Counseling someone who is dying or consoling a family who has suffered a death is one of the hardest parts of ministry. In times like these it's important for pastors to know what to say and how best to offer their support. Pastoral Care in Times of Death and Dying is a practical guide that offers step-by-step direction and solid advice for handling the difficult responsibility of ministering to others in situations surrounding death. From visiting and shepherding the terminally ill to overseeing funeral arrangements and comforting grieving families, Danny Goddard helps pastors, chaplains, and lay leaders understand their roles and bereavement responsibilities so they ll know the best way to offer compassion, love, and support to those who need it most.

In our world, stories matter. Methods and systems are beneficial because they provide structure and help keep us on the right road; but the motivation and courage to keep walking the road, come from the stories we hear and see and experience-stories that inspire hope and bring us face-to-face with God. For ministers, the call to preach is a call into a story that forms and shapes us. It's about stumbling into revelation as life unwinds and scripture unfolds. It's about listening to God's voice and then sharing it with others. It's about recognizing that when people gather to hear a sermon, God speaks. And it's about understanding that when He speaks, He speaks through you. Preaching the Story That Shapes Us is more than a textbook on preaching. It's an empowering call for preachers to present a picture of the kingdom of God already at work among us, recognizing that the work of preaching is not just about arranging words--it's about people. With elegant prose and crafted reason, Dan Boone weaves together scripture, personal narrative, structure, and theological reflection to provide a satisfying, efficient guide to narrative preaching. From exploring the importance of biography to walking readers through creative processes that shape the sermon, Boone shows preachers how to awaken lives and share the stories of God that reveal who we are and lead us to who we will be.

Serving others is a vital part of the Christian life. Time and again Christ demonstrated the importance of putting others first and giving what we can to help those less fortunate. As adults, we recognize the importance of instilling these values in our children and youth, but simply telling them to love their neighbor isn't enough; to leave a lasting impression, they need to see and experience love in action. 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference is an easy-to-use resource that parents can use to cultivate compassion in their children and engage their family in acts of service. Filled with suggestions, activities, Bible verses, and topics for discussion, this re-usable manual inspires families to look for ways to make the world a better place by making a difference in the lives of others. Features include: Creative activities that can be adapted to fit your unique family Service ideas for a variety of budgets Bible verses at the end of each activity to help children connect the practical aspects of God's truth to their lives Interactive discussion questions to help teens understand the importance of each activity and correlate it to God s Word Suggestions that encourage whole families--parents, kids, grandparents, and other relatives--to spend time together as they practice biblical servanthood In addition to families, these ideas and activities can be easily adapted to use with youth groups, Sunday School classes, home school curriculums, small-groups, and church-wide community projects.

What does it mean to make Christlike disciples? Discipleship is a common word in churches today. Pastors and leaders are continually looking for resources to help their members develop a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and a closer relationship with Christ. But there's more to discipleship than studying and following Christ's teachings. True discipleship is an invitation to become like Christ; to absorb His passions, behaviors, and wisdom by spending significant time with Him; to engage in a relationship with Him that shapes you into His likeness and in turn, inspires others to do the same. Walk with Me calls pastors, church leaders, teachers, and parents to go beyond basic discipleship and begin to intentionally teach others to be disciplemakers. It explores the importance of teaching mature disciples how their Christ-influenced responses to everyday situations can be used to show others who Jesus is and what it means to be His disciple. With biblical insight, author Hal Perkins explores the call to 'go and make disciples of all nations' and demonstrates how changing the way we act, think, and serve will not only help us fulfill the Great Commission, but also answer the call to love God with all our hearts and minds, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Have you ever looked back on your life and wondered if there were situations that God was actively involved with but you didn't even know it? This book gives principles that will help you recognize God's presence in your life, guide your relationships, prepare you for spiritual and emotional success, and motivate you to help others recognize when God show up. This best-selling author teaches the life-transforming principles he learned when he encountered God though an unexpected spiritual experience, providing principles for learning to receive God's love, face life's trials, cope with temptation, and face disruptions of every kind.

The core idea of the book of Romans is that we are saved from sin by the grace of Christ. The apostle Paul unpacks the power of grace in a way that can completely change your life...

In this six-session Bible study (streaming video included)—the first of the 40 Days Through the Book series—Max Lucado welcomes you and your group into the knowledge and freedom of grace with his exploration of Paul's letter to the Roman church. Throughout the study, you'll explore the book of Romans with Max to gain a deeper understanding of its context and content, focusing on central truths such as:

• The extent and power of sin.
• The amazing reality and availability of God's grace.
• The battle we're still in, and the hope we have despite the lies of the enemy.
• The grand story—from creation to restoration—that we're all a part of.
• The call to live in fellowship with each other and with Christ.

This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:

• The study guide itself—a 40 Day reading plan through Romans with discussion and personal reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide.
• An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).

When we truly understand the power of grace, it sets us free from having to do good, so that we can do good. A true understanding of grace should not shackle us to works but liberate us to live in the presence of Christ.

