Bøger udgivet af Abingdon Press

Who is "the One" in your life who needs to know God's love? The One, a study of Luke 15 by Jim and Jennifer Cowart will help you discover your "One". As believers, we are called to share the love and message of Christ with those who don't know him. We mean to share Christ, we really do. But then we get busy with other things--even as the church! But what if a subtle shift in focus could reignite a passion within you and your church for reaching the lost? What if instead of trying to reach "them" you began to focus on simply reaching "the One"--that person in your life who is far from God and needs to know his love? This study explores Luke 15, where Jesus tells three stories about rejoicing when lost things are found--specifically, a lost sheep, a lost coin, and two lost sons. First, we will discover that we are "the One" who is dearly loved and sought after by God, and then we will join together in Jesus's mission to seek after "the One" in our own lives with intentionality, perseverance, and joy. This study is not about taking people on as a project--no one wants that. It's about rediscovering the heart of God and his passion for going after those who are far from him. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the four-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options. In addition, a free digital download includes information for incorporating The One as a church campaign, sermon starters, and more. Additional components for this study, each available separately, include a participant book and video sessions/DVD featuring Jim and Jen Cowart.

Go the distance in the life of faith. Life is like a rollercoaster. One day it seems that everything in life is good, and the next day it can feel like everything is falling apart. Then there are those in between days when we're coasting along without much thought to the highs or lows. The prophet Elijah experienced this rollercoaster ride as well. One moment he was hiding out in the wilderness during a famine, being fed by the ravens, and the next he was on the mountaintop where God showed up in a powerful way with fire and then rain. Even Elijah grew weary of all the ups and downs, telling God, ';I have had enough' (1 Kings 19:4). He needed spiritual stamina in order to keep on going and fulfill all the plans God had for his life. We do too! In this six-week study grounded in 1 and 2 Kings, we will examine the life of the prophet Elijah, an ordinary man who did extraordinary things for God in the midst of the highs and lows of life. We'll learn some of the spiritual stamina secrets that helped him to hold on and persevere in faith, including practical habits related to making decisions, caring for the soul, accepting his circumstances, mentoring, and finishing wellwhich was his ultimate legacy. Whether we're currently in a mountaintop season where we're experiencing God's power and blessing, a valley season where we feel like running away, or somewhere in between, Elijah's life will inspire us to go the distance in the life of faith. Best of all, his story will challenge us but not shame us, because we'll discover that Elijah was just as human as we are. He doubted and struggled just as we do, but ultimately, he chose to believe God. As we study his life, we will grow in faith and develop spiritual stamina that will help us not only to survive but actually thrive in every season.Bible Study Features: Examine the life of the prophet Elijah. Learn practical disciplines that give us spiritual stamina for every season in life. Grow in faith and be inspired by an ordinary man who did extraordinary things for God. Be enabled to not just survive but thrive in the midst of the ups and downs of life.The participant workbook, to be used along with the study's DVD, includes five days of lessons for each week, combining study of Scripture with personal reflection, application, and prayer.Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Leader Guide, DVD with six sessions of about 25 minutes each, and boxed Leader Kit (an all-inclusive box containing one copy of each of the Bible study's components). A companion Prayer Devotional is also available.

While some people might become pastors to offer counsel, I expect that many pastors see counseling as a daunting, disorienting, and even dreaded part of the job. It can even be scorned by some who consider this pastoral work an unnecessary distraction from leadership and mission. Yet pastoral counseling is a non-negotiable component of pastoral ministry that provides an excellent opportunity to display the love of Christ. Kairos Care teaches a theologically sensitive, practically formed framework for providing focused, time-limited pastoral care and counsel. To keep this framework tangible, this book offers a kairos diagram that illustrates the model for counsel. While the kairos diagram is readily found online, it has been modified to fit a pastoral counsel context for ease of use.

