Bücher veröffentlicht von Abingdon Press

Teaching Stewardship from a Spiritual PerspectiveConsecration Sunday Team Guide, Revised and Updated Edition.Consecration Sunday approaches financing the ministries of your congregation by teaching stewardship from a spiritual perspective rather than a fundraising perspective. It focuses on the question, "e;What is God calling me to do?"e; rather than, "e;What does the church need in order to pay its bills?"e;This revised edition offers updated language, references, and statistics while keeping everything that has resonated with the program for more than 25 years intact. Digital materials available with the Program Guide are now available via Internet download, are updated and include social media posts in additional to letters and other proven communications tools.The Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program is a proven winner; it has helped thousands of congregations increase financial giving by 15% to 30%.What do I need to get started?Order the Stewardship Program Guide (9781791024024) and gather a team. Purchase copies of the Team Member Guide (9781791024048), one for each member of your team. These resources provide complete instructions for implementing the program successfully. Also Available: Consecration Sunday Estimate of Giving Cards Pkg. of 100 (9780687064069)Consecration Sunday Devotional (9781791024062)Does it work?Thousands of congregations have experienced 15% to 30% increases in financial giving with the Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program the first year plus additional significant increases in subsequent years of its use.One congregation obtained these impressive multi-year results: First year, a 14.4% increase in giving; second year, 10.3% increase; third year, 13.4% increase; fourth year, 13.6%; and fifth year, 19.6% increase.A congregation's financial secretary said, "e;More than two-thirds of our households made some degree of annual increase each year we used Consecration Sunday. And each year we used the program, four to six additional households decided to tithe (some of those donors grew from giving 4 percent of their income to giving 10 percent of their income)."e;

In Just Say Yes! Robert Schnase shows church leaders how to unleash people for fruitful ministry. He teaches leaders to spot their own nay-saying, and gives specific instructions for reversing the culture of ''No'' that has become so prevalent in many churches. Step by step, Schnase shows readers--pastors, other church leaders, and congregants--how to make significant change in their attitude and actions, to become a permission-giving church. This set of resources is the next step in the author''s effort to reshape church leaders across the mainline denomination. Just Say Yes! Becoming a Permission-Giving Church give church leaders what they need in order to begin implementing the principles in the original book. It starts with a group study experience for church leaders, facilitated by a senior leader (typically the pastor). The study can be done in as little as 3 hours or, if groups watch all the videos and do all the optional exercises and activities, up to 6 hours total. The sessions can be used as a single-day retreat or broken up into 3 or 6 separate sessions. They can be stand-alone sessions, or incorporated into meetings for staff and lay leaders. The Leader Guide includes instructions and guidance for leaders in planning, hosting, debriefing and following up after the experience. Using this resource, plus the included customizable PowerPoint slides and the video Stories of Permission, a pastor or other key leader can effectively facilitate an extraordinary group experience resulting in transformation for the congregation. The Participant Guide is a complete workbook and devotion guide for church leaders--staff and laity--who participate in the Permission-Giving group experience. These will typically be church councils, staff teams, committee chairs, ministry team leaders, and the like. The Guide includes prompts to reinforce the material shared in the videos and by the facilitator, questions for reflection and discussion, and specific action steps for becoming permission-giving leaders in the church. It includes plenty of room for writing and note taking during the group experience. It also includes a 7-day Devotional, which the participant can complete either during or after the group experience. The group experience includes 6 inspiring and compelling videos from real church settings. Several additional video clips are also available, for groups wanting to spend more time exploring ideas together. A printed 4-Week Devotional is also available, and can be used by individual church members autonomously, or (ideally) used by every member as a personal study guide accompanying the 4-Week Sermon & Worship series. The material is flexible and accessible for all adult readers, and can be done in one sitting or spread throughout the week. This study consists of a Leader Guide, Participant Guide, DVD, a Devotional Guide and free Customizable Downloadable Resources. The DVD has 8 video stories showing the Permission-Giving Church in action, 3 brief videos essays demonstrating the essentials of a permission-giving church and 1 video promo for inviting participation in the Just Say Yes! experience.

