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Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers: Ministry Anytime, Anywhere, By Anyone
by Bill EasumThis book shows how an atmosphere of permission-giving, which signals the end of leaders as enablers, can help church leaders transcend bureaucracy and enhance spiritual gifts rather than assign them. The 'sacred cows' of control and regulation can be devoured, as leaders and people are converted to a new style of ministry.
Christmas: An Advent Study for Adults
by Richard B. WilkeIn this four-week Advent study, author Richard B. Wilke focuses on people in the story of Christ’s birth. There are those we associate with the joy and celebration of Christmas—the wise men, the shepherds, and Joseph. Yet the author reminds us not to forget that the evil King Herod is also part of the Christmas story, and how it is because there is evil in our world that we so desperately needed—and need—a Savior.Each lesson includes a key scripture, brief reflection, questions to discuss, a suggested Christmas carol, and a prayer.Table of Contents:First Week of AdventLet’s Keep Herod in Christmas (Matthew 2:1, 7-8, 16-18)Second Week of AdventLet’s Keep the Wise Men in Christmas (Matthew 2:1-12)Third Week of AdventLet’s Keep Joseph in Christmas (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23)Fourth Week of AdventLet’s Keep the Shepherds in Christmas (Luke 2:8-20)
Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry
by William H. WillimonOrdained ministry, says Will Willimon, is a gift of God to the church—but that doesn't mean that it is easy. Always a difficult vocation, changes in society and the church in recent years have made the ordained life all the more complex and challenging. Is the pastor primarily a preacher, a professional caregiver, an administrator? Given the call of all Christians to be ministers to the world, what is the distinctive ministry of the ordained? When does one's ministry take on the character of prophet, and when does it become that of priest? What are the special ethical obligations and disciplines of the ordained?Pastor: Revised Edition explores these and other central questions about the vocation of ordained ministry. It begins with a discussion of who pastors are, asking about the theological underpinnings of ordained ministry, and then moves on to what pastors do, looking at the distinctive roles the pastor must fulfill. The book also draws on great teachers of the Christian tradition to demonstrate that, while much about Christian ministry has changed, its core concerns—preaching the word, the care of souls, the sacramental life of congregations—remains the same.Ordained ministry is a vocation to which we are called, not a profession that we choose. To answer that call is to open oneself to heartache and sometimes hardship; yet, given the one who calls, it is to make oneself available to deep and profound joy as well.
Worship at Home: Lent 2021
by B. J. Beu Mary ScifresWorship at Home: Lent 2021 is packed with weekly worship services you can do on your own or with others and includes services for each week in Lent, including Ash Wednesday and services for Holy Week. This book is for congregations and individuals who want to stay spiritually connected and growing, even when they’re not worshiping together in the same space. It provides everything you need to conduct meaningful, spiritually fulfilling, traditionally rooted worship services at home or in other intimate environments.Each service includes essential worship elements, from gathering to benediction, with words and actions you can say and do yourself, links for online musical selections plus traditional hymn suggestions from a variety of hymnals.Here’s how individuals and families can use Worship at Home:- Individuals can use the resource for personal devotion and worship at any time, wherever they like. Use the entire service, or simply choose whatever portions are helpful. - Families can use Worship at Home in the same ways, any time and any place. - Suggestions are included for creating worship spaces at home, and for involving children in the services.Here’s how congregations or groups can use Worship at Home:- Pastors or group leaders can use this resource as complete worship plans for weekly church services. The pastor might prepare a sermon or homily, but everything else is ready to go.- People can use the resource for worship in any space—at a senior care center, in a park, on the lawn, at the church, and so forth. No bulletins or hymnals are needed. - People gathered to worship via Zoom, FaceTime, Instagram Live, or livestream will all be reading aloud the same prayers from these books, singing the same songs or singing along with a video. This provides real participation and a sense of community, even when people are worshiping remotely.
Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned - 20th Anniversary Edition: But I Have Several Excellent Excuses
by James W. MooreIn the past 20 years, this book has never been out or print. Celebrate this milestone Abingdon has created this Anniversary Edition! James W. Moore is a master storyteller. Individuals and groups across the country have read and enjoyed his books and what they reveal to us about God and our selves. In this book, Moore observes that people often give lame excuses for their arrogance, dishonesty, hostility, and presumptuousness. He challenges readers to recognize such situations and to grow beyond them. He addresses such “sins” as half-heartedness, spiritual arrogance, deception, overreaction, hostility, presumptuousness, losing spiritual balance, and more. He also discusses the joys of redemption and grace.
The Historical Books: Interpreting Biblical Texts Series (Interpreting Biblical Texts)
by Richard D. NelsonIn The Historical Books, Richard D. Nelson introduces neophyte readers to the basic concepts of history and historical writing and provides a simple framework of events and periods that can be used to situate historical data reported in texts or presupposed by them. Standard interpretive methods are accessibly explained and illustrated by consistent reference to 2 Samuel 24. The focus of discussion moves from the narrow level of individual pericope to larger units of meaning. Because the ultimate goal is to expose the claims made on the reader by these biblical texts and to help the reader make sense of these claims, the interpretive spotlight rests on the present interaction of text and reader rather than on the past.
The Bathsheba Battle: Finding Hope When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
by Natalie Chambers SnappHas your life ever taken an unexpected turn, leaving you feeling hurt and stuck? In The Bathsheba Battle, Natalie Chambers Snapp helps women find healing and hope when things haven’t gone as they had planned. Bathsheba, typically misrepresented as an adulteress, is one of the most misunderstood women in the Bible. Despite an unexpected turn in her story, which resulted in tragic circumstances beyond her control, there are glimmers of hope in her story. By studying her life, readers will find healing from their own painful pasts and hope for living the free and full lives God intends.
How God Takes Our Little & Makes It Much
by James W. MooreHere is Jim Moore at his best, telling the heart-warming stories as he teaches us about the Bible. In this 6-session, Dr. Moore uses key Scriptures that distinctively shape us as United Methodists. There are two sessions from the Old Testament and four sessions from the New Testament. Each session also lifts up and uses core terms and life application topics taken from the Wesley Study Bible to help you grow as a faithful follower of Jesus as you practice your faith in everyday life.
Who Lynched Willie Earle?: Preaching to Confront Racism
by William H. WillimonPastors and leaders long to speak an effective biblical word into the contemporary social crisis of racial violence and black pain. They need a no-nonsense strategy rooted in actual ecclesial life, illuminated in this fine book by a trustworthy guide, Will Willimon, who uses the true story of pastor Hawley Lynn’s March of 1947 sermon, "Who Lynched Willie Earle?" as an opportunity to respond to the last lynching in Greenville, South Carolina and its implications for a more faithful proclamation of the Gospel today. By hearing black pain, naming white complicity, critiquing American exceptionalism/civil religion, inviting/challenging the church to respond, and attending to the voices of African American pastors and leaders, this book helps pastors of white, mainline Protestant churches preach effectively in situations of racial violence and dis-ease.
Guidelines Communications: Tell Your Church's Story
by United Methodist CommunicationsLocal church communication is a ministry that shares the church’s story in ways that move people toward becoming disciples of Christ. You are part of a leadership team that brings to life your church’s vision and mission. Your role is to be a storyteller and connector, employing communications’ practices and tools to share the story of the church in a planned, compelling, accessible way. Your goal is to develop a reliable process for telling and hearing the story in which everyone can participate. This Guideline is designed to help you meet this goal.This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more.
Confronting the Controversies - Participant's Book: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues
by Adam HamiltonConfronting the Controversies is a 7-session group study of "tough issues" based on Adam Hamilton’s sermons on these topics. The seven sessions are:1 – The Separation of Church and State2 – Creation and Evolution in the Public Schools3 – The Death Penalty4 – Euthanasia5 – Prayer in Public Schools6 – Abortion7 – HomosexualityThe study is designed as a "fishing expedition," with tools and helps that will enable congregations to make the study a church and community-wide outreach event, including sermon starters and promotion aids.
