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Pastor As Theological Steward
$19.99Add to cartAmong the many competing tasks of pastoral ministry is the primary responsibility of being a faithful steward of the gospel. As the uniting center of all other pastoral responsibilities, fulfilling this theological stewardship is challenging. The Pastor as Theological Steward is designed to help pastors as they embrace and practice this stewardship in their ministries.
With a keen grasp of practical theology, the contributors to this resource highlight the many ways of expressing this stewardship in ministry. Included are chapters on Scripture, church history, creeds, sacraments, and prayer. Written by a cadre of scholars and pastors, who are also experts in their chosen topics, this book is an essential addition to every pastor’s library.
The Pastor as Theological Steward contributors include: T. Scott Daniels, Dean Flemming, Stephen G. Green, Timothy M. Green, Steven Hoskins, Deirdre Brower-Latz, Diane Leclerc, Jesse C. Middendorf, Mark R. Quanstrom, Jeren Rowell, C. Jeanne Serrao, Sam Vassel.
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There Is A River
$9.99Add to cartSKU (UPC): 614187147627Artist: VariousMedia: CDReleased: May 2020DayWind Music Group Songs1. Hell Calm Your Storm2. I Give You Jesus3. Jesus Just The Mention Of Your Name4. Mary Did You Know5. 1 More River To Cross6. Sweet Anointing7. There Is A River8. You Say9. Jesus On The Mainline10. Gone At Last
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Understanding Scientific Theories Of Origins
$100.99Add to cartList Of Figures
List Of Tables
List Of Sidebars
Introduction
AbbreviationsPart 1: Getting Started On The Journey
1. Principles And Methods Of Biblical Interpretation (John H. Walton)
2. A Comprehensive Doctrine Of Creation And Implications For Scientific Study (Robert C. Bishop)
3. Knowledge And Faith In Pursuing Origins Questions (Robert C. Bishop)
4. Creation Through The Lenses Of Science And Theology (Robert C. Bishop)Part 2: Cosmic Origins
5. Cosmic Origins: Genesis 1:1-2:4 (John H. Walton)
6. Electromagnetic Radiation And The Scale Of The Universe (Robert C. Bishop)
7. The Expanding Universe (Robert C. Bishop)
8. The Big Bang Model And Contemporary Cosmology (Robert C. Bishop)
9. Lives And Deaths Of Stars And Fine-Tuning (Robert C. Bishop)
10. Biblical And Theological Perspectives On The Origins Of The Universe (Robert C. Bishop)Part 3: Origin And Geologic History Of Earth
11. Origin Of The Earth And Solar System (Stephen O. Moshier)
12. Historical Roots Of Geology: Catastrophism And Uniformitarianism (Stephen O. Moshier)
13. The Genesis Flood (John H. Walton)
14. The Rock Cycle And Timescales Of Geologic Processes (Stephen O. Moshier)
15. Rocks Of Ages: Measuring Geologic Time (Stephen O. Moshier)
16. Plate Tectonics: A Theory For How The Earth Works (Stephen O. Moshier)
17. Reading Earth’s History In Rocks And Fossils (Stephen O. Moshier)
18. Biblical And Theological Perspectives On Earth History (Stephen O. Moshier And Robert C. Bishop)Part 4: Origin Of Life On Earth
19. From Spontaneous Generation To Abiogenesis (Larry L. Funck)
20. Prebiotic Chemistry: Preparing The Primordial Soup (Larry L. Funck)
21. Biological Information: Proteins And Nucleic Acids (Larry L. Funck)
22. Alternative Scenarios For Life’s Origin (Larry L. Funck)
23. Biblical And Theological Perspectives On The Origin Of Life (Larry L. Funck)Part 5: Origin Of Species And Diversity Of Life
24. Development Of The Theory Of Evolution (Raymond J. Lewis)
25. The Modern Synthesis Of Evolution (Raymond J. Lewis)
26. Exploring The Evidence About Evolution: Phylogeny And Fossils (Raymond J. Lewis)
27. Development Of An Extended Synthesis Of Evolution (Raymond J. Lewis)
28. Biblical And Theological Perspectives On The Origin Of The Diversity Of Life (Raymond J. Lewis And Robert C. Bishop)Part 6: Human Origins
29. Human Origins: Genesis 2-3 (John H. Walton)
30. Human Origins: Evidence From Physical Anthropology (Stephen O. Moshier)Additional Info
The question of origins remains a stumbling block for many. But just as the Psalmist gained insight into God’s character through the observation of nature, modern scientific study can deepen and enrich our vision of the Creator and our place in his creation. In this often contentious field Bishop, Funck, Lewis, Moshier, and Walton serve as our able guides.Based on over two decades of teaching origins together in the classroom, the authors present a textbook exploring mainstream scientific theories of origins in astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, geology, biology, physical anthropology, and genetics. While many authors engage origins from a Christian perspective, this is the first work offering a full-fledged discussion of the scientific narrative of origins, from the Big Bang through humankind, accessible to a lay audience in biblical and theological perspective.
Topics include
Principles of biblical interpretation
Close readings of relevant Genesis texts
A comprehensive Trinitarian doctrine of creation
Cosmic origins
The geologic history of Earth
The origin of life on Earth
The origin of species and diversity of life
Human origins
New creation and creation care
Science educationRather than the familiar scenario where science and faith compete, this book seeks to diffuse tensions by taking the inspiration and authority of the Bible seriously while respecting and honoring God’s revelation through creation. Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins gives the reader a detailed picture of the sciences of origins along with how they fit into the story of God’s creative and redemptive action.
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Connections Year C Volume 1
$55.00Add to cartDesigned to empower preachers as they lead their congregations to connect their lives to Scripture, Connections features a broad set of interpretive tools that provide commentary and worship aids on the Revised Common Lectionary.