40 Days Through the Book series:

Each of the studies in this series, taught by a different pastor or Bible teacher on a specific book of the Bible, is designed to help you more actively engage with God's Word by understanding its background and culture and applying it in a fresh way to your life. Throughout each study, you'll be encouraged to read through the corresponding book in the New Testament at least once during the course of 40 days.

Watch on any device!

Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

"Abby." She felt his hand gently touching her shoulder. "Mom was murdered." "Charley!" Abby screamed, shooting off her chair. "Charley, what are you saying?" Her lips were spread thin in panic. "Abby, I can tell you no more now, except that my father is a very dangerous man. For now we could all be in danger." After years of separation, Julie had found peace and was excited to come home and be reunited with her crazed son, Charley, and her now grown sister, Abby. But Julie never made it home. When the shocking news of Julie's death forced Abby to her sister's burial, all of Abby's dreams laid in that pine box along side of Julie. Their childhood days remained locked up inside of Abby and in the journals Julie had left behind. But Abby doesn't have much time to grieve, because when the Miracle Maker comes to the rural backwoods of Perjure County, he sets the young Charley free from legions of demons and ushers in a battle between light and darkness. Abby, a writer for the Edge Water Times, is assigned to follow this story, but she has no idea what this story will cost her. Heart-shocking suspense follows Abby as she uncovers the truth of Julie's death. As a sinister plot develops and controversy explodes, John, an old mysterious hero of yesteryears, steps back into Abby's life. He and his friends are big believers in the Miracle Maker. But, who is powerful enough to unlock Abby's heart and help her to believe for a miracle? Who cares enough to rewrite hope into the script of her miserable life? Find out in The Miracle Maker and the Misfits.

A profound follow-up to the bestselling book and major motion picture, The Ultimate Gift. When Jason Stevens found out he had to jump through hoops to get an unnamed inheritance from his billionaire grandfather, he was not amused. By the time he'd finished learning the lessons, he'd become a different man. Ready to tackle the duties of running a multibillion-dollar trust, he is once again derailed, this time by his pugnacious family. Not content with their cattle ranches and oil fields, his aunts, uncles, and even his parents are determined to see every last dime entrusted to their own self-serving pockets. With none of the reluctance he initially showed for the gift, he eagerly accepts the challenge and pushes himself to prove, not only to his family and the court but also to the world, that with determination and the simple tenets of the gift, anyone can lead the ultimate life.

Homosexuality has taken center stage in our nation, churches, and homes. Everyone knows or cares deeply for someone who experiences same-sex attraction, sexual confusion, or practices homosexuality. While the entire world talks about homosexuality, the subject remains taboo in many churches. The fear of being labeled as hateful, a bigot, or ignorant has kept many Christians out of the conversation. The church remains silent, leaving many people who love God confused about what the Bible really says about sexuality.

Did God make people gay? Does God love homosexuals? Will people have to deal with same-sex attraction their entire lives? Landon Schott brings truth and clarity to sexual confusion, using over 400 scripture references to reveal the heart of the Father and mind of Christ.

Gay Awareness exposes false teaching and deception that have created a false identity through the lens of sexuality instead of the eyes of God's Word. Gay Awareness will stretch you and challenge you, but with relentless love bring you comfort and healing.

In Gay Awareness: Discovering the Heart of the Father and the Mind of Christ, top-selling author and nationally known speaker Landon Schott addresses:

- What the Bible actually says about marriage, sexuality, and homosexuality.

- Mistakes the Church makes when addressing homosexuality and the gay community.

- Contradictions between the gay lifestyle and the Christ-centered lifestyle.

- Clear insight into how to genuinely show Christian love to those who practice homosexuality.

- How people can experience deliverance and freedom.

Featuring an extensive interview with highly respected authority Dr. Michael L. Brown, a multiple book best-selling author and expert on spiritual renewal and cultural reformation, Gay Awareness is the book you've been looking for to find clarity, teach you what Scripture says about homosexuality and how to respond to people with love, grace, and truth.

Does God really exist and do divine miracles really happen? At a time when many are searching for truth and questioning whether there really is a God, Burnt Stone provides an inspirational account of several divine encounters personally experienced by the author Virginia Douglas (Howe). In part one of this book Virginia seeks to explain sound Biblical truths about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, together with powerful testimonies of her own personal experiences with the Lord. In part two she shares her own personal life story in a way that is both candid and compelling. She manages to demonstrate genuine gratitude and a healthy dose of humour despite all that she has been through. Burnt Stone communicates a very timely message that no matter what setbacks you experience in life, it is possible to overcome them all by trusting in the Lord and believing in His Word. It provides clear evidence that God still heals and delivers today and that He remains the same yesterday, today and forever. Virginia Douglas (Howe) is an anointed woman of God, a prayer warrior, an intercessor and a teacher who serves as an appointed elder in her local church. Born in Jamaica in the 1940s, she has experienced numerous personal challenges throughout her life, almost losing her life on several occasions. Since accepting Christ in the late 1980s, she is now dedicated to serving God and sharing her personal testimony to inspire others to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.