Finding the answers to hard questions in a skeptical age

A journey through the Bible from a Korean perspective.

Leader Guide: provides process guidance for weekly group sessions. The Leader Guide understands the role of leader as facilitator of small-group sessions. Procedures for guiding sessions include: directions for using related video segments, and questions for discussion.

Worship Resources Edition 9781426709975 The edition contains the nonmusical prayers and acts of worship only. Cover includes the United Methodist Cross & Flame emblem. Worship & Song is a distinctive collection of 190 songs comprising a broad variety of genres collected from all over the globe, including new hymns in traditional style, plus older traditional hymns no longer found in modern hymnals, contemporary songs, global songs (World Music, including Taizé and Iona), and USA ethnic (Spirituals, Black Gospel, Asian, and more).

This self-instruction book was written to help middle and older elementary children become familiar with their Bibles and learn how to use them at their own speed. Finding Your Way Through the Bible is intended to be used with the Children's Common English Bible at home or in the classroom. Students completing this book will be able to: -Find any book in the Old or New Testaments using the Table of Contents -Find any chapter in any book and any verse in any chapter -Find parts of verses when the Bible reference uses the letters a, b, and c with a verse number -Tell the difference between books with similar names such as 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel and John and 1 John -Recognize the additional helps in a Bible and be able to use them

Join Adam Hamilton in exploring the major themes of the Gospel of John.

Clearly defines duties, procedures, equipment and key words. Includes line drawings of vestments and a nondenominational certificate.Clearly defines duties, procedures, equipment and key words. Includes line drawings of vestments and a nondenominational certificate.Clearly defines duties, procedures, equipment and key words. Includes line drawings of vestments and a nondenominational certificate.Clearly defines duties, procedures, equipment and key words. Includes line drawings of vestments and a nondenominational certificate.Clearly defines duties, procedures, equipment and key words. Includes line drawings of vestments and a nondenominational certificate.

Become the hands and feet of Christ this Christmas.

There is more to the story of Job than the first and last chapters, for it is the chapters in between that mirror man's own life struggles. Immersion: Job enables readers to enter the story and experience the trials of life through the eyes of Job. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step suggestions for leading a group are provided, as well as questions to facilitate class discussion.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.

No other time of the year captures our imagination as much as Christmas: God coming into the world on a dark winter's night; a baby's cry that would change the course of human history; the heavens bursting into song; the certain hope that God will have the last word over our brokenness. This season fills our hearts with the wonder that anything is possible. This year, rediscover the true wonder of Christmas by sharing the love of Christ with others. Each chapter centers on one element of the Christmas story, looking to the Christmas story and the stories of real people today to offer inspiration and ideas for reflecting the light of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year. The Wonder of Christmas is a four-week all-church study for Advent with resources for all ages. The Youth Study Book includes everything needed to conduct a four-session study including current examples that have meaning to young people grades 6-12. Includes leader helps with discussion questions and can be used with the adult-level DVD.

Become the hands and feet of Christ this Christmas.

No other time of the year captures our imagination as much as Christmas: God coming into the world on a dark winter's night; a baby's cry that would change the course of human history; the heavens bursting into song; the certain hope that God will have the last word over our brokenness. This season fills our hearts with the wonder that anything is possible. This year, rediscover the true wonder of Christmas by sharing the love of Christ with others. Each chapter centers on one element of the Christmas story, looking to the Christmas story and the stories of real people today to offer inspiration and ideas for reflecting the light of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year. Chapters Include: The Wonder of a Name The Wonder of a Star The Wonder of a Manger The Wonder of a Promise The Wonder of Christmas is also perfect for an all-church study and includes resources for all ages, teaching video, worship ideas and visuals, and preaching guides, all areas of church life weave together for a wonder-filled Advent celebration. The adult study book is the centerpiece of the program, serving as the adult small group resource and the source of content for worship planners and leaders.

