Jesus is the eternal King At first glance, it seems surprising that Jesus would call a man like Matthew to become one of His disciples. As a small-time tax collector, Matthew would have been despised by the Jewish people, who viewed those in the profession as traitors to Rome. But the fact that Matthew was educated, literate, and also familiar with Jewish law and customs made him the ideal candidate to not only accompany Jesus during His earthly ministry but also record all that he witnessed. The result is the Gospel we have today. Matthew shows how Jesus, as the promised Messiah, is worthy of our hope. He shows how Jesus, as the eternal King, is worthy of our complete devotion . . . and our complete submission to Him. The Jeremiah Bible Study Series captures Dr. David Jeremiah's forty-plus years of commitment to teaching the Word of God. In each study, he will help you understand what the Bible says, what it meant to the people at the time it was written, and what it means to you today. Along the way, you will gain insights into the text, identify key stories and themes, and be challenged to apply the truth you find in your life.

Giving your child a quality education experience for a life of happiness and purpose is possible--and it only takes four hours a day or less! We want our kids to have the best education, but less-than-ideal school environments and concern about our kids' specific needs have parents uncertain about traditional schooling. Trusted homeschool expert with 25 years of experience homeschooling her own eight children, Durenda Wilson offers a better way and promises that you already have what it takes to give your child a healthy, successful future. In The Four-Hour School Day, she unpacks the lifelong advantages of home education, both for the health of your family and your child's future. With inspiring stories about parents just like you, she demystifies homeschooling and addresses common fears like, what if I'm not qualified, how can I homeschool as a single parent, and what if I don't have enough time? Packed with encouragement and practical advice, this resource equips you with all the information you need to create a sustainable homeschooling plan customized to your child's needs. Wilson will help you to: Work with your child's interests and passions for an enjoyable learning experience Cultivate independent learning in your child so you have more time and your child develops more curiosity Navigate the different schooling stages your child will go through Find an engaged community so that you can start this adventure with all the support you need. Explore the rich and wonderful world of homeschooling because it's not only more doable than you think, but far more beneficial than you can imagine.

Interest in church-related higher education has increased greatly in recent years. Teaching as an Act of Faith is a practical guidebook on strategies to incarnate mission and epitomize theological and theoretical reflection in the classroom. In original essays, distinguished practitioners from fourteen liberal arts disciplines and Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, Anabaptist, Lutheran, and Reformed traditions demonstrate how they have been able link religious values more directly to their teaching. " In this much needed, one-of-a-kind text... master teachers explore what it means to teach well in the context of a given discipline and in the service of the Christian faith. What a priceless gift this book is." --Richard T. Hughes, Director of the Center for Faith and Learning, Pepperdine University

Charlotte Mason was a late nineteenth-century British educator whose ideas were far ahead of her time. She believed that children are born persons worthy of respect, rather than blank slates, and that it was better to feed their growing minds with living literature and vital ideas and knowledge, rather than dry facts and knowledge filtered and pre-digested by the teacher. Her method of education, still used by some private schools and many homeschooling families, is gentle and flexible, especially with younger children, and includes first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through books in each school subject, conveying wonder and arousing curiosity, and through reflection upon great art, music, and poetry; nature observation as the primary means of early science teaching; use of manipulatives and real-life application to understand mathematical concepts and learning to reason, rather than rote memorization and working endless sums; and an emphasis on character and on cultivating and maintaining good personal habits. Schooling is teacher-directed, not child-led, but school time should be short enough to allow students free time to play and to pursue their own worthy interests such as handicrafts. Traditional Charlotte Mason schooling is firmly based on Christianity, although the method is also used successfully by secular families and families of other religions. Here in one affordable volume is her complete Homeschooling Series: Home Education: Six lectures by Charlotte Mason about the raising and educating of young children (up to the age of nine), for parents and teachers. She details how lessons in various school subjects can be done using her approach. She concludes with remarks about the Will, the Conscience, and the Divine Life in the Child. Parents and Children: A collection of 26 articles from the original Parent's Review magazines to encourage and instruct parents. School Education: Thoughts about the teaching and curriculum of children aged 9-12, either at school or at home. Ourselves: A character curriculum book written directly to children. Book I, Self-Knowledge, is for elementary school students; Book II, Self-Direction, is for older students. Formation of Character: Includes case studies of children (and adults) who cured themselves of bad habits; reflections on subjects including both schooling and vacations (or "stay-cations" as we now call them); various aspects of home schooling, with a special section detailing the things that Charlotte Mason thought were important to teach to girls in particular; and examples of how education affected outcome of character in famous writers of her day. Towards a Philosophy of Education: Charlotte Mason's final book, written after years of seeing her approach in action. This volume gives the best overview of her philosophy, and includes the final version of her 20 Principles. This book is particularly directed to parents of older children, about ages 12 and up, but is a valuable overview for parents of younger children as well, covering both theory and practice.

