Fine Christian Reading in the Mainline Protestant Tradition since 1982
While we've been working on this website, our book buyer has been busy selecting the 'pick of the lists' of new books published this year. While we've not actually seen these books when selections are made, our buyer has a sort of 'sixth sense' about what the best of the forthcoming books might be. So, each month on this page you'll be told about a new book soon to be printed by each of our publishing partners. Check back often!
A delightful tri-fold stand up manger scene advent calendar filled with 25 mini-books that reveal the Christmas story.
A bilingual, full-color picture book with scripture on each page. Anyone who has seen previous volumes from this talented team of authors will delight in this new offering! Makes a great gift for children ages 4 & up who are bilingual or who are learning Spanish/English.
Whimsical illustrations adorn this picture book which tells of the reaction of the animals in the Stable when they perceive the tiny Savior's presence. Eventually they quiet down so the new baby can rest .... For ages 3 & up
Graphic Designer Natalie Pearce refuses to forgive herself of not helping her mother take down the Christmas decorations that day early in the year. Will a Christmas miracle break through the all-consuming guilt that has separated her from her loved ones since her mother suffered a stroke and lay helpless for hours on that fateful day?
Winner of the 2008 Winter Rose Award while still in manuscript form.
Set in the Portland, Oregon metro area, this delightful story of two boys who are drafted to be 'elves' at a local children's hospital is destined to become a favorite for family reading out loud during the Christmas season. With a wide range of male and female characters this story will appeal to children of all ages. Don't miss it!
Giles asks the hard questions that skeptics have about the Bible, and affirms the legitimacy of doubt while at the same time maintaining that the Bible's power comes from its ability to open up a space where readers can meet God, who confronts them in the light of both the frailties and strengths of humanity.
Everyone endures waiting: often impatiently, sometimes anxiously, sometimes with giddy excitement. Filled with prayers and reflections from times of waiting, this inspiring volume suggests that waiting presents an opportunity to turn to fellowship with God and listen to God's nudging in whatever situation you find yourself.
In a world where there is so much food, why are so many people hungry? Amidst so much plenty, why aren't people happier? Jung insists that the two questions -- one having to do with physical hunger, the other with spiritual want -- are related. After assessing aspects of a global food policy that insures chap food for some at great expense to others, the author offers possibilities for alleviating physical hunger in the world and spiritual malaise in our lives.
This unique resource offers page after page of drawings as a guide to symbolism in Christian liturgical art, architecture, stained glass, banners, and more. A new edition of a favorite guide for artists, pastors, educators, and all who wonder about the Christian meaning of what their eyes behold.
With humor and conversational style, this verse-by-verse devotional includes a few paragraphs of study and application, prayers, and more.
While short and sweet, the lessons will stay with you all day ...
-- Barbara Curtis
... like 'spiritual caffeine' ...
-- Tim Carson
... meaty ...
-- Saturday Evening Post
26 children's sermons with activities which follow the order of the church and liturgical year. These original experiences have a progressive Christian perspective which emphasizes respecting the dignity and individuality of each child.
By weaving together our narratives and those of Christian tradition, a congregation can clarify its identity, grow in wisdom, and discover a new vision for ministry. Olsen draws parallels between the church seasons and practices of spiritual formation: letting go, naming and celebrating God's presence, and taking hold. He shows us how these movements are expressed in the three major cycles of the church year - Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost.
Have you heard the revolutionary new equation: the ancient Church year + fresh congregational stories = wisdom for revitalized ministry! In The Wisdom of the Seasons, Charles Olsen expounds this exciting development — not just a glittering fancy, but an authentic discovery of a Spirit-filled process to grow healthier congregational mission.
-- Marva J. Dawn
The authors provide the ultimate to do list: 99 things that everyone should experience during their time on earth. From the sublime (watch the sun rise), to the wonderfully silly (ride a roller-coaster), the activities presented will breathe new life into readers' lives while opening them up to new spiritual experiences. Each entry provides a description of the activity, what the you can expect to gain from it, and space to record memories and insights. A perfect gift to help keep someone on track during their journey between here and heaven!