Learn to awaken to God's Spirit today and every day by studying the Book of Acts with Melissa Spoelstra.Whether it's because of distractions, busyness, or a case of the blahs, we can experience a drift toward indifference in our spiritual lives. We have a need for an ongoing spiritual awakening if we want to become more aware of God's presence and activity in our everyday lives. In Acts: Awakening to God in Our Everyday Lives, a six-week study of the Book of Acts by Melissa Spoelstra, you will journey with the first followers of Jesus and witness the birth and growth of the early church through spiritual awakening to the power of God's Spirit, message, freedom, grace, mission, and direction. From their experiences you will learn postures that will help you attune your own spiritual heart to experience God's presence, hear God's voice, and see God at work all around. This study offers a fresh encounter with God to prepare you to:- Face daily battles- Be able to discern the messages of our culture- Be ready to share God's love with others alwaysComponents for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook, a Leader Guide, and video sessions with six 20 to 25-minute segments featuring Melissa Spoelstra (with closed captioning).

No other time of the year captures our imagination as much as Christmas: God coming into the world on a dark winter's night; a baby's cry that would change the course of human history; the heavens bursting into song; the certain hope that God will have the last word over our brokenness. This season fills our hearts with the wonder that anything is possible. This year, rediscover the true wonder of Christmas by sharing the love of Christ with others. Each chapter centers on one element of the Christmas story, looking to the Christmas story and the stories of real people today to offer inspiration and ideas for reflecting the light of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year. The Wonder of Christmas is a four-week all-church study for Advent with resources for all ages. The Children's Leader Guide contains session ideas for younger and older children, including games, activities, craft ideas, and reproducible handouts.

Become the hands and feet of Christ this Christmas.

No other time of the year captures our imagination as much as Christmas: God coming into the world on a dark winter's night; a baby's cry that would change the course of human history; the heavens bursting into song; the certain hope that God will have the last word over our brokenness. This season fills our hearts with the wonder that anything is possible.This year, rediscover the true wonder of Christmas by sharing the love of Christ with others. Each chapter centers on one element of the Christmas story, looking to the Christmas story and the stories of real people today to offer inspiration and ideas for reflecting the light of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year.The Wonder of Christmas is a four-week all-church study for Advent with resources for all ages. The devotional is a beautiful companion volume that functions beautifully on its own or as part of the church-wide experience offers four weeks of daily devotions on four elements of the Christmas story that evoke wonder and inspiration for reflecting the light of Jesus. Each devotion includes Scripture and a reflection and prayer.

Join Adam Hamilton for a six-week journey as he travels to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring his defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. Wesley's story is our story. It defines our faith and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the Revival Bible study program. Includes session plans and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

Learn to awaken to God's Spirit today and every day by studying the Book of Acts with Melissa Spoelstra. Whether it's because of distractions, busyness, or a case of the blahs, we can experience a drift toward indifference in our spiritual lives. We have a need for an ongoing spiritual awakening if we want to become more aware of God's presence and activity in our everyday lives. In Acts: Awakening to God in Our Everyday Lives, a six-week study of the Book of Acts by Melissa Spoelstra, you will journey with the first followers of Jesus and witness the birth and growth of the early church through spiritual awakening to the power of God's Spirit, message, freedom, grace, mission, and direction. From their experiences you will learn postures that will help you attune your own spiritual heart to experience God's presence, hear God's voice, and see God at work all around. This study offers a fresh encounter with God to prepare you to:- Face daily battles- Be able to discern the messages of our culture- Be ready to share God's love with others alwaysComponents for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook, a Leader Guide, and video sessions with six 20 to 25-minute segments featuring Melissa Spoelstra (with closed captioning).