We have such a problem with our boys,' ..is a common refrain in many churches. The probability, though, is that boys are not actually the problem, rather our attitude to them; our ideas of what a boy really is and what he needs in order to connect with God. Over the last few years, boys have been perceived to have been under-achieving at school, a problem in our society, and disengaged from our churches. It is Carolyn Edwards' heartfelt conviction that this is because we are not meeting boys' spiritual needs. Her experience is that boys are willing to engage in the struggle to make themselves heard and seen as they really are: full of energy, fun, feeling and spirituality. In this intensely creative and practical book, Carolyn provides ten ways that boys would willingly connect with God, given the opportunity. Prompts and practical ideas help readers apply her findings to the boys they know and work with.

I ve watched the Skit Guys for more than 10 years; Eddie and Tommy are storytellers. They were telling stories before storytelling was all the rage. In their latest book, the Skit Guys let us peek inside their incredibly creative minds. -Allen Jackson, New Orleans Seminary When it comes to skits, the Skit Guys have the corner market on the good stuff. They are engaging, thought provoking and hilarious without being cheesy or cliche. Their unique style is clean, clever, clear, and ... funny You can t go wrong with these two. -Darren Whitehead, Director of Next Gen Ministries, Willow Creek Community Church I ve been in student ministry for over 30 years, and the Skit Guys are pretty much the greatest skit guys ever. Here s another resource from the chimerical minds of Eddie and Tommy that will help us youth workers in the trenches. This book will aid you greatly in your continuous pursuit of excellence in the world of drama. In other words, buy this freaking book -Bob Johns, First Woodway, Waco, Texas (the guy that gave them their first gig) 35 CHEESE-FREE SKITS If you re looking for fun and creative ways to involve your students in learning, you can stop looking. Skits That Teach provides you and your students everything you need to act out funny and compelling skits with total confidence. Search by topic or by group size to find the perfect comedic or dramatic sketch to help illustrate a point or just start a dialogue. The Skit Guys, Eddie James and Tommy Woodard, have tested these skits on teenagers around the country, and they ve brought together some of the best for this great resource. Plus they give you everything you need for each skit---overview, characters, location, Scripture reference, props, direction pointers, and a complete script. The Skit Guys avoid the cheesy dialogues and scenes typically found in Christian dramas and instead bring fun characters, witty scripts, and entertaining situations to their skits, all categorized by: * Skits for Idiots (it would take an idiot not to be able to do them right ) * Monologues * Duets/Ensembles * Comedy * Drama * Scripture Readings THE SKIT GUYS are Eddie James and Tommy Woodard, two high school friends who love to communicate God s Word in dynamic and captivating ways through the use of drama, teaching, and comedy. They ve been involved in various ministries and impacting lives for more than a decade. The duo has written numerous dramas, plays, and humorous skits that cover a wide variety of topics. They re the authors of Instant Skits along with their own Skit Guys resources. Eddie James has coauthored four volumes of the Videos That Teach series with Doug Fields."

Meet students where they are.With Small Group Strategies, you can effectively guide students in your small group toward the most important relationship they will ever have---a lifelong relationship with Christ. Respected authors Laurie Polich and Charley Scandlyn offer 30-plus years of collective youth ministry experience to these proven ideas, which offer: *a strategic approach to small group ministry*hundreds of ideas to reach students at every level*practical applications that foster spiritual growthMeet your students where they are in life. You have the heart. You have the vision. Here are the ideas you need to make it happen.

