The Bible has played a critical role in the story of Judaism, modernity, and identity. Penny Schine Gold examines the arena of children's education and the role of the Bible in the reshaping of Jewish identity, especially in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, when a second generation of Eastern European Jews engaged the task of Americanizing Jewish culture, religion, and institutions. Professional Jewish educators based in the Reform movement undertook a multifaceted agenda for the Bible in America: to modernize it, harmonize it with American values, and move it to the center of the religious school curriculum. Through public schooling, the children of Jewish immigrants brought America home; it was up to the adults to fashion a Judaism that their children could take back out into America. Because of its historic role in the development of Judaism and its cultural significance in American life, Gold finds, the Bible provided Jews with vital links to both the past and the present. The ancient sacred text of the Bible, transformed into highly abridged and amended "Bible tales," was brought into service as a bridge between tradition and modernity.Gold analyzes these American developments with reference to the intellectual history of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe, innovations in public schooling and social theory, Protestant religious education, and later versions of children's Bibles in the United States and Israel. She shows that these seemingly simple children's books are complex markers of the pressing concerns of Jews in the modern world.

This sermon contains reflections upon the excellent things done by the great God more generally in creation and redemption, and in the government of the world, but more particularly in the remarkable revolutions of providence which are everywhere the matter of present observation, with a postscript giving an account of some very stupendous accidents which have lately happened in France. Also found within is a sermon preached unto the convention of the Massachusetts Colony in New England with a short narrative of several prodigies which New England had of late had the alarms of heaven in. Due to the age and scarcity of the original we reproduced, some pages may be spotty, faded or difficult to read. Old English text.

These words show that a notoriously bad man may find better quarter from the generality of this naughty world than the very best. They likewise serve to admonish thee that you should not be much disturbed, nor altered in your opinions, when you behold such a man much caressed and followed with triumphs and applauses; or if you should see men of goodness and great virtues abandoned and despised. Due to the age and scarcity of the original we reproduced, some pages may be spotty, faded or difficult to read. Written in Old English.

The Bible is filled with many familiar stories of mystical experiences -- Moses and the burning bush, Samuel in the temple, the angel's visit to Mary, and Paul's Damascus road experience are just a few examples -- and many modern Christians have equally powerful experiences of the Lord's life-changing power and presence.

In this follow-up volume to Vision Stories, 84 contributors share their authentic, intensely personal accounts of encountering the divine, including visions, healing miracles, and answers to prayer. Each vignette manifests the indescribable joy, comfort, and peace we experience in God's presence. And because each personal story also illustrates a scripture passage, Sharing Visions is a valuable preaching resource. But even more, this is inspiring reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth.

In "To God Alone Be Glory," the fruit of extensive study and research, Harold Daniels tells the fascinating story of the history of Reformed worship in America, from the 1600s to the present. He describes the development and objectives of the "Book of Common Worship" and explores how the book itself serves as an agenda for liturgical reform within the church. In a substantive second part of the book, Daniels provides the sources of the prayers and other materials used in the "Book of Common Worship." Persons involved in planning, presenting, studying, or teaching about Presbyterian worship will benefit greatly from having a copy of this comprehensive resource in their personal library.

On February 22, 1991, the Mother of Jesus Christ began a supernatural relationship with two central Illinois men who themselves had been best of friends from their youth. Through appearances and mystical interior conversations, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary began instructing them in regards to the wishes and demands of Heaven during our contemporary age. "When Legends Rise Again" is one of the products of their unique and prophetic encounters with these Hosts of Paradise. Never has there been such a righteous admonition filled with so many solemn truths pertaining to the soul of the United States of America. It is a graceful, yet lambasting, rebuttal of our immoral culture and lackadaisical approach to our relationship with Jesus Christ and the responsibilities espoused by the tenets of His teachings. This expose delves into the character of those who founded this great nation, along with highlighting many sacred witnesses who have burned-out their lives guarding an almost mystical heritage that we are collectively taking for granted. It is the third work in a monumental series of mystical writings that possess the power to ultimately transform the spiritual perception of millions regarding the sacred nature of our lives in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

This collection of children's sermons communicates the gospel to youngsters on their level and in a way that interests them. Just as Jesus referred to common objects when he taught, these lessons use everyday items to illustrate the them. Each message includes the scriptural background and a list of materials needed.

Why is it, James Moore asks, that we try to justify anything and everything we want to do? We use words, scapegoats, blaming other people, circumstances, past events, even evil spirits ("the devil made me do it ") to attempt to excuse bad choices we make with our own free will. What does the Christian faith have to say about all this? The author reminds us of what our faith tells us about excuses: first, that God sees through them; second, that God is more interested in forgiving us than in hearing our excuses; third, that God wants penitence - not excuses - from us. In his warm, embracing style, James Moore encourages us to seek forgiveness. After all, we are justified, not by our eloquent excuses but by the grace of a loving, caring, forgiving God.

This unique manual has spiritual exercises, guided meditations, and lesson plans that bring the experience of worship off the page and into the heart of the worshiper. The exercises are intended for youth and adult audiences, and a variety of settings including Jewish schools of all kinds, synagogues and havurot, camps and informal educational programming and retreats. There are introductions on how and why to use the manual.