We can learn to think theologically from the giants. The author catches the spirit and verve of ten contemporary theologians, arranging their introduction around the overarching question posed by their work.
From across the Christian landscape, theologically and racially diverse preachers, pastors, scholars, and authors were asked to comment on the election of Barack Obama. Features: Tony Campolo, Gina Stewart, William Willimon, Philip Yancey, Emilie Townes, Gardiner Taylor, and more...
Complete outlines for services that blend modern and ancient worship practices to engage youth and young adults. Designed to be multisensory, experiential, varied, and comprehensive, this resource contains seven different plans covering the period from the first Sunday of Advent through Epiphany. Includes CD with five original songs, plus printed lyrics and chords. Reproducible resources.
Integrating Christian faith and the events of day to day living is encouraged by keeping a word or phrase from each daily reading with one throughout each day and reflecting upon it. A small group study guide is included to facilitate congregation-wide or neighborhood participation. Weekly litanies for family, small group, or congregational use round out this faith-building experience.
First-person dramatic monologues replace the usual scripture readings of the traditional service of Lessons & Carols. With a reading for each day of Advent, pieces may be used for services while others are used for daily devotions. Music is suggested for a wide range of abilities and needs.
With the message we've been given and the Spirit of God to lead us, we can see the kingdom of God come to earth, as Jesus prayed it would. This book depicts the gap between who we are and who we could become if we followed Christ more closely, and challenges us to deepen our faith, broaden our love, and step beyond our cultural boundaries.
The author shares his own wresting with many worries and the comfort and strength he finds in scripture, hymns, and prayer. Practical suggestions end each chapter. A book of hope and inspiration for any person with worries!
What does it mean for a church to be on a ministry journey into the unchartered territory of unprecedented social change in 21st century America?
Once we reframe Christian ministry as journeying with Christ, rather than serving the church, our whole perspective on success changes. Nixon helps us understand the difference between attracting new members and ... blessing new microcultures.
-- Tom Bandy
With few resources, the last 24 members of Wollaston Church hired Mary Louise Gifford, a new seminary graduate, to be their full-time minister. Changes in worship, stewardship, and priorities, combined with the congregation's resilience and Gifford's optimistic leadership, have transformed this dying church into a vibrant growing one. Addressing a wide audience, Gifford shows church leaders they have options and reason for hope. People in dying churches will find assurance that they are still a part of the body of Christ. Clergy serving these struggling churches will discover tools and resources to help them guide change. The Turnaround Church, while not a prescription for all churches, is a call to make long-lasting, life-sustaining changes.
Few can argue with the power of music to touch the heart. Voices shared in worshipful song allow us to honor God in a truly beautiful way. Now, in Hymns for Today, renowned hymn writer Brian Wren helps us to understand why this is so. Hymns are analyzed for how they express Christian faith and traditional themes in fresh ways. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
The environmental crisis is a crisis not of the head but of the heart. Religion has the unique power to fire the imagination and empower the will to break the cycle of addiction to nonrenewable energy. A call to hope through a spiritually charged commitment to saving the earth.
Using six personality types, the author provides a description of each with its strengths and weaknesses, plus its unique expression of prayer, hospitality, and evangelism. Case studies of a biblical and a contemporary person modeling each personality are included. Based on the author's popular workshops.
Evangelism is not about convicting, convincing, or converting the non-Christian. That is the work of God through the activity of the Holy Spirit in a person's heart. Evangelism is about conversing with the person and thereby communicating the gospel.
-- from the introduction
With ideas for inexpensive activities and outings that will not exclude youth who are short on funds, this volume will be a welcome addition to the youth leader's library. Squeezed also includes advice for working with youth whose parents have lost jobs, youth who are working to support their families, and those struggling to find work. A hope-filled book.
