Los Documentos de la Alianza: Volver a Leer la Biblia por Primera Vez is a Spanish translation of the previously published text Covenant Documents: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. The book helps readers peek behind the familiar pages of the Bible to discover historical, literary, and contextual information that bring new vibrancy to old words. It posits that the internal testimony of the Bible's earliest books assumes a structured, formative event between Israel and its God, known as the Sinai Covenant. The book shows how the various later biblical writings fit into patterns of ancient covenant document and their historical supplements. Readers are provided with fascinating history and literary analysis, gaining helpful background, structure, and cultural dynamics that enliven the reading and rereading of the most famous book in the world. Part introduction, part overview, part handbook, Los Documentos de la Alianza is an ideal resource for introductory courses in biblical literature and Christian doctrine. It can also serve as a sourcebook for pastors, teachers, and Bible study groups.

In Covenant Documents: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, Wayne Brouwer helps us peek behind the familiar pages of the Bible to find historical, literary, and contextual information that bring new vibrancy to old words. His premise is that the internal testimony of the Bible's earliest books assumes a structured, formative event between Israel and its God, known as the Sinai Covenant. Brouwer shows how the various later biblical writings fit into patterns of ancient covenant documents and their historical supplements. Covenant Documents shimmers with fascinating history and literary analysis, providing helpful background, structure, and cultural dynamics that enliven the reading and rereading of the most famous book in the world. Part introduction, part overview, part handbook, Covenant Documents serves as a great textbook for introductory courses in biblical literature and Christian doctrine. It also functions as a sourcebook for pastors and teachers, and especially as a guide for Bible study groups.

For each Sunday in Cycle C, the writers and editors of "Charting the Course," an integral part of Emphasis: A Lectionary Preaching Journal from CSS Publishing Company, delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you, the pastor with in-depth lectionary-based commentary; relating several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. The team of "Navigating the Sermon "looks for overall topics for the entire Cycle C church year that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the theme and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single application for each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, "Navigating the Sermon" in most cases suggests several ideas, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
This book is like having a dedicated, thoroughly versed sermon research and sermon resource team right in your own study to help you create riveting sermons that are truly yours and that speak powerfully to your audience.

"Sometimes we avoid the biblical prophets because all we hear is their piercing jeremiads. Yet if we take the time to meet them in their historical context, the prophets bring us back to divine messages we desperately need.
"-- from the chapter titled "A Dance in the Desert"
In this volume of sermons prepared by Wayne Brouwer, the reader will find illustrations that help to explain God's message in new and interesting ways. Finding stories and word pictures that more easily tie into the lectionary readings for each Sunday will help the person in the pulpit make his sermon more compelling to the people in the pews.
In "They All Were Looking for a King," the author brings the reader new insights to the age-old message surrounding the birth of Christ. As Christians eagerly anticipate the arrival of the babe of Bethlehem, Brouwer explores the gospel from new perspectives that the reader will find to be invaluable. These messages will be helpful in a variety of ways:
- Illuminating illustrations and sermon starters
- Group Bible study
- Personal devotions
Sermon titles included in this collection are:
- A Cry in the Dark
- A Dance in the Desert
- Creating Community the Hard Way
Wayne Brouwer is a pastor of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and is an Associate Professor of Religion at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, as well as a member of the faculty of Western Theological Seminary. Brouwer has been the lead pastor in three different congregations. He is a graduate of Dordt College and holds degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary and McMaster University. Over 700 of his articles have been published as well as over a dozen books. Previous CSS Publishing titles by Pastor Bouwer include "Political Christianity "and" Humming Till the Music Returns." He has been a consistent contributor to "Emphasis: A Preaching Journal "since 2004 and is one of several authors featured in "Navigating the Sermon." Pastor Brouwer resides in Holland, Michigan, with his wife Brenda and they are the parents of three daughters.

One day God will stand again as solo conductor on the podium of the universe, and lead in the crashing finale of the symphony of Life. But until then, we who are left in this world with the buzzing and blaring of many competing and changing "top 40" hits need to keep humming the tune that Jesus taught.