For each worship day within the three-year lectionary cycle, the commentaries in Connections link the individual lection reading with Scripture as a whole as well as to the larger world. In addition, Connections places each Psalm reading in conversation with the other lections for the day to highlight the themes of the liturgical season. Finally, sidebars offer additional connections to Scripture for each Sunday or worship day.
This nine-volume series is a practical, constructive, and valuable resource for preachers who seek to help congregations connect more closely with Scripture.
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Grounded In Creed Participant And Leader Book (Student/Study Guide)
$13.99Add to cartSession One: I Believe
Session Two: In God
Session Three: In Jesus
Session Four: In The Spirit
Session Five: In The Church
Session Six: In The PromiseAdditional Info
This offer to community groups (and small groups of any kind) is a six-session study based on the Apostles creed, which has served the church for nearly 1500 years as a basic summary statement about core Christian beliefs. This participant experience expands on the principle that “Growing People Change” their hearts and lives (a changed heart and life is the meaning of the New Testament concept metanoia, which in Elizabethan English is translated as “repentance”). This growth is accomplished by (1) understanding what changes in belief come through turning away from the practices that separate us from God (2) reflecting about our relationship to God while learning how to think theologically. -
Lent Talks : Seasonal Selections From Radio 4
$13.99Add to cartA selection of the best from BBC Radio 4’s Lent Talks over the last ten years. With a dynamic introduction from BBC Head of Radio for Religion and Ethics, Christine Morgan, six well-known personalities invite readers to reflect on a range of thoughts and themes from a number of different perspectives. From writer James Runcie’s reflection on the passion through the prism of mystery drama to Ann Widdecombe MP’s exploration of the “greater good’, this blissfully brief and entertaining book will provide something for everyone in the busy lead up to Easter. WEEK ONE – JAMES RUNCIE – MYSTERY First broadcast as part of the BBC Lent Talks 2015, director, literary curator and writer of The Grantchester Mysteries, James Runcie looks at the passion through the prism of mystery drama. WEEK TWO – BONNIE GREER – NAMES A gem of BBC Lent Talks 2014 archive, this talk sees playwright, novelist and critic Bonnie Greer reflect on the power of names. WEEK THREE – ANN WIDDECOMBE – GOODNESS Taken from the 2008 Lent Talks series, former MP, TV personality and author Ann Widdecombe reflects on the examples set by Jesus in his decision to go to the cross. WEEK FOUR – GILES FRASER – SACRIFICE First broadcast as part of the BBC Lent Talks 2010, Rev Dr Giles Fraser, Church of England priest, journalist and broadcaster, invites readers to reflect on the nature of sacrifice. WEEK FIVE – ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH – ABANDONMENT Taken from the Lent Talks 2013, author Alexander McCall Smith explores the sense of being abandoned as you grow older. WEEK SIX – NICK BAINES – VISION Marking the beginning of the Lent Talks 2012, author, broadcaster and Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines reflects on the challenges of finding a new narrative for the individual and community.
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Untamed Gospel : Reflections Poems And Prayers For The Christian Year
$30.49Add to cartUntamed Gospel complements The Bright Field and Darkness Yielding, and offers meditations, reflections, stories, prayers and poems for use throughout the church year. Each one focuses on the often startling nature of Jesusa(TM) sayings and teachings, the raw honesty of the psalms and other biblical texts, and on contemporary issues, such as mental health and displacement, seen in the light of the demands of the kingdom of God. It offers a prophetic challenge to the churcha(TM)s tendency towards management and control. A rich resource for worship, preaching, teaching and personal reflection throughout the year, Untamed Gospel contains hundreds of reproducible items, including seasonal reflections, stories, homilies, poems and some of Jim Cottera(TM)s last writings as he was being treated for cancer: a moving sequence of prayer poems inspired by the psalms.
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Happily Ever After
$10.99Add to cartHarder than you imagined. Better than a fairy tale. Marriage between sinners has its inevitable messes. If you’ve been married longer than a week or two, you know how the hard realities of life in a fallen age can come crashing in. Perhaps you had a season of “once upon a time,” but soon enough you realized that this marriage, in this world, is not yet your “happily ever after.” We want to help. We believe that God designed marriage not as a trial to be endured, but as a pointer to and catalyst for your greatest joy. God didn’t design marriage to be your storybook ending, but a fresh beginning, to help get you ready for the true “happily ever after” when together we see our great Bridegroom face to face. The thirty devotional readings in Happily Ever After have been assembled to shape, challenge, and inspire you and your spouse’s (or fiance’s) vision of marriage.
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Preachers Guide To Lectionary Sermon Series Volume One
$47.00Add to cartPreachers get the best of lectionary and topical series preaching with this comprehensive manual of sermon series ideas based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Designed to frame consecutive weeks of lectionary texts into seasonal and short-term series, a diverse group of twelve preachers outline multiple thematic series plans for each lectionary year. Each series plan provides a series overview, chart that outlines each segment of the series, tips and ideas, scriptural references, and a brief sermon starter. The series honors holy days and seasons and responds to typical patterns of church attendance, maximizing visitor retention and member engagement. Pastors can honor their commitment to lectionary preaching while taking advantage of the benefits series preaching can offer with this truly unique resource.
Contributors include:
Theresa Cho, Pastor of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, California
Bob Dannals, Rector of St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church, Dallas, Texas
Magrey R. DeVega, Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, Florida
Brian Erickson, Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
Mihee Kim-Kort, Presbyterian Minister and Campus Ministry Leader at University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana
Jessica LaGrone, Dean of Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky
Cleophus J. LaRue, Professor of Homiletics, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey
Jacqueline J. Lewis, Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church, New York City, New York
Katherine Willis Pershey, Pastor of First Congregational Church, Western Springs, Illinois
Paul Rock, Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Kansas
Martin Thielen, Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Cookeville, Tennessee
Winnie Varghese, Priest and Director of Community Outreach at Trinity Wall Street, New York, New York -
Reflections For Sundays And Major Holy Days Year A
$23.99Add to cartChurch House Publishing
Reflections for Daily Prayer has nourished thousands of Christians for a decade with its inspiring and informed weekday Bible reflections. Now, in response to demand, Reflections for Sundays combines material from over the years with new writing to provide high-quality reflections on the Principal Readings for Sundays and major Holy Days.