Covenant Bible Study guides small groups through a comprehensive, in-depth study of the whole Bible over twenty-four sessions broken into three eight-session modules. Unlike the learning participants may have experienced in other groups, this study emphasizes the biblical concept of covenant as a unifying theme through both the Old and New Testaments. It underscores the unique relationship that God chooses to have with us as God's people. This relationship is grounded in the faithfulness of God's love and on our ongoing commitment to stay in relationship with God while we share signs of God's love with others. Each Covenant Bible Study participant needs a Participant Guide and a Bible. The CEB Study Bible is preferred, but not required. The Participant Guide walks study participants through the daily scripture readings and offers space to interact personally with the readings, the group experience, and the weekly meditations. This single volume Participant Guide contains the materials required for all three modules: Creating, Living and Trusting. Creating: God establishes the covenant to be in relationship with us. This first module, Creating the Covenant, examines how the covenant community is created and established, by focusing on several books of the Bible. It discusses the story of our origins in Genesis, the Exodus narrative, the teachings of Moses, the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, as well as other books from each Testament that focus on the foundation of Christian faith. In doing so, it lays out the framework for a life lived in concert with God and others. Living: Living within the covenant translates into action--into how we behave in our everyday lives. That's why the second module, Living the Covenant, focuses on how the community lives out the covenant in faithful love--how it is applied to actual relationships in daily life. The scripture readings included in these episodes examine the practical challenges of faithful covenant life. Participants explore leadership challenges among tribal chieftains, kings and prophets, and spiritual and political crises. They look for practical wisdom and guidance in the teachings of Israel's sages, the letters of Paul, and more. By demonstrating how people of vastly different cultures came together in a common purpose, the study shows how faithful love is the root of the covenant life. Trusting: Life often presents significant challenges. Difficulties are inevitable. That's why the final module, Trusting the Covenant, looks at the crises that sometimes call covenant life into question, and how we are restored to trust in God when troubling things happen. It how hope is restored by faithfulness in the midst of suffering. From the story of Job, to the Hebrew exile, to the apocalyptic visions in Daniel and Revelation, we learn how God's faithful love is at work in everything--to restore hope, freedom, and wholeness to our lives.

Find help and hope for times when it's hard to wait on God

Women preachers are everywhere. The pulpit, once a bastion of male presence and power, has become, in many denominations, a place where women regularly exercise their gifts, leading congregations and proclaiming God's word each week. The number of women scholars who are publishing and teaching in the field of preaching has also expanded dramatically.Leonora Tubbs Tisdale explores how the presence of women preachers and scholars of preaching has transformed the practice of homiletics this country-from the reclamation of women's "e;herstory"e; in preaching, to the topics addressed in preaching and scholarship, to the way in which Biblical hermeneutics and theologizing are undertaken in preaching, to the imagery, illustrations, shape and embodiment of the sermons themselves. How Women Transform Preaching begins with a fascinating survey, including statistical information and historical analysis. Interviewing 16 women preachers/homileticians, Tisdale shares 'untold stories' of women preachers throughout history who are largely unknown but who serve as examples of both the struggle and power of women's preaching. She then tells the stories of contemporary women preachers. Throughout, Tisdale draws practical lessons for the reader, showing what students, homileticians, and preachers can learn from extraordinary women preachers.

Learn to live at peace with others even when you disagree by studying biblical stories of rivalries in Common Ground by Amberly Neese. Whether it is in politics, the professional world, a party, or a pew, we face conflict every day. As discussions get more heated and social media is deluged with opinion-spewing, hurt feelings, and broken relationships, we need hope and practical tools to navigate the tumultuous waters and live at peace with everyone. Fortunately, the Scriptures hold the key to living at peace despite our differences. In Common Ground, a four-week Bible study, Amberly Neese combines stories of sibling rivalries from the Bible with personal experience, humor, hope, and her love of God's Word. Stories examined from the Old and New Testaments include: - Joseph and His Brothers: How to Combat Jealousy- Moses, Miriam, and Aaron: How to Work Together Despite Differences- Mary, Martha, and Lazarus: How to Appreciate the Contributions of Others- Rachel and Leah: Having Compassion for the Plight of Others These stories point us to peace and reconciliation in all our relationships, reassuring us that it is possible to find common ground with everyone--despite our differences. Women will find biblical and practical help for: - Facing conflict- Navigating broken relationships- Handling heated discussions (in person and on social media)- Living at peace despite differences Components for this four-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Study Guide with Leader Helps, and video sessions with four 20 to 25-minute segments (with closed captioning).