The Psalms can help us during a time of disruption and division.Deep Calls to Deep demonstrates a new and generative way of reading the Bible, which looks for differences among texts to engage in dialogue over critical issues that are not only biblical but also are relevant to our contemporary crises. Bill Brown explores uncharted territory in the Bible with a particular focus on the Psalms, the most diverse book of the Bible. By taking his cue from Martin Luther, Brown explores how the "little bible" (the Psalter) engages the larger Hebrew Bible in dialogue, specifically how the Psalms counter, complement, reconstrue, and transform biblical traditions and themes across the Hebrew canon, from creation and law to justice and wisdom.In this deep study of the Psalms, Brown asks:- What is humanity's place and role in creation?- What makes for a credible leader?- What is "law and order"?- What is the role of wisdom in the life of faith?- What is the shape of justice in a society polarized by power and fear?These and other questions, such as a chapter that offers a fresh look at the authority of Scripture, are hosted by the Psalms with the aim of prompting dialogue, the kind of dialogue that is most needed in a time of deep division and disruption. Praise for Deep Calls to DeepDeep Calls to Deep extends a hearty invitation to mutual dialogue among Christian communities. It does not encourage harmony and agreement but seeks to generate critical and potentially transformative conversations regarding scripture and authority.--Nyasha Junior, Temple University, and author of Reimagining Hagar: Blackness and BibleIn this moment of societal disruption, Brown warmly invites us to sit together and consider anew the glorious psalms of our faith. We are beckoned to see how these diverse poems create a conversation with other biblical texts, not for the sake of uniformity but for the sake of courageous dialogue.--Tyler Mayfield, Louisville Presbyterian Theological SeminaryIn a world often wracked by arguments and silencing, William Brown provides a valuable witness to those of us who treasure Scripture. Using the central metaphor of "dialogue," this fascinating study shows how all of the Bible interacts with the Psalms in a dialogical relationship. Brown invites us not only to listen in to that lively conversation, but also to join in with our voices, no matter where we are. A necessary book for our time!--Roy L. Heller, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist UniversityDeep Calls to Deep is a timely book. William Brown's commitment to dialogical interpretation is just what the Church needs in this unsettling and divisive time. The inner-biblical reading of the Psalms in conversation with the rest of the canon clarifies the dialogical nature of biblical revelation, and, in so doing it, Brown provides a roadmap for our own self-critical engagement with others as a journey of "fearless dialogue."--Tom Dozeman, United Theological Seminary (Dayton, Ohio)

Pastors and church leaders genuinely want to care for people in their congregations and communities. But pastors cannot care for an entire church, and most laypersons don''t have the training to do it. The Caring Congregation Ministry is a model for person-to-person care that''s been proven to work in small and large churches across the U.S. It is a laity-centered ministry, where laypersons receive rigorous training and then are commissioned to serve as Congregational Care Ministers, caring for others in their own congregation and their extended community.This remarkable approach to congregational care was first developed by author Karen Lampe and her team at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Kansas City. It has been tested, refined, and strengthened, and is now being adapted in all sorts of congregational settings. One early adapter was co-author Melissa Gepford, who launched a Caring Congregation Ministry in her own rural church. Together, they have created this immensely practical guide for any pastor or leader seeking to create a congregational care ministry.This Implementation Guide is the main book for getting started. It introduces the ministry model and explains the Five Essentials which form the ministry''s foundation. It is extremely practical, full of checklists and other tools to help pastors and other leaders understand (and explain) this way of providing congregational care.The Implementation Guide also includes a section focused on the crucial component of this ministry-the Congregational Care Minister, or CCM. This section fully describes the characteristics of CCM''s, how to recruit people to this ministry, how to discern if candidates are a good fit, and how to conduct the CCM training over a multi-week period. It details the critical information CCM''s must know, and the behaviors and habits they must practice in order to be effective.Note that the companion book, The Caring Congregation Ministry: Care Minister''s Manual, is required for the CCM training. It serves as a training workbook, which then becomes the CCM''s personal reference manual.