The Story group Bible study provides groups of all sizes the opportunity to discuss and apply what they experience during the 31-week The Story church campaign. To understand the Bible, says Frazee, you need bifocal lenses, because two perspectives are involved. The Lower Story, our story, is actually many stories of men and women interacting with God in the daily course of life. The Upper Story is God's story, the tale of his great, overarching purpose that puts the individual stories together like panels in one unified mural. In 31 sessions, The Story video-based group study opens your eyes to God's master plan unfolding in the lives of the Bible's characters and in your own life. Discover the heart of God's Upper Story, and the joy that comes as you align your story with God's. The Story Study Guide and DVD (sold separately) are designed for use by groups of all sizes, including small groups and Sunday school and adult education classes. Designed for use with The Story Adult Curriculum Study DVD (9780310329527) sold separately.

This book contains fresh insights into ecumenism and, notwithstanding claims of an "ecumenical winter," affirms the view that we are actually moving into a "new ecumenical spring." It offers new theological insights in the areas of Christology, Pneumatology and Trinitarian theology, and discusses developments in ecumenism in the USA, UK, Australia, India, and Africa, as well as in ecumenical institutions such as the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Anglican Roman Catholic Commission (ARCIC).

Contemporary models of Christian leadership are often shaped more by culture than by Christ. Ineffective leadership, overbearing authority and burnout are endemic. In stark contrast, John Stott urges that our view of leadership must be determined by our view of the Church, and not the other way round. He demonstrates that the theme of 'power through weakness' is central. He expounds the role of the Holy Spirit in God's revelation, and he examines four of Paul's most striking models of ministry, each of which is an aspect of humility. In contrast to seductive styles of leadership being advocated by the wisdom of the world, John Stott urges Christian leaders to be characterised above all else by 'the meekness and the gentleness of Christ'.

A Leadership Network Publication

With this much-needed handbook, the authors brilliantly combine their experience guiding dozens of churches through the change process with both the study of Christian disciplines and the sophisticated understanding of such important business thinkers as John Kotter on leading change and Peter Senge on learning organizations. In this eminently readable book the authors have distilled their insights and practices into simple but powerful concepts for leading congregations, whether long established or recently formed, through profound change.

Leaders using this guide will also be interested in the companion "Leading Congregational Change Workbook," which offers assessment questions, planning worksheets, activities, and case examples for each stage of the process.

This study of Newman's religious development from his childhood to his conversion to Roman Catholicism explores Newman's growth in holiness and truth, i.e., religious truth, and the mutual influence of one upon the other. The former, the author states, "is the more difficult to explore, since it involves not only a study of words and actions but of his inner life and motivation, which are often hidden." This exploration is undertaken here with the aid of materials not hitherto fully exploited: verses, sermons, prayers, and letters both by and to Newman. The book examines Newman's changing views on conversion; re-examines the Oxford Movement, highlighting Newman's spiritual and religious impact on it; and charts his voyage of self-discovery.

Pastor and author Michael P. Fletcher asserts that a leadership pipeline can't be bought, rather it has to be built from the ground up. Fletcher guides the reader on how to build better leaders faster by creating a leadership development culture in your church or organization.

The key to continued success in any church or organization is a steady stream of healthy, growing leaders; but not just any leaders-leaders who carry the culture and embody its core values. But where can you find leaders like this?

Author and leadership consultant Michael Fletcher says these types of leaders can't simply be "bought" nor can they be hired off of someone else's "assembly line." These types of leaders have to be built through a leadership pipeline.

A good leadership pipeline will help articulate the values of the church or organization and define the process required to move forward in it. However, to develop leaders at every level in the organization, to create an environment that attracts potential leaders, and to build better leaders faster, an organization needs more than a pipeline-it will need a culture that develops leaders organically.