God in New Testament Theology (Library of Biblical Theology)
by Larry W. HurtadoAnalyzes the various New Testament conceptions of God and suggests how they can best contribute to a contemporary constructive theology.In this important new volume in the Library of Biblical Theology, Larry W. Hurtado introduces the different understandings of God that arise in the books of the New Testament, and explores the ramifications of those views for contemporary theology. Questions covered include: Why has the subject of God received comparatively little attention in much contemporary New Testament scholarship? Is the Christian God of the New Testament the same deity described in the Old Testament? What impact does the New Testament's emphasis on Jesus have for its discourse about God? How do New Testament references to the Divine "Spirit" affect its understanding of God? Given the diversity of the New Testament writings, is it possible to speak of a sole New Testament view of God? How should contemporary theology understand the triadic shape of New Testament discourse about God in light of the later development of the doctrine of the Trinity?
First Corinthians Leader Guide: Searching the Depths of God (1 Corinthians)
by Jaime Clark-Soles1 Corinthians is one of the most gripping books in the Bible. In this letter, Paul, the complicated, layered apostle, writes to the people trying a wild new social experiment known as a Christian community. Not unlike the church today, this community dealt with factions, sexual immorality, gender issues, money issues, theological questions, lawsuits, problems in worship, and problems in leadership.In 1 Corinthians: Searching the Depths of God, Jaime Clark-Soles explores these topics and the awe inspiring, breathtaking world of the first-century church. Examining the teachings of Paul, she addresses church history, the logic of the cross, spiritual gifts, death, afterlife and the resurrection, human sexuality, and the joys and challenges of living in community. Participants will learn to look at 1 Corinthians from a variety of viewpoints and apply its lessons to their own faith.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.
The United Methodist Music & Worship Planner 2019-2020 NRSV Edition
by David L. Bone Mary ScifresWorship Planner 2019-2020 is lectionary-based and places at your fingertips: Weekly pages in spiral-bound format that help you plan the entire worship year, from September through August. Eight or more suggested hymns for each service keyed to United Methodist worship resources: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, Worship & Song, The United Methodist Book of Worship, and The Africana Hymnal. Complete lectionary text of the Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel readings using the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Reproducible worship planning forms. Resources for holidays and special days. Suggestions for prayers, solos, anthems, visuals, and much more. Also available with CEB texts.
Christianity and World Religions Leader Guide Revised Edition: Questions We Ask About Other Faiths
by Adam HamiltonIn Christianity and World Religions, Pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton explores four major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism—and the beliefs of each with those of Christianity. He deals openly and honestly with questions people ask about other religions like: Why are there so many different religions? How should Christians view other religions? How is God at work in other religions? What is the fate of those who earnestly pursue God through other religions?In examining these major world religions and the beliefs of their followers, Hamilton urges us as Christians to build bridges with others so that we might grow in our faith, seek peace in our world, love our neighbor, and find positive ways to share the gospel.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.
Come Back: Returning to the Life You Were Made For
by Roger RossAre there places in your life you need to come back from? Maybe it’s around family brokenness or a friend’s betrayal. It could be classmate drama or a family divorce. Perhaps money problems or health issues have caused a loss. Whatever the case, it feels like life has been against you. Come Back: Returning to the Life You Were Made For offers five elements that are crucial to renewal. Each element is paired with an ancient practice that has helped people for thousands of years in countless cultures navigate the tricky waters of transformation. These five practices are designed for everyday people. It’s not too late and you’re not too far gone. You were made for a turnaround. You don’t need a spiritual pedigree to start the journey. Here’s what you do need: A heart-felt desire to see your life change and an openness to the process. That’s it. The rest will be revealed along the way.
