The necessary context of prophetic preaching, Walter Brueggemann argues, is a contestation between narratives: the dominant narrative of our time, which promoting self-sufficiency at the national level (through militarism) and the personal (through consumerism), and the countervailing narrative of a world claimed by a God who is gracious, uncompromisingand real. In previous work Brueggemann has pointed us again and again to the indispensability of imagination. Here he writes for those who bear responsibility for regular proclamation in communities of faith, describing the discipline of a prophetic imagination that is unflinchingly realistic and unwaveringly candid.

General editor Lloyd J. Ogilvie brings together a team of skilled and exceptional communicators to blend sound scholarship with life-related illustrations.

The design for the Preacher's Commentary gives the reader an overall outline of each book of the Bible. Following the introduction, which reveals the author's approach and salient background on the book, each chapter of the commentary provides the Scripture to be exposited. The New King James Bible has been chosen for the Preacher's Commentary because it combines with integrity the beauty of language, underlying Hebrew and Greek textual basis, and thought-flow of the 1611 King James Version, while replacing obsolete verb forms and other archaisms with their everyday contemporary counterparts for greater readability. Reverence for God is preserved in the capitalization of all pronouns referring to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Readers who are more comfortable with another translation can readily find the parallel passage by means of the chapter and verse reference at the end of each passage being exposited. The paragraphs of exposition combine fresh insights to the Scripture, application, rich illustrative material, and innovative ways of utilizing the vibrant truth for his or her own life and for the challenge of communicating it with vigor and vitality.

General editor Lloyd J. Ogilvie brings together a team of skilled and exceptional communicators to blend sound scholarship with life-related illustrations.

The design for the Preacher's Commentary gives the reader an overall outline of each book of the Bible. Following the introduction, which reveals the author's approach and salient background on the book, each chapter of the commentary provides the Scripture to be exposited. The New King James Bible has been chosen for the Preacher's Commentary because it combines with integrity the beauty of language, underlying Hebrew and Greek textual basis, and thought-flow of the 1611 King James Version, while replacing obsolete verb forms and other archaisms with their everyday contemporary counterparts for greater readability. Reverence for God is preserved in the capitalization of all pronouns referring to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Readers who are more comfortable with another translation can readily find the parallel passage by means of the chapter and verse reference at the end of each passage being exposited. The paragraphs of exposition combine fresh insights to the Scripture, application, rich illustrative material, and innovative ways of utilizing the vibrant truth for his or her own life and for the challenge of communicating it with vigor and vitality.

Movies have become the stories of our culture. People love to discuss favorite movies and actors, and this interest can help you communicate God s Word with power---if you have exciting, movie-based illustrations at your fingertips. Now the editors of PreachingToday.com have gathered the best movie-based illustrations, the scenes that convey biblical truth convincingly. This collection contains 101 complete illustrations straight from popular movies your listeners can relate to. Each illustration is easy to use---you don t even have to be familiar with the movie to share the truth it portrays. .Complete index includes multiple keywords and relevant Scripture passages for easy selection. .Each illustration provides plot summary and detailed description of the scene---you can tell the story well even if you haven t seen the movie. .Exact begin and end times are given for each illustration if you wish to show the video clip. .Each illustration gives background information on the movie---year created, MPAA rating, and more. This handy, to-the-point resource will help you add dramatic muscle to your sermons and lessons. Engage your listeners imaginations through the power of movies---and drive biblical truths home to their hearts."

Este constituye un manual sencillo y practico sobre la organizacion de sermones, que la autora escribio a fin de ayudar a los pastores y a todo aquel que desea presentar ante su auditorio el mensaje que Dios le ha dado."

A city set on a hill, inescapably visible. A lit lamp brilliantly illuminating the darkest room. With compelling metaphors, Jesus described the church and its impact on the world. And indeed, filled with the Holy Spirit, the early church demonstrated a spiritual energy and depth that transformed the surrounding culture. Don't let your church settle for less! Using bridges as a metaphor for "irresistible influence"--or i2, as he calls it--Robert Lewis shows how your church can become a strong, well-traveled link between heaven and earth in your community. In this engaging and uplifting book, Lewis tells the stories and shares the experiences and lessons of Fellowship Bible Church to show * what it will take to reconnect your church with your community * the how-to's of "incarnational bridge building" * true stories of i2 in action * how to expand the i2 effort through new partnerships and adventures * requirements of the church in the 21st century Discover how the power of incarnational bridge-building can impact your church and your community at the annual Church of Irresistible Influence conference. For information, contact Fellowship Associates: www.fellowshipassociates.com; phone (501) 975-5050.

