In our world, stories matter. Methods and systems are beneficial because they provide structure and help keep us on the right road; but the motivation and courage to keep walking the road, come from the stories we hear and see and experience-stories that inspire hope and bring us face-to-face with God. For ministers, the call to preach is a call into a story that forms and shapes us. It's about stumbling into revelation as life unwinds and scripture unfolds. It's about listening to God's voice and then sharing it with others. It's about recognizing that when people gather to hear a sermon, God speaks. And it's about understanding that when He speaks, He speaks through you. Preaching the Story That Shapes Us is more than a textbook on preaching. It's an empowering call for preachers to present a picture of the kingdom of God already at work among us, recognizing that the work of preaching is not just about arranging words--it's about people. With elegant prose and crafted reason, Dan Boone weaves together scripture, personal narrative, structure, and theological reflection to provide a satisfying, efficient guide to narrative preaching. From exploring the importance of biography to walking readers through creative processes that shape the sermon, Boone shows preachers how to awaken lives and share the stories of God that reveal who we are and lead us to who we will be.

Many voices speaking today about the end times sound a lot like Chicken Little: they prophesy doom and destruction, the Antichrist and Armageddon. All this apocalyptic speculation creates an atmosphere of sensationalism and dread--but the Revelation of Jesus to John was meant to bring hope. Too many Christians have become hesitant to study this book of the Bible because of the confusion that surrounds it. But as an experienced pastor, Dan Boone affirms that any child of God can read and understand the truth of Revelation. His friendly, conversational style brings the message of Revelation into the idiom of life in our contemporary world. This book will help readers understand: The context of the Revelation and what it meant to the churches of that day The characteristics of apocalyptic and prophetic literature and how they are meant to be read The application that this important book of the Bible holds for our lives today Answers for Chicken Little gives a responsible interpretation of Revelation that replaces predictions of doom with a compelling vision of who Jesus is and of His message about living as a redeemed people with hope for the future.

Homosexuality, social drinking, and politics . . .Why is it so hard to talk about these topics and others like them in the church? What keeps us from having open and honest conversations about complex and controversial issues? The silence in the pews about these matters can be deafening. Often members say little, fearing disagreement and rebuttal, others strongly assert half-truths and biases. Nothing gets truly discussed, and many, especially the youth, become discouraged and leave.A Charitable Discourse insightfully explores why this happens, looking closely at the ways people avoid and prevent authentic dialog, from labeling and grandstanding to religious abuse. Seven controversial issues are discussed with understanding, sincerity, and compassion.

When you're dragging yourself to work, do you ever get mad at Adam and Eve for making us have to toil for a living? If you're on the clock, is it ok to mentally clock out - even for a little while?

Are these things that really matter when it comes to working "as unto the Lord"? While many questions face us as we work each day, perhaps the most important is, "What difference does it make in my job if I'm a Christian?" In The Way We Work, Boone offers much more help than simply saying "You need to do your

work well because you are a Christian." The Way We Work provides a thorough biblical examination of all our labors exploring:

When work is a pain

Laziness on the job

The blessing of work

Work that will last

And much more.

In a world where No one tells me what to do and I am my own authority, the Ten Commandments quickly find their way to the trash heap. For most of us, the words surrounding law--rule, restriction, regulation, requirement, code, commandment, covenant, must, ought, shall, will--are simply not our favorite words to hear. They are parental words, court words, conflict words. We use them only when we have to; otherwise, we willingly hold them at a distance. But the Old Testament people of God had a different take on law. They took their copy of the law their God had given them, clutched it to their chests, and danced with it. They observed it daily in their relationships and required their young to memorize it. And when a copy of the law had grown ragged and old, they had a special ceremony to retire it. They buried it with all the dignity of a beloved grandparent's body. In Dancing with the Law, author Dan Boone challenges us to, like the ancient people of God, look at law as a sacred gift that points the way to the life God intended. Through his earnest exploration of the Ten Commandments, he offers us a new perspective on law--one that makes us dance with freedom, liberty, and the gift of life.

Many churches today are caught in the worship war. Services are split into styles--contemporary, traditional, liturgical. Discussions and sometimes arguments arise over whether or not to have a pulpit, use drums, sing hymns, or use movie clips for illustration. These varying styles and preferences have caused many to change churches or even skip worship all together. This division of the Body of Christ is a cause for great concern and is jeopardizing the true meaning of worship for future generations. In The Worship Plot, Dan Boone exposes the distorted motives of battling over worship styles. Instead, he attests we should strive to combine our diversity to celebrate our common story. Boone explains that worship is not about personal preference or platform performance. Worship flows from the heart of God through His Son and His Spirit. Worship invites us to step into this flowing stream of celebration, thanksgiving, and love--a stream that connects us to God and to each other. Boone encourages churches to use the differences of their people to tell and celebrate the story God has plotted for us--the unifying story of the love of Christ. He affirms that when we move through worship together, through specific stages that have been plotted out to follow, we can go out with blessing and boldness, empowered by grace--ready to serve the people of the world and share with them God's amazing story.