Download or read book After You Believe written by N. T. Wright and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2010-03-02 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the author of the acclaimed Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope comes a book that addresses the question that has plagued humans for centuries—what is our purpose? As Christians, what are we to do with that ambiguous time between baptism and the funeral? It's easy to become preoccupied with who gets into heaven; the real challenge is how we are going to live in the here and now. Wright dispels the common misconception that Christian living is nothing more than a checklist of dos and don'ts. Nor is it a prescription to "follow your heart" wherever it may lead. Instead, After You Believe reveals the Bible's call for a revolution—a transformation of character that takes us beyond our earthly pursuit of money, sex, and power into a virtuous state of living that allows us to reflect God and live more worshipful, fulfilling lives. We are all spiritual seekers, intuitively knowing there is more to life than we suspect. This is a book for anyone who is hoping there is something more while we're here on Earth. There is. We are being called to join the revolution, and Wright insightfully encourages readers to find new purpose and clarity by taking us on an eye-opening journey through key biblical passages that promise to radically alter the work of the church and the direction of our lives.

Download or read book The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests written by National Conference of Catholic Bishops and published by USCCB Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: See Pamphlet 5-383 for duplicate copy.

Download or read book A New Church and A New Seminary written by David McAllister-Wilson and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2018-04-02 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many churches are “mule churches”–strong for a generation but unable to reproduce themselves. As a mule comes from a horse and a donkey, they were the product of demographics and cultural conditions conducive for a generation of strength but did not produce many offspring in new church starts or strong candidates for ministry. Mule churches create a generation or more of pastors, superintendents, and bishops who think they knew what made for strong church, who think their approach to ministry is the key reason for their success. And it produces churches with a nostalgia for the way things used to be. This makes it hard for churches to adapt to change. We've been declining for a long time due to changes in secular and consumer culture, demographics radically adjusting normative family structure, and a theology based in consumer marketing rather than mission-driven vitality. Now we realize that the church is free to not just make the gospel relevant to life but to make life relevant to the gospel. Conservative evangelical Christianity was able to focus on relevance prior to its ascendency on the national stage. Methodism requires a similar period of confessional self-definition. We are going through these confessions now in the debate about our stance toward homosexuality. Most students and most professors go to the seminary "to fix the church," because they realize that the future of the church and its seminaries are inseparable. Seminaries provide scholars for the church, who learn how to think, who learn how to take the long view, who shape identity, who foster a "culture of calling." A new kind of Methodist progressive evangelicalism is regenerating, which lives the great commandment (love) and the great commission (reproducing disciples) on a global scale. Before, seminaries prepared pastors to maintain healthy churches in stable neighborhoods. Now, every neighborhood is changing and many churches are losing their members and their confidence. They long for a recovery of their sense of mission and a new kind of leadership. A new kind of seminary is regenerating to foster hope, wisdom, creativity, and engagement with the great issues of our day.

Download or read book What to Expect in Seminary written by Virginia S. Cetuk and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2010-08-01 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In What to Expect in Seminary, Virginia Samuel Cetuk looks at the various facets of theological education -- the call to ministry, classroom learning, community life, field education, financial realities, time-management challenges -- through the lens of spiritual formation. In each chapter she challenges readers to view the particular topic as an avenue to spiritual growth instead of as an obstacle to the same. Offering readers the conceptual tool of reframing, she draws upon psychology, Scripture, and her many years' experiences in theological education to help readers see both the challenges and the rich opportunities of theological education related to ministry and spiritual formation.

Download or read book Church Finances for Missional Leaders written by Bonnie Ives Marden and published by Wesley's Foundery Books. This book was released on 2019-02-18 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Practical guide and best practices of faithful financial stewardship for today's church.

Download or read book The Christian Educator s Handbook on Adult Education written by Kenneth O. Gangel and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 1998-02-01 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get historical insight and practical help for your adult Christian education needs.

Download or read book The History of Theological Education written by Dr. Justo L. Gonzalez and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Theological education has always been vital to the Church’s life and mission; yet today it is in crisis, lacking focus, direction, but also resources and even students. In the early Church, there is no doubt that to lead worship one had to be able to read and interpret the Bible. In order to lead, it was necessary to know at least something about the history of Israel and the work of God in the Gospels, and interpret that history, making it relevant to daily living. Quickly the Church developed schools for its teachers, whether lay or clergy. A catechetical system was organized through which candidates prepared for baptism were given a basic form of theological education. Hence to be a Christian meant persons knew what and why they believed. But over the years, theological education has come to mean education for clergy and church professionals. It has drifted, seeking new moorings.

