Associate pastors of all kinds--whether assigned to children, youth, worship, adult, or outreach--are often caught in the middle of complicated relationships in their congregations. It's an emotionally taxing and organizationally confusing position. In Associate Pastors, Michael Matthew Mauriello demonstrates how associate pastors can harness the ambiguity that accompanies their role in ways that can mutually benefit church members and other pastoral staff.
Encourages ordinary Christians to engage in real talk together about race and change There are a lot of conversations happening in homes and churches about difficult and timely topics--but when it comes to race, too many Christians stay silent. They may be overwhelmed, or worry about saying the wrong thing. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld--two women of different races who didn't know each other well before this project--believe there's a clear path to meaningful discussion about racism with someone of a different skin color. Instead of avoiding hard conversations, they enter a transparent and open dialogue about race, privilege, bias, and discrimination. Readers will witness a real-time process as these two women walk their journey of self-reflection, discovery, and healing. Lori and Saundra demonstrate how to give voice to pain without blame, how to express anger without ridicule, and how to ask questions without guilt. After reading the pages filled with vulnerable personal stories, biblical teaching, conversation starters, and practical next steps readers will be equipped to have their own healthy conversations. This book is for all who see God in ethnic diversity and want to be part of a true and deep understanding process. In these pages, there is hope to heal the racial divide and bring together the body of Christ.
The parallels between ministry within youth culture and global missions have long been touted by youth ministry experts, yet few resources exist to help youth workers benefit apply the insights of missiologists. In Youth Ministry as Mission, Brian Hull and Patrick Mays fill this gap with an introduction to missiology, missions practice, and missionary witness tailored especially for a youth ministry context. Youth ministers will discover missiological language that not only describes realities they face regularly, but also provides practical cross-cultural activities that translate well to youth ministries. --
"Jem can't wait for school to let out for the year. Is there anything more boring than class when you could be outside? When rich boy Will brings a coin collection to school, it's an exciting treat. It isn't often the students get to see all that interesting money in one place. Then a silver dollar goes missing during recess and Jem is blamed! After all, he's the only one who went indoors on this sunny day. When a charm bracelet is stolen the next day, more fingers point his way. Jem knows he isn't the culprit. But how can he prove it? To clear his name, Jem sets a trap for the mystery thief--his sister's gold locket lays in plain sight on his desk as bait. Will it go missing too? Or will Jem's good name be muddied forever?"--
"Abandoned at birth, her own origins a mystery, historical museum curator Sloane Kelley has dedicated her life to preserving Wichita's past. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesn't expect much from the common artifact...but the 19th-century diary she finds inside definitely piques her interest. Garrett Anderson is eager to clean out his grandmother's historic but tumbledown farmhouse before selling it to fund her medical care. In the face of her advancing Alzheimer's, he can't afford to be sentimental about the old family home. But his carefully-ordered plan runs up against two formidable obstacles: Sloane, who's fallen in love with both the diaries and the house, and his own heart, which is irresistibly drawn to Sloane. A century and a half earlier, Annabelle Collins's widowed father leaves her in the care of her aunt and uncle to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: settling the prairies of Sedgwick County, Kansas. The diaries she left behind paint a portrait of life, loss, and love-and a God who faithfully carries her through it all. Paging through the diaries together takes Sloane and Garrett on a journey they never could have planned for...a journey that will change them both in ways they never imagined"--
This verse-by-verse study of one of the New Testament's most challenging books not only provides helpful insights into the structure and meaning of Hebrews, but also emphasizes the practical application of its truth in numerous mini-commentaries located throughout the book. This is a repackage with new cover and ISBN.
How will new parents Andi and Riley Prescott fare when old friends and enemies reenter their lives, bringing new adventures along with them?
"Andi Prescott and her husband Riley's first year of marriage is full of adventure from their honeymoon in Yosemite and the holdup that happens on the way to their new home on Memory Creek ranch"--Provided by publisher.
