Download or read book From Pew to Pulpit written by Clifton Floyd Guthrie and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A down-to-earth, practical introduction to the ins and outs of preaching for lay preachers, bivocational pastors, and others newly arrived in the pulpit. Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the amount of financial resources required to support a full-time pastor in the local congregation. In addition, large numbers of full-time, seminary trained clergy are retiring, without commensurate numbers of new clergy able to take their place. As a result of these trends, a large number of lay preachers and bivocational pastors have assumed the principal responsibility for filling the pulpit week by week in local churches. Most of these individuals, observes Clifton Guthrie, can draw on a wealth of life experiences, as well as strong intuitive skills in knowing what makes a good sermon, having listened to them much of their lives. What they often don't bring to the pulpit, however, is specific, detailed instruction in the how-tos of preaching. That is precisely what this brief, practical guide to preaching has to offer. Written with the needs of those for whom preaching is not their sole or primary occupation in mind, it begins by emphasizing what every preacher brings to the pulpit: an idea of what makes a sermon particularly moving or memorable to them. From there the book moves into short chapters on choosing an appropriate biblical text or sermon topic, learning how to listen to one's first impressions of what a text means, moving from text or topic to the sermon itself while keeping the listeners needs firmly in mind, making thorough and engaging use of stories in the sermon, and delivering with passion and conviction. The book concludes with helpful suggestions for resources, including Bibles, commentaries, other print resources and websites.

Download or read book Between Pulpit and Pew written by W. Paul Reeve and published by Utah State University Press. This book was released on 2011-05-23 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cain wanders the frontier as a Bigfoot-like hairy beast and confronts an early Mormon apostle. An evil band of murderers from Mormon scripture, known as the Gadianton robbers, provides an excuse for the failure of a desert town. Stories of children raised from the dead with decayed bodies and damaged minds help draw boundaries between the proper spheres of human and divine action. Mormons who observe UFOs in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries find ways to explain them in relation to the church’s cosmology. The millenarian dimension of that belief system induces church members to invest in the Dream Mine, a hidden treasure that a would-be heir to Joseph Smith wraps in prophecy of the end times. A Utah version of Nessie haunts a large mountain lake. Non-Mormons attempt to discredit Joseph Smith with tales that he had tried and failed to walk on water. Mormons gave distinctive meanings to supernatural legends and events, but their narratives incorporated motifs found in many cultures. Many such historical legends and beliefs found adherents down to the present. This collection employs folklore to illuminate the cultural and religious history of a people.

Download or read book Beware written by Eric Vaughn Washington and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-10-23 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sometimes truth get twisted in this life. Blurred. Manipulated. Lines get crossed. Things once seen black and white, may appear more gray. It may seem harder to recognize what's true or what's false. What's light and what's dark. The message in BEWARE: WITCHES in the PULPIT and SNAKES in the PEWS will challenge all mankind to identify the REAL church of Jesus Christ. BEWARE of the great deception in the pulpit. BEWARE of the great deception in the pews. Everyone that declares Jesus Christ, is not of His. Prophet Eric Vaughn Washington encourages you to READ BIBLE, STUDY BIBLE, PRAY BIBLE which ultimately give way for you to LIVE BIBLE.....Engage now in Holiness!!!

Download or read book Witchcraft in the Pews written by George Bloomer and published by Whitaker House. This book was released on 2017-01-03 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Deception, witchcraft, and occult practices reign worldwide—and these evils have even infiltrated the Christian church! So, fasten your seatbelt as you read the most provocative book of our time, in which you will learn to recognize: Ministers who use intimidation and fear Controlling power in families Spiritual discernment and its many uses Manipulative media techniques Distractions coming from Satan It's time to take a stand and engage in spiritual warfare. Bishop Bloomer shows how to prevent others from unfairly taking advantage of you.

Download or read book Lament written by Sally Ann Brown and published by Westminster John Knox Press. This book was released on 2005-01-01 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lament, so prominent in the Christian canon, is neglected in the public worship and witness of most North American congregations. These essays by Princeton Theological Seminary faculty attest to the diverse ways in which lament is understood and practiced, and invite their recovery in all elements of the church's ministry.

Download or read book Resurrecting Excellence written by L. Gregory Jones and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2006-03-09 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Resurrecting Excellence aims to rekindle and encourage among Christian leaders an unselfish ambition for the gospel that shuns both competition and mediocrity and rightly focuses on the beauty, power, and excellence of living as faithful disciples of the crucified and risen Christ. Drawing on ancient traditions and on contemporary voices, L. Gregory Jones offer both a theology of excellence and portraits of pastors, lay leaders, and congregations that embody "a more excellent way."--Publisher's description.