Download or read book Youth Ministry in the 21st Century Youth Family and Culture written by Chap Clark and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2015-08-11 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are many philosophies and strategies that drive today's youth ministry. To most people, they are variations on a single goal: to make faithful disciples of young people. However, digging deeper into various programs, books, and concepts reveals substantive differences among approaches. Bestselling author Chap Clark is one of the leading voices in youth ministry today. In this multiview work, he brings together a diverse group of leaders to present major views on youth ministry. Chapters are written in essay/response fashion by Fernando Arzola, Greg Stier, Ron Hunter, Brian Cosby, and Chap Clark. As the contributors present their views and respond to each of the other views, they discuss their task and calling, giving readers the resources they need to develop their own approach to youth ministry. Offering a model of critical thinking and respectful dialogue, this volume provides a balanced, irenic approach to a topic with which every church wrestles.

Download or read book The Seminary As a Textual Community written by Jason Lee and published by . This book was released on 2021-05 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Jubilee Years written by Bruce Epperly and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2020-11-28 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Taking inspiration from the Spanish word for retirement—jubilacion—veteran minister Bruce Epperly challenges and empowers clergy to see retirement as a celebration of new possibilities. Similar in spirit to the Jubilee year described in scripture, retirement can be a time of transformation and exploration, of freedom to try on new versions of yourself and new paths of service. In that spirit, clergy can embrace creative transformation in their relationships, neighborhoods, religious communities, and politics. No longer tethered to the politics and administrative duties of congregational leadership, they can now freely commit themselves to relational, intellectual, and spiritual growth. They can also focus on personal, community, and planetary healing and transformation. Retired clergy can become sages and wisdom givers sharing their insights and energy with seminarians and novice pastors, congregations, and communities. Bringing together the fruits of conversations with more than 100 retired clergy, theological reflection, and spiritual practices, this text provides a way forward for clergy considering retirement and retired clergy. Based on interviews from persons from diverse denominations, theological perspectives, and ethnic and racial backgrounds, this book garners wisdom from pastors on their retirement journeys, from personal preparation and public announcement to first steps following retirement and long-term adventures.

Download or read book The Drama of Scripture written by Craig G. Bartholomew and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2014-07-08 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This bestselling textbook surveys the grand narrative of the Bible, demonstrating how the biblical story forms the foundation of a Christian worldview. The second edition has been thoroughly revised. Additional material is available online through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources, offering course help for professors and study aids for students. Resources include discussion questions, a Bible reading schedule, an adult Bible class schedule, and a course syllabus.

Download or read book Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn t written by Gavin Ortlund and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2021-10-26 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It has never been more important to articulate the wonder and enchantment of the Christian message. Yet the traditional approaches of apologetics are often outmoded in an age of profound disenchantment and distraction, unable to meet this pressing need. This winsome apologetics book for a new generation makes the case that Christianity offers a compelling explanatory framework for making sense of our world. Pastor and writer Gavin Ortlund believes it is essential to appeal not only to the mind but also to the heart and the imagination as we articulate the beauty of the gospel. Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't reimagines four classical theistic arguments--cosmological, teleological, moral, and Christological--making a cumulative case for God as the best framework for understanding the storied nature of reality. The book suggests that Christian theism can explain such things as the elegance of math, the beauty of music, and the value of love. It is suitable for use in classes yet accessibly written, making it a perfect resource for churches and small groups.

Download or read book The New Interpreter s Bible written by Leander E. Keck and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 12 volumes of print editions in electronic format Easy-to-use format Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books New material specifically prepared to meet the needs of today's preachers, teachers, and students Biblical text divided into coherent and natural units Ecumenical roster of contributors includes top scholars and emerging new voices Numerous visual aids: illustrations, maps, charts, timelines Introductions to each biblical book cover essential historical, literary, sociocultural, and theological issues Full texts and critical notes of the NIV and the NRSV Uses Folio( shadow files for cut-and-paste capabilitiesSystem requirements: For Windows( 3.1 or higher / 486 or higher PC / 16MB RAM / 12 MB free hard disk space / CD-ROM driveSystem Requirements for MacIntosh(: PowerPC processor / OS 8.0 or higher (or 8.5 or higher if for the Extended disk) / At least 16MB memory (32MB recommended) / At least 12MB of hard drive space

