hearts to hear God’s voice. These characteristics are: A Simple Relationship, A Set Apart Holiness, A Still Attentiveness, A Single-Minded Worship, A Sold Out Hunger, and A Servant’s Spirit. By listening to God’s voice and obeying Him, women will be drawn into a closer relationship to God that brings a deeper desire to serve Him faithfully. Leader’s Guide included in Member Book
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1st Epistle Of Paul The Apostle To Timothy
$26.49Add to cart1. Setting Things Right In The Church!
2. How Serious Is Corporate Prayer To You?
3. The Biblical Qualifications For Pastors And Deacons
4. What Are We To Be Doing In The Last Days Of The Church Age?
5. The Church Is A Family
6. The Tremendous Dangers Of False Doctrine And False TeachersAdditional Info
The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy issues an urgent wake-up call to pastors and churches everywhere in this age where false doctrine, religious traditions, hucksterism, gimmickry, and biblical illiteracy are pandemic among the professed people of God. Ownership, control, and spiritual empowerment of the church belong to God, not us! We have no business using unscriptural methods to function as a church, no matter what the so-called “results” may be. God’s Word is clear concerning the structure, function, and roles of His church. Written in a clear, verse-by-verse format, Dr. Harley Howard’s book details what the true biblical church is all about-from church leaders to deacons to the entire congregation-all according to the Bible. -
Leading Leaders : Empowering Church Boards For Ministry Excellence (Reprinted)
$20.00Add to cartThe key to effective leadership in the vast majority of today’s churches lies as much with their governing boards as it does with their pastor. But many churches are lead by those who volunteer to chair committees because there is a need, yet they have no leadership training to speak of. How well-meaning but sometimes ill-prepared lay people guide the path of a church body? The secret lies in offering effective, practical training. Leadership expert Aubrey Malphurs provides this in Leading Leaders. Filling a gaping hole in leadership literature, Malphurs offers workable strategies to train laypeople to successfully lead their churches.
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Teaching The Mystery Of God To Children
$11.95Add to cartThis is a book of clues… clues to the awe and immensity of God that will lead children to think about, rather than “learn” about, God. Instead of teaching in the traditional sense, it provides “clues” for a shared journey toward discovering the Divine Mystery at the core of the universe.
The recent trend in Christian education has been to emphasize knowledge, and to make church school more fun and entertaining. But in our zeal to pass on the basics of the faith, we have often neglected to guide children into truly experiencing the full wonder of the almighty. We have taught them about religion, but we have not always helped them to establish a deep and meaningful relationship with God.
This book approaches the mission from a different perspective – one that identifies and reaffirms the spiritual experiences young people are already having. Each chapter suggest numerous ideas for use in classes, as well as a “Time to Reflect” section for adults to recall and meditate on their own spiritual life as children.
Teaching The Mystery Of God To Children is an essential resource for any parent or church school teacher who is interested in the spiritual development of their children.
Subjects discussed include:
* The Bible
* Art
* Symbols
* Music
* Sounds
* Movement
* Words
* Poetry
* Nature
* Sacred Space
* Koans and Miracles
* Death -
Creative Church Bulletin Boards
$10.95Add to cartDo church bulletin boards have to be dull and boring? Not if you have Creative Church Bulletin Boards in hand! The uplifting, thought-provoking theme messages presented in this practical “how-to” guide will both educate and entertain your entire congregation. Capturing the attention of media-jaded children – and adults – is much easier when the message of our faith is displayed in eye-catching splashes of color and design, rather than in faded construction paper or dry “memos.”
Packed with unique design ideas that will spark your creativity, Creative Church Bulletin Boards offers plenty of specific advice on shopping for supplies and keeping expenses within a limited budget, as well as detailed directions for using a wide variety of non-conventional tools to mount interesting items. You’ll learn how to put together attractive displays that reinforce Christian teachings on subjects such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, and caring. Material appropriate for both general use and specific seasons throughout the year is provided, with plenty of possible slogans or phrases for you to choose from. And to help get you started, each grouping includes a thorough discussion of one example along with a color picture and explicit step-by-step instructions for assembling the board. Creative Church Bulletin Boards gives you everything you need to put a powerful but often overlooked evangelism tool to work in your church!
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Pastors Guide To Personal Spiritual Formation
$14.99Add to cartIn The Pastor’s Guide To Personal Spiritual Formation, experienced church leaders, who understand firsthand the importance of maintaining one’s own spiritual formation, challenge and inspire you to reach new and deeper levels of spiritual vitality and growth, and in doing so profoundly influence the quality and depth of your ministry. William Willimon, M. Robert Mulholland Jr., Steve Harper, Bill Hybels, and other well-known church leaders discuss topics such as:
*Spiritual Direction
*Prayer and Meditation
*The Sabbath
*Grace
*Making Choices
*Spiriitual Reading, and more!
How can you continue to cultivate a maturing, intimate relationship with Christ in the midst of leading your own congregation? Spiritual guidance and growth for pastors.
