Spiritual/Religion

This book is for church leaders, both clergy and lay, who seek to challenge the status quo and implement change in their congregations. Schaller's plan of intervention suggests that the long-range planning committee is the most effective vehicle of change. He systematically addresses the issues this committee faces, such as knowing when to intervene, how to decide which issues to tackle, how to face financial concerns, when to implement the plan, and how to overcome resistance. Key Features: Inv... more info>>

This book challenges Christians to recognize the erosion of Christian influence in the public schools and to take part in the battle for Creationism in the classroom.

Enthusiasm, involvement, and know-how are the key words for creative church administration. Nationally known church planners and administrative consultants Lyle E. Schaller and Charles A. Tidwell offer the know-how to make your church, no matter what size or denomination, exciting, well-organized, and up-to-date! Creative Church Administration provides the accumulated experience of thousands of churches -- what they did wrong and what they did right -- to meet the growing need... more info>>

Pastor Ray Pritchard examines the Apostles' creed line-by-line, point-by-point. His explanations are vibrant, thorough, accessible, and firmly rooted in Scripture.

Helps readers work through some of the life-molding decisions we all face, addressing questions like Why do we work? and What's my calling in life?

Esther Luttrell is not a religious philosopher, or a psychic, or anything remotely like that--just a mother who lost her boy and who has been blessed by his presence from the Other Side. "Dear Dean, I know you've wondered if I would ever understand what it is you've been trying to tell me since the day you crossed over. In my missing you, in my desperate search for answers, I was so busy shouting why, why, why that I couldn't hear your clear voice. This book, honey, is my wholehearted effort to ... more info>>

Real people. Real sin. Transformed lives. Deep theology meets gritty pastoral experiences as Death by Love explains the practical implications of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. This compilation of heartfelt letters written from a pastor to his people is for all those who have sinned and have been sinned against.

The holiday just wasn't the holiday without her young nephew. Jolie Wheeler couldn't believe he'd been taken from her care and returned to her delinquent sister. But meeting Vince Cutler and his riotous family gave her pause for the first time--will Vince's love teach Jolie the new meaning of Christmas?

Plug & Chug" is the way churches have planned worship for years. You start with the same order of worship for every service, plug different hymns and readings into their respective slots, and chug right along. It makes the job of worship planner, usually done by the senior pastor, seem much easier. In a church in which the senior pastor or staff member does everything, worship needs to be cranked out lest it cause burnout. The problem with "plug & chug" is that it leads to "bore & snore." Worshi... more info>>

The pastor preached a very short sermon one Sunday morning. He explained: "My dog got into my office and chewed up some of my notes." At the close of the service, a visitor made this request: "If your dog ever has puppies, please let my pastor have one of them!" God intends for us to smile. Far more muscles are used when we frown than when we smile. So why overwork facial muscles? Laughter is as much a part of the heart of God as are tears. This book is a collection of devotions built around som... more info>>

Dan Hayden engages his readers in a discussion on the credibility of the Christian claim that God himself wrote the Bible.

Through personal anecdotes and careful examination of Scripture, Carolyn McCulley challenges single women to regard their singleness not as a burden, but as a gift from God that allows them to perform a unique role in the body of Christ.

[Publisher Note: DVD-ROM not included with eBook] Assists church leaders in moving past a dated multimedia or audio-visual mentality when producing media for worship. The digital culture values story and experience, which means that producers of eWorship in congregations will learn how to represent the Word as image and art in the production of digital eWorship media. New models for worship are offered, and tactics for change are proposed so that timid congregations, as well as small and medium ... more info>>

Many mainline churches make the mistake of thinking that in order to get off the plateau or reverse the decline they must become something that they are not. Often that change of identity has to do with worship. In a study funded by the Lilly Foundation, Robert Cueni has interviewed pastors and members of dozens of large-membership mainline churches that have turned around long-standing patterns of stagnation or decline. The common denominator he identified is that the leadership of these church... more info>>

The second Abingdon publication by Paul Borden, whose first book, Hit the Bullseye has sold nearly 10,000 copies. I. Chapter One--Introduction and Overview II. Chapter Two--Essentials for Leaders (It is important to note that this book assumes a pastor is new to a congregation which like many congregations, is on a plateau or in decline. This pastor sees himself or herself as a leader who anticipates a better future for this congregation. However, the congregation sees the role of the new pastor... more info>>

Drawing from their experience as parents and grandparents, Kent and Barbara Hughes share their wisdom on how to rear children who love and honor God and others. Also includes an extensive appendix containing resources to help your family cultivate godly disciplines.

This inspiring and best-selling book has long been speaking to the hearts of men, and its words continue to be highly relevant. Using biblical wisdom, engaging illustrations, practical suggestions for daily living, and personal study questions, Kent Hughes offers hard-hitting discussion on major areas of Christian manhood: marriage, fatherhood, friendship, purity, integrity, leadership, prayer, ministry, and more.

Giving examples of large-scale changes that have occurred during the past three decades, Schaller helps church leaders embrace new challenges and opportunities for ministry.

Unmasks the hidden "worldviews" that stand in the way of congregational vitality and mission: They are problems with which every pastor is familiar: dwindling attendance in Sunday school classes; high levels of gossip and dissatisfaction; widespread apathy; weak financial support; inability to reach out to the unchurched. These and similar difficulties confound congregational leaders every day. Why are they often so difficult to address? Why do the programs put in place to remove these problems ... more info>>

Divine Moments books are designed to help you experience a daily breakthrough with God. Inside each handy book you'll find life application topics such as acceptance, brokenness, calling, comfort, crisis, decisions, doubt, endurance, giving, healing, hurts, loss, love, miracles, mistakes, planning, purpose, risk, romance, stress, temptation, tragedy, and wisdom. Under each topic you'll find a question that we all ask at one time or another about how we relate to God and how our faith relates to ... more info>>

Divine Moments books are designed to help you experience a daily breakthrough with God. Inside each handy book you’ll find life application topics such as acceptance, brokenness, calling, comfort, crisis, decisions, doubt, endurance, giving, healing, hurts, loss, love, miracles, mistakes, planning, purpose, risk, romance, stress, temptation, tragedy, and wisdom. Under each topic you’ll find a question that we all ask at one time or another about how we relate to God and how our faith... more info>>

One of today's foremost theologians presents the case for embracing religious pluralism as integral to the Christian gospel. Religious pluralism is a fact in North American society today. More than at any other time, adherents of different religious traditions live, work, and play side by side. Yet the fact of religious pluralism creates a tension for a large number of Christians. At the same time they have realized that Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and members of many other religious group... more info>>

Don't Be Afraid of the Storm is a collection of true stories about miracles and divine intervention. It is a book of comfort and hope in our troubled times, an affirmation that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments.

In the land of Pharaoh, Tuya has always been a slave. As a little girl, she was sold as a playmate to a wealthy child who became her best friend. But as she approaches womanhood, beautiful Tuya is betrayed and cast out. Now she belongs to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard. Yet her heart is owned by handsome Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers. Proud, arrogant Joseph dreams of freedom, of his own household, of Tuya as his queen. Shared dreams will sustain Joseph and Tuya through the ... more info>>

Leadership among God's people is not a matter of easy answers or simple solutions. There is no foolproof list of character traits that one can acquire and develop in order to be a successful leader. Authentic leadership is a complex interaction of the leader's gifts and calling, the people's needs and response, the particular situation of the moment, and, above all, the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Birch and Parks believe if we wish to understand the intricate and messy character of leadership i... more info>>