While we often look to the Bible for answers, Trevor Hudson looks at questions God and Jesus ask us that provide the starting point for a deep dialogue between us and our God. Since God has already begun the discussions, we simply need to come out of hiding and enter the conversation. This book is an invitation.
Young people do not want us to become part of 'their' world, but they invite us -- and need us -- to be different ... to be adults for them: to be credible models of adulthood. This book describes what children and youth are searching for, and how adults can find the passion and wisdom to become spiritual mentors. Includes two study guides: one for teachers/leaders, and one for parents.
This funny, tragic, provocative, candid, and sensitive story tells of the author's year in Uruguay, where she traveled in hopes of becoming a more responsible and sensitive member of the global community. Thrust into the antithesis of the cushy, rich, white, over achieving, North American culture which she took for granted, Roscher struggled for for physical, emotional, and spiritual survival, and flourished beautifully.
Readers will be rightly amazed and pleased at how much wisdom emanates from such a young soul.
-- Publisher's Weekly
Based on Keillor's Lake Woebegone monologues, this is a collection of stories about the struggles of ordinary people in an imperfect world, the life and work of the pastor who leads them, and the church to whose high standards they aspire in the small town they call home. Laugh, be entertained and surprised by the insights of this wonderful, fictional place! Makes a great gift!
In a multicultural world and nation, the Bible stands at the crossroad of cultures as Christians read the same text from varying backgrounds. Developed to help people understand how persons from different cultures and different parts of the world read and understand the Bible, the introductory articles and introductions to biblical books delve into the role culture plays in interpretation. Edited by a white male, a Latina woman, a Japanese American, a black feminist, and a Native American ... all Christians who serve as pastors, priests, professors, and theologians ... this exciting volume brings overviews and comments from a wide range of scholars, as well as a listing of resources for culturally aware interpretation of the Bible.
A practical and much needed resource for parish nurses and pastors who are searching for a new way to approach the subject of healthcare from a view point that integrates spirituality and well-being. Deborah Patterson has been a leader in the parish nurse movement nationwide for many years.
Bruce and Katherine Epperly utilize a variety of spiritual disciplines — especially Benedictine, Celtic, Ignatian, Rhineland, and process spiritualities — to provide a framework for helping clergy nurture the awareness of God, creative imagination, and personal well-being in every aspect of their ministerial lives. Practicing God's presence in the ordinary tasks of ministry inspires wholeness, spiritual transformation, vision, imagination, endurance, and healthy self-differentiation in ministry. Commitment to joining spiritual practices with the routine and repetitive tasks of ministry provides an important antidote to unhealthy stress, burnout, and loss of vision in ministry.
Most mainline denominations have made strong public policy statements about climate change. Eco-justice theological and ethical writings also abound persuading us to thoughtful action. This book offers an additional tool for your journey: a compilation of effective, concrete examples of how what we do will help change the world for good. Consider using this book as a part of a spiritual discipline.
-- from the introduction
In a slim handbook, Barnes-Davies gives readers real world, practical tips and encouragement for putting their faith into action as responsible stewards of God's creation. The clear and practical advice is a welcome addition to the increasing awareness among faith communities that environmental issues are religious, too.
-- Publishers Weekly
In the pages of the Hebrew Bible, ancient Israel gave witness to its encounter with a profound and uncontrollable reality experienced through relationship. God is described in that Bible as engaging four 'partners' -- Israel, the nations, creation, and the human being -- in the divine purpose. Brueggemann at his most engaging!
Young adults today see the church as hypocritical, judgmental, sheltered, and overly political. Rathbun responds to this with a challenging invitation to be transformed from unChristian to nuChristian by taking seriously the critiques and become a Christlike community that is transparent, holistic, loving, engaged, just, and humble.
Ministries with homeless persons, not just ministry to or for homeless persons is the theme that helps open the eyes of church communities so they can see opportunities outside of the walls of the church. The anecdotes and reflections are from the personal experiences of the authors.