Apostolic religious life in the United States today is in a state of crisis. Signs of this situation are readily apparent and well-known to all who practice Roman Catholicism. The significant decline in the number of priests and religious and fewer vocations to religious congregations have produced a severe blow to formerly active apostolates and brought grave concern for the future of these ministries. While the reasons for this present situation are complex, interpretation of the documents of Vatican II is clearly one very important factor. Scholars hold two basic interpretations of the Council: the hermeneutic of rupture sees the Council as a revolution which placed the Church on a completely new trajectory. A second hermeneutic, however, views the Council as reform with continuity. While most literature to date has analysed the hermeneutic of rupture and the consequent transformation of apostolic religious life, this book describes the opposite position. Divided into two parts, this volume first presents an analysis of the problem and secondly a solution to place apostolic religious life on a positive trajectory in the 21st century. The first section of this book describes how the hermeneutic of rupture is an incorrect reading of Vatican II. Rather, the Council, in addressing numerous issues, did not break from the past, but rather sought to understand Church teaching in more contemporary ways, but with continuity to the Tradition. Essays in this section describe this misreading of Vatican II, the consequent misunderstanding of the evangelical counsels, and the rejection of religious signs. The second section, through an analysis of the writings of Hans Urs von Balthasar, Basile Moreau, Pope Benedict XVI, and a reflection on Perfectae Caritatis, provides a solution of Christian love as the operative way to reform apostolic religious life today.

Practical help for volunteer, part-time, and full-time youth workers in small churchesEighty-five percent of the churches in America are classified as small. This book provides youth workers with processes and ideas that enable them to address their particular needs as part of small churches.

Preaching can be an extremely daunting experience for many but is an essential part of any service or Christian occasion. It is so important for the preacher to engage with their listeners and present their message clearly. A Guide to Preaching will do just that - an authoritative, comprehensive yet immensely readable book containing a treasure chest of facts, styles, inspiration and lively examples from around the world for old hands or those new to preaching. A Guide to Preaching covers every aspect of the task of preaching, from planning a sermon that takes account of biblical, personal, church and liturgical background through to using stories, imagination, dialogue, drama, news bulletins and much more. An entire chapter is devoted to developing the skills of rhetoric, and it includes plenty of practical advice and examples to help you understand, develop and review your own style. Roger Bowen has edited this guide with contributions from David Edwards, David Gitari, Simea Meldrum, Esther Mombo and Vinoth Ramachandra. ""This is a helpful book from which most preachers will learn something."" Stella Mills, Rural Theology (vol. 5, issue 68)

Keep in Step with the Spirit by late theologian J. I. Packer is a helpful guide to the Holy Spirit that is both conversational in tone and comprehensive in scope, revealing who the Spirit is and how he is active in the lives of believers.

An insightful and practical guide for developing relational leadership skills and engaging new paradigms of influence

Relational Intelligence reveals how leaders can become smarter in the way they conduct their relationships, and as a result, catalyze their impact. This book unwraps the hidden power of a relational genius and the practical pursuits that contribute to increasing one's relational quotient (RQ). Steve Saccone offers thought-provoking and compelling pathways into understanding the synergistic effect of relational intelligence, mission, and influence. He demonstrates how critical the art of relational intelligence is for leaders who desire to better serve those they lead, as well as the organizations and communities they love.Offers practical wisdom, engaging anecdotes, and compelling stories that show leaders how to develop relational intelligenceDelineates the essential skills that make leaders relationally intelligentUnwraps six roles of a relational genius and how these transform our approaches to influenceIncludes Foreword by Erwin Raphael McManusA new book in the popular Leadership Network Series

The author reveals how to increase one's awareness of the nuances in relational dynamics and suggests ways to help navigate relationships more intelligently and productively.

'Anyone contemplating the future shape of the Church will find here an accessible, practical and prayerful tool for understanding pioneer ministry.' Charity Hamilton, fresh expressions pioneer and church planter. Shier-Jones offers a theological and practical guide for pioneer ministers (both ordained and lay) and mission-minded congregations on how to initiate and support fresh expressions of Church. Drawing on Scripture as well as real-life case studies, she illustrates best practice - and highlights the possible dangers - in working to transform a God-given vision for mission into a reality.

