The authoritative essays, with 350 entries and 50 illustrations, written by top Merton Scholars, ar arranged alphabetically and cover the following themes: -Merton's Books, --Essential themes that emerge from his books, --persons who were important in his life, --the places where he lived out his life. An indispensable guide to the life and thought of one of the spiritual giants of the twentieth century.

Archbishop Doye Agama influences the church and community ministry of some 15,000 active clergy on four continents. Around 10,000 people may read his online postings and musings in a single week. This series of handbooks will give you insights into the journey of wisdom that has made the Apostolic Pastoral Congress and its remarkable leader, one of the most significant emerging church movements of our generation; and perhaps this century.

Archbishop Doye Agama influences the church and community ministry of some 15,000 active clergy on four continents. Around 10,000 people may read his online postings and musings in a single week. This series of handbooks will give you insights into the journey of wisdom that has made the Apostolic Pastoral Congress and it's remarkable leader, one of the most significant emerging church movements of our generation; and perhaps this century.

The poor will always be with you, Jesus said - but that doesn't mean Christians have ever figured out how to be with the poor. Pope Francis has emphasized a vision of a "Church that is poor and for the poor." But growing economic inequality continues to spread across the globe. This book takes a fresh look at the role of churches, and individual Christians, in relating to poverty and the poor among them. A strong focus is placed on the biblical and theological roots of the Church's commitment to care for the poor. At times praised as a virtue and blessed as a condition, poverty easily confuses us, and we are often left doing little to nothing to make a difference with and for the poor. As a social evil and a burden, poverty has elicited many kinds of reactions among the followers of Christ. It is time for Christians to figure out what to do about it. Contributors include Pope Francis, Pheme Perkins, Sandra M. Schneider, and Thomas Massaro SJ.

This book series examines issues of Faith and Order, and to some extent issues of life and work, from the perspective of leadership in a modern Pentecostal church movement. The series addresses the harnessing of ethnicity nationality and personal history in the search for church unity. It tries to answer questions such as what is means to be Apostolic in 21st Century Pentecostalism. It looks at how these charismatic churches can renew their historic roots and seek greater local unity with other Christians while remaining authentic as Pentecostals. The author also encourages greater contributions of convergence Pentecostals to the community cohesion, and to peace and justice.

In our age of instant gratification and if-it-feels-good-do-it attitudes, self-discipline is hardly a popular notion. Yet it may be one of the most important lost virtues of our time. In Joyful Surrender, former missionary and beloved author Elisabeth Elliot offers her understanding of discipline and its value for people of all times. She shows readers how to - discipline the mind, body, possessions, time, and feelings - overcome anxiety - change poor habits and attitudes - trust God in times of trial and hardship - let Christ have control in all areas of life Elliot masterfully and gently takes readers through Scripture, personal stories, and incisive observations of the world around her to help them discover the understanding that our fulfillment as human beings depends on our answer to God's call to obedience.

This book is founded on the premise that being a servant of 'the kingdom community' must become the heart of the church's mission. Unless this happens Christians will have little to offer to a world now facing an ultimate choice between community and chaos. To fulfil this mission the mould of Christendom needs to be broken so that a new form of church - the diaconal church - can come into being. This will mean a church open to dialogue, a laity liberated from clericalism and the creation of a servant leadership. The book includes an informative evaluation of five original case-studies of the diaconal church in action and the diaconal potential of five worldwide Christian 'renewal movements'.

Classic reflections on gospel wisdom from a modern martyr show the ongoing relevance of the gospel in an age of idolatrous power and capricious violence.

Provides practical instruction to help pastors and congregational leaders bring clarity and purpose to the role of elders or deacons, and to help deacons or elders learn and refine their ministry. Each of the nine sessions in Training Ministry Teams reflects on Jesus' method of training leaders and works toward a specific outcome. Topics include: working as a ministry team, decision-making, mediating conflict, visitation, partnering with the pastor, and more. Sessions conclude with group assignments designed to move participants from theory to action. Also included are resources to help in calling, commissioning, and nurturing elders and deacons. 108 Pages.