A Worship Workbook: A Practical Guide for Extraordinary Christian Liturgy introduces crucial and under-examined liturgical and social concepts for more honest and versatile excellence in the leadership of Christian worship. By "honest," this workbook differentiates itself from other worship resources by swiftly and surgically underscoring how liturgy has led to transgressions as well as living out the truth of the Gospel. For example, the communion table for some is seen as violent because of the Crusaders who ate and drank of the meal before battle. Claiming that disturbing past and responding to it nurtures deeper and stronger practices of the Lord''s Supper. By "versatile," this workbook offers practical advice for widening the reach and accessibility of liturgy as well as its social awareness so that, for example, celebrations of indigenous peoples are not reserved for a special Sunday. This workbook will inspire church leaders to commit to gathering people of diversity as an expression of faithfulness in God.

31 days of learning to build better relationships and connect with others.

In God Will Make a Way, Bishop Ken Carter shares reflections from his journey from the 2016 General Conference, through his leadership in The Way Forward, his role as Presiding Bishop, into the special 2019 Conference, and the postponed 2020 General Conference in the midst of a pandemic. The book is both a spiritual journey and an inside view of one of the most tumultuous periods of national and denominational history. Carter casts his personal spiritual reflections against a backdrop of life-shaping events: the first Way Forward meetings, the tragedy at Mother Emmanuel, interactions with Kenneth Feinberg, Jurgen Moltmann, and others, the Pulse and Parkland shootings, and more. Throughout, the high points are experiences and conversations between people, often from dramatically different stances, who find common ground, new understanding, and hope while the dark times are from conflict-inspired anger, national violence, and shaken hope.

Making Disciples is a 13-session mentor-based confirmation program that pairs confirmands with adult mentors and guides them through a variety of learning experiences that will strengthen the student's understanding of the faith while connecting him or her with the community of believers in a personal way. It can be used as a stand-alone program, or in conjunction with your current curriculum as a special experiential unit.This is a confirmation program that is more like a process and less like a reading assignment, more engaging and congruent with the nature of the Christian faith than existing programs.Using an "apprenticeship" approach to confirmation Will Willimon produced a series of learning experiences where adult mentors and confirmands are both teachers and learners at the same time.This time-tested approach has been extensively revised and updated for usage in today's churches that take seriously Christ's command to be engaged in disciple making.The Confirmand's Journal is a place where an individual can write down highlights, memories, and details of their confirmation journey. This journal is a guided journal. Which means the confirmand will be given directions on things to do, and questions to reflect on, which will help them get started in their writing.Topics explore the basics of Christian faith:-God-Jesus-the Holy Spirit-worship-the Bible-gifts-ministry-baptism-spiritual life-death and resurrection-the church

Let go of feeling like you are not a "good enough" Christian and find freedom in Christ by studying Paul's letter to the Galatians in Breakthrough by Barb Roose. Have you ever felt that being a good Christian means you've got to follow a bunch of rules and measure up? If so, you aren't alone! In this six-week Bible study of Galatians, Barb Roose shows us that even the believers in the early church struggled to let go of rule-keeping and performance in order to embrace God's free gift of grace. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul pours out his heart and faith to set them straight, addressing so many of the same questions and problems we still face today, such as... - Who has led you to believe you have to follow rules to be right with God?- Why do you think you have to try to be perfect for God?- How do we stay free in Christ? If you've ever struggled with these questions or felt trapped by rules or religion, this study will provide a path to discover your freedom in Christ. Through this study women will learn to: - Stop trying to measure up and embrace God's grace- Distinguish between lies and truth- Embrace God's promise of freedom Components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook, a Leader Guide, and video sessions with six 25-minute segments (with closed captioning).

