Bücher veröffentlicht von Abingdon Press

The Care Minister''s Manual is the personal training workbook and reference guide for Congregational Care Ministers (CCM''s), who serve a central role in the Caring Congregation Ministry. CCM''s receive in-depth training, where they learn the theological foundations of congregational care, plus the behaviors, habits, and practices they will need to follow in order to serve others well. Each CCM-in-training should have a copy of this Manual. It serves as their training workbook, which then becomes the CCM''s personal reference guide.The Caring Congregation Ministry is a model for congregational 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 training and then are commissioned to serve as Congregational Care Ministers or CCM''s, caring for the people in their congregation and community. The Caring Congregation Ministry: Implementation Guide is the main book for pastors and other leaders seeking to build, launch, and sustain a Caring Congregation Ministry in their church.

Traditioned innovation is a habit of being and living that cultivates a certain kind of moral imagination shaped by storytelling and expressed in creative, transformational action. Moral imagination is about character, which depends on ongoing formation that takes place in friendships and communities that embody traditions and that are sustained by institutions.There is no quick-fix or set of techniques that will create a mindset of traditioned innovation. But we do believe that you can learn to cultivate it by Becoming immersed in an imaginative engagement with the story of God told through Scripture Learning from exemplary institutions, communities, and people practicing traditioned innovation. Discovering new skills for integrating character formation and dense networks of friendships, communities and institutions into your leadership and life.Navigating the Future will explore stories and tips for cultivating traditioned innovation that will stimulate your thinking and inspire your imagination for more faithful and fruitful living along with the cultivation of more vibrant, life-giving institutions.

At its beginning Christianity was surprising, powerful, creative, world-shaking.Today in the West it is many times familiar, common, andexpected, losing its power to surprise and transform. We have developedsocietal amnesia and ignorance of what Christianity originally was andwhat it still can be. We need to recover the surprise of Christianity. Weneed to ask the same fundamental questions as the early Christians, whichwill help us rediscover the surprising power of Christianity in our midst.Focusing on the surprise of the gospel message takes us into the heart ofwhat it is to understand Christianity at all, and thus what it is to rememberand relearn the life-giving power and witness that went with being Christianat the beginning. This remembering and relearning can, in turn, surprise usall over again and chart a course for our witness today.

Adam Hamilton helps pastors and church leaders consider the purpose, planning and execution of excellent preaching by offering detailed descriptions of the sermon planning, writing and preaching process behind one of the fastest growing churches in the United States.

A new articulation of pastoral theology, care, and counseling.Too often we think and teach in ways that reinforce a mind-body split. This can lead people to self-alienation, impeding holistic, healthy relationships between people, God, and each other. Body Connections takes a different approach, teaching us to see the connections between our embodied experience and faithful spiritual care. Author Michael Koppel focuses on the human body and its relationship to faith and spiritual care. He engages religious texts and traditions as well as scientific insights, offering accessible theology and spiritual practices for healing and care of the body.Our bodies are amazing resources, but we are too often unaware of their power, or unable to harness it in helpful ways for our own good. This remarkable book empowers pastors, counselors, chaplains, seminarians, and caregivers to understand and provide the ministry of care in an entirely new, life-giving way. This book is highly useful for individuals and groups. It is for clergy, chaplains, spiritual directors, seminarians, clinical educators, lay people in churches, and those who are institutionally unaffiliated but care deeply about fostering a holistic spiritual path.Praise for Body ConnectionsEverything we think, feel, and do comes through the body. But practices of spiritual care tend to downplay the body as a source of knowledge and a tool for responding to others and to God. Koppel's book reclaims that wisdom, coaching us to strengthen our abilities to read, listen, and think with the body. I can't wait to teach this practical, wise, and convicting book, which addresses embodied emotion, grief, silence, trauma, and more. Koppel's seasoned, pastoral voice offers a rich synthesis of sources and insights that demonstrate the body's place at the center of ministry. --Duane Bidwell, professor of practical theology, spiritual care, and counseling, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CABody Connections provides new insights into the voice and language of the body. Koppel crafts a "e;body theology"e; that encourages spiritual care practitioners to be proactive in their spiritual practices of listening, adapting and responding to our bodies and to the bodies of those to whom we offer care. Using the image of "e;body as storyteller"e; and other metaphors, Koppel captures and defines the healing power of the body in clear and profound ways. --Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, D.Min., Presiding Bishop, Fifth Episcopal District, The CME ChurchMichael Koppel returns the body to its rightful place at the center of each person's story and the center of the Christian story. He calls readers home to their bodies and gently challenges escapes from the body into hasty fixing, detached rationalizing, anxious dithering, or addictive numbing. At a time when the COVID pandemic has underscored the vulnerability of bodies, Koppel's focused, healing, deep body consciousness paints a portrait of health far beyond mere absence of disease. Don't just read this book: absorb it, practice it, and let it heal you. --Douglas M. Thorpe, PhD, is Executive Director of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care and a past president of the American Association of Pastoral CounselorsIt is surprisingly difficult, even confusing: to have a body; to be a body; to touch, talk and listen to, even read a sensing body; to honor and restore the body's wounds, traumas, and shame while celebrating its healing and resilience Koppel is a wise guide and caregiver for those seeking to embrace the sacredness of a human body and its unique story. Body Connections empowers a reader to discover body knowledge anew. It deepens trust in the most intimate relationship one has, the relationship with one's body. --Jaco J. Hamman, professor of religion, psychology, and culture, and director of the Program iin Theology and Practice, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