Is helping others overrated? Is ministry a recipe for burnout? This Portland, Oregon author introduces the notion of "sustainable ministry" which trains and empowers those in ministry to focus on their inner resources for proactive leadership, instead of trying harder to help, fix, or change others.
Imagine stepping into the pulpit … and looking into the faces of the congregation. What do you see? An older woman … in the grip of grief. A young couple trying to conceive…. A woman sitting at a strange angle in the pew because her husband hit her again…. People in all these circumstances - and many others - share a common need: to hear good news from God. They need to know that God is present for them and what God is doing on their behalf and on behalf of all the world. They need to be empowered to respond to the divine love, and to know how to do so.
—from the foreword
Gench reflects on early experiences of conflict in the church, presenting substantive studies of New Testament texts showing that discord, and drawing lessons from each about how it informs current conflicts in the church -- and how to resolve them.
Useable by youth for individual or group study, these books include imaginative tellings of Bible stories in an effort to put Christianity into contemporary language and experience, so that they are more accessible to youth. Leaders are encouraged to hold discussions on these topics at coffee shops or similar casual meeting places.
Stamm's discussion of the historical, theological, and pastoral questions surrounding the subject of home communion is designed to support participants in understanding and appreciating the significance of this ministry. He offers a model for a home communion ministry that takes into account scriptural teachings, historical understandings, and the spiritual needs of home-bound church members.
In just a year this has become the #1 resource for preachers!
Each week, four essays are provided on every lectionary passage for the week, giving preachers theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical perspectives.
Year B is complete, and Year C is coming off the press now. The series will comprise 12 volumes when complete. Series subscriptions available. $40 per volume; 20% discount applies to the series.
We have yet to hear a negative comment on this outstanding new series!
God made each of us exactly right for the purposes God envisioned for our lives. Our challenge is to discover our spiritual gifts and find our perfect niche for a high-impact life of service. The authors tell how to recognize and analyze spiritual gifts, and how to focus them for maximum impact as servants of God and the world.
Designed to be used in a day-long retreat followed by monthly meetings, This resources seeks to improve the caring skills of lay persons assisting in the congregation's ministry of pastoral care.
In a book which contains views from many perspectives on this currently divisive issue, congregations are shown how to conduct non-threatening and accessible conversations that lead to better understanding and facilitate reconciliation.
88% of unchurched people make their decision to return to a church they visit within a few minutes of arriving -- here is help to further develop and implement the hospitality ministry of greeters.
Paper crafting is currently a $29.5 billion industry. Here are all the tools and tips fro starting up and maintaining a greeting card ministry: patterns, step-by-step instructions, and inspirational messages for all occasions and audiences, children as well as adults.
Leadership is never about you: what happens to you as a leader stems from a vast array of issues and dynamics over which you have little or no control. Leadership is always about you: Christ's disciple, part of the system, an individual with your own anxieties and a personal life that shapes both your personhood and your relationships. Heart, Mind, and Strength is about dealing with the tension between these two realities.
Chosen by Eberhard Busch, these one-page selections capture the vibrancy of Barth's faith, communicating his sense of wonder and excitement.
A book to be pondered and prayed with.
—Joseph Mangina
In this honest discussion, Howell considers a number of issues relating to God's will, how it is known, how it is done, and how we respond.
This book comes from the heart of a wise and caring pastor who loves people enough to engage head-on their deepest and most challenging questions.
—Rev. Patricia Farris
The final volume of this best-selling set which provides wonderfully engaging stories that match the New Revised Common Lectionary used by many preachers and followed by several church school curricula. Each volume includes a Scripture index to facilitate use of these stories with any children's program. Full-color illustrations.
Also Available:
A user-friendly guide designed to facilitate understanding environmental issues as they relate to caring for the whole of God's creation. Each chapter contains extensive lists of facts, actions, and resources, as well as inspiring stories from worshipping communities around the U.S. who have already begun to 'go green'.
New, full-color Bibles for preschoolers and younger elementary students that extend the range of accessible Bibles to the youngest amongst us. Suitable for presentation, gifts, and classroom use.