Contributors include some of the very best writers from across the Anglican tradition who have helped to establish it as one of the leading daily devotional volumes today.
For each Sunday and major Holy Day in Year A, Reflections for Sundays offers:
* full lectionary details for the Principle Service
* a reflection on the Old Testament reading
* a reflection on the Epistle
* a reflection on the GospelIt also contains a substantial introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, written by renowned Bible teacher Paula Gooder.
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Not Just Good But Beautiful
$12.00Add to cartIn an unprecedented interreligious conference in November 2014, Pope Francis and four hundred religious leaders and scholars from around the world met in Rome to explore what their diverse faiths teach about marriage and the complementarity of man and woman.
This book contains the most representative presentations at that closely followed event, “Humanum: An International Interreligious Colloquium, ” which included Catholic, Evangelical, Anglican, Pentecostal, Eastern Orthodox, Anabaptist, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim, Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu delegates. Contributors bring the wisdom of their various faiths and cultures to bear on this timely issue, examining, celebrating, and illustrating the natural union of man and woman in marriage as a universal cornerstone of healthy families, communities and societies.
With broad global representation, “Not Just Good, but Beautiful” uses fresh language and images to highlight the beauty and benefits of marriage. Contributors do not represent political parties, but speak from their religious, intellectual, and cultural knowledge and experiences.” -
Watch For The Light
$26.00Add to cartThough Christians the world over make yearly preparations for Lent, theres a conspicuous lack of good books for that other great spiritual season: Advent. All the same, this four-week period leading up to Christmas is making a comeback as growing numbers reject shopping-mall frenzy and examine the deeper meaning of the season.
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Bright Field : Meditations And Reflections For Ordinary Time
$31.99Add to cartCovering the liturgical year outside Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, this collection of reflections, readings, poems and prayers focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus the rich subject matter of the lectionary readings during Ordinary Time. This is a subtantial, original and varied resource for the longest liturgical season.
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Navigating The Sermon Cycle C
$17.95Add to cartIn this special edition for the Sundays in Lent and Easter of Cycle C, the writers and editors of “Charting the Course,” an integral part of Emphasis: A Lectionary Preaching Journal from CSS Publishing Company, delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you, the pastor with in-depth lectionary-based commentary; relating several fresh, solid ideas — based squarely on the lectionary texts — for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. The team of writers looks for overall topics for the seasons of Lent and Easter in the Cycle C church year that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the theme and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single application for each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, “Navigating the Sermon” in most cases suggests several ideas, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
This book is like having a dedicated, thoroughly versed sermon research and sermon resource team right in your own study to help you create riveting sermons that are truly yours and that speak powerfully to your audience. -
Navigating The Sermon Cycle C
$34.95Add to cartFor each Sunday in Cycle C, the writers and editors of “Charting the Course,” an integral part of Emphasis: A Lectionary Preaching Journal from CSS Publishing Company, delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you, the pastor with in-depth lectionary-based commentary; relating several fresh, solid ideas — based squarely on the lectionary texts — for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. The team of Navigating the Sermon looks for overall topics for the entire Cycle C church year that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the theme and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single application for each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, Navigating the Sermon in most cases suggests several ideas, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
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Messianic Judaism Class Teacher Book (Teacher’s Guide)
$19.95Add to cartOlive Press Messianic (www.olivepresspublisher.com)
You will find this introductory course teacher book easy to teach from. The Scriptures are given in full for you, usually in the Complete Jewish Bible version. The answers are also given to each question along with occasional teacher’s instructions and background information. The Student Books have only the Scripture references and no answers. May your classes be as lively and heartwarming as Rabbi Jim’s have been over the years. He teaches in an exciting way, letting the students discover the answers in their own Bibles. If they can t see the answer right there in front of them due to past indoctrination, Rabbi Jim gently points it out to them. When they finally see it, gasping in amazement is often their response. May your students have many such “Aha!” moments and may their attitudes toward Yeshua and His Word be deepened forever.
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Journey Of Christian Initiation
$26.99Add to cartChurch House Publishing
This helpful volume sets out to clarify the Church of England’s thinking about baptism, confirmation and admission to communion, and addresses some very practical questions in relation to ministry in this area. ”Discussion of the topic is grounded in the New Testament and the early Church, and is traced through the development of the Church’s theology and practice of initiation from the mediaeval and Reformation periods up to the present. Drawing on the Book of Common Prayer (1662), the Thirty-nine Articles and Common Worship, as well as on Scripture and the Church’s tradition, it sheds light on contemporary practice and understanding, which can ‘ and do – vary locally. ”Anglican approaches to Christian initiation are also explored in relation to those of other churches.
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Local Theology For The Global Church
$17.99Add to cartAs the church in the global south continues to grow at a rapid pace, the question of how to develop local theologies becomes more and more urgent. This book charts a path forward through exegetical, theological and cultural analysis by scholars who are wrestling with the issues in their own situations around the globe. The contents were developed under the auspices of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission at the Oxford contextualization consultation.
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Solo Para Ellas – (Spanish)
$12.99Add to cartFinally a book meant specially for girls. This is the alternative for talking about true love, the best ideas for becoming beautiful and all of those subjects included in popular magazines but untouched within the church environment. In this book the reader will find articles written by leading women such as Kristy Motta (who also is the editor of this volume), Aline Barros, Gloria Vazquez, Karen Lacota, Rocio Corson, Valeria Leys, Ingrid Rosario, Raquel Lopez, Gimena Sanchez and many more.