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

Fresh Expressions is a canary in the coal mine, alerting congregations to reevaluate what the Church is, where and when it can happen, and who can lead it. Church as we know it is inaccessible to most people. A fundamental premise of the movement is that Church can become accessible again by emerging in every nook and cranny where life already happens. Fresh Expressions is based in simplification, returning to basic scriptural principles, and a recovery of a "e;priesthood of all believers"e;-in the three places where people live and relate to others.First Place: The home or primary place of residence. Second Place: The workplace or school place. Third Place: The public places separate from the two usual social environments of home and workplace, which host regular, voluntary, informal, and neutral spaces of communion and play. Examples are environments such as cafes, pubs, theaters, parks, and so on.During a pandemic, our two primary mission spaces were closed off; the second and third places were shut down. We couldn't have Tattoo Parlor Church; the tattoo parlor was closed. We couldn't gather in Moe's Southwest Grill for Burritos and Bibles; they were doing take-out only. The dog park was empty; no Paws of Praise. This limited us to the only spaces we have left: the first place, or the home place. The digital place, or the "e;space of flows."e; This forces us into recognizing the digital space as its own kind of third place, a new missional frontier.

While some people might become pastors to offer counsel, I expect that many pastors see counseling as a daunting, disorienting, and even dreaded part of the job. It can even be scorned by some who consider this pastoral work an unnecessary distraction from leadership and mission. Yet pastoral counseling is a non-negotiable component of pastoral ministry that provides an excellent opportunity to display the love of Christ. Kairos Care teaches a theologically sensitive, practically formed framework for providing focused, time-limited pastoral care and counsel. To keep this framework tangible, this book offers a kairos diagram that illustrates the model for counsel. While the kairos diagram is readily found online, it has been modified to fit a pastoral counsel context for ease of use.

Covenant Bible Study guides small groups through a comprehensive, in-depth study of the whole Bible over twenty-four sessions broken into three eight-session modules. Unlike the learning participants may have experienced in other groups, this study emphasizes the biblical concept of covenant as a unifying theme through both the Old and New Testaments. It underscores the unique relationship that God chooses to have with us as God's people. This relationship is grounded in the faithfulness of God's love and on our ongoing commitment to stay in relationship with God while we share signs of God's love with others. Each Covenant Bible Study participant needs a Participant Guide and a Bible. The CEB Study Bible is preferred, but not required. The Participant Guide walks study participants through the daily scripture readings and offers space to interact personally with the readings, the group experience, and the weekly meditations. This single volume Participant Guide contains the materials required for all three modules: Creating, Living and Trusting. Creating: God establishes the covenant to be in relationship with us. This first module, Creating the Covenant, examines how the covenant community is created and established, by focusing on several books of the Bible. It discusses the story of our origins in Genesis, the Exodus narrative, the teachings of Moses, the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, as well as other books from each Testament that focus on the foundation of Christian faith. In doing so, it lays out the framework for a life lived in concert with God and others. Living: Living within the covenant translates into action--into how we behave in our everyday lives. That's why the second module, Living the Covenant, focuses on how the community lives out the covenant in faithful love--how it is applied to actual relationships in daily life. The scripture readings included in these episodes examine the practical challenges of faithful covenant life. Participants explore leadership challenges among tribal chieftains, kings and prophets, and spiritual and political crises. They look for practical wisdom and guidance in the teachings of Israel's sages, the letters of Paul, and more. By demonstrating how people of vastly different cultures came together in a common purpose, the study shows how faithful love is the root of the covenant life. Trusting: Life often presents significant challenges. Difficulties are inevitable. That's why the final module, Trusting the Covenant, looks at the crises that sometimes call covenant life into question, and how we are restored to trust in God when troubling things happen. It how hope is restored by faithfulness in the midst of suffering. From the story of Job, to the Hebrew exile, to the apocalyptic visions in Daniel and Revelation, we learn how God's faithful love is at work in everything--to restore hope, freedom, and wholeness to our lives.