Download or read book Hiding in the Pews written by Steve Austin and published by Fortress Press. This book was released on 2021-09-21 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2012, Steve Austin, then a pastor, nearly died by suicide. His experience launched him on a journey that opened his eyes to the widespread problem of mental illness and how those who live with it are often treated in congregations. He began to wonder: if church folks had talked openly about mental health, therapy, suicide prevention, recovery from abuse, and other difficult issues, would that have changed his story? In Hiding in the Pews, people with mental illness--some of whom might be pastors themselves--will find comfort as they learn they are not alone. Those who know someone with mental illness will gain wisdom about how to be a safe presence. Those who hold the most power in church communities--pastors, board members, and lay leaders--will be challenged and equipped to transform their congregations into places of healing, where it is safe for people to be vulnerable about their suffering. Austin draws on his own experience, as well as on interviews with eighty current and former church leaders and members. Each chapter covers a topic or theme about mental illness and the church and includes practical applications to guide leaders on a journey toward transforming church culture. When a church champions vulnerability and establishes safety within its walls, especially for those who are suffering, the loving power of God heals. Austin offers hope that faith communities will be the first places people think of when they need a sense of safety and belonging.

Download or read book What Do They Hear written by Mark Allan Powell and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2010-09-01 with total page 85 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: PREACHING Powell provides a startling study of how differently the pastor and the congregation interpret Scripture, how this difference affects what the congregation hears in the sermon, and how to bridge this gap with equally startling practical steps. This remarkably fascinating book reveals how significant social location—such as age, gender, nationality, race, and education—is when interpreting the Bible. Illustrated with two studies, Mark Allan Powell demonstrates how this plays out most dramatically in the gulf, often quite wide, between the preacher and the congregation. Every preacher who reads this book will appreciate as never before the significance of social differences in the reception of his or her sermon, will see the unmistakable need to bridge this gap, and will receive clear instruction on how to do just that.

Download or read book Prophetic Crack written by Julia McMillan and published by Thorncrown Publishing. This book was released on 2010-10 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using the analogy of a crack-cocaine addict's journey from addiction to recovery, Prophetic Crack describes the unhealthy emotional, hermeneutical, and legalistic manipulations of church leaders that may lead to "pushing" a toxic faith that inadvertently may lead to church addiction. It also outlines a clear path to recovery and restoration for both "pushers" and "addicts." Using Acts chapter 16, verse 16 as a foundation for her research, Dr. McMillan has explored the causes and effects of church addiction and paralleled its destructive patterns to that of the crack cocaine addict. You ll find the similarities astonishing! The foreword is written by Dr. Claudette Anderson Copeland and the book is published by Yorkshire Publishing.

Download or read book Pastors in Transition written by Dean R. Hoge and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2005-05-02 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether they leave out of preference for another ministry or due to serious conflict, pastors who relinquish parish ministry face misunderstanding and even hostility. Pastors in Transition brings clarity to this little-examined aspect of the pastorate by examining the main reasons why pastors in five Protestant denominations have left parish ministry. The fruit of careful sociological research, Pastors in Transition presents the findings of the largest-ever study of recently ended ministries. More than 900 ex-ministers, representing the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Methodist Church, were surveyed or interviewed. Besides gathering facts and figures, the book contains personal stories, forthright opinions, and concrete recommendations from former pastors for strengthening parish ministry in the future.

Download or read book Connecting Pulpit and Pew written by Karla J Bellinger and published by Liturgical Press. This book was released on 2014 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you preach from a pulpit or sit in a pew, you hope (and pray) for a homily that connects the Good News with life. But what does it mean to connect? In a world that buzzes with the synapses of technological "connection," can the human touch of preaching make a difference anymore? Connecting Pulpit and Pew is a fresh look at the conundrum of Catholic preaching, asking six key questions: Why does Sunday preaching matter and to whom? Why is Catholic preaching such an uphill climb? How can we connect the gospel message with our young people? What are the struggles of clergy-on-the-ground in preaching? What is going on in the listener's head during the homily? And finally, what can each of us do to help "connection" in preaching become more common? New research speaks to those questions from the voices of youth, the experiences of lay leaders, and the words of priests and deacons. Karla Bellinger offers concrete ways to connect the pulpit and the pew so that preaching becomes an act of love within a community of caring. This practical book breaks open an important and necessary conversation.