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Confirmation Basics
$24.99Add to cartThis new addition to our popular Basics series explores a variety of educational models for teaching confirmation. Learn the pros and cons of each model and discover which approach works best for you. It’s a must-have resource for helping students grow in the Word of God, the catechism, and their relationship with Christ.
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Simple Living Compassionate Life
$37.95Add to cartOn its ten-year anniversary of publication, we are pleased to re-issue this popular title with a new Morehouse Publishing imprint and ISBN.
Editor Michael Schut presents a rare collection of voices as they explore our use of money, the practice of simplicity, listening to our lives, widening our circle of community, and other topics at the core of how we live out our faith in our homes and workplaces. A study guide is included.
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Children Youth And Spirituality In A Troubling World
$31.99Add to cartEditors Mary Elizabeth Moore and Almeda M. Wright address the harsh, challenging, and delicate realities of children and youth-who live as spiritual beings within a beautiful yet destructive world. Providing a practical theological analysis of the spiritual yearnings, expressions, and challenges of children and youth in a world of rapid change, dislocation, violence, and competing loyalties, Children, Youth, and Spirituality in a Troubling World provides readers with a purposeful conversation on this important topic.
This book will serve as more than a collection; it will be a genuine conversation, which will in turn stir lively conversation among scholars, theological students, and Christian communities that seek to understand and respond more adequately in ministries to and with children and youth.
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Beneath The Cross
$14.99Add to cartThe Bible has much to say about the Lord’s Supper. Almost every component of this memorial is rich with meaning-meaning supplied by Old Testament foreshadowing and New Testament teaching. The Lord’s death itself is meaningful and significant in ways we rarely point out. In sixty-nine essays by forty different authors, Beneath the Cross explores the depths of symbolism and meaning to be found in the last hours of the Lord’s life and offers a helpful look at the memorial feast that commemorates it.
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Its So Christmas See
$29.95Add to cartThis anthology provides a wide range of dramatic and worship material for seasonal celebrations. There are numerous Thanksgiving resources, including a children’s Sunday school learning event, a children’s message, a brief responsive reading, a one-act drama, and a sermon. For Christmas there are six plays of various lengths for a variety of ages and cast sizes, as well as a “hanging of the greens” worship program and an engaging story that can either be read to young children or performed as a play.
* Come! See What God Has Done is designed to heighten children’s awareness of God’s many blessings. Six learning centers — each featuring posters, projects, a guided experience, follow-up activities, and a closing prayer — focus on such topics as families, nature, our religious heritage, and our bodies. Intended for kindergarten through sixth grade, this is an ideal activity for your church school and can be held during a single session.
* What Are You Thankful For? is a one-act drama portraying two families as they gather for Thanksgiving dinner. It utilizes a cast of fourteen characters with a wide range of ages, and guides audiences from self-centered complaints to a positive attitude of thankfulness.
* Thanksgiving for Our Day, a brief responsive reading, and Recalling Our Blessings, an interactive children’s lesson, are perfect for use in ecumenical Thanksgiving worship services.
* Is It Still Wonderful?, a sermon for Thanksgiving Day, reviews some common Thanksgiving clichi 1/2s and concludes that to demonstrate true thankfulness we need to become less jaded and rediscover a sense of awe and wonder.
* Welcome the Spirit of Christmas enables the entire congregation to participate in adorning the sanctuary with holiday decorations for the Advent and Christmas seasons. This “hanging of the greens” worship program includes complete instructions plus many additional ideas, making it easy to adapt the material to individual circumstances.
* The Christmas Stranger and The Christmas Stranger Returns are two full-length dramas depicting events in the lives of a typical American town’s leading citizens. Each play features a multi-generational cast of around 20 characters and has a running time of approximately 60 minutes. In The Christmas Stranger, an amiable handyman brings joy and laughter to the home of a prominent businessman who is consumed by his work and hates Christmas. With the stranger’s aid, the businessman’s family tries to break t
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Sermons On The Second Readings Series 2 Cycle A
$42.95Add to cartThe New Testament epistles are much more than just a historical record of the early church — they are also the heart and center of Christian proclamation, helping us to clearly understand how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is part of God’s cosmic plan of salvation. In this outstanding anthology of sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers bring their insight to the pastoral letters and draw valuable lessons for the complex challenges posed by life in the 21st century. Each thought-provoking message is filled with compelling stories and illustrations, and offers a clear and authentic vision of Christian faith in the context of daily life. With material for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, this resource provides abundant seeds for preaching, teaching, and meditation, and will become a treasured addition to anyone’s reference library.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters
* Understanding scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study -
Sermons On The First Readings Series 2 Cycle A
$37.95Add to cartModern life presents many difficult and challenging situations — but as the Hebrew scriptures tell us in rich detail, that’s nothing new for God’s people. Indeed, the Bible shares the epic story of how God’s faithful followers were formed and shaped through centuries of trial by fire. In this inspiring collection of powerful messages based on the First Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary, five master practitioners of the homiletic craft explore passages from the Old Testament and the Book of Acts, and show how the wisdom contained in those ancient texts offers vital moral and spiritual guidance for contemporary living. 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 passionately proclaim the good news of God’s continuing presence — and the possibilities that offers for our lives, our churches, and the world.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters
* Understanding scripture passages
* Bible study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and inspirational reading -
Traveling Calvarys Road
$21.95Add to cartThis anthology provides an abundance of services, dramas, monologues, and sermons for use from Ash Wednesday through Easter. Using such things as newspapers and candles, these services will leave a lasting impression. Easy to stage and perform, these programs use varying numbers of people, and flexible hymns. Copy privileges are granted.