You're invited on a delectable pilgrimage to discover the secret to savoring every day. The Psalmist declared, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps 34:8), so Margaret Feinberg, one of America's most beloved Bible teachers, took the invitation literally. She embarked on a culinary and spiritual adventure that took her far and wide: descending 410 feet into a salt mine, baking fresh matzo at Yale University, harvesting olives off the Croatian coast, and tasting succulent figs at a premier farm--all to discover the truth of God's goodness. With each person she encountered, she asked, "How do you read the Scripture in light of what you do every day?" Their answers will change the way you read the Bible forever... and the way you approach every meal. "This is a journey that changed my life, my faith, my future," she writes. "It moved me from fear and uncertainty to discover a renewed, vibrant faith again--and I believe it will do the same for you." With her delightful curiosity and humor, you'll learn to: * Overcome awkwardness and nurture deeper connections around any table. * Rise above uncertainty, knowing what seeds God has planted in you. * Learn how you were uniquely created to help others flourish. * Unlock the satisfying and fruitful life you've been created for. * Last, but not least, you'll learn how to make some delicious meals along the way! Join Margaret in this deeply nourishing six-week video Bible study sprinkled with step-by-step recipes and biblical insights. After all, it's at the table where we learn to taste and see the goodness of God. Sessions include: 1. You're Invited to the Table - Making deeper connections around any table. 2. Delighting in the Sweetness of Fruitfulness - A closer look at the imagery of fruit in the Bible. 3. Chewing on the Bread of Life - More than a biblical metaphor! Professional bakers respond. 4. Savoring the Salt of the Earth - How many different kinds of salt can you think of? 5. Relishing the Olive and Its Oil - Why the olive leaf is a miracle of creation. 6. Discovering the Liturgy of the Table - Experience God's goodness in community. Designed for use with the Taste and See Video Study (9780310087847), sold separately.

We grow in Christ as we seek him together. Jesus' own pattern of disciple-making was to be intimately involved with others and allow life to rub against life. By gathering in twos or threes to study the Bible and encourage one another, we most closely follow Jesus' example with the twelve disciples. This workbook by Greg Ogden is a tool designed to help you follow this pattern Jesus drew for us. Working through it will deepen your knowledge of essential Christian teaching and strengthen your faith. Each week contains the following elements: a core truth presented in a question-and-answer format a memory verse and accompanying study a field-tested inductive Bible study a reading on the theme for the week questions to draw out key principles in the reading This material is designed for groups of three. It has also been used successfully as an individual study program, a one-on-one discipling tool, and small group curriculum. This expanded and completely updated edition includes a new guide for leaders. Jesus had a big enough vision to think small. Focusing on a few did not limit his influence. Rather, it expanded it. Discipleship Essentials is designed to help us influence others as Jesus did-by investing in a few.

Join bestselling author and pastor Timothy Keller in an eight-week video Bible study on the gospel and how to live it out in all aspects of life--from your community to the world at large. The Gospel in Life study (DVD sold separately) begins with the city, your home now, the world that is. The final week closes with the theme of the eternal city, your heavenly home, the world that is to come. Throughout this eight-week ascent--from earthly work to the final revelation of grace--you'll learn how the gospel can change your heart, your community, and how you can live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in this world, right now, even as you look forward to the promise we have in him. Including discussion questions, reflections on Scripture, and commitment prayers, The Gospel in Life study guide is designed to help you and your group engage with and discuss the topics presented on the Gospel in Life DVD. Sessions Include: City - The World That Is Heart - Three Ways to Live Idolatry - The Sin Beneath Community - The Context for Change Witness - An Alternate City Work - Cultivating the Garden Justice - A People for Others Eternity - The World That Is To Come Discover how grace really does change everything. Designed for use with the Gospel in Life Video Study (sold separately).

'How do I relate to a God who is invisible when I m never quite sure he s there?'--Philip Yancey Life with God doesn t always work like we thought. High expectations slam against the reality of personal weaknesses and unwelcome surprises. And the God who we ve been told longs for our company may seem remote, emotionally unavailable. Is God playing games? What can we count on him for? This relationship with a God we can t see, hear, or touch--how does it really work? The Reaching for the Invisible God Study Guide gives you a path in your personal quest for answers. Dovetailing with Philip Yancey s book Reaching for the Invisible God, the twelve sessions are your opportunity to journey toward insights that affirm and dignify your most pressing questions--even the ones you may have found it hard to ask. Get ready to experience the challenges and rewards of relating to God as he is, not as you ve thought he is. Yancey shifts your focus from questions to the One who offers himself in answer: the God who invites you to reach for him--and find. Includes: * Bible readings * Discussion questions * Personal reflections and applications * Tips for group leaders * Summary excerpts from Reaching for the Invisible God"

A workbook to help readers explore their hiding patterns and discover the freedom of connected relationshipsWhen we experience emotional injury, fear, shame, or pride, our first impulse is to hide the hurting parts of ourselves from God, others, and even ourselves. The problem is that when we hide our injuries and frailties, we run from the very things we need to heal and mature. What served as protection for a child becomes a prison to an adult.This workbook helps readers explore the hiding patterns they have developed and guides them toward the healing grace and truth that God has built into safe, connected relationships with himself and others.