Download or read book The Divided Mind of the Black Church written by Raphael G. Warnock and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2020-11-03 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A revealing look at the identity and mission of the Black church What is the true nature and mission of the church? Is its proper Christian purpose to save souls, or to transform the social order? This question is especially fraught when the church is one built by an enslaved people and formed, from its beginning, at the center of an oppressed community’s fight for personhood and freedom. Such is the central tension in the identity and mission of the Black church in the United States. For decades the Black church and Black theology have held each other at arm’s length. Black theology has emphasized the role of Christian faith in addressing racism and other forms of oppression, arguing that Jesus urged his disciples to seek the freedom of all peoples. Meanwhile, the Black church, even when focused on social concerns, has often emphasized personal piety rather than social protest. With the rising influence of white evangelicalism, biblical fundamentalism, and the prosperity gospel, the divide has become even more pronounced. In The Divided Mind of the Black Church, Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., traces the historical significance of the rise and development of Black theology as an important conversation partner for the Black church. Calling for honest dialogue between Black and womanist theologians and Black pastors, this fresh theological treatment demands a new look at the church’s essential mission.

Download or read book Preacher Can You Hear Us Listening written by Roger E. Van Harn and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2005-02-03 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone knows that pulpits are for preaching and pews are for listening to sermons. This obvious scenario, however, masks an essentialprerequisite for faithful, fruitful preaching -- namely, that preachers listen to God and to their people before they speak. Roger Van Harn here puts forth pointed questions that sermon listeners really ask of preachers: Why should we listen to sermons? Doesevery sermon need a Bible text? How can a sermon be the word of God? Do you preach for the church or the world? Van Harn grapples withand discusses such questions, giving preachers fresh insights into the needs and desires of congregations. Preacher, Can You Hear Us Listening? will foster an ongoing dialogue between pulpit and pew and sharpen listening skills in both directions.

Download or read book The Big Book of Church Humor written by Ken Alley P. K. and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2003-10 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Big Book of Church Humor is a collection of several thousand true church foibles, faux pas, tongue twisters and typographical blunders. It also contains hundreds of hilarious Christian anecdotes from book written as long as 100 years ago. "Laughter is the best medicine" and this book proves it!

Download or read book What Is a Healthy Church written by Mark Dever and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2007 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Guides both pastors and members to recognize key characteristics of a healthy church and then challenge each person to do his or her part in developing those characteristics in the local church body.

Download or read book Pew Sisters written by Katie Schuermann and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every woman in the pew has a story of God's faithfulness, and women love nothing better than to revel in one another's experiences and celebrate the sisterhood of believers. Pew Sisters helps get that celebration started. Devotional in both tone and form, this twelve-session study tells what God is doing in the lives of real women today. From depression to grief to cancer, women from all over the Church share their stories here for the consolation and encouragement of their sisters in faith. We are all one in the Body of Christ, so these beautiful women are your pew sisters. Their joys are your joys, and their sorrows are your sorrows. They share the same faith as you, eat at the same table as you, and inherit the same paradise as you. Join them in the pages of this study and in your own small group. Book jacket.

Download or read book Out of the Pulpit Into the Pew written by Gene Williams and published by Beacon Hill Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ministers spend their lives leading and serving others. And although the demands of their jobs are often challenging and sometime tiresome, they receive strength and comfort from knowing their work and service has meaning and is significant to the kingdom of God. But what happens when they retire? How do they transition from shepherd to sheep? For many retired pastors, this change is very difficult.In Out of the Pulpit, into the Pew, retired pastor Gene Williams provides encouragement and guidance for retired and active pastors who want to find meaning and enjoyment in their retirement years. He discusses the importance of preparing for retirement and explores ways one can find significance and service even though he or she has moved from the pulpit to the pew. He addresses several of the questions retired ministers struggle with such as, ’Who am I without a church?’ ’What do I do now?’ ’Where will I live?’ and ’How do I maintain financial stability?’ He explains how cultivating healthy self-respect, having a secure financial savings, and finding a healthy hobby are just a few of the bridges that must be crossed in order to enjoy a meaningful life in retirement.Out of the Pulpit, into the Pew offers active and retired ministers wisdom and practical guidance as they transition into a meaningful, well-deserved life in retirement.