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Finding and using apt illustrations to enhance a sermon or Bible study is a fine art. In this book, Forrest Chaffee proves himself a master at this endeavor. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to plumb the depths of some of the most significant miracles of Jesus. Herbert Chilstrom Former Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Gospel of John has a unique function - unlike the synoptic Gospels, which provide chronological accounts of Jesus' life and ministry, John weaves the story and words of Jesus around seven miracles that he calls "signs." These signs are the visible evidence that Jesus is the source of true life. Through his spoken words and healing power, Jesus' inspiring life force flows outwardly to all who believe in him. This in-depth exploration of the miracle stories in John's Gospel helps you discover how to tap in to this powerful life force and become more alive than ever. Each chapter studies the scripture text of a miracle to identify the quality associated with it, then offers numerous illustrative examples demonstrating how this "sign" or trait can positively influence daily living. With thought-provoking discussion questions included, More Alive Than Ever is an excellent resource for small group Bible study or adult Sunday school classes. Its convenient illustration index also makes this a rich source of meaningful metaphors and stories for preaching. But even more, it's stimulating reading for anyone who wants greater insight into these marvelous accounts of God's power at work. Chapters include: ? Joy Is Like The Rain John 2:1-12 ? Trust Is An Umbrella John 4:46-54 ? Hope Can Be Moving John 5:1-9 ? Bread Is Always Needed John 6:1-14 ? Peace Is Like A Flowing River John 6:16-21 ? Seeing Is Getting The Mud Out Of Your Eyes John 9:1-41 ? New Life Is Like A Grain Of Wheat John 11:1-44 This book is a beautiful witness to the possibilities of a deeper and richer spiritual life. Chaffee opens up for us the spiritual wisdom of John's Gospel in understandable simplicity. Jerry L. Schmalenberger Former President Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary Forrest Chaffee has an amazing gift of using stories and illustrations to help his readers discover what he is attempting to say. Laypersons will find this text to be very interesting and easy to read and understand. Chaffee takes the signs of Jesus and brings them down to very practical and earthy applications of everyday life. (from the Foreword) Paul M. Werger Bishop Emeritus, Southeastern Iowa Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Forrest Chaffee opens up the signs of John's Gospel to us as he also opens up his own life and experiences for us to behold. Pastors and laypersons alike will enjoy his rich storytelling abilities. This engaging work, deeply rooted in a faithful pastor's heart, is a resource that will surely help others grow in their faith - and become more alive than ever! Daniel Solomon Senior Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church Boone, Iowa In its sensitivity and simplicity, Forrest Chaffee's pastoral style penetrates to the heart of the Fourth Gospel's theology, which is the sacramental nature of all life. Both the Evangelist and Pastor Chaffee encourage readers to find God in the immediacy of daily existence. Edward W. Amend Emeritus Professor of Religion and Humanities Univers

The Ten Commandments continue to provide both significant prohibitions and helpful invitations for living a moral and godly life in the 21st century. I did not post the Ten Commandments on my classroom wall, but they were imprinted more boldly onto my heart. (from the Introduction) Melvin Kieschnick Former Director of Parish Education Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod The Ten Commandments are universally acknowledged as God's blueprint for human behavior -- yet they seem to be a major focus of controversy in today's headlines. Should these commands from God be prominently featured in classrooms and courtrooms? What difference do God's laws make for multitudes of people who can't even repeat them from memory, much less integrate them into everyday behavior? In the latest installment of his popular series examining the basics of the Christian faith, Ron Lavin takes another look at the Ten Commandments and suggests they offer a powerful biblical corrective for a society filled with ethical relativism and moral decay. But they are much more than just a list of do's and don'ts -- they are also the foundation for God's invitation to a full and abundant life. The Big Ten is an ideal group study resource -- each chapter includes a "digging deeper" section plus stimulating discussion questions, and there are tips to assist small group leaders. The Big Ten is also great for new members, adult Sunday school, and confirmation classes, as well as for personal meditation or sermon preparation. Ron Lavin is the award-winning author of 20 books, including Turning Griping Into Gratitude and Way To Grow! (CSS). He is the former Pastor-Director of Evangelical Outreach for the Lutheran Church in America, and pastored five thriving congregations, all of which grew substantially under his leadership. Lavin is a popular speaker and church consultant on the dynamics of small groups and evangelism.