Traveling Calvary’s Road includes:
Ash Wednesday Services:
Into The Wilderness by Anne W. Anderson
We Are But Ashes by William LuomaPalm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion Services:
Your King Comes by Janice Bennett Wyatt
Crown Him Lord of All! by William LuomaMaundy Thursday Services:
Like a Rose by Lynne Cragg
A Table, A Garden, And A Courtroom by Leonard V. KalkwarfGood Friday Services:
It Seems Like Just Yesterday! by Pamela D. Williams
Faces by Michelle Griep
Extinguished A Tenebrae Service by Anne W. AndersonEaster Sunrise Services:
Sing To The Lord A New Song by Howard Eshbaugh
He Is Risen Indeed! by William LuomaEaster Monologue
The Big Secret by Michelle Griep -
Humor For The Holidays
$13.99Add to cartCelebrate the holidays with the marvelous gift of humor!
Holidays can be both fun and frustrating, can’t they? All the chaos that goes with the holidays can make you grin or groan. What you need for happy holidays is to have your stocking stuffed with tasty bits of humor.
Imagine reaching into your stocking and finding a hilarious story by Patsy Clairmont, pulling out funny-bone ticklers by Martha Bolton, Jack Hayford, and Tim Wildmon, and discovering goodies to make you giggle by many other gifted writers.
So grab a cup of wassail, curl up in your favorite chair, and indulge yourself with this heart-lifting book of holiday cheer — it’s stuffed full of special surprises to raise your spirits and add joy to your world!
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365 Meditations For Grandmothers By Grandmothers
$18.99Add to cartThis delightful devotional offers a year’s worth of short daily devotional readings written specifically for grandmothers, by grandmothers. Six different women of faith present two months’ worth of devotions each, providing a rich variety of topics and meditations. Designed to be used by grandmothers of all ages, the daily meditations are breif enough to be read in just a few short minutes yet meaningful enough to prompt a longer time of devotion and prayer if desired. Each day’s reading includes a focus Scripture verse from a mix of translations (including NIV and NRS), a brief meditation, and a prayer.
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Sermons On The Gospel Readings Series 2 Cycle C
$40.95Add to cartBring Jesus? message and ministry to life with this complete set of inspiring and thought-provoking sermons for every Sunday and major celebration in the Church year. Six notable preachers from across the denominational spectrum offer a treasure trove of creative homiletic ideas and practical, scripture-based wisdom in messages based on Gospel texts from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Weaving together insightful illustrations with keen insight into contemporary life, these sermons passionately proclaim the Good News and powerfully remind us of God’s limitless love. Each riveting message is certain to enlighten the mind and warm the heart.
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Sermons On The Second Readings Series 2 Cycle C
$36.95Add to cartPaul and the other writers of the epistles were entrepreneurs for early Christianity — and not only did they tirelessly spread the good news, but their pastoral letters are also a marvelous guidebook full of practical wisdom. Because their writers were called on to assist the early faith communities in coping with a variety of problems, the New Testament epistles are chock-full of timeless lessons on living the Christian faith. In this extensive anthology of enlightening sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary, five eminent preachers from diverse denominations apply the nourishing teachings of the epistles to today’s complex challenges. With messages included for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, there’s a wealth of ideas and illustrative stories helpful for preaching, teaching, and meditation. These biblically grounded sermons shine the light of Christ on our often confusing world and proclaim the richness of God’s truth, offering readers comfort and hope while challenging them to a more intense faith relationship with the almighty.
This essential resource is useful for:
* Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts
* Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters
* Understanding scripture passages
* Adult study and discussion groups
* Personal devotions and Bible study -
Christmas Journey : Advent Christmas Resources
$14.95Add to cartThis complete set of seasonal material offers everything you need for an exciting Advent and Christmas program. With dramatic monologues, sermons, children’s messages and worship liturgies, a Sunday school program, and a pair of Christmas Eve candlelight services, there’s something for everyone, whatever your congregation’s size or worship style.
An Unlikely Cast (Alan E. Siewert) is a set of dramatic monologues that reveal the inner thoughts and feelings of five characters who were deeply involved in the unfolding divine drama of the nativity: Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, the innkeeper, and a shepherd. The monologues can be used in midweek Advent services, special programs, or Sunday morning worship. Staging and costuming suggestions are included, to help you bring these exciting accounts to life.
The Colors Of Christmas (H. Michael Nehls) is a creative series of six sermons and children’s messages in which each week features a different color. The sermons use the color idea to stress such Christian themes as royalty, sacrifice, and holiness, while the children’s messages utilize the inventive device of passing out ribbon swatches of the color of the day; as the youngsters receive the various ribbons, they can collect a “ribbon rainbow.”
Is This The Road To Bethlehem? (Judy Gattis Smith) is an Advent worship liturgy in which children are the main participants. The centerpiece is an “action/sermon” featuring six brief readings using illustrative wooden figures. All the elements of a typical worship service are present — but in a manner that focuses on the interests and expressions of children, allowing them to experience worship rather than just listen and watch.
Producing Christmas (Jennifer Hockenberry Dragseth) is a humorous children’s play which casts the Christmas story as the ultimate Hollywood blockbuster. Everyone wants to be a part of the big movie — and they all have ideas about how to make it a hit, only to finally learn why the coming of the Christ child is truly the “greatest story ever told.” With participants ranging in age from junior high to preschoolers, this flexible piece is perfect for a brief Sunday school program.
A Christmas Journey and Christmas Letters (Rod Tkach) are imaginative Christmas Eve services weaving together carols, prayers, scripture readings, and several brief meditations. In A Christmas Journey, the reflections guide worshipers on a journey from being home alone to the ultimate destination of the
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Humor For A Friends Heart
$14.99Add to cart1. Friends Come In All Shapes And Sizes
2. The Best Kind Of Friend
3. Of Friends And Kids
4. Friends Through It All
5. Real Men Do Have Friends
6. Friends: Can’t Live Without “Em!Additional Info
Rejoice in the treasure of friendship. Take a deep breath…Inhale the joy…Soak up the merriment! If a cheerful heart is good medicine, then this humorous collection of stories is a heart-friendly dose of delight.Stories for friends about friends will have you and your friends giggling with glee. You’ll reminisce about joyous times you’ve shared and vow to make more hilarious memories together.