Women preachers are everywhere. The pulpit, once a bastion of male presence and power, has become, in many denominations, a place where women regularly exercise their gifts, leading congregations and proclaiming God's word each week. The number of women scholars who are publishing and teaching in the field of preaching has also expanded dramatically.Leonora Tubbs Tisdale explores how the presence of women preachers and scholars of preaching has transformed the practice of homiletics this country-from the reclamation of women's "e;herstory"e; in preaching, to the topics addressed in preaching and scholarship, to the way in which Biblical hermeneutics and theologizing are undertaken in preaching, to the imagery, illustrations, shape and embodiment of the sermons themselves. How Women Transform Preaching begins with a fascinating survey, including statistical information and historical analysis. Interviewing 16 women preachers/homileticians, Tisdale shares 'untold stories' of women preachers throughout history who are largely unknown but who serve as examples of both the struggle and power of women's preaching. She then tells the stories of contemporary women preachers. Throughout, Tisdale draws practical lessons for the reader, showing what students, homileticians, and preachers can learn from extraordinary women preachers.

A Worship Workbook: A Practical Guide for Extraordinary Christian Liturgy introduces crucial and under-examined liturgical and social concepts for more honest and versatile excellence in the leadership of Christian worship. By "honest," this workbook differentiates itself from other worship resources by swiftly and surgically underscoring how liturgy has led to transgressions as well as living out the truth of the Gospel. For example, the communion table for some is seen as violent because of the Crusaders who ate and drank of the meal before battle. Claiming that disturbing past and responding to it nurtures deeper and stronger practices of the Lord''s Supper. By "versatile," this workbook offers practical advice for widening the reach and accessibility of liturgy as well as its social awareness so that, for example, celebrations of indigenous peoples are not reserved for a special Sunday. This workbook will inspire church leaders to commit to gathering people of diversity as an expression of faithfulness in God.

Making Disciples is a 13-session mentor-based confirmation program that pairs confirmands with adult mentors and guides them through a variety of learning experiences that will strengthen the student's understanding of the faith while connecting him or her with the community of believers in a personal way. It can be used as a stand-alone program, or in conjunction with your current curriculum as a special experiential unit.This is a confirmation program that is more like a process and less like a reading assignment, more engaging and congruent with the nature of the Christian faith than existing programs.Using an "apprenticeship" approach to confirmation Will Willimon produced a series of learning experiences where adult mentors and confirmands are both teachers and learners at the same time.This time-tested approach has been extensively revised and updated for usage in today's churches that take seriously Christ's command to be engaged in disciple making.The Confirmand's Journal is a place where an individual can write down highlights, memories, and details of their confirmation journey. This journal is a guided journal. Which means the confirmand will be given directions on things to do, and questions to reflect on, which will help them get started in their writing.Topics explore the basics of Christian faith:-God-Jesus-the Holy Spirit-worship-the Bible-gifts-ministry-baptism-spiritual life-death and resurrection-the church

Discover how God is pursuing you as you explore His relentless love from Genesis to Revelation in Pursued by Jennifer Cowart. We all want to be loved. We long to be desired, pursued--whether by a special someone, our friends, or others in our lives. This longing for love and acceptance is the underlying story of many of our lives, and it's the overarching story we see throughout the Scriptures. Although the Bible tells many stories, the main theme is God's relentless love for us. In Pursued, a six-week Bible study by Jennifer Cowart, we will explore God's great love for us from Genesis to Revelation. We will see that God passionately pursues people who do not deserve His love, and we are those people! Like Cain, Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, David, the woman caught in adultery, Peter, and so many others, we are the ones who have broken relationship with God. But He runs after us anyway to bring us home. In this study, we will explore God's love as evidenced in the stories of creation, the patriarchs, the judges and prophets, Jesus, and the early church. Together we will dive into a great love story and discover that it is our story! Through this study women will: - See the big picture of God's love for them throughout the Scriptures- Discover that God wants a personal relationship with them- Experience God's relentless love for them individually- Realize that God never stops pursuing them Components 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 (with closed captioning).