"Christianity and Modern Medicine raises moral questions that were merely hypothetical just decades ago. Moreover, traditional moral models are incessantly challenged by the medical community at large, shifting the conversation to patient and societal rights within a framework of moral relativism and rendering the decision-making process morally vague and confusing. In Christianity and Modern Medicine, bioethicist Mark Wesley Foreman and attorney Lindsay C. Leonard delve into the major ethical issues facing today's medical professionals with the purpose of providing principles and guidelines for making critical ethical decisions where medical knowledge, technologies, and capabilities are constantly evolving. Topics covered include: procreational ethics, genetic ethics, abortion, medical research, infanticide, clinical ethics, physician-assisted suicide, legal issues. While Christianity and Modern Medicine is designed specifically for students planning careers in the medical field, it is accessible to any Christian interested in steering through the moral fog in the practice of medicine today." --
"Many Christian women are torn between how the church has taught traditional gender roles and the liberty they see secular society afford to women. But what if the church's conventional teachings on the place of women aren't really biblical at all? On Purpose is a serious study on the verses in the Bible that have often been interpreted to define the role of women in the church, at home, and in the workplace. Each chapter focuses on a single passage, considering what it meant to the original recipients, understanding each author's intent, and applying its true meaning in today's cultural setting. With each chapter, Julie Coleman thoroughly reveals how the timeless principles in the Bible actually teach freedom for women. In fact, when rightly understood, these verses are a wake-up call that we are handicapping the church's role on earth by limiting women unnecessarily. Instead, men and women should be working side by side for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Written without anger or judgment, and with no agenda but to delve deep into the Bible, On Purpose is an enlightening study offering a fresh, scriptural perspective. It's time to set women free to answer God's call on their lives-and set the church free to function the way God truly desires"--
Jeremiah and Lamentations approaches two historically related yet literarily distinct books of the Old Testament, carefully attending to their composition and application. Garrett and Pearson draw out the crucial themes and structures of Jeremiah: the hope of eschatological salvation nestled in the center of an expertly crafted exploration of human sin in all its blindness, perversity, and persistence. Lamentations wrestles with the unanswered questions of a community in exile, sobered by judgment and wondering whether God intends to abandon Israel entirely. Garrett and Pearson examine both Old Testament texts through the lens of Jesus, clarifying the parallels and fulfillments essential for Christian preaching.
Expert biblical and practical advice for handling today's most challenging sexual issues God created humans as sexual beings before pronouncing his creation very good. And while we continue to witness many cultural changes relating to sex and gender, one thing that remains unchanged and timeless is the foundation for sexual intimacy--God's beautiful design for the flourishing of those created in his image. Editors Sandra L. Glahn and C. Gary Barnes bring together twenty-two expert contributors in the fields of biblical studies, theology, and psychology to address the most important and controversial areas of sexuality that Christians face today. From a scriptural perspective, the contributors address issues such as: Male and female in the Genesis creation accounts Abortion Celibacy Sexuality in marriage Contraception Infertility Cohabitation Divorce and remarriage Same-sex attraction Gender dysphoria The theology of the human body "Sanctified Sexuality meets the onslaught of nuanced sexual issues emerging in the church today with clarity, kindness, and depth of expertise. The plurality of voices serve as a trustworthy guide for those hoping to avoid breaking bruised reeds."--Nika Spaulding, resident theologian at St. Jude Oak Cliff
Veteran evangelist Larry Moyer has spent ten years researching the most common issues and problems in personal evangelism. This handbook will lead believers step-by-step into a thorough understanding of the Gospel message. Practical and easy-to-follow, this definitive introduction to spiritual growth will help new believers who may be overwhelmed by their new relationship and the pressures of fitting in the Christian life. With group discussion questions in each chapter, this is a great resource for new Christians, discipleship groups, or small group study." For any pastor or layperson who takes the Great Commission seriously. . . . I think you'll come away with a fresh appreciation for the salvation we have in Christ and a renewed desire to present the gospel to others."-Luis Palau
Henry and Richard Blackaby, Garry Friesen, and Gordon T. Smith present three principle views on God's will and how his will should affect our everyday decisions as Christians.
A general introduction to the ideas, beliefs and conflicting visions that have shaped modern China.