Is the typical didactic sermon still an adequate vehicle for communicating essential biblical truth? In this provocative and enlightening volume, Larry Lange contends that story sermons are a far more effective way to proclaim the Good News in a modern world that largely communicates through narrative-driven multimedia spectacle. The powerful stories in the Bible don't need to be turned into morals or ideas to convey the gospel. But because they were composed in a radically different cultural context, they may require additional explanation or interpretation to make them relevant for contemporary audiences. So how can a preacher add narrative elements to these stories without diminishing their dramatic impact or changing their meaning? Retelling The Story outlines an innovative process for retelling biblical stories that utilizes fictional elements and contexts yet remains faithful to the scriptural text. Several creative and homiletical issues are comprehensively examined, and six sample sermons are included to illustrate various aspects of this process at work. Inject exciting new life into the old, old story with this primer for developing dramatic sermons that touch hearts and minds and souls. Lange's book is very well connected to recent homiletical literature, is well researched, deeply biblical, and creatively challenging. Parish pastors will benefit from this clear and brief presentation of biblical retelling. Richard A. Jensen Carlson Professor of Homiletics emeritus Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Larry Lange and his wife, Julie Wrubbel-Lange, serve as the pastors of Grace Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lange is a graduate of Carthage College (B.A.), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (M.A.), the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (M.Div.), and the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (D.Min.).

I experienced the power of God's grace in two ways as I have read these e-mails: I heard the story of faith of an ordinary parish pastor who served God in a rather extraordinary setting, and I experienced the power of God to make the ordinary precious. These letters are filled with simple moments of serving coffee and serving God, baptism by bottled water and denominational tensions melting under a desert sun. Lance Kittleson shares with all of us a small piece of God's kingdom in a far-off land. (from the Preface) Elaine Siemsen Assistant Professor of Religion St. Olaf College In January 2003, Lance Kittleson's army reserve unit was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. For the next 14 months, his ministry was transformed ? instead of pastoring an Iowa congregation, he now served under harsh and sometimes dangerous conditions as a chaplain for a support unit on the edge of war. Yet even in this chaotic and challenging environment, his trained pastor's eye finds the presence of God in moments both mundane and exhilarating. In this collection of e-mails sent to family and friends during his time in the Middle East, Kittleson shares insightful, poignant, and humorous meditations on faith and life. You'll get a firsthand glimpse of military life, as well as the remarkable ways of the spirit (both divine and human) at work. When the camp's altar suddenly disappears, you'll read about how Kittleson comes to understand that the crude replacement altar hastily assembled from discarded shipping crates is a better symbol of Jesus than any fancy altar in an ornate sanctuary. You'll also see how the sight of a superior officer offering a cup of coffee draws quizzical responses from servicemen accustomed to a rank-conscious army. Whether you are interested in learning more about what some of our men and women in uniform are experiencing in Iraq, want thoughtful sermon illustrations, or just desire inspirational reading that highlights God's presence even in the worst of life, Meditations >From Iraq is a fascinating volume for everyone. Some of the illuminating chapters include: * A Baptism In The Desert * The Spirit's Honeywagon * The Rivers Of Babylon * Tikrit And Perspective (Or Dodging Bat Guano In The Desert) * Saint SGT Murphy * Eli's Christmas Tree (Or Someone In Iowa Loves You) * The Last Convoy * SRP Blues Lance Kittleson has been an ELCA pastor since 1981. He is currently the pastor of Deer Creek Lutheran Church in Carpenter, Iowa, and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Toeterville, Iowa. Kittleson previously served parishes in Iowa and Oregon, and has been a missionary in Senegal. Kittleson's military service has included 17 years as a chaplain in the Army Reserve and 10 years as an infantry officer. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University and Luther Seminary. click here for sample