Authors and speakers, such as Patsy Clairmont, Barbara Johnson, Brennan Manning, Luci Swindoll, Martha Bolton, and many more, bring you forty-plus joy-filled moments that will give your heart a healthy infusion of optimism and hope. As you read, laugh, and relax, this merry little book will make your heart lighter, your day brighter, and your soul hilariously refreshed.
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Roll Back The Stone
$20.95Add to cartCreate memorable services that help worshipers experience the profound sadness of the crucifixion as well as the marvelous joy of the risen Christ with this diverse collection of ready-to-use dramatic material. With ample selections for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, there’s something special here for congregations of any size or worship style. Copying privileges are included for all segments. Included are:
* A Travesty Of Justice: In The Shadow Of The Cross (Kathy Martz), a series of six meditations in which an unusual assortment of “eyewitnesses” – the thorn, robe, nail, spear, shroud, and stone – tell about their extraordinary encounters with Jesus. Designed for use in Lenten vesper services, these spiritual contemplations examine the events leading up to the crucifixion from a unique perspective. Each user-friendly monologue comes with a brief scripture reading and a prayer.
* Live From Jerusalem (John O. Eby), a short Palm Sunday play that helps audiences envision what it would have been like to be on the scene of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Tying biblical prophecy together with a contemporary view, television-style news anchors and correspondents vividly portray the chaos and uncertainty of the first day of Passover while speculating on how simmering conflicts will be resolved – leaving audiences to ponder the question “What comes next?”
* Maundy Thursday Testimonies (David H. Covington), a brief set of dramatic readings depicting the Passion events and their meaning from the viewpoint of four characters: Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Judas, and Peter. An excellent vehicle for members to participate in worship, these moving monologues provide an especially powerful contribution to the Maundy Thursday service.
* God On Trial, Or…? (John O. Eby), a courtroom drama for Good Friday which portrays Jesus’ trial before Pilate ? with the novel twist of Beelzebub as the prosecutor, questioning several witnesses who level accusations against Jesus. While it is ostensibly Jesus who is on trial, it gradually becomes clear that everyone else (including all of us) is actually on trial before him ? giving new and deeper meaning to Christ’s plea, “Father, forgive them, for they do not understand what they are doing!”
* Sons Of Thunder (Carol Secord), a brief Good Friday sketch in which James and John struggle to come to grips with the stark reality of the crucifixion. As they bitterly lash out in anger and frustration at those who abandoned Jesu
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Global Bible Commentary
$45.99Add to cartThe Global Bible Commentary invites its users to expand their horizon by reading the Bible with scholars from all over the world and from different religious persuasions. These scholars have approaches and concerns that often are poles apart. Yet they share two basic convictions: biblical interpretation always matters; and reading the Bible “with others” is highly rewarding.
Each of the short commentaries of the Global Bible Commentary is a readily accessible guide for reading a biblical book. Written for undergraduate and seminary students and their teachers, as well as for pastors, priests, and Adult Sunday School classes, it introduces the users to the main features of the biblical book and its content.
Yet each short commentary does more. It also brings us a precious gift, namely the opportunity of reading this biblical book as if for the first time. By making explicit the specific context and the concerns from which she/he reads the Bible, the scholar points out to us the significance of aspects of the biblical text that we simply took for granted or overlooked.
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Destination Bethlehem
$17.95Add to cartThis anthology provides you with a great selection of dramatic material for memorable Advent and Christmas worship. With a variety of approaches, there’s ample material to choose from to fit your needs, whatever your congregation’s size or worship style.
Five Advent Candle Dramas (Anne W. Anderson) explores the traditional meanings of the Advent wreath candles in brief 3-5 minute sketches which incorporate the lighting of each week’s candle. The Advent themes of hope, love, joy, and peace are couched in contemporary dramatic settings yet connected to the powerful reality of Christ’s coming. Each scene includes concise instructions for costumes, props, and settings.
The Savior Of The World (Nelson Chamberlain) is a five-scene play that tells the traditional Christmas story — with a touch of humor and a few unexpected twists. With roles for children from preschool age through sixth grade, this fun, easy-to-produce program is perfect for that special day when the church is full and you want to highlight the young people in your congregation.
Time Travelers’ Tale Of The Carols (Linda Buff & Sharon Cathcart) is an entertaining and educational presentation that combines the story of Jesus’ birth with the stories of several beloved Christmas carols. Through the imaginative device of a time machine, audiences will hear from some of the musicians and writers who created these familiar classics. Sets and costumes are minimal, and this simple play can be produced by churches of any size — while there are parts for many children, the script can be easily adapted for any age or number of participants. Performance time is approximately 35-40 minutes.
Here We Come To Bethlehem (Pamela Honan Peterson) is a Christmas pageant and congregational worship service that lets audiences eavesdrop on the thoughts, stories, and questions of ancient travelers as they make their way to Bethlehem. There are roles for 18 performers ranging from age three through high school, but with this flexible program it’s easy to involve as many children, youth, and adults as desired. Performance time is approximately 20-25 minutes.
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Christmas Treasures : A Collection Of Congregational Resources For Advent C
$25.95Add to cartThis anthology provides an ample selection of seasonal worship, drama, and children’s resources by popular authors from a variety of denominations. Whatever your congregation’s size or worship style, you’re sure to find something in Christmas Treasures to help you create memorable Advent and Christmas services. Copying privileges are included for all segments.
Litany For Advent And Christmas Candle Lighting provides brief responsive prayers and creative congregational activities for the four Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve, and Epiphany. It’s excellent for worship services or as a Sunday school opener.
Christmas Treasures offers three sets of short readings and prayers for the candle lighting portion of Advent and Christmas Eve services. Each 2-3 minute narrative links aspects of the nativity with events in our modern lives, both global and personal, and challenges worshipers to reflect on current issues and respond in ways that glorify the Lord.