This hand sized NKJV edition is the perfect travel companion for readers who like to take their Bibles with them throughout the day. Though it fits easily into backpacks and purses, you won't have to sacrifice readability or study resources. The exclusive Thomas Nelson NKJV Comfort Print (R) typeface was designed to be easy to read at any size, so you can experience deeper engagement in God's Word. This edition also includes over 73,000 cross-references, a concordance, and full-color maps so you have everything you need for serious study at your fingertips. Features include: Presentation page Red letter words of Christ 73,000+ cross-references trace the connections in Scripture Concordance Full-color maps Clear and readable 7-point NKJV Comfort Print Commissioned in 1975 by Thomas Nelson, 130 international and multi-denominational Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians worked for seven years to create a completely new, modern translation of Scripture that retained the purity and stylistic beauty of the King James Version. The New King James Version is faithful to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic text, and provides transparency to the recent research in archaeology, linguistics, and textual studies in the footnotes. The result is a Bible translation that is both beautiful and uncompromising-perfect for serious study, devotional use, and reading aloud.

If you ate up the previous two best-selling volumes of Drama, Skits, & Sketches, you're gonna really dig this next batch of 54 brand-new, youth group-tested thespian exercises! With the help of the scenarios in Drama, Skits, & Sketches 3, you can discuss important issues with pizzazz . . . present Bible stories with humor . . . and add serious significance to your lessons. Use them any way you'd like--whether as fun, informal, no-prep reader's theater or as guides for seriously polished performances!SCRIPTURE SKETCHES Designed to supplement your Bible teaching--and add flesh and bones to already powerful Bible stories--your students will love acting out scenarios such as "Community Kitchen," "Recipe for a Quiet Time," and "As the Cookie Crumbles: The Search for Fig-nificance." (And we've provided an index that lists scripts according to Bible reference--quite the handy tool as you prepare specific lessons!)CONTEMPORARY SKETCHES These 21st-century skits will hit your kids where they live, using terms, imagery, and situations they're intimately familiar with. Looking to beef up a topic for the evening--or even add some spice to announcements? Try on "Can O' Blame," "Backward Lip Sync Contest," and "American Master" for size.TV TAKEOFFS These humorous sketches based on television programs are great for lively discussion starters or as openers at camps and conferences.TIMES OF CRISIS Here are scripts that deal with tough issues and tough times. And while many discuss crisis in a lighthearted manner, their themes will grab your students' attention and prepare them for some excellent dialog.MONOLOGS Time for one kid in your group to shine! These scripts require little or no costumes or props, but they can be as powerful as an ensemble cast's three-act play!Plenty of skits and sketches here--serious, spiritual, educational, and humorous--to keep your group learning and having fun for months. Drama, Skits, & Sketches 3 is perfect for youth leaders, camp counselors, Sunday school teachers, and recreation directors!

Depth. Strength. Wisdom. Maturity. We long to be people who exhibit such qualities. We want to strengthen our character and deepen our relationship with Christ. But spiritual depth requires spiritual discipline. These Bible studies by Andrea Sterk and Peter Scazzero are designed to help us learn how God intends for us to live and show us how God helps us grow to maturity. Now available in IVP's revised LifeGuide Bible Study format, Christian Disciplines features questions for starting group discussions and for personal reflection, as well as a new "Now or Later" section following each session.

Here is Biblical narrative preaching that transforms. John W. Wright presents a new model of preaching that aims to connect the biblical text with a congregation so that they are formed into a true Christian community. Such formation calls for interpretative engagement with both the biblical narrative and the cultural narrative that shapes our society. Wright critically surveys current theories of preaching and the variety of hermeneutical practices, providing clear guidance and practical direction for faithful preaching.

This book helps pastors and church leaders understand the role their personal transformation as Jesus's disciples plays in effective congregational leadership. It shifts the focus of leadership from techniques and charisma to spiritual transformation and developing emotional maturity so leaders can effectively lead congregations to embrace change. End-of-chapter discussion questions are included. The first edition sold more than 20,000 copies and has been regularly used as a textbook over the past fifteen years. The second edition has been revised throughout and includes a greater emphasis on Bowen Family Systems Theory.

This book argues from Scripture that godly fear is the opposite of being afraid of God or his punishment, as if he were a tyrant. Instead, it is the intensity of the saints' love for, delight in, and enjoyment of all that God is.

An exciting presentation of a fresh approach to healing by one of the UK's leading exponents of pastoral care and Christian healing Russ Parker explores the power of wounded group stories and reveals how they affect the people and places where they first occurred. He shows how history repeats itself until we find ways to listen to it, locate where it is happening, and find healing for its consequences. Healing Wounded History introduces the role of strategic prayer known as 'representional confession' and demonstrates how it makes reconciliation and renewal possible for families, churches, communities, tribes and nations.