Help children of all ages understand Bible stories through the fun of taste and cooking! Combines the physical act of preparing food, the sensory act of eating food, and the educational act of listening.
Keeping God continually at the heart of the process is the emphasis of this workbook full of group exercises for the discernment team, spiritual disciplines for individual and team use, prayers, group lectio, and more. The Appendix on faith-based management could be a book in its own right.
People with crazy faith know that God can do anything. They see mountains and either climb them or move them. They hear problems and pray through them, around them, and out of them. Sometimes they stumble, but they lean on God. They are like heat-seeking missiles: God has shown them the target, and they are locked onto it and cannot take a path that leads away from it.
—from the Introduction
A 2005 study by the National Institutes of Health showed that 62% of respondents had used prayer and other spiritual practices as one of their ways of dealing with health problems. This practical guide blends the growing interest in spirituality and health with the examples set by Jesus, who encouraged his followers to embrace a life marked by physical healing, emotional wholeness, and spiritual abundance - moving people from physical pain to enlightenment and spiritual revelation. Four key principles are offered as daily living practice for readers to begin nurturing themselves both from the outside in and from the inside out.
Hobgood proposes a politics of accountability and solidarity to counteract the barriers of sexism, racism, and classism that persist in white culture. She reminds us that the categories of race, gender, and class are not biological givens, but social constructs that are often used to suppress some groups while giving power to others, thus diminishing the lives of all humankind.
Scutwork: the unwanted dregs of the working day, which feels like so much distraction from the pastoral work to which we have been called. Weeks challenges that paradigm and lifts up scutwork as an integral part of pastoral care and leadership. He explores ways in which churches are engaged and can engage in practices of administration that deepen care and build a healthy congregational community.
Two new additions to this best-selling series which is dedicated to making biblical studies, theological documents, and Christian practices accessible to those with no biblical or theological training.
Also available in this series:
Aiming to move beginners at prayer to a growing and deepening awareness of God's presence in our complex and often morally ambiguous world, this book clearly describes a variety of forms of verbal prayer, meditation, and contemplation (the prayer of silence) with the needs and questions of beginners in mind.
Ideal for personal or group study! Includes introductions to each book, commentary, historical background, practical applications, and theological themes. Also included are illustrations and charts, maps, glossaries, study aids, timelines, lists of essential Bible facts, and Bible reading plans.
For a much wider audience than just ministers, this book outlines not only ethical practice, but also the potential traps of isolation, improper self-care, and lack of accountability that can lead to abuse. Church governing boards, personnel committees, and regional committees with oversight of pastors will come to understand the issues as well as become more supportive of pastors with whom they have contact.
Today's parents need help with raising well-balanced, spiritually healthy boys who will be tomorrow's leaders in the home, church, and society. Parent Sharon Elliott encourages parents and caregivers to choose Jesus as the ultimate male role model for their sons.
A book to enjoy from the distinguished preacher and storyteller as he reflects on his youth and his calling.
This perennial bestseller is now available in coloring book format! A premier resource for working with children experiencing grief from the death of a loved one.
Also available: storybook in paperback and hard-bound editions.
You may be the only Jesus some people ever meet! What if that the 2 am feeing of your infant was not just meeting a physical need but also teaching that God's provision could be trusted? What if your infant's cries were also teaching you to respond to the crises of Jesus when he presents himself as "the least of these"? Based on the Great Commandment, this book examines relationships common to us all - those of intimacy, authority, rivalry, and otherness - and shows how learning to love within those relationships affects our relationship with God.
Imagination is one of the great gifts bestowed on us by our Creator. Imagining Church is a shared experience among God's people. When we form a mental image of what we believe church is and ought to be, we are co-creators with the Master Designer, Chief Architect, and Greatest Creator … and we can help others imagine, also.
This book offers straightforward answers to recurring questions about the Bible -- and about why people have such different opintions about what the Bible has to say.