Six Christmas Testimonies depicts the Christmas events and their meaning from the viewpoint of John the Baptist, a magus, the innkeeper, Joseph, a shepherd, and Mary. Especially powerful when read in sequence, these concise dramatic readings are an excellent way to have members participate in Advent or Christmas Eve worship services.
The Christmas Gift utilizes a creative approach to the seasonal children’s program — a “talent show” is cleverly included as part of a simple yet powerful play based on Luke’s Christmas scripture. It’s a practical presentation for any size congregation — many of the speaking roles have only a few lines, and some parts can be combined. A prop list, set diagram, and sample rehearsal schedule are included to aid novice directors. Performance time is approximately 15 minutes (plus talent show time).
Who Are You In Bethlehem? and The Promise are two dramatic presentations for the entire congregation with roles that can be performed by any age. Each combines the reading of scripture and singing of familiar hymns with brief narrations to telling the Bethlehem story, focusing on how we respond to the Savior — asking us if we have truly welcomed the babe into our hearts. These inspirational services are flexible enough to be performed by as many participants as are available without requiring extensive memorization.
Revelations Of Jesus, Given From Heaven/Received On Earth, Nativity, and If It Happened Today are four flexible, Bible-based plays with parts for young peopl
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Holiness 101
$13.99Add to cart22 Chapters
Additional Info
Sometimes, living the holy life seems like an impossible task. But God’s call to “be holy as I am holy” remains. The call to holiness is a message of hope, not condemnation. This is the message Christ taught, lived, and died to deliver. Hope and salvation for our dying world flow only from hearts transformed by the love of Christ. -
Humor For A Moms Heart
$16.99Add to cartBeing a mom is a roller-coaster ride of exhilarating joys and pull-out-your-hair frustrations. Sometimes a sweet infusion of humor is just what you need to lift your heart to new heights, to heal the hurts of a bad day, or to instill your soul with inspiration. Samplings from some of your favorite authors – including Patsy Clairmont, Martha Bolton, Dave Meurer, Nancy Kennedy, and many more – will energize any worn-out mom and remind you of the joys of motherhood.
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Shadows To Sunrise
$19.95Add to cartAre you looking for fresh, vibrant material for Holy Week worship? Do you want your congregation to experience the unforgettable drama of Jesus’ suffering, so that they more fully appreciate the celebration and joy of Easter? If so, then you’ll want this anthology that provides several innovative choices for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter sunrise worship. Copying privileges are included for all six segments.
Beyond The Shadows combines communion with gradually extinguished candlelight to create a moving Maundy Thursday tenebrae experience. As each part of the Passion story unfolds, more candles are snuffed out, and the service concludes in total darkness. By reminding us that the Light of the World came to us, yet was engulfed in total darkness as his life slipped away, Beyond The Shadows focuses worshipers’ attention on the coming resurrection, and how that brightness contrasts with the darkness of the crucifixion.
When The Son’s Light Failed is a poignant Good Friday dramatization that imagines the presence at the crucifixion of many women whose lives were profoundly affected by Jesus. The women all share their stories with each other as they witness our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice. It’s a moving portrayal which reminds us that Jesus’ ministry touched the lives of everyone.
The tenebrae service Choices At The Cross explores some of the choices faced by those involved in the events of Christ’s Passion — ones of far greater magnitude than what we often face on a daily basis. Choices At The Cross emphasizes that the most important decision we ultimately face is our response to the question posed by Pilate: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
Based on John’s account of Christ’s passion, Good Friday Readings, Meditations, And Prayers is a series of seven brief contemplations and prayers that can form the basis for a remarkably effective Good Friday service or be used for personal devotional reading during Lent. Filled with vivid imagery, the meditations make the scriptures come alive while relating them to contemporary life.
Good Friday: I Was There is a stark, gripping Good Friday worship experience which confronts us with the powers of darkness and destruction which were responsible for Christ’s crucifixion. Brief monologues from seven shadowy personae (Doubt, Sorrow, Fear, Shame, Agony, Hate, and Death) dramatically recall how our Lord suffered as he took the sins of humanity upon himself.
Designed as a co
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This New Life Together
$12.95Add to cartAs an anthology, this book fits many settings facing clergy. Included is a ceremony for an older and once widowed couple, a Protestant and Catholic wedding, an evening ceremony and a simple congregational vow for inclusion in a service. This anthology includes meditations from men and women clergy who are United Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Episcopal and Roman Catholic.
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53 Stories For Preaching Series 1 Year 1
$13.95Add to cart“Emilio Lopez received a surprise phone call from his bishop one day. “Would you be interested in a call to a white congregation in a neighborhood that is becoming Hispanic? I think you’re just the kind of pastor they need in these days of transition.””
(excerpt from the story “Light in the Life of Eternity”)
Following Shakespeare’s philosophy that “brevity is the soul of wit,” this anthology offers readers 53 succinct, insightful stories based on scripture passages. Each narrative faithfully updates the biblical theme in a modern setting from everyday life that everyone can relate to. Many feature surprise endings that will rivet the attention while strengthening believers’ faith. The brief stories in this well-rounded collection make excellent starting points or centerpieces for a sermon, and they’re also ideal for uplifting devotional reading.
The contributors to “53 Stories for Preaching” represent pastors and ordinary Christians from many denominations across North America. The 16 storytellers include:
Constance Berg
Dallas A. Brauninger
Charles W. Byrd
B. Kathleen Fannin
Susan K. Hedahl
Richard A. Jensen
James E. Sargent
Betty Lynn Schwab
Robert Beringer
Steve Burt
Cynthia E. Cowen
Peter C. Garrison
Sandra Herrmann
Paul Lintern
Henry Scholberg
John E. Sumwalt -
Lenten Resources For Worship Leaders
$12.95Add to cartThese field-tested materials represent the creative effort of many denominations. Each includes ideas for preparation, items needed, suggestions for use, number of parts, and the time for best use.