After you read A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD you are going to see for yourself what God says about it. Have you ever wondered if it's possible to have a meaningful relationship with God? BILL VINCENT'S powerful study will help you discover for yourself how such a rewarding relationship with God is possible. The last two Chapters are Daily Bible Reading and Daily Devotions to help you to get on the right track in your walk with God. You will also learn how salvation is something you keep burning on the inside of you. You have to keep your fire burning and there are many things released in A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD that will help you begin your journey to genuine faith.

Mission in the world of work has been neglected by the churches within the UK for decades. The Kingdom at Work Project addresses this crippling failure. It sets out a new and comprehensive model of mission for the transformation of the workplace. The model is founded on a radical theology of community and related spirituality which guide and empower an innovative process of discernment and intervention. The last covers individual and collective action, dialogue, the use of symbols, prayer and worship. Mentoring, the role of chaplains and ministers in secular employment, and the responsibilities of the gathered church are key issues covered in depth. This book is the most thorough and imaginative exploration of mission in the world of work to appear for many years.

Today we are facing a global crisis when it comes to families. Marriages are under
more pressure than ever. Many children are growing up without experiencing the
security of their parents' love and commitment to each other-and consequently are
finding it harder to receive God's unconditional love. There is an urgent need to invest
in marriage and family life, for strong societies are built on strong families, and
strong families are built on strong marriages.

The Marriage Course, developed by Nicky and Sila Lee of Alpha, has been revised and
updated to provide practical tools to help couples at every stage of their relationship.

This update includes talks from experts including Dr. Gray Chapman, Dr. Henry Cloud,
and Dr. Sue Johnson on topics such as money, sex, love languages, healthy
boundaries, and building connections. The course will also cover how couples can:

• Better understand each other's needs
• Communicate more effectively
• Grow closer by learning methods to resolve conflicts
• Recover from the way they may have hurt each other
• Recognize how their upbringing has affected their relationship
• Improve relationships with parents and in-laws
  

Billy Graham, Eugene Peterson, William Willimon and other well-known church leaders teach you how to connect with the congregation through your preaching. Beyond the 'how-to's' of preaching, The Pastor's Guide provides a foundation for embodying God's grace and holiness as a means of communicating His message. Great preachers of our time will teach you how to: Plan an extended preaching schedule Keep your congregation engaged in what you're saying Improve your delivery Develop ideas for content And much more!

A much-needed area for brand new converts is a practical workbook for follow up. This is the purpose of 'Connect with Jesus'. I have spent over 16 years as a full time itinerate evangelist. My heart broke over the lack of good material to give to each convert. These babies in Jesus need something special to help them get rooted in the faith. They need to understand what happened to them and what the Bible says about their conversion. These precious babies in Jesus must have something in their hands that will immediately get them into the Word of God. This workbook covers vitally important topics that every new believer must understand to grow in Christ. Understanding what true salvation is all about and what the Bible says about salvation. The importance of reading their Bibles, the importance of having a prayer life and how to develop that discipline, the importance of Church and personal evangelism are just a few topics covered in this important workbook. Churches that use this book as a new believers class are thrilled with their results.

Just as a physically healthy person--at an ideal weight and with good blood pressure and cholesterol numbers--might not actually be fit enough to run a 5k, so churches can appear healthy--with no obvious issues, maintaining a healthy size--and yet not exhibit fitness. A fit church is one that is not satisfied with merely coasting along with no problems. A fit church is actively making disciples, maturing in faith, developing strong leaders, reaching out to the community, and more. Building the Body offers pastors and church leaders twelve characteristics of fit churches and shows them how they can move their church through five levels of fitness, from beginner all the way to elite--just as an athlete, through training and practice, can become the top in his or her class. Includes comparison charts at the end of each chapter so readers can clearly see where their church currently falls and concluding "Complete the Progress Chart" so that they can see what their goals should be for the future.

PASTOR You've been trained to preach and to teach and to do outreach. How's it going now that you're in the trenches? How are you doing professionally? Do you still have the big picture of your call and your vision in view? Are you finding time and resources to nurture your congregation? Are you controlling the administration of your church, or is it controlling you? How are you doing personally? Is your family life in shape? Are you taking care of yourself physically and emotionally? Are your personal finances in order? Larry Burkett, Dallas Willard, William Willimon, Dale Galloway and other well-known church leaders provide solid advice for your personal and professional development. Keep The Pastor's Guide to Effective Ministry on top of your desk as you face the day-to-day challenges of ministry.