The Jazz of Preaching, 20th Anniversary Edition: How to Preach with Great Freedom and Joy
by Kirk Byron JonesLearn to preach from your soul!What if preachers were as contagiously joyful in their preaching as Louis Armstrong was in his playing and singing? As rich in their sermonic renderings as Sarah Vaughn was in her virtuosic vocals? As honest about heartache as Billie Holiday every time she sang the blues? As alluringly clear as the voice of Ella Fitzgerald? As tenaciously uninhibited in the action of creating as Duke Ellington?This may be too much ask, even of persons who are "called by God." However, as Kirk Byron Jones demonstrates, preaching can be enhanced by an understanding of the inner dynamics of jazz. The forms, rules, and styles of jazz can inform one's practice of preaching, and its simultaneous structure and spontaneity can help preachers better understand their own art.In his classic text for students and practitioners, Jones explains how preaching is dramatically improved with the application of key elements of jazz, including innovation, improvisation, rhythm, call and response, honesty about heartache, and delight. This 20th Anniversary Edition includes a new element—preaching from your genuine soul. Chapters include instruction and exercises for applying the jazz elements to preaching preparation and performance. This edition also includes an Introduction, in which the author sets the context for the new material and articulates his conviction that this approach to preaching is needed now more than ever.The Jazz of Preaching 20th Anniversary Edition introduces the rich and rewarding possibilities that arise when preachers tap into their own creativity—and their own soul--when constructing and delivering the sermon.
Jeremiah - Women's Bible Study Preview Book: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World
by Melissa SpoelstraThis pocket-size book provides a snapshot of the underlying message of the complete study—that by surrendering our wills to God and placing our hope in Him alone will help us live intentionally in an unstable world. Based on the Bible study: Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World.
The Heart That Grew Three Sizes Leader Guide: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch (The Heart That Grew Three Sizes)
by Matt RawleRediscover the gift of Advent that comes without packages, ribbons, and bows.We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did. In this new Advent study, Matt Rawle explores the faith themes in the Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including, how did the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes come Christmas morning? How did Christmas save the Grinch? Could it be that the very thing we think we hate is the one thing that changes our lives? This Advent and Christmas season, look at a familiar classic through the lens of faith and see how Christ speaks to us through our culture. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the 4-week study for Advent, making use of the book and videos. It includes session plans and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.
Savior Leader Guide: What the Bible Says about the Cross (Savior)
by Magrey deVegaThe cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith. But what exactly did Jesus do to save us from our sins? Why was the cross necessary, and what does it mean for us today?In Savior: What the Bible Says About the Cross, Magrey deVega faithfully describes the need for reconciliation between humankind and a holy God through Jesus’ death on the cross. The Bible uses many images to understand the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection, and deVega guides us through these images to achieve a richer understanding of the Christian faith. By exploring the mystery of salvation through the cross, we can deepen our love for God and others and strengthen our commitment to follow JesusThe small group Leader Guide contains session outline for each group meeting with Scripture, prayer, opening activity, discussion questions, activity, and ending call to action.
An Unlikely Advent Leader Guide: Extraordinary People of the Christmas Story
by Rachel BillupsExpect the unexpected this Christmas.This four-week Advent study focuses on the experiences of four sets of often overlooked characters in the Nativity story. During this Advent season, Rachel Billups guides readers through the themes of hope, love, joy, and peace by sharing the stories of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Herod, the Magi, and the shepherds. Each set of unexpected characters has something to teach about living faithfully on the journey to Christmas.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the four-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Additional components for the four-week small group study include the book and DVD/Video Sessions featuring Rachel Billups.
