What is the gift of Christmas wrapped in the perfect package? Author Linda Crosland brings the timeless story of the birth of Christ to life in rhyme and verse, in a contemporary way as you've never heard it before. Each full color page is illustrated in beautiful original art. Discover "The Gift" of Christmas and it will become a cherished tradition to be enjoyed each Christmas season

An astute rethinking of theology and pastoral ministry that overcomes sentimental notions of hospitality.

The contributors to this volume address the key institutions of the first and second Church, considering the development of rituals and sacraments, and the development of Church leadership, and of the Church itself. The first part of the book looks at the offices of the Church - the Apostolate and the development of other religious authorities - as well as the notion of Apostolic Tradition. The second part looks at the sacraments, with in-depth consideration of the Eucharist, and of Baptismal texts from the early Church. The essays are of interest to scholars researching the development of the early Church and of Church rituals and practices.

Baptism for the early Christians was a subject of crucial importance, and its symbolism fired the imagination of writers throughout the Christian world. Arator, the Roman sub-deacon who wrote a verse-commentary on the Acts of the Apostles in A.D. 544, was no exception. The Historia Apostolica is a work of historical importance. Written at a time of crisis, politically and theologically, it is of interest as propaganda for a papacy under threat from Constantinople. But Arator's concentration on baptismal themes offers vital evidence of the transmission of exegetical ideas in late antiquity. This book is the first major work on Arator in English and the first ever to study the Historia Apostolica as biblical commentary. Passages of particular baptismal importance are presented both in the original Latin and in a new translation, and are considered in the context of the writings of earlier Christian commentators. Hillier's study is a wide-ranging study of the popularity and potency of baptismal symbolism in the first six centuries A.D.

"Roger Van Harns startling message must be heard by everyone who listens to or preaches sermons: listeners have rights. And it's about time they claimed what they have coming to them the good news compellingly and authentically preached. . . . A sharp, pungent, painful, hopeful word for pew and pulpit."

-- Lewis B. Smedes
"Fuller Theological Seminary

"This book provides a fresh angle on preaching by examining it from the perspective of the hearer. It evidences wide reading, responsible scholarship, insightful discussion, honest facing of problems, clarifying examples, stimulating suggestions, and an easy reading style. Highly recommended for preachers, worship committees, adult study groups, and anyone who seeks greater insight from listening to biblical sermons. "

-- Sidney Greidanus
"Calvin Theological Seminary

"An insightful, splendidly written book by a gifted pastor who knows and loves preaching. At once richly theological and profoundly practical, this book gently guides us away from a preoccupation with the preacher toward a rediscovery of preaching's true measure: what people in the pews hear. Roger Van Harn encourages preachers to become pioneer listeners, those who listen before they talk. More important, he teaches us how to do so. "

-- Thomas G. Long
"Princeton Theological Seminary

"On target, sympathetic, and clearly written, Pew Rights is the plainest statement I've read of what really matters in the hearing and the preaching of the gospel. Congratulations to Roger Van Harn for a fine piece of work."

-- Clyde E. Fant
"Stetson University

This time tested, biblically based, Christ centered program, gaurantees church growth within 30 days! This soul winning strategy requires only 15 minutes each week. It will work for every church with every culture. This strategy worked sucessfully with the lower class in the Detroit area. We have had success with the islanders of the Caribbean, good success was achieved with the middle class of Louisiana, and Aborignals of Australia. In addition, the good news is it will work for you!

Deep emotions pervade our human lives and ongoing moods echo them. Religious traditions often shape these and give devotees a sense of identity in a hopeful and meaningful life despite the conflicts, confusion, pain and grief of existence. Driven by anthropological and sociological perspectives, Douglas J. Davies describes and analyses these dynamic tensions and life opportunities as they are worked out in ritual, music, theology, and the allure of sacred places. Davies brings some newer concepts to these familiar ideas, such as 'the humility response' and 'moral-somatic' processes, revealing how our sense of ourselves responds to how we are treated by others as when injustice makes us 'feel sick' or religious ideas of grace prompt joyfulness. This sense of embodied identity is shown to be influenced not only by 'reciprocity' in the many forms of exchange, gifts, merit, and actions of others, but also by a certain sense of 'otherness, whether in God, ancestors, supernatural forces or even a certain awareness of ourselves. Drawing from psychological studies of how our thinking processes engage with the worlds around us we see how difficult it is to separate out 'religious' activity from many other aspects of human response to our environment. Throughout these pages many examples are taken from the well-known religions of the world as well as from local and secular traditions.