Most children love animals -- and because of their natural appeal, animals are an excellent way to capture children's attention and teach biblical truths. These charming lessons by Julia Bland use animals to illustrate God's word -- and they're practical, too. Each lesson is accompanied by a coloring page for younger children and an activity page for older children.

This collection of 52 children's sermons is designed to captivate and educate young children. Busy clergy are constantly searching for ready- to-use, interactive children's sermons that will stimulate the thinking and capture the interest of both youngsters and adults in the congregation. These messages are presented to challenge, nurture, teach, and enlighten children as they take their first steps of faith. They cover a wide variety of topics. Some are object lessons while others are story lessons, but all are lessons that will leave an impression on those who hear them.
Imagine the curious anticipation of the children and the congregation as the pastor/leader reaches into a plastic garbage bag and distributes empty pizza boxes, old newspapers, and soft drink cans to introduce "God, the Recycler," the one who can make everything new. Watch them readily grasp the concept as they observe a game of tug-of-war in which all the participants are on the same team, demonstrating how in the church we all pull together for a common purpose and no one struggles to pull anyone into the mud. These brief sketches are representative of the many well-loved children's sermons created, collected, and delivered during the years of this staff pastor's ministry.
Teresa L. Major is an ordained Baptist minister currently serving as Associate Pastor of Skipwith Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, a Master of Arts in Christian Education degree from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond.

Only a century ago, almost all state universities held compulsory chapel services, and some required Sunday church attendance as well. Today, however, the once pervasive influence of religion in the intellectual and cultural life of America's preeminent colleges and universities has all but vanished. In The Soul of the American University, George M. Marsden explores how, and why, these dramatic changes occurred.

Far from a lament for a lost golden age when mainline Protestants ruled American education, The Soul of the American University offers a penetrating critique of that era, surveying the role of Protestantism in higher education from the founding of Harvard in the 1630s through the collapse of the WASP establishment in the 1960s. Ranging from stories of many of our pace-setting universities at defining moments in their histories to an analysis of such poignant issues as the debates over Darwinism and the impact of changing student mores, Marsden argues persuasively that just as the academy has made room for feminist and multicultural perspectives, so should there be room once again for traditional religious viewpoints. A thoughtful blend of historical narrative and searching analysis, The Soul of the American University exemplifies what it advocates: that religious perspectives can provide a legitimate contribution to the highest level of scholarship.

Mortonson combines his engineering and theological background to reveal insights into Christian beliefs and teachings. These 52 lessons include a purpose, material needed, scriptural background, and times to use the illustrations in the home. Also included are topical and scriptural indexes.

This program involves children of all ages and one adult with a few participants or many. While the narrative dialogue is being read, a silent, active nativity scene is shown to illustrate the first Christmas present ever.

A fresh look at scripture, a new presentation of the gospel, a deeper communication for God's truths -- this is what church drama has to offer.
"Sunday Morning Readers' Theater, C," offers 19 skits for use during the church year. Each skit's performance falls between five and 10 minutes with the exception of readings for major church days.
"What I hope to do is to help people see the gospels. Jesus and the other scripture passages with new vision. unclouded by familiarity," writes Pamela Urfer of these readings.
This series provides one more form of worship designed to unfold the meaning of selected readings, either as a replacement or a supplement to the sermon. The style varies from comic to tragic and the skits are set in both biblical and modern times.
Readings include the Sundays of Advent and Lent, Christmas Eve/Day, Martin Luther King Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week selections, Pentecost Sunday, and All Saints' Sunday.
This is volume two of a three-book series.
Pamela Urfer, Soquel, California, has written a number of plays for school and church productions. She taught classes in church drama at Bethany Bible College and Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center. She holds a master of arts degree in literature from the University of California.

"On the Move with Jesus" is a book of epistle lessons come to life through the spoken word and the use of an easy-to-find object that means something to children. Wesley Runk, in the style that has made him famous and brought the gospel to many thousands of children, offers this volume of 52 object lessons from the Bible to help the pastor communicate with God's little ones.
Wesley T. Runk, owner of the CSS Publishing Company, Inc., is a pastor of the Lutheran Church in America. He has a special ability to communicate the good news of God's love to children through his children's object lessons from the Bible. Wesley Runk is a graduate of Wittenberg University and the Hamma School of Theology, Springfield, Ohio. He has served parishes in Englewood and Lima, Ohio, and is active in community organizations.

In this monograph Leslie J. Francis reviews and assesses the contributions made by the individual differences tradition of psychology over the past 50 years to research in religious education. In this context religious education is conceived broadly to embrace what takes place in schools, within religious communities, and within households across the age span. Topics include: * the centrality of the attitudinal dimension of religion; * the place of personality in the individual differences tradition; * sex as a core individual difference in religion; * the consequences of individual differences in religious affect; * the role of church schools and the role of the family in religious nurture; * the factors that account for individual differences in attitude toward religious diversity; * the relevance of the individual differences tradition for adult religious education; * the implications of the individual differences tradition for biblical hermeneutics and discipleship learning.