For many years people have sent scientist-turned-priest John Polkinghorne questions about faith and science. In question & answer format, he and Beale offer their highly informed opinions about some of the most frequently asked questions.
People looking for an intelligent discussion of some of the difficult questions that come up when one is serious about faith and serious about science should look at … this book [which] is a refreshing contrast to the polemic and misinformation that have characterized much of the writing in this area.
— William Phillips, Nobel Prize physicist
Yahweh of Israel, the God who raised Jesus, often appears throughout history to be 'down for the count' … but has an amazing comeback ability. This book holds forth a reason to believe and a pathway to probe more deeply into the age-old truth and traditions of faith through contemporary images and language.
A gift bible for church or secular teachers. Includes devotional resources, suggestions for journaling, reflections providing encouragement and inspiration, a Scripture index, full-color supplements, and other customized content.
As the healthy spouse of a chronically ill mate, Nell Noonan knows firsthand that a caregiver's life "often lends itself to isolation, loneliness, and abdicated personal needs." Sometimes funny, often poignant, and always heartfelt, Not Alone offers insight from someone who has "been there too."
This new edition of the study that has taken countless churches by storm, includes a 40-day prayer journal.
The "don't ask, don't tell" evangelism program will not reverse the trend. Humor, whimsy, and joy in the faith will serve us better. Reese's book is written to provoke, to tease, and to charm us back into telling our story.
—The Christian Century
A creative and challenging volume for 21st century mothers who want to make the most out of their motherhood experience. This book draws insight and wisdom from classic literary novels.
Ten years ago, Barbara Essex launched a best-selling Bible study series that has become a favorite for study groups and retreats. Now, she returns for a command performance highlighting 14 more biblical 'bad girls'.
Also available:
Organized into life stages, and focusing on the journey from young adulthood to maturity and death, this book captures Friedman's signature wit and playfulness as he speaks straight to the heart of human growth and relationships. Whether he is interviewing God, preaching on "marriage as music", or reflecting on a visit to his parents' grave, Friedman always has the power to surprise us and invite us to change.
Thought-provoking and insightful! Study guide available online.
It is bracing to worship beside someone with a completely opposite view on legal access to abortion or on economic and taxation policy, to know that you disagree, and yet still to find love and acceptance together at the Communion table.
—from the book
From the best-selling Armchair Theologians series comes this new volume exploring the life, thought, and works of Martin Luther King, Jr. Written for a broad audience, the book is filled with the whimsical illustrations of Ron Hill -- a feature which has made this series so engaging.
Also available in this series:
The author draws on her own experience and a wide range of sources, offering many different ways to think about hope. She considers hop's relationship with faith, the human imagination and community; distinguishes authentic hope from optimism and false hope; and addresses contemporary questions about where we can look for sources of hope in turbulent times.
There is no one secret to life, but there are three simple rules that have the power to change the world: Do no harm; Do good; Stay in love with God.
Also Available:
To support believers in exploring "the interconnecting love that binds together God, humankind, and creation," Earth Gospel presents four weeks of daily prayer designed to remind Christians of God's presence in all created things and to lead them to prayer and action on behalf of God's "beloved but groaning creation."
From the locker room to the upper room, the Scriptures come to life through America's greatest pastime!
— Jeff Hutcheon
… a unique and remarkable collection of baseball feats and facts with a deftly intertwined understanding of Jesus and the Scriptures.
— Midwest Book Review
Practical pointers to assist congregations in extending hospitality to newcomers, making them feel welcome, and taking positive steps to ensure they look forward to returning. In addition it includes: clever quotes to use on posters, in newsletters, and in newsletters; an appendix of illustrations; a checklist of items needing attention in any ministry of hospitality; questions for discussion and action; an annotated bibliography; and several copy-ready bulletin inserts on various facets of hospitality.
A leading authority on Celtic spirituality suggests that as we develop an awareness of the presence of heaven in each and every day, we will come to trust that death itself is nothing to fear. Illustrated with simple line drawings, this book is both visionary and down to earth, helping us to realize that the visible world of matter and the invisible world of spirit are not two worlds but one. Here and now - whatever it may feel like - we are truly part of the Kingdom of God.