Pastor as Counselor: Wise Presence, Sacred Conversation
by John PattonThis very practical book offers no-nonsense instructions for pastors,chaplains, and ministers whose real specialty is the practice ofrelational wisdom. Patton provides a helpful, step-by-step template forpastoral counseling sessions and clear guidelines for understanding whento defer and how to refer—all while remaining faithful to the basicpastoral calling to connect persons seeking help with the relationshipsand resources they need to deal with their lives. "In a societyof specialists, John Patton’s Pastor as Counselor is a bold reminder ofthe healing potential of 'care-full' attending to lost and separatedpersons through the unique relational wisdom of the generalist pastor.This is vintage Patton, written with gentle wisdom and generous counselsummarizing decades of practicing and teaching pastoralcounseling."—Herbert Anderson, Emeritus Professor of Pastoral Theology,Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, and Faculty in PracticalTheology, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA "John Pattonwrote this 'how-to' book for ministers without specialized training inmental health issues. Ministers are good at developing and deepeninghuman relationships, and that is exactly what they need in order tobecome skilled short-term pastoral counselors. Concrete, down-to-earth,and quintessentially practical, this is a book that should be on thesyllabus of every seminary’s introduction to pastoral care andcounseling. It is the fruit of a lifetime of reflection and embodiedrelational wisdom at its best." —Deborah van Deusen Hunsinger, CharlotteW. Newcombe Professor of Pastoral Theology, Princeton TheologicalSeminary, Princeton, NJ "When it comes to counseling, our firstport of call is often the mental health professions. In this book JohnPatton carefully draws out what is special about pastoral counseling.With theological depth and wise practical utility, he offers a clearguide for pastoral counselors as to what it is that gives them theiridentity and what that looks like in practice. This is a wise and deeplypractical book that will inevitably be transformative." —John Swinton,Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies; School of Divinity, History andPhilosophy; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen, UK "John Pattonhas acquired unparalleled wisdom over decades of providing, supervising,teaching, and writing about pastoral care. This most gifted and deeplyreflective thinker has crafted a primer that will become a classic,spelling out what’s central for those new to the vocation, reminding themore seasoned of what really matters."—Chris R. Schlauch, AssociateProfessor of Pastoral Psychology and Psychology of Religion, BostonUniversity School of Theology, Boston, MA"Patton's book nicely parallels what he asks pastors to do in counseling others. Through a well-developed structure, he offers wise presence, spiritual conversation, and relational wisdom. His book would be a valuable resource in an advanced pastoral care course in a theological school. Similarly, a peer group of pastors would benefit from collective engagement with insights it provides as they assess their pastoral counseling relationships." Kenneth J. McFayden, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Va. (Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology 71(4)
Lie Down in Green Pastures: The Psalm 23 Mysteries #3 (Psalm 23 Mysteries)
by Debbie ViguieEven though they work right next door to each other, Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds. Cindy is a church secretary; Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. Together they have faced down a serial killer at Easter and a murderer of homeless people.The two unlikely companions continue to forge a strong friendship as they explore personal history and faith with each passing adventure.This third volume in the Psalm 23 Mysteries series finds Jeremiah and Cindy matching wits with an unscrupulous land developer. In a fast-paced story set around St. Patrick's Day, murder invades an idyllic landscape, challenging them to save hundreds of teens even as they try to discover the source of their unexpected danger.
Immersion Bible Studies: Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
by Linda B. HintonJourney inside the pages of Scripture to meet a personal God who enters individual lives and begins a creative work from the inside out. Shaped with the individual in mind, Immersion encourages simultaneous engagement both with the Word of God and with the God of the Word to become a new creation in Christ. Immersion, inspired by a fresh translation--the Common English Bible--stands firmly on Scripture and helps readers explore the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs of their personal faith. More importantly, they’ll be able to discover God’s revelation through readings and reflections.
Enough Already: Winning Your Ugly Struggle with Beauty (Beautiful Already)
by Barb RooseMost women know that God loves them, but might he love them more if they finally lost that last ten pounds, or got their hair to lay right, or finally found a pair of jeans that looked good and let them breathe? Well, maybe God doesn’t care about jeans, but women do, and all the talk about inner beauty hasn’t kept all of us from staring into a mirror and taking an inventory that never quite measures up. Enough Already will: Elevate the soul-freeing, spiritual truth that God is the Creator of beauty and that women are called to appreciate and care for themselves as his own. Enable women to accept God-given beauty so that when they look in the mirror they see his handiwork, not their flaws. Equip women to win the ugly struggle with beauty once and for all.