Joan of Arc is the most recognizable woman from medieval Europe, yet the details of her life remain obscure to the general public while heavily debated by specialists. Rising from obscurity to insert herself into the court of French King Charles VII before marching with his armies to combat the enemies of the crown during the Hundred Years War, she was eventually captured, tried in an inquisition, and then executed as a relapsed heretic at the age of 19. Joan of Arc: A Reference Guide of Her Life and Works focuses on her life, her works, and legacy in fifteenth-century France. It features a chronology, an introduction offers a brief account of her life, a dictionary section lists entries on people, groups, places, events, topics, terms, and medieval documents central to Joan's life including her letters, contemporary perspectives, her condemnation trial, and the nullification proceedings eventually blessed by the pope to overturn the verdict of the condemnation trial. This book aims to provide an understanding not just of Joan, but of the culture that produced and ultimately destroyed her.

'Read this book, and then rethink everything else.' Danielle Strickland 'A feast of insight and reflection on what just leadership should look like.' The Rt Reverend Dr Jonathan Gibbs 'This book will change the way you lead.' The Rt Reverend Dr Emma Ineson, Bishop of Penrith 'A book that should be on the shelves of every leader today.' The Reverend Will van der Hart From #MeToo scandals to revelations of spiritual abuse atrocities in the Church, we've watched too many leaders let us down. What went wrong for these leaders? And more importantly, how can we get it right? Just Leadership offers advice and guidance to empower leaders everywhere to make a difference and answer the call for a fairer, more transparent, more equal society. Drawing on their combined decades of experience in leadership and safeguarding, Justin Humphreys and Simon Barrington explore what it means for a leader to be just, and provide practical ways improve your leadership skills and create a just and open environment. Across the world, there is a heart cry for justice - but often the fight is too focused on the wider cause, bypassing conversations about individual leaders across our churches, organisations, charities and communities. Just Leadership is for every leader - whether you are in Church or other Christian leadership, business or professional leadership or even a leader within your local community - who wants to build their skills and start leading the way to a better future.

This book explores contemporary metaphors of leadership from a biblical or church historical perspective. It seeks to understand the cultural, social, and organizational metaphors from the Bible and the implications for contemporary organizations. Addressing issues such as communication, mentorship, administration, motivation, change management, education, and coaching, the authors explore concepts related to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. This book will be a valuable addition to the leadership literature in showing how biblical leadership principles can be used in contemporary organizations.

What are the core values of your ministry? Values-Driven Leadership is a pioneering work designed to help church and parachurch leaders understand the cutting-edge concept of organizational core values. Every ministry organization has a set of core values that guides what the ministry seeks to accomplish. Understanding these core values is key to a high-performing ministry. In this revised edition, Aubrey Malphurs offers important insights on new research in the field of leadership and delineates techniques for their practical implementation. After exploring the concepts in Values-Driven Leadership, you'll be able to take concrete steps to write your ministry's values in a credo or value statement and focus in on your mission. This edition includes helpful discussion questions, core values audits, and even a readiness-for-change inventory to help you and your ministry identify areas in need of attention. This is a useful book for individuals, boards, committees, and leadership teams. Aubrey Malphurs is professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than fifteen books as well as president of The Malphurs Group (www.malphursgroup.com), a training and consulting firm.

With more than four decades of firsthand experience reporting from Vatican City, David Willey explores the religious and personal background of Pope Francis and his ability to fulfill the promises of reform made during the first two years of his papacy. Sex crimes and cover-ups, financial scandal, declining membership, and the unprecedented resignation of its chief executive, Pope Benedict XVI. These were the ingredients of a twenty-first century crisis in the Vatican-a crisis that might have anticipated the election of a steadily conservative pope, a career bureaucrat, and an insider. An operator. Instead they chose Francis. Using his unparalleled access and knowledge of the inner workings of the Vatican, BBC correspondent David Willey chronicles Francis's first two years as pope and analyzes what could happen in the years to come. He tells the inside story of how this most unlikely man came from "the end of the world" to lead the world's largest corporation into the future, stirring millions to interest and faith again through his frank speeches and benevolent beliefs. In putting this all into context, Willey seeks to further unravel the mysteries and conspiracies that continue to surround the worldwide headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The world has never seen the Church in a greater state of flux, as Francis's words and deeds have enchanted, entertained, and sometimes enraged the public. In this comprehensive biography complete with full-color photography, David Willey explores the religious and personal background of the inspirational Pope Francis, his stunning impact on the Catholic Church, the hopes he has raised, and the legacy he will leave behind.