This complete Lenten volume for busy ministers includes:
Shadows Around The Cross: A Tenebrae
A Good Friday Vigil
The Service Of Diminishing Lights — for Sundays in Lent
Justified By Greed: Monologue Of A Pharisee — for Lent
The Passover Haggadah: A Traditional Seder Service
Litany For Forgiveness
Litany For Palm Sunday
Litany For Easter
Meditation: Forgiveness Is Peace
Meditation: You Make The Difference
Litany Of Confession
Litany For Peace -
Best Wedding Meditations
$12.95Add to cartThis resource book for busy pastors provides homilies for marriage services, as well as two unique orders of service and a service for a fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Ministers from around the United States have contributed to this collection of classics. Each of the homilies is biblically based and can be used as is or adapted to different circumstances.
The contents include:
A Contemporary Wedding Service
Marriage Likened To A Wedding Cake
Leeches Or Lovers
Marriage As A Crisis
We Belong To Each Other
Let God Be The Go-between
A Motto For Marriage
Living In Harmony
The Greatest Of These Is Love
Love, Honor, Forgive
Dearly Beloved and more -
Best Funeral Meditations
$10.95Add to cartThis collection of best funeral meditations provides a wide range of messages that address almost every death situation from the anticipated to the tragic. These classic meditations have been gathered from the writings and contributions of pastors, church leaders, and teachers of many denominations.
Among the situations addressed are:
For the nominal church member
For a little child
For a non-Christian
For the death of a child shortly after birth
For a college student killed in an auto accident
For a sixteen-year-old shot to death
For a woman who committed suicide
For a church member who served others
For a 40-year-old cancer patient
For a man who loved the outdoors
For a Sunday morning worship service following a death
and many more! -
Humor For A Womans Heart
$16.99Add to cartThere’s something about humor that refreshes and relaxes the soul.
Humor has the unique power to lift a heart to new heights, to heal the hurts of a bad day, and to infuse the soul with inspiration.
Samplings from some of your favorite authors and comedians including Patsy Clairmont, Martha Bolton, Mark Lowry, Carolyn Arends, and many more, will delight your feminine funny bone and tickle your female fancy.
Take a deep breath, inhale the joy, soak up the merriment, and you’ll surely find that your heart is lighter, your day brighter, and your soul hilariously refreshed.
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Humor For The Heart
$15.99Add to cartEvery heart needs to laugh. Every face needs to smile. Everybody needs a little lift. Humor has the power to transform a down day into a wonderful adventure or a good day into an even brighter one. That’s why you and those you care for are sure to enjoy the humorous messages and light-hearted stories in this delightful book.
Whether you need relief from stress or some cheerful inspiration, the unique perspectives and fun stories of best-selling authors such a Barbara Johnson, Max Lucado, Marilyn Meberg, Chonda Pierce, Bob Phillips, Dennis Swanberg, Charles Swindoll, and more will give you a welcome refreshment in your busy day.
As you read, laugh, and relax, this book will lift you above your daily struggles and give your heart a healthy dose of optimism and hope.
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Journal Of Christian Reconstruction 1974-1999 (Anniversary)
$19.00Add to cartTable Of Contents
*Introduction By Andrew Sandlin
*The Vision Of Chalcedon By Rousas John Rushdoony (Reprinted From Issue #9)
*The Doctrine Of Creation And Christian Apologetics By Cornelius Van Til (Reprinted From Issue #1.1)
*Basic Implications Of The Six-Day Creation By Gary North (Reprinted From Issue #1.1)
*Calvinism And “The Judicial Law Of Moses” By James B. Jordan (Reprinted From Issue #5.2)
*Translation And Subversion By Rousas John Rushdoony (Reprinted From Issue #12.2)
*A Presuppositional Approach To Ecclesiastical Tradition By Andrew Sandlin (Reprinted From Issue #14.2)
*The Atonement Analyzed And Applied By Rousas John Rushdoony (Reprinted From Issue #8.2)
*The Covenant And The Character Of A Nation By J.S. Wermser, Trans. Gilbert Zekveld (Reprinted From Issue #13.1)
*Power From Below By Rousas John Rushdoony (Reprinted From Issue #1.2)
*Covenant Salvation: Covenant Religion Vs. Legalism By Joseph P. Braswell (Reprinted From Issue #13.2
*Family Authority Vs. Protestant Sacerdotalism By Gary North (Reprinted From Issue #4.2)
*The Fraud Of Educational Reform By Samuel L. Blumenfeld (Reprinted From Issue #11.2)
*The Philosophy Of The Free Market By R.J. Rushdoony (Reprinted From Issue #10.2)
*The Artist As Propagandist By Otto J. Scott (Reprinted From Issue #10.1)
*The Failure Of Seminary Education By Rousas John Rushdoony (Reprinted From Issue #4.1)Additional Info
Selected articles from 25 years of the Journal by R. J. Rushdoony, Cornelius Van Til, Otto Scott, P. Andrew Sandlin, Samuel L. Blumenfeld, Gary North, Greg Bahnsen, and others -
56 Lectionary Stories For Preaching Cycle B
$14.95Add to cart“Emilio Lopez received a surprise phone call from his bishop one day. “Would you be interested in a call to a white congregation in a neighborhood that is becoming Hispanic? I think you’re just the kind of pastor they need in these days of transition.””
— from the Advent 1 story
Here are 56 short stories for use in preaching. Each is a contemporary adaptation of a biblical theme.
“56 Lectionary Stories for Preaching” offers one story for each Sunday in the church year plus stories for Christmas Eve/Day and Ash Wednesday.
The collection is based upon the Revised Common Lectionary, Cycle B. Authors represent clergy storytellers from five denominations from across the United States and Canada.
Most of the stories are based on gospel texts. Some stem from first or second lesson scriptures. The collection offers a well-rounded selection of themes. Stories often offer surprise endings that catch listeners’ attention. Stories in this collection strengthen believers’ faith.