What Christians can do, practically speaking, to fight poverty
Keeping WHAT real? gabbing - goals - goodies It's all that stuff you have to deal with that can leave your stomach in knots and just trying to maintain sanity. It's the basics: gabbing (gossip), goals (personal direction), and goodies (sexual purity). It's hard enough to be a teen without having to deal with the most recent rumor that's floating around about you and what's-his-name, the huge blemish that just happened to show up right before the prom, pressure from your folks to get into a good college, and the way your heart turns flips every time Mr. Sparkly-eyed-curly-haired-captain-of-the-soccer-team looks your way. You've got a lot to handle! That's why Heather Jamison has written about the things in life that can seem trivial, but are really complicated, overwhelming, and exasperating. Using real-life examples and applicable Scripture verses, Heather chats with girls about life's essentials--what to do when people talk about you behind your back, setting and keeping goals, and how to guard your heart AND your body. Heather's friend, Chaplain Henry Rogers, is also welcomed back to chime in with valuable advice as he presents a guy's perspective. Completely equipped with a guide--perfect for group or individual study--that helps you tackle the tough issues that don't have easy answers! Heather Jamison serves as a humanitarian worker in Kenya, Africa, with her husband and four children. She has talked about her life experiences on FamilyLife Today, and has been published in a variety of Christian publications, including Focus on the Family, Today's Christian Woman, Youthworker's Journal, Marriage Partnership, Decision, Real Family Life, and The Threshing Floor. Heather is the founder and director of Adopt a Legacy--a program in Africa offering education and personal assistance for orphans and the poor. Henry J. Rogers is the corporate chaplain for Interstate Batteries in Dallas, Texas. He serves on the President's Council for Dallas Theological Seminary and on the boards for World Impact-Dallas, Children's Hope Chest, and as chairman of the board for Probe Ministries. He is the author of The Silent War--a book that encourages moral purity.
"Don't turn your back on those who need you the most. You don't have to understand homosexuality in order to love someone."--Tom How do I show understanding and true concern when I find out my friend is gay? What do I say? If I stay friends with him or her, won't other people suspect I'm gay? How should I act toward my gay friend? What Do I Say to a Friend Who's Gay?will help you find real, practical answers to these questions. You will learn what the Bible says about being gay and how you can show real love for your friend the way Jesus would without judging or hating the person. Using real-life stories and solid biblical teaching, this book shows young adults how to stand firm in the truth of Scripture and reach out with compassion to a person who is gay. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter stimulate individual or group study. What Do I Say to a Friend Who's Gay? provides a clear directive through the confusing maze of sexual choices facing youth today. This book will save many young lives from moral destruction."--Bob Davies, Director Emeritus of Exodus International and coauthor of Someone I Love is Gay
The next pitch whipped toward me so fast, I could barely see it. I swung blindly, feeling the contact clear down to my feet. Vaguely aware of wild cheering in the background, my body blasted into automatic. Two steps from first, I saw it . . . I had whacked the ball over that fence--an automatic home run! It might take him all season, but Dakota is determined to become the best player on the team. Then, maybe his dad will be proud of him . . . and maybe he will come home. "In Out at Home I really learned a lot about forgiveness, especially during difficult situations. This is a good story about how God can change someone's heart." --Alexander Schwartz Age 11 Jeannie St. John Taylor, the author of multiple books, lives with her husband of nearly thirty years on a small working farm in the middle of Portland, Oregon. A professional artist, Jeannie is also a mother and former teacher with a masters degree. In her spare time, she works as a private investigator for her husband's financial investigation company.
Many churches and parachurch organizations are experiencing a new dimension in prayer through the 'concert of prayer' service and a renewed emphasis upon personal prayer. This new collection of sermon outlines provides biblically-based, expository sermon outlines that can be amplified and personalized for a wide variety of prayer services.
Financial giving is a topic that many people don't openly discuss. It is also a topic that many Christians misunderstand and undervalue. With a solid perspective, Dr. Olford has penned a comprehensive, honest, and deeply perceptive study of financial stewardship that will help many in understanding of this important topic.
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