Psalm 139 is one of the most notable of the sacred hymns. It sings the omniscience and omnipresence of God, inferring from these the overthrow of the powers of wickedness, since He who sees and hears the abominable deeds and words of the rebellious will surely deal with them according to His justice...It flames out with such flashes of light as to turn night into day...This holy song casts a clear light even to the uttermost parts of the sea, and warns it against the practical atheism which ignores the presence of God, and so makes shipwreck of the soul.

    Some choose to respond to the most urgent needs, while others seek a more balanced and intentional approach. But what determines these priorities? Where should a busy pastor look for wisdom in making decisions?In the Pastor’s Ministry, pastor and author Brian Croft looks to the Scriptures to determine the top ten priorities for a faithful pastoral ministry. These biblically rooted responsibilities help pastors determine how to spend their time and with greater discernment respond to the demands of the church. Each of these priorities is rooted in a direct command of God’s Word, including: Guarding the TruthPreaching and Teaching the WordPraying for the FlockSetting an ExampleVisiting the SickComforting the GrievingCaring for WidowsConfronting SinEncouraging the Faint-HeartedIdentifying and Training Other LeadersTo be successful and faithful in pastoral ministry, every pastor needs to understand these core callings and make them part of his regular practice.  These ten responsibilities guide how a pastor schedules his time, helping him to lay the foundation for a biblically faithful ministry in his church.

    But since most pastoral guidebooks available today date back to 1980 or earlier, this new resource by Mac Brunson and James W. Bryant will offer fresh experience-based encouragement to all pastors in their pursuit of excellence and development in their God-called profession.Among the twenty chapters are "The Pastor and His Call," "The Pastor and His Family," "The Pastor and His Staff," "The Pastor and Worship," "The Pastor and Finances," "The Pastor, Wedding, and Funerals," "The Pastor, Politics, and Moral Issues," and "The Pastor and His Denomination."

    While we may struggle to define worship by arguing about singing hymns with the organ, versus modern songs with guitars and drums, or about the place of certain spiritual gifts, Roberts suggests we are asking the wrong questions. For true worship is more than this - it is to encompass the whole of life. This book challenges us to worship God every day of the week, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

    The familiar gravity of familiar places. But the trajectory of our faith should be one that’s continually cycling outward, fueled by a mission and message that God first brought within reach of us . . . so that we can now join with Him in taking it within reach of others.   Authors Daniel L. Akin and Bruce Riley Ashford are calling today’s church members to lives of going—whether going around the world or to people right where they live—going out with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Between the two of them, Akin and Ashford have trained thousands of men and women in both the mandates and methods for going to every nation. Now they have created a resource for individuals and churches to use together in calling even more to go. Readers will:Learn the mission of GodUnderstand the centrality of the church to going on mission with GodBe challenged to go to the nations with the gospel of Jesus ChristBe challenged to go to their own neighborhoods with the gospel of Jesus ChristLearn to use their jobs as vehicles for the gospelBe challenged to commit to go anywhere on mission with God

    Seven out of 10 kids will walk away from church after they turn 18. About five will return when they have families of their own, but two will never return. Clearly something isn’t connecting with our kids. As kids ministry leaders, we need to take a hard look at what we are missing in our kids ministries and provide kids the one thing that will satisfy them and keep them connected to the church—the gospel.Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry also addresses communicating with and encouraging gospel-centered leaders and parents as part of your ministry.

    Few, if any, address for a contemporary audience the biblical foundations of the government of the church. But this should be a priority for us, because God emphasizes the government of his church throughout Scripture. Why should we be church members? How do church officers reflect Jesus' reign over us? Where do the church's responsibilities begin and end? Where do ours? These, and other important questions, are answered in Guy Prentiss Water's vital examination of How Jesus Runs the Church. At a time when church authority is treated with contempt, it's important that we honor God in our churches more than ever.

    Her own lifelong love for cooking and gardening paired with her many travels to the Amazon with chef Regina Pinto has resulted in rich spiritual and culinary experiences that will inspire your cooking and gatherings. More than an ordinary cookbook, A Place at the Table offers readers a chance to not only approach mealtimes with accessible recipes from a renowned chef, but also hear heartwarming, personal stories from Kelly herself and enjoy some spiritual encouragement too. For Kelly, meals should be more than just ingredients and décor, though these enhance the experience. Food has historically gathered people together, and in this cookbook, Kelly points readers to just that—opening their tables so others can have a place to experience the love of God and fellowship of his people. After all, some of the most meaningful moments in the Bible were experienced around food. This cookbook offers a delicious, unfussy selection of both well-known and novel dishes, and it also includes personal favorites from Kelly and Regina. Featuring fresh, whole or homegrown components, Kelly prioritizes the value of flavors that can only come with seasonal ingredients. As a bonus, there is supplemental material throughout, where the reader can hear more from Kelly and Regina about broths, seasonal drinks, canning, décor, growing herbs, and more. In these pages, Kelly’s humor and warmth shine through in each story, and the stunning photography inspires all readers to put their hand to the joy of cooking, offering others not just a meal, but a place to belong.