Discover how God is pursuing you as you explore His relentless love from Genesis to Revelation in Pursued by Jennifer Cowart. We all want to be loved. We long to be desired, pursued--whether by a special someone, our friends, or others in our lives. This longing for love and acceptance is the underlying story of many of our lives, and it''s the overarching story we see throughout the Scriptures. Although the Bible tells many stories, the main theme is God''s relentless love for us. In Pursued, a six-week Bible study by Jennifer Cowart, we will explore God''s great love for us from Genesis to Revelation. We will see that God passionately pursues people who do not deserve His love, and we are those people! Like Cain, Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, David, the woman caught in adultery, Peter, and so many others, we are the ones who have broken relationship with God. But He runs after us anyway to bring us home. In this study, we will explore God''s love as evidenced in the stories of creation, the patriarchs, the judges and prophets, Jesus, and the early church. Together we will dive into a great love story and discover that it is our story! Through this study women will: - See the big picture of God''s love for them throughout the Scriptures- Discover that God wants a personal relationship with them- Experience God''s relentless love for them individually- Realize that God never stops pursuing them Components 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 (with closed captioning).

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.

The many voices in scripture form a dialogue with readers, which produce theological truths that are larger than the individual parts. This introduction is informed by both literary theory and theology. It groups sections of the whole Bible together by genre. Each section identifies and describes the genre (such as historiography, poetry, prophecy, gospel, letter, apocalypse), and then moves into a discussion about the literary characteristics and theological insights.The words of scripture not only come a long way to find us but like a poem must be read with attention. Poetry doesn't yield meaning easily, and it doesn't promise to make sense. We know to look past the words on the page and find the images, tropes, sounds, and metaphors that are meaning-full. This type of writing invites, rather demands, the imagination. We must accept that we will only get so close, but that this is close enough. Our imagination spans the gaps left by sparse language and incomplete narratives. We return again and again, with more information and perhaps more experiences. The words are the same, but we are not; and for that reason there are always new discoveries."At last, an introduction that students will enjoy reading, because it is at once engaging, informative, and eye-opening, as well as completely lucid. Fentress Williams shows how many books of the Bible reflect the experience of marginalized persons and communities in precarious situations, and therefore how they speak in ways both realistic and encouraging to contemporary readers. Do your students and yourself a favor: adopt this text and get ready for serious conversation about ancient texts that never go out of date."- Ellen F. Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School

For more than 200 years, millions of Methodists have shared God's love with the world. Baked into the theological purpose of our mission is the compassion and resolve to relieve human suffering by offering healing, hope, and holiness everywhere in the world. Millions of Methodist people on every continent persist in serving faithfully amid the tensions and challenges that cry out for transformation.This book tells the story of these global efforts, beginning with John Stewart's ministry among the Wyandotte Nation in America, and what Methodists have learned about God's mission along the way. This book also describes how United Methodist Global Ministries is living out these lessons of cooperation, humility, relationship, and practicing holistic mission. Together, Methodists pursue and promote personal, social, and cosmic transformation. Together, we work and live amid the tensions that enrich and expand our awareness of Methodist identity in God's diverse world.

Worship at Home: Advent and Christmas 2020 is packed with weekly worship services you can do on your own or with others and includes services for each week in Advent, Christmas Eve, the Sunday after Christmas, and Epiphany. 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. Included are links for online musical selections plus traditional hymn suggestions from a variety of hymnals. You'll find helpful ideas for how to use this resource in a variety of settings, and how to create worshipful spaces, even in your own home.The Worship at Home series is organized by the liturgical year, with a new book for each season: Advent and Christmas, Lent, Easter and Eastertide, Pentecost, and the weeks after Pentecost. Ways the resource can be used by individuals and families include: - Individuals can use the resource for personal devotion and worship at any time, wherever they like. Go through the entire service, or simply choose whatever portions are helpful. Read a prayer and meditate. Watch a video clip and reflect on it. Sing a song or hymn.- 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 are some ways the resource can be used by a congregation or group: - Pastors or group leaders can use Worship at Home as the 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, Facebook or 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. Worship at Home provides a participatory experience and a sense of community, even when people are worshiping remotely.