Böcker utgivna av Abingdon Press

Just as Roots told the story of the African-American experience in the United States, Breaking the Barriers illustrates the experience of African Americans within United Methodism, and the important roles that faith, the church, and family played in molding the character and work of numerous individuals throughout the denomination. On July 19, 1984, Leontine Current Kelly was elected bishop of The United Methodist Church, making her the first African-American woman to become a bishop within a major American religious denomination. Breaking the Barriers recounts the story of her journey and that historic achievement

* Revised and updated * Based on the NRSV and NIV translations * Covers every book verse by verse * Each volume also contains maps, charts, a pronunciation guide, and a glossary * Available in sets or individually

Taking its title from one of John Wesley's most important sermons, The Scripture Way of Salvation explores the soteriological content of Wesley's entire literary corpus (sermons, letters, theological treatises, journals, and the notes on the Old and New Testaments). Fundamentally a doctrinal study, it is historically sensitive to the subtle shifts and nuances of Wesley's continuing reflections about the processes of salvation and the nature of Christian life. Collins provides a clear discussion of Wesley's emerging views about the development and maturation of Christian life, and in so doing highlights the essential structure that undergirds and provides the framework for Wesley's way of thinking about the processes of salvation.

The demands of congregational ministry are many, the rewards sometimes seem few, and burnout becomes a real possibility. Small wonder, then, that churches become stuck in a state of arrested spiritual development. When the pastor is functioning in a survival or maintenance mode, the church's vitality is often the first casualty. Yet Wills's own experience demonstrates that churches can turn around; the wind of the Spirit can be felt anew. This happens when the congregation is infected by the vision of what God is doing in their midst--a vision which the leaders, particularly the pastor, must bring before them. In Waking to God's Dream, Richard Wills shares the spiritual disciplines and insights which he believes account for the transformation of the congregation he serves from a large church in decline to one that is growing and reaching out to its community in a variety of creative ministries. Detailing the steps and initiatives that led to this turnaround, Wills demonstrates how personal commitment on the part of the congregation's leaders and ministers have been the key to the work they have accomplished.

Even in famine times, God plants seed, preparing for the next harvest, even when we cannot see it.

Stanford's "Mosaic" focuses on how God uses the brokenness in people's lives to make them better.

This is a 7-week study for older children (ages 9-12) about the final hours of Jesus' life, based on Adam Hamilton's book 24 Hours That Changed the World.

This is a 7-week study for younger children (ages 4-8) about the final hours of Jesus' life, based on Adam Hamilton's book 24 Hours That Changed the World.

This teacher book contains complete plans for 26 individual study sessions presented in biblical order. For each session, teachers are provided with: the session's stated purpose Bible background a step-by-step teaching plan a closing prayer Sessions: Genesis 1:1-2:4a It Was Good Genesis 2 God's Promise to Abram Exodus 3 Moses Encounters God Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments Deuteronomy 6:4-9 The Great Commandment Joshua 24:1-18 We Will Serve the Lord Ruth 1:1-18; 4:13-17 Where You Go, I Will Go 1 Kings 19:1-18 A Sound of Sheer Silence Esther 4 For Just Such a Time as This Psalm 23 The Lord Is My Shepherd Isaiah 52:13-53:12 The Suffering Servant Jeremiah 31:31-34 A New Covenant Amos 5:21-24 Let Justice Roll Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes Matthew 11:28-30 I Will Give You Rest Matthew 25:31-46 The Least of These Matthew 28: 16-20 Go Into All the World Mark 1:4-20 Jesus Begins His Mission Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-40 The Birth of Jesus John 3:1-17 God Gave His Only Son John 14 Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled Romans 8 The Spirit Helps Us 1 Corinthians 13 Love, the More Excellent Way 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 New Creation in Christ 1 John 4:7-12 God Is Love Revelation 21:1-6 A New Heaven and a New Earth Each lesson contains: Words for Bible Times (how the scriptures were heard) Words for Our Time (how we hear them today) Words for My Life (how we apply them to our life) separate Student book 9780687071999 26 sessions / 45-60 minute

Separate Leader's Guide # 9780687045396

Yoke of Obedience

In Her Words illustrates the contributions made to contemporary Christian theology by the increasing number of female theologians. Oden compiles selections from the writings of major female theologians from the early church through the present. The older selections have been translated into modern English. Each selection is accompanied by a brief introduction outlining its historical and theological context. Selections from the early church include Perpetua, The Martyrdom of Crispina, The Martyrdom of Agape, Irene, and Chione; from the monastic and middle period are Clare of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, Leoba, Julian of Norwich, and Catherine of Siena; and post-1500 C.E. include Teresa of Avila, Jane de Chantal, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Georgia Harkness.

In 1985, What They Don't Teach at Harvard Business School became a blockbuster bestseller because it offered proven-effective, "school of hard knocks" advice--not just classroom theories--to business people. Now, What Ministers Can't Learn in Seminary does the same thing for beginning and experienced pastors and seminarians. In bright, optimistic, good-humored language, R. Robert Cueni takes us step-by-step through the predictable crises of early ministry. He discusses the realities of congregational life, the difference between normal tensions and critical problems, and dozens of other problem areas. He also shows how to find a way through the maze of expectations held by church members. What Ministers Can't Learn in Seminary is distilled wisdom at its very best, offered with vigor and compassion--realistic about the church and highly affirmative of ministry.

How does an infinite God relate to finite human beings? How does the death of Jesus Christ bring about human salvation? How are Christians able to actively address the world's ills while maintaining their citizenship in the kingdom of God? These are questions the church grapples with today, as it always has. Yet, according to Thomas C. Oden, contemporary theology has neglected the church's traditional answer to these questions: the doctrine of grace. All too often modern theologians either ignore the doctrine of grace or relate it to the achievement of a particular political agenda. Oden asserts that only by reclaiming the centrality of grace--defined as God's self-giving through Jesus Christ in personal encounter with the individual human will--can Christian theology be true to the gospel. In order to reclaim the doctrine of grace, the author reaches back, beyond the fragmentation of theology that took place during and after the Enlightenment. He draws upon the ecumenical consensus held by early Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant theologians, councils, and creeds regarding this cardinal Christian doctrine. By adducing this ancient unity, Oden challenges modern assumptions concerning the sources and methods of the theological enterprise and calls contemporary Christians to discern what their forebears in the faith knew to be essential to the gospel: that to be a Christian is to be formed, nurtured, and upheld solely by divine grace.

Provides six proven successful "mega-strategies" for bringing more people into the church. Explains why John Wesley's writings still hold valuable insights for church growth. "In reading the manuscript, I was inspired by the constant swing between theory and practice. Here is a valid principle, writes Hunter; here is how it works in Tampa, Florida, or Wilmington, Delaware. I was also enthused, as you will be, to observe how McGavran and Wesley targeted 'responsive' people, how they both used indigenous music and language and culture, how they identified needs and met them, and how determined both were to have supportive fellowship groups, lest converts die 'aborning'."--Richard Wilke, from the foreword.