The impact of the miraculous event of the incarnation continues -- and the light of hope that appeared in the darkness of that night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago still shines on us today, even in the midst of life's most difficult situations. Illustrated with poignant stories and anecdotes, these powerful messages celebrate the heartwarming joy of Christ's coming, and demonstrate how we can rely on the Lord to serve as our steady lighthouse while we navigate the shoals of life. This seven-part series for Advent, Christmas Eve, the Sunday after Christmas, and Epiphany Sunday provides a comprehensive seasonal resource for busy pastors and worship planners. Each chapter includes a sermon, a children's message, a candle lighting response with scripture reading, and a pastoral prayer. Chapter titles include: • In The Darkness Of Despair -- Isaiah 9:2-7 • In The Darkness Of Suffering -- John 1:1-13 • In The Darkness Of Oppression -- Luke 2:1-5 • In The Darkness Of Fear -- Luke 2:6-11 • In The Darkness Of Anxiety -- Luke 2:12-17 • In The Darkness Of Uncertainty -- Luke 2:17-20 • In The Darkness Of Suspicion -- Matthew 2:1-12 Thomas A. Pilgrim, the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia, has served several United Methodist congregations in the North Georgia Conference since 1966. He is the author of six other books, including They Came Together In Bethlehem and The Man From Galilee (CSS). Pilgrim has served on mission trips to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, and his travels have included eight trips to the Holy Land as a tour host/leader. He is a graduate of LaGrange College and Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

The Bible is filled with stories of shining moments -- Moses' face shone as he came down from the mountain with the ten commandments; Jesus' face changed and his clothes became dazzling white in a transfiguration witnessed by the disciples; Paul was blinded by a light and heard the voice of Christ on the road to Damascus -- and many modern Christians have had equally life-changing experiences of the Lord's power and presence. In this third volume of the acclaimed Visions series, 60 contributors share their authentic, intensely personal accounts of holy experiences. Rosmarie Trapp of the Sound of Music family tells of a moment of assurance when "the Lord visited me in a bright, golden light" whose "golden glow brought peace to my soul." Ralph Milton, author of the historical novel Julian's Cell, describes a visitation by his late sister: "We were singing together as we often did as children ... I don't recall ever having a memory or dream as clear and powerful as that one, and it left me with a sense of joy and peace." Karen Steinke recounts the warmth she felt at the moment of her baptism: "I looked up to see the form of Jesus with an overpowering light surrounding him ..." Whether they relate transforming moments like visions, healings, or visitations by angels, joyous moments like being in the presence of a loved one who has died, or just the simple sense of God's presence while singing in church or sitting in a sunny meadow on a warm spring day, the vignettes in Shining Moments are a testament to the indescribable comfort and peace of an encounter with the divine. And because each story also illustrates a scripture passage, Shining Moments is a valuable preaching resource and an excellent catalyst for small group discussion. But even more, this book provides inspiring and heart-warming reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth. Praise for other volumes in the Visions series: This wonderful collection of stories reminds us of a fact our world desperately needs to know -- that God is alive and well and ready to be at work in our daily lives. J. Ellsworth Kalas Author of New Testament Stories from the Back Side A noted storyteller, John E. Sumwalt is the pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The author of CSS'Lectionary Stories series, Sumwalt leads seminars and retreats on sharing and understanding visions. He and his wife Jo Perry-Sumwalt also are the editors of the online service StoryShare.