    curriculum for an introductory foundations textbook--one that provides an overview and understanding of the broad range of subjects included in C.E.--for college and seminary use.Thirty-one chapters are offered under the following sections: 1) Foundations of C.E.; 2) Developmental Perspectives of C.E.; 3) Educational Implications of C.E.; 4) Organization, Administration, and Leadership; 5) C.E. Applied to the Family; and 6) Specialized Ministries. Contributors include Robert PazmiNo, Jim Wilhoit, Julie Gorman, Klaus Issler, and Ted Ward.FROM THE FOREWORD BY LESTER C. BLANK JR.Introducing Christian Education will become a major resource text for church leaders and Christian education leaders who are professors of Christian education. It will be a valuable resource in my personal library. The desired outcome will be Psalm 78:72: "He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands."

    Determined to achieve her dream of a career in music, she strikes out on her own. Her new life away from her family is a reality check, and she soon finds her life on a downward slide.Two years on, her dream is still out of reach, and she's nearing rock bottom. With hope nearly gone and feeling no joy in the season that was once her favorite, Alessia wanders into a church in search of warmth and some quiet.He gave up his life in order to bring his brothers to justice.Gio Morgan (formerly known as Giovanni Moretti) was born into a mob family, but he'd never fit in. When he made the decision to testify against his mob boss brothers, he knew it meant the end to that life.He now lives in New Hope Falls in order to be close to his half-sister, Cara. He is trying to build a new life for himself, and part of that is participating in the church's 24 hour a day open door ministry for the month of December.Will a connection forged in the quiet of a church during the early morning hours be the start of something new? Or will it lead to heartbreak if the draw of a dream is to powerful to resist?

    Some will die for it... But only one will unlock its secret...When covert artifact recovery specialist, Zack Cole is hired to retrieve a priceless sixteenth-century Bible, he unwittingly takes on the most dangerous mission of his life.What seemed like a straightforward recovery job turns deadly when the holy text is the target of a bloody heist, and an innocent missionary is brutally murdered. Zack soon finds himself caught up in a centuries-old mystery, and his only clue is a cryptic code, believed to have been written by William Tyndale himself.Wanted by the National Police and pursued by a merciless assassin, Zack races against time through the jungles of Guatemala to unlock the secrets of the Tyndale Code. A non-stop adventure is set in motion, intertwined with mystery, intrigue, and a conspiracy that stretches back to the time of King Henry VIII.Can Zack recover the Bible and prove his innocence before it's too late? Or will unlocking its secrets prove too formidable for even Zack Cole?

    Features & Benefits- Lively and accessible introduction to the history of Christian thought- Describes the lives and personalities of key thinkers- Features pithy quotations from original sources- Highlights significant places, councils, movements and events- Helps you better understand Western culture which has been largely shaped by Christian thinkers like Augustine, Aquinas and Luther

    Using examples from Promiseland and churches of all sizes around the country, this book provides step by step guidance and creative application exercises to help churches develop a thriving children’s ministry—one that strives to be the best hour of every kid’s week. Included are Scripture-based principles and practical resources for church staff members and volunteers who agree with the critical role children’s ministry plays in a local church. Making Your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid’s Week, based on twenty-eight years of experience at Willow Creek, explains four ministry foundations: Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategy. Content includes: Detailed answers to questions facing every children’s ministry: • What does Jesus expect from children’s ministry? • How can we evangelize lost kids and disciple saved kids at the same time, and should we? • How do we engage kids so they don’t become bored? • How do we get better at recruiting and leading volunteers? • How can our ministry be a safe place for children? • Six specific ministry values that address the needs of today’s children • Practical first steps for ministries that want to get serious about change • Clear indicators of success in children’s ministry

    The authors seek to explain the unique moral role of the minister and the ethical responsibilities of the vocation and to provide "a clear statement of the ethical obligations contemporary clergy should assume in their personal and professional lives." Trull and Carter deal with such areas as family life, confidentiality, truth-telling, political involvement, working with committees, and relating to other church staff members. First published in 1993, this edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and contains expanded sections on theological foundations, the role of character, confidentiality, and the timely topic of clergy sexual abuse. Appendices describing various denominational ministerial codes of ethics are included.