Today's world teaches that bigger is better. We measure success by the square feet of our homes and by the size of our bank accounts. But what if we've gotten it wrong? What if there's quality in smallness?
With 45 years of church leadership experience, James Killen came to believe that some of the biggest God moments can happen in the smallest of churches. Throughout the pages of "Living in the Conversation," Killen looks back through biblical history to remind us that God calls us to love Him with our hearts, minds, and souls. Ultimately, Killen convinces us that preaching and worship should always lead to a people connected to their God.
"Living in the Conversation "beckons the reader to abandon all presuppositions about what makes a church work, pointing back to God's commands to walk in love and share the truth of redemption. This is how a big faith is developed, and Killen calls even the smallest of churches to anticipate a holy revelation. When we expect a God encounter, we can then begin to live out the intangibles of the kingdom -- loving fellowship, vital worship, and a genuine and transformative relationship with a big and living God.
Prior to his passing in August 2013, James L. (Jim) Killen Jr. had retired from the United Methodist Church after a 45-year career in pastoral ministry. Jim extended his ministry into retirement through prison ministry, interim ministries, teaching, and writing. Jim taught classes in preaching and in Biblical Studies in pastor's schools. He wrote several books, including three published by CSS. He was a contributor to The Immediate Word and other parts of the CSS Publishing online pastor's resource SermonSuite (sermonsuite.com). He had degrees from the University of Houston (B.S. History and Philosophy) and Perkin's School of Theology at S.M.U. (B.D., D.Min.).

We live in a God-invaded world. This simple truth is easy to forget when we peer wide-eyed into a world filled with chaos, terror, and war. But when we embrace the kingdom of God as an ever-present reality, one filled with new possibilities rooted in the good news of Christ, we become molders and shapers of human history. "God's New Possibility" offers a bold invitation to believe and proclaim that God is indeed at work, calling us to participate in His plan of transforming the world.
"God's New Possibility" reflects upon the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, unpacking the truths of a divine hope ushered into the world through the infant Christ. In seventeen sermons, James L. Killen Jr. reminds us that we serve a living and breathing God, one who became visible through Jesus and remains tangible through His Church. This is the evidence of a heavenly kingdom manifested through God's all-consuming presence and redemptive call -- a kingdom that offers a "new possibility here for us in each present moment of our lives."
The rich narratives of holy love found within the pages of Killen's sermons remain emphatic: God's love is not waiting for us at the borders of heaven; rather, He has already unleashed his redeeming love upon His world, and it is a love that calls all who proclaim His son as Lord and Savior to take an active role in spreading the good news of salvation.
James L. (Jim) Killen Jr. is a retired pastor of the United Methodist Church. After a 45-year career, Jim extended his ministry into retirement through prison ministry, interim ministries, teaching, and writing. Jim taught classes in preaching and in Biblical Studies in pastor's schools. He has written several books, including three published by CSS. He is a past contributor to The Immediate Word and other parts of the CSS Publishing online pastor's resource SermonSuite (sermonsuite.com. He holds degrees from the University of Houston (B.S. History and Philosophy) and Perkin's School of Theology at S.M.U. (B.D., D.Min.).

In each Sunday's assigned lectionary readings -- the First, Second, and Gospel lessons -- we are invited to view the glorious narrative of scripture through three different, yet harmonious, perspectives. In the second lesson, we become witnesses to the growth and development of the early church as described in the epistles of Paul and the other apostles. As the early Christians take their first steps in their faith, we too learn how to travel on our own journey with Christ.
As part of the Sermons on the Second Readings, Series III, Cycle A series, "What Can We Believe?" guides us through the last third of the season of Pentecost as James L. Killen Jr. explores the second lessons from Proper 23 through Thanksgiving, bringing the lectionary cycle year to its conclusion.
This collection of sermons is a valuable resource for:
+ Sermon starters and illuminating illustrations
+ Gaining a new homiletical perspective to the lectionary
+ Offering a newer, deeper understanding and appreciation of scripture
+ Using as a starter for adult Bible study groups or personal devotions
This insightful collection of sermons includes:
What Can We Believe about the Christian Life?
What Can We Believe about the Reign of Christ?
What Can We Believe about Stuff?
... and many more
James L. Killen Jr. is a retired pastor in the United Methodist church, serving in short-term interim ministries in the Texas Conference. He has served in many churches in the Texas Conference and currently participates at Trinity United Methodist Church. He holds degrees from the University of Houston (B.S. History and Philosophy), and Perkins School of Theology at SMU (B.D., D.Min.). A past contributor to "The Immediate Word," part of CSS Publishing's online pastor resource SermonSuite, Killen's interests include writing, walking, and bird watching.

Contemporary life is filled with a host of contentious moral and social issues. There are many thorny topics, both personal and political, which bring out a cacophony of opinions that can overwhelm us. While we are inundated with questions, there often seem to be no clear answers. So how should we respond? As Christians, we must constantly ask ourselves, "What does the Lord require of me?" In this outstanding collection of meditations, James Killen examines many of today's hot-button issues with an eye toward helping readers think through their beliefs and responsibilities. Mindful of our call to live in faithfulness to God's purpose, each essay draws on the Bible and the Christian faith to discern how God would have us respond to the emerging situations of our world's history. What Does The Lord Require? is topical, inspiring reading -- and with thoughtful discussion questions at the end of each meditation, it's an excellent resource for adult classes or study groups, as well as for a sermon series that is sure to connect with congregations. Among the issues addressed are: * religious pluralism * economic justice * materialism * environmental stewardship * gender roles * suicide * abortion * personal integrity * homosexuality * AIDS * race relations * war The timid pulpit is too often the platform of pastors who choose not to unsettle their parishioners. As a result, words that address the critical social and moral issues of our day go unspoken. The messages of this book inspire the reader to new heights of courage as these difficult issues are presented with clear, forthright challenges. You will be informed and motivated as the cost of discipleship awakens your Christian journey in the 21st century. Joe A. Wilson United Methodist bishop James Killen does a remarkable job of reminding us that being a Christian is more than "individual religiosity." Rather, it encompasses every facet of our existence, personal and corporate. These meditations explore issues that Christians cannot afford to ignore. A must read! Brig. Gen. Hiram "Doc" Jones, USAF (retired) Former Deputy Chief, Air Force Chaplain Service James L. Killen has pastored a variety of congregations during a 45-year career in the ministry, ranging from a small open country parish in northeast Texas to Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaumont, Texas, a 2,000-member church with a television ministry serving all of southeast Texas and southwestern Louisiana. A graduate of the University of Houston and Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Killen's work has appeared in several publications, including Preaching, Pulpit Digest, Circuit Rider, The Upper Room, and the Abingdon Preaching Annual. He is also the author of Who Do You Say That I Am?

This superb collection of biblically sound sermons based on Cycle A epistle texts covers every Sunday and major celebration of the church year. The imaginative insights of five outstanding preachers will enlighten the mind and warm the heart with delightfully serendipitous surprises on every page. Their fresh and inspiring illustrations are sure to spark your own homiletical creativity.

Bring the Old Testament scriptures to life with this inspiring and thought-provoking sermon collection. Powerful messages by five exceptional preachers interpret these ancient texts in fresh ways for today's Christian living. Combining creative imagination with abundant insight into vital current issues, these insightful homilies proclaim timeless themes of justice and righteousness while building our trust in the Lord's divine providence.