Whether it's leaving home, having children, losing a parent, or retiring, we spend much of our lives passing through transitions -- and it is often very stressful to cope with changing circumstances, as we feel lost, confused, and depressed, sometimes even wondering "Where is God in all of this?" But if we think of biblical journey stories (such as the Prodigal Son or Jonah's journey to Nineveh) as accounts of life transitions, we can begin to understand the profound spirituality of our own transitions -- no matter how "godawful" the experiences may seem. This enlightening book demonstrates how the hand of God, yes even "Godawful," is at work in our everyday lives. Each chapter includes helpful exercises and discussion questions, making it an ideal individual or group study resource. Andre Papineau writes about identity and authenticity with penetrating clarity. He grounds the religious search and the human equation in our passion to be truthful. The truth will make us free. This book shows us how that is accomplished. The sources used, the stories told, even the discussion questions are compelling. Anthony T. Padovano Distinguished Professor of American Literature & Religious Studies Ramapo College Andre Papineau brings to this book his deep familiarity with the scriptures, his knowledge of psychology, and his common sense honed in a lifetime of experience. With deep wisdom and perceptive insight, he helps us understand better both important biblical passages and the transitions that occur in all our lives. All pilgrim Christians can learn much from this book. Charles E. Curran Elizabeth Scurlock Professor of Human Values Southern Methodist University Andre Papineau is the maestro of the liminal, emcee in the cabaret called Transition, which is always open and whose customers are always edgy, confused, and desperate to get out. It isn't simplistic psychobabble pabulum he offers here, but hard, good advice, the kind grownups need in order to advance to the next grade. Each of these chapters is a meditation on the strange and intermittently glorious thing called being alive. Russell Shorto Author of Gospel Truth Once again, Father Papineau has gifted us with a unique blend of theology, psychology, and biblical savvy. He reminds the reader that life is a process and, as such, is a succession of transitions reflected in innumerable personal and collective stories. Using this as a central template, he takes the reader deep into the exegetical and imaginative core of several critical biblical events. This is a book of inclusive theology in understandable and relevant story form. Frederick R. Gustafson Editor of The Moonlit Path: Reflections on the Dark Feminine Andre Papineau is a Salvatorian priest and associate professor of pastoral studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Franklin, Wisconsin. A frequent lecturer on life stages and the co-founder of the C. G. Jung Center in Milwaukee, Father Papineau is the author of ten previous books, including Lightly Goes The Good News (CSS), and is a member of The Abraham Group (www.abrahamgroup.com). He holds degrees in theology and drama from Catholic University and the University of Notre Dame.

Ever overhear a pre-teen or early teen conversation? It can be pretty dramatic -- in fact, young people and drama go together like... God and the Bible! If you're looking for quality material that draws middle school/junior high age young people into the scriptures, here's an invaluable resource. My Way Or Thy Way is a collection of twelve brief plays that bring familiar Bible stories to life in contemporary conversation that's easy to understand. By focusing on the choices made by the main characters -- and their consequences -- the scenes help young people make better choices in their own lives. "I want to do it my way, not thy way" was the struggle of these biblical personages, and many of us face similar issues today. Each skit lets participants "walk in the sandals" of ordinary people who faced extraordinary choices. Designed for versatility, these scenes can be given full dramatic performances with props, scenery, and costumes, or presented in readers' theater format for use as dynamic classroom discussion starters. Each drama is accompanied by questions and a variety of related activities. My Way Or Thy Way is an excellent supplement to a Sunday school, Bible school, or Bible study curriculum, and is especially useful for youth groups. These beautifully written skits are a perfect way for youth (and adults) to discover the teachings of the Bible. Pat Betteley has created a series of inventive and insightful pieces that encourage active participation from both performer and audience. What a great tool for a Sunday service or youth group meeting! Brint Learned Executive Director, Rabbit Run Community Arts Association Madison, Ohio In a world filled with choices, it's good to examine the choices of the "faith full." This book is filled with delectable skits and lots of ideas on how to use them in a variety of ways -- from the very theatrical to simple read-aloud discussion starters. The skits are filled with righteous puns and double entendres, putting a light touch on serious material. They make talking about making right choices fun and refreshing. Judy Astle Executive Director, Camp Henry Westminster Presbyterian Church Grand Rapids, Michigan Every Christian education director, children's coordinator, and Vacation Bible School director would benefit by having this collection. Richard Lehto Former District Superintendent, East Ohio Conference United Methodist Church Pat Betteley is a freelance writer with a passion for literature and drama. She has been a reading specialist and elementary classroom teacher for many years, and works with children, music, and drama in her church. Co-founder of a Christian theater group for all ages, Betteley has published several plays in such children's magazines as Faces, USKids, Creative Classroom, and Plays: The Drama Magazine for Young People.