The first 'heretic' to be condemned to death at the end of IV century, Priscillian, sometime bishop of Avila, has generated much scholarly interest in early Christian studies since the rediscovery of his works in the nineteenth century. Early scholarly attention focussed on the question of Priscillian's heterodoxy. Was he really an orthodox thinker victimised by ecclesiastical politics or were the accusations of heresy fully grounded in his teachings? Recent scholarship has moved away from rigid categorisation of the individual and focussed on the social-political movement of Priscillianism, with a tendency to neglect the literary corpus. Marco Conti draws attention back to the writings and the theological reflections there contained.
Published for the first time in one volume with facing page translation and systematic commentaries, The Complete Works provide invaluable material for better understanding the complex nature of this fascinating figure and the movement he inspired, a crucial example of early opposition to Ecclesiastical power. With an extensive introduction providing biographical and textual background information.

Our world is marked by unprecedented degrees of multiculturalism, ethnic diversity, social shifts, international collaboration, and technology-driven changes. The changes are profound, especially when you consider the unchecked decline in the influence, size, and social standing of the church. There is an undercurrent of anxiety in the evangelical world, and a hunger for something new. And we re sensing the urgency of it. We need fresh, creative counterintuitive ways of doing ministry and church and leading it in the 21st century. We need to adapt. Fast. Both in our practices and our thinking. The aim of this book is simple: When we understand the powerful forces at work in the world today, we ll learn how something called The Third Culture can yield perhaps the most critical missing ingredient in the church today---adaptability---and help the church remain on the best side of history. A Third Culture Church and a Third Culture Leader looks at our new global village and the church s role in that village in a revolutionary way. It s a way to reconnect with the historical roots of what Jesus envisioned the church could be---a people known for a brand of love, unity, goodness, and extravagant spirit that defies all conventions. This book is part of the successful Leadership Innovation Series."

This book will give you a clear understanding of the real Jesus. Many people’s Christianity is not really about Jesus; it’s something they inherited culturally. You will learn that your relationship with Jesus is deeper than your last attendance in church. You will put Him in the center of everything you do.

Which Jesus do you follow? What does He believe? Or perhaps just as important, What do you believe about Him? In The Real Jesus, the debut book from pastor and beloved worship leader Jonathan Stockstill, you will have an encounter with the real-life Son of God—the One who loves you more than you could ever imagine.

After reading The Real Jesus, you will:

• Understand the difference between the mistaken, miscast, misinterpreted Jesus of our culture and the blood-and-bones Jesus of the Bible
• Discover a Jesus you may never have truly known—even if you have been following Him for years or decades
• Enter into a more raw, real, and relevant relationship with the One who loves you and calls you by name

'Tim Alford has learnt these lessons not in the classroom but in the hurly-burly, heart breaking, inspiring world of Christian leadership. It's required reading for every leader who wants to leave a legacy of fired up leaders who totally follow Jesus. Is there really anything more important than that?' Andy Hawthorne OBE, Director of The Message Trust Youth and childrens' ministry is impacted by many things - from training and resources to demographic. But ultimately it is leadership skills that determine how fruitful our ministries can be. Leadership 101 is a manual designed to equip youth and kids workers with the tools they need not just to lead, but to lead well. Taking a holistic look at leadership, Tim Alford, national director of Limitless, explores the principles of self-leadership, culture and team building, vision and strategy and offers practical, experienced advice how to implement those principles in our Christian leadership. Thoroughly readable and entirely applicable, Leadership 101 is the perfect leadership book for childrens' and youth workers to refer to again and again as you lead your ministry into a brighter, more fruitful, future.