A congregation communicates it's heart and soul through words, photos, actions, programs, architechture, decor, the arts, and countless other aspects of congregational life. Baab examines technologies such as websites, blogs, online communities, and desktop publishing to demonstrate how a congregation can evaluate these tools and appropriately use them to convey its identity and values both within and outside the congregation.
In a book which contains views from many perspectives on this currently divisive issue, congregations are shown how to conduct non-threatening and accessible conversations that lead to better understanding and facilitate reconciliation.
Who we are as a religious people is very much up for grab. If we are to move beyond the current status quo, two things are critical. First , we will need to revisit our foundational document, the Bible, in light of our new context. …second… we must find the will and the medium by which to educate our people about our new historical context.
Includes study questions.
Accessible and almost devoid of scholarly jargon, Crazy Book is filled with scholarly insights about people, events, places, books, and types of literature in the Bible, all the while aiming to make readers literate and fluent in the Bible while making them laugh out loud!
A new book that challenges Christians to reclaim a healthy biblical perspective on money and possessions.
We Americans love our stuff. We're living in a fast-paced, me-first, instant-gratification world, and it's finally catching up to us. Debt is out of control, homes are in foreclosure … even banks are going out of business. What the world needs today is the message of contentment and simplicity, and that's exactly what Pastor Adam Hamilton delivers in Enough.
—Dave Ramsey
Also available:
Does anyone out there remember Upper Room's best-selling Spiritual Formation Bible? It went out of print with demand still high … and now it is back with a new name! Full of margin notes, calligraphy quotes for meditation, essays, and other aids for "Growing in Intimacy with God through Scripture". This is a gold mine for the spiritually hungry, and makes a great gift.
This practical book offers leaders a comprehensive resource for planning faith-based retreats to renew and refresh the spirit. A selection of retreats for personal R & R are also featured. …jam-packed with helpful hints and dozens of useful retreat models … an excellent how-to guide for both new and experienced retreat leaders.
—William Myers
More than a prayer book, [this book], if followed faithfully, helps structure our daily routine with prayer. Thus sanctifying not only our relationship with God, but also the minutes and hours of each day. Hardbound with ribbon marker; excellent for personal devotions or as a gift.
What do history and archaeology have to say about Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection? In this superb book for general readers, two of the world's most celebrated writers on the historical Jesus share their greatest findings. Concisely and compellingly they convey the drama and the world-shattering significance of Jesus' final days on earth.
Thought-provoking and insightful! Study guide available online.
We think the words 'liberal' and 'evangelical' are quite poorly understood. Understanding them will makes it easier to see how they fit together naturally. We know these labels can become caricatures, so we used them advisedly. But they are ingrained in contemporary Christian life, and we need them both to express the richness of a profoundly traditional vision of Christian faith and church life.
--from the book
This tongue-in-cheek look at Chrisitan church programs, theology, ministry, personnel, and activities will prompt church leaders and members to laugh at themselves and their hidebound ways, and humor scholars to laugh at the irrelevance of so much scholarly activity.
….it's piously irreverent, stylishly traditional, affectionately combative, respectfully cheeky, and humorously serious. …a delightful little volume full of common sense, sly humor, and sound theology - all in the service of beauty, truth, and goodness.
—from a review
Two new titles in the "40-Day Journey" series! Each volume contains a short introduction to the title author's life and work, plus 40 short readings drawn from their writings for personal meditation or group discussion.
Also available in this series:
Over 100 primary texts from the Reformation period!
The best one-volume primary-source collection available for students of the European reformations. The selections are substantial enough to sustain serious study and discussion, whether the topic is key religious texts or the thoughtful reactions of urban men and women.
—from a review
Provides a framework for finding the way forward in adult faith formation. Includes short essays, exercises, personal stories, and strategies (with examples) for developing ministries that spark, ignite, and sustain adult Christian formation.