Download or read book Faith of Our Mothers Living Still written by Abigail Rian Evans and published by Westminster John Knox Press. This book was released on 2017-10-16 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an overview of the ministry of women associated with Princeton Theological Seminary over the last two hundred years. Beginning with a historical overview of early pioneering women at the seminary and a chapter highlighting selected trailblazers in ministry, it goes on to showcase twenty-eight first-person narratives by women from diverse racial-ethnic, geographical, and denominational backgrounds in a variety of ministry settings. It concludes by developing new understandings and directions for Christian ministry and theological education to challenge the twenty-first-century church. The book includes the newly commissioned hymn "Faith of Our Mothers, Living Still," along with several appendixes that feature time lines and highlight Princeton Seminary faculty and alumnae. Faith of Our Mothers, Living Still celebrates the diverse ministries in which women are called to serve God and others, which inspire a holistic vision for theological education that can benefit seminaries, the church, and the world.

Download or read book Walking the Labyrinth written by Travis Scholl and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2014-09-05 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a historical and modern context for the unique spiritual discipline of walking a labyrinth, Travis Scholl weaves his own journey with a prayerful study of the Gospel of Mark, guiding readers to powerful encounters with God, even in the midst of quiet solitude, repetition and stillness. These 40 reflections are ideal for daily reading—during Lent or any time of the year.

Download or read book The Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education written by Tonette S. Rocco and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-07-03 with total page 926 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Co-published with Colleges and universities are increasingly becoming significant sites for adult education scholarship—in large part due to demographic shifts. With fewer U.S. high school graduates on the horizon, higher education institutions will need to attract “non-traditional” (i.e., older) adult learners to remain viable, both financially and politically. There is a need to develop a better corpus of scholarship on topics as diverse as, what learning theories are useful for understanding adult learning? How are higher education institutions changing in response to the surge of adult students? What academic programs are providing better learning and employment outcomes for adults in college? Adult education scholars can offer much to the policy debates taking place in higher education. A main premise of this handbook is that adult and continuing education should not simply respond to rapidly changing social, economic, technological, and political environments across the globe, but should lead the way in preparing adults to become informed, globally-connected, critical citizens who are knowledgeable, skilled, and open and adaptive to change and uncertainty.The Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education provides rich information on the contemporary issues and trends that are of concern to adult and continuing education, of the programs and resources available to adult learners, and of opportunities to challenge and critique the structures embedded in the field that perpetuate inequity and social injustice. Adult education is a discipline that foresees a better tomorrow, and The Handbook is designed to engage and inspire readers to assist the field to seek new paths in uncertain and complex times, ask questions, and to help the field flourish.The Handbook is divided into five sections. The first, Foundations situates the field by describing the developments, core debates, perspectives, and key principles that form the basis of the field.The second, Understanding Adult Learning, includes chapters on adult learning, adult development, motivation, access, participation, and support of adult learners, and mentoring.Teaching Practices and Administrative Leadership, the third section, offers chapters on organization and administration, program planning, assessment and evaluation, teaching perspectives, andragogy and pedagogy, public pedagogy, and digital technologies for teaching and learning.The fourth section is Formal and Informal Learning Contexts. Chapters cover adult basic, GED, and literacy education, English-as-a-Second Language Programs, family literacy, prison education, workforce development, military education, international development education, health professions education, continuing professional education, higher education, human resource development and workplace learning, union and labor education, religious and spiritual education, cultural institutions, environmental education, social and political movements, and peace and conflict education.The concluding Contemporary Issues section discusses decolonizing adult and continuing education, adult education and welfare, teaching social activism, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and straight allies, gender and its multiple forms, disability, older adults and intergenerational identities, race and ethnicity, working class, whiteness and privilege, and migrants and migrant education.The editors culminate with consideration of next steps for adult and continuing education and priorities for the future.

Download or read book Competent Ministry written by Mark A. Rouch and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Order this additional CD for multiple listening stations, work groups, or classrooms. With PowerXpress complete lesson plans, stories, activities, scripts, station set-up tips, list of resources needed, printed music, lyric transparencies, and a music CD are included with each unit. For more information about PowerXpress, go to www.powerxpress.com.