How often do poets, advertisers, and movie makers influence Sunday sermons? Perhaps these image experts have much to offer pastors. Author Peter Jonker looks to these professionals as he examines the importance of having a controlling, vivid, dominant image that repeats throughout sermons. In Preaching in Pictures, Jonker details how a controlling image helps to unify the sermon and to communicate the sermon's central thought. The best sermons center around a compelling image that embodies either the trouble present in the Biblical text, or the trouble destroying grace of God that the text proclaims. Jonker offers exercises designed to help pastors find strong, controlling images for their sermons. Preaching in Pictures is the third book in the Artistry of Preaching Series.

The First Parish Church of Scituate, Massachusetts was gathered in 1634 but the history of the congregation begins in London in 1616. Henry Jacob, a Puritan dissenter, believed the Church of England had not reformed from the Catholic church enough and that people should form churches of their own like the first Christian churches. Jacob gathered a congregation in the Southwark borough of London in 1616, the first Independent (non-conformist) congregation in England. His successor, the Rev. John Lothrop, led the illegal congregation and for that he, along with a number of congregants, was jailed in the notorious prison, the Clink. Upon his release from prison Lothrop left for New England with some members of the Southwark congregation and settled in Scituate. First Parish in Scituate has a long, rich and surprising history. Rev. Lothrop is the ancestor to some of the most prominent American families such as the Roosevelts, the Bushes, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Georgia O'Keefe and Benjamin Spock. Two of its early ministers were presidents of Harvard College. One minister's daughter was involved in a love triangle with Henry David Thoreau and his brother, John. Another minister later became a gold miner; another, a pacifist, paid the price for the rest of his life; still another was a Shakespearean troubadour for a time. The history of First Parish is a story of a small congregation continuing over the course of over 375 years despite schisms, financial struggles and a devastating fire. It has continued to serve the town of Scituate due to the hard work of its women, men and children through the years. The Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society gave its first Congregational History prize to Richard M. Stower for A History of the First Parish Church of Scituate, Massachusetts citing it as a remarkably comprehensive study of a 379-year-old congregation that sheds important new light on every age of Puritan, Unitarian, and Unitarian Universalist History. (June 2013)

Nathan and Sandra Murray moved to their first pastorate in the rolling hills of North Carolina. Nathan soon realized that there were things about being a pastor he did not learn in college and seminary. Thankfully, mentors including some of the gentle folk of New Hope Church, will help him overcome and become a faithful and effective shepherd.

A challenging book, written by a Church leader for the Church leader and his team. This powerfully honest book has been written to provoke better communication concerning what the leader actually needs from his team to lead like God has called him to lead. Are you a "mighty man" to your leader? Do you want to know how to be one and what the biblical hallmarks for one are? In this incisive book Pastor Andy Elmes will take you on a journey into your leaders world, helping you to understand and gain a new awareness concerning what your leaders face on a daily basis, challenging every leader to step up to a new level for the sake of the Kingdom. It's time to stop pastors quitting, it's time to start talking about the things we need to talk about. Let the talking begin....

How powerful is your leadership brand? Do you have what it takes to lead? Are you ready to take your personal growth and development to the next level? With a little coaching and motivation, you can step up and step out of your comfort zone, and become the leader that God designed and created you to be. In the CORE Leadership Development Model, #1 Amazon bestselling Christian author Dr. Mary M. Gillam, Col (Ret), USAF describes her new step-by-step approach to leadership development. Using her 30+ years of military, government, and industry experience coupled with biblical truths, Dr. Gillam awakens the leadership giant in all of us. Her passion for developing leaders is evident in every page of the book. By reading this dynamic and powerful book, you will learn: A simple, step-by-step approach to unleashing your leadership potential How to use your natural gifts and talents to develop a powerful leadership brand How to unmask the leadership potential hidden inside of uncommon leaders How to execute courage over fear and become the leader that others want to follow If you are ready to LEAD - This book is for YOU "

More damage is done in churches through poor governance than by any other factor. At the same time more blessing is ushered into the lives of God's people by good governance than any other single factor.Getting church governance right is vital. The Scriptures are remarkably clear on the way God's people ought to be led, and they speak of a style of governing that goes beyond the principles of conventional leadership. This book investigates the type of church government that brings delight to God and life to His people. Beyond Leadership is a practical manual for those who want to learn how to practice Biblical governance and who desire to see every congregation member thriving in their God-given destiny.