The acronym WWJD (What would Jesus do?) has become a popular device for making ethical and moral decisions, and evaluating how we should act in a wide range of situations. But this seemingly ubiquitous slogan has also been used to trivialize Jesus and use his name to endorse some activity or product. Now we also hear questions like: What would Jesus eat? What would Jesus wear? What would Jesus drive? Enough already! If you want to consider this question seriously, then the best way to find the answer to WWJD is to investigate what Jesus actually did while he was here on earth. Jesus Christ was a real man who lived in a real time and a real place -- and his words and deeds are recorded in the four Gospels. Once we carefully study the Gospels and become familiar with what Jesus did, then we will be in a better position to discern what Jesus would do now. What Jesus Did is an in-depth look at the life of Jesus, including his birth, his parables, his miracles, his sayings, his death, and his resurrection. The unique format of this study guide makes it an excellent resource for a preaching series, Sunday School lessons, group Bible study, or personal devotional reading. Each chapter is built around a series of questions to help you gain deeper meaning and insight from the scriptures. And because Jesus expects us to turn learning into doing and live according to his example, each chapter also includes a WWJD action step for applying his teachings in our daily lives. In fresh language that brings the sayings and saving activities of Jesus into the world of the third millennium, Prescott-Ezickson shares Bible studies with emotional impact on the classic motivation for Christian living, What would Jesus do? Robert T. Coote Former Associate Director, Overseas Ministries Study Center New Haven, Connecticut Robert D. Prescott-Ezickson is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Meriden, Connecticut. He is a graduate (M.Div. and Ph.D.) of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and has previously pastored churches in Indiana, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He has also been an adjunct professor of religion at Central Connecticut State University. Prescott-Ezickson has served as president of the Minister's Council for American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, moderator of the South Central Association, and president of the Meriden Clergy Association. He is the author of God Has A Plan For You! (CSS).

Effectively communicating with young people is vitally important -- we are constantly challenged to share the story of God's love in a way that really connects with them. Using puppets is an increasingly popular method for establishing a rapport with children and capturing their attention. Puppets are much more than just another gimmick -- because children (and adults, too!) carefully listen to and absorb the messages presented, they can be a very useful teaching tool. If you are interested in trying this captivating approach in your congregation, then Peter And The Children is just the resource for you. H. Burnham Kirkland has created 66 short pieces perfect for "children's time" in worship services or Sunday school classrooms. Employing witty dialogue between a presenter and a hand-held puppet named Peter, the frequently humorous and always instructive scenes can be used as written or to help generate ideas for your own presentations. Kirkland writes in a direct style that's easy for young people to understand, and makes the Christian faith relevant to their lives. Some of the presentations include: • Will Roast Pig Bring Us Luck? • A Direct Line To Jesus • I'm Allergic To That Word "School" • Weather Or Not • How Do You Catch The Christmas Spirit? H. Burnham Kirkland, during more than fifty years in the ministry, served as the pastor of eight local congregations and as a missionary in the Philippines, as well as district superintendent, conference program director, and treasurer of World Missions of the United Methodist Church. A graduate of the College of the City of New York and Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Dr. Kirkland also holds honorary doctorates from Philippine Wesleyan University and DePauw University (Greencastle, Indiana). This is his fifth CSS book. Now retired, Kirkland lives in Lakeland, Florida.

Dedicated to providing fresh ideas for busy ministers and worship planners in a variety of settings, the Worship Innovations series offers practical resources that will bring the Bible to life and brighten your worship services. The easy-to-produce dramas and programs can be used in any size church, yet are flexible enough to fit almost any worship style. And each user-friendly resource comes with detailed instructions, including a complete list of everything you need to prepare for. In this Worship Innovations volume, the focus is on the Lent and Easter season. Like the first two books, this is a rich storehouse that will supply you with many seasons worth of compelling, scripturally authentic material. Included are: • The Paths to Calvary -- a series of six short dramatic monologues for the weeks leading up to Easter in which biblical characters tell of their encounters with Jesus • Our Place at the Table -- a dramatic re-enactment of the events preceding the Last Supper, culminating in a congregational communion service • A Passover to Remember -- a complete Maundy Thursday service with a modified Passover seder as the centerpiece • A Growing Darkness -- a Good Friday tenebrae service featuring seven readings about the day's events, brought to life with several costumed monologues • Seven Words to Die By -- based on Christ's seven last words, this tenebrae service finds meaningful truths in the somber events of the crucifixion through monologues, scripture readings, music, and prayers • Surprise at Sunrise -- an Easter sunrise service depicting the resurrection discovery in four vignettes using child actors • The Week of Weeks -- a set of interactive scripture readings for each of the Sundays between Easter and Pentecost Other titles in the Worship Innovations series: Hanging The Greens For Christmas Easy Bible Drama Janet Burton is a pastor's wife, minister of education, and writer of Christian worship and education resources. The Burtons, who have served churches in Texas and New Mexico for almost fifty years, reside in Austin, Texas, where her husband Jack serves as an interim pastor for churches in transition. Author of four books and a contributor to five others, Mrs. Burton's specialty is Sunday school Bible study curriculum. In addition, she has contributed weekly or monthly columns to three Christian newspapers. Burton attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

You'll feel like you are right on the scene viewing the events of Holy Week as this innovative series presents the familiar story of Jesus' death and resurrection in a novel, engaging, and entirely modern way. In a television-style interview format, six witnesses share their point of view in up-to-date language and references -- making each personage more accessible to contemporary congregations. Dateline: Jerusalem is a flexible resource that can be used in many different settings: during Lenten worship services, as part of a Christian education curriculum, or for a youth program. Scripture lessons accompany each script, and a character summary provides further insight into the personality of each interviewee. Easy to produce with a minimum of staging, these dialogues provide a fresh, engaging approach to the timeless story. Characters interviewed are: * Pontius Pilate * Caiaphas * Peter * Mary Magdalene * John * the Centurion Scott Bryte is the pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Thiel College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

Believing that Christian worship should be both exciting and stimulating and respectful of God and worshipers and liturgical traditions, Dick Avery and Don Marsh have put their considerable talents together to bring you ideas and music that make worship soar. As you read these groundbreaking ideas tailored to the seasons of the church year, you'll find yourself saying, "Yes! YES! YES!" -- and you'll be eager to put them in place with your congregation.Everything Avery and Marsh describe in this remarkable volume has been done successfully in their congregation at the regular Sunday morning service of worship, so you will find no off-the-wall suggestions pushed for mere novelty's sake or just to "shake things up." Rather, every principle, every suggestion, every idea has a purpose and goal befitting the Gospel and designed to help worshipers tune in to the mighty Lord of All.With all of this plus several samples of original Avery & Marsh music, written especially for Sunday morning worship, Soaring Where Christ Has Led is a resource you will use week after week in planning worship services that delight congregations, honor God with momentous expressions of joy, and teach the way of Christ in today's world.Nationally renowned for their creative worship celebrations, Richard Avery and Donald Marsh were colleagues in ministry for 40 years at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Jervis, New York, where Avery served as pastor and Marsh as choirmaster (directing 3 choirs) and director of arts (producing 83 major plays and working with educational projects). They have collaborated in composing hymns, songs, and anthems, of which more than 150 have been published. During the last 30 years they have led regional and national church assemblies, conferences, and workshops on worship, music, and drama for many denominations and in virtually all 50 states. A native of California, Avery is a graduate of the University of Redlands and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Marsh has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Houston, and worked for 17 years in New York's music and theater world as a composer, choreographer, pianist, and actor. Avery and Marsh continue their collaboration in composing for the church and in leading special liturgical and musical events while living in retirement in Santa Fe, New Mexico.