Discover how God is pursuing you as you explore His relentless love from Genesis to Revelation in Pursued by Jennifer Cowart. We all want to be loved. We long to be desired, pursued--whether by a special someone, our friends, or others in our lives. This longing for love and acceptance is the underlying story of many of our lives, and it's the overarching story we see throughout the Scriptures. Although the Bible tells many stories, the main theme is God's relentless love for us. In Pursued, a six-week Bible study by Jennifer Cowart, we will explore God's great love for us from Genesis to Revelation. We will see that God passionately pursues people who do not deserve His love, and we are those people! Like Cain, Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, David, the woman caught in adultery, Peter, and so many others, we are the ones who have broken relationship with God. But He runs after us anyway to bring us home. In this study, we will explore God's love as evidenced in the stories of creation, the patriarchs, the judges and prophets, Jesus, and the early church. Together we will dive into a great love story and discover that it is our story! Through this study women will: - See the big picture of God's love for them throughout the Scriptures- Discover that God wants a personal relationship with them- Experience God's relentless love for them individually- Realize that God never stops pursuing them Components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook, a Leader Guide, and video sessions with six 20 to 25-minute segments (with closed captioning).

Discover how God is pursuing you as you explore His relentless love from Genesis to Revelation in Pursued by Jennifer Cowart. We all want to be loved. We long to be desired, pursued--whether by a special someone, our friends, or others in our lives. This longing for love and acceptance is the underlying story of many of our lives, and it''s the overarching story we see throughout the Scriptures. Although the Bible tells many stories, the main theme is God''s relentless love for us. In Pursued, a six-week Bible study by Jennifer Cowart, we will explore God''s great love for us from Genesis to Revelation. We will see that God passionately pursues people who do not deserve His love, and we are those people! Like Cain, Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, David, the woman caught in adultery, Peter, and so many others, we are the ones who have broken relationship with God. But He runs after us anyway to bring us home. In this study, we will explore God''s love as evidenced in the stories of creation, the patriarchs, the judges and prophets, Jesus, and the early church. Together we will dive into a great love story and discover that it is our story! Through this study women will: - See the big picture of God''s love for them throughout the Scriptures- Discover that God wants a personal relationship with them- Experience God''s relentless love for them individually- Realize that God never stops pursuing them Components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook, a Leader Guide, and video sessions with six 20 to 25-minute segments (with closed captioning).

Leader Guide: provides process guidance for weekly group sessions. The Leader Guide understands the role of leader as facilitator of small-group sessions. Procedures for guiding sessions include: directions for using related video segments, and questions for discussion.

The Leader's Guide provides process guidance for weekly group sessions and understands the role of leader as facilitator of small-group sessions. Procedures for guiding sessions include: directions for using related video segments, and questions for discussion.

The Gospel of John is the most deeply spiritual of the four gospels. This writing is filled with rich images and profound truths, but John notes that his aim in writing the gospel is that readers will not only believe in Jesus Christ, but that they ';may have life in his name.' Adults, youth, and children alike can experience a season of spiritual growth and life-changing renewal in Adam Hamilton's six-week, DVD-series, John: The Gospel of Light and Life. You'll follow the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus through the Gospel of John and understand the context of some of the best-known verses in the New Testament. Everything you need to lead small groups of all ages is available for this special study including the entire Gospel of John in the CEB translation printed in the book.

The many voices in scripture form a dialogue with readers, which produce theological truths that are larger than the individual parts. This introduction is informed by both literary theory and theology. It groups sections of the whole Bible together by genre. Each section identifies and describes the genre (such as historiography, poetry, prophecy, gospel, letter, apocalypse), and then moves into a discussion about the literary characteristics and theological insights.The words of scripture not only come a long way to find us but like a poem must be read with attention. Poetry doesn't yield meaning easily, and it doesn't promise to make sense. We know to look past the words on the page and find the images, tropes, sounds, and metaphors that are meaning-full. This type of writing invites, rather demands, the imagination. We must accept that we will only get so close, but that this is close enough. Our imagination spans the gaps left by sparse language and incomplete narratives. We return again and again, with more information and perhaps more experiences. The words are the same, but we are not; and for that reason there are always new discoveries."At last, an introduction that students will enjoy reading, because it is at once engaging, informative, and eye-opening, as well as completely lucid. Fentress Williams shows how many books of the Bible reflect the experience of marginalized persons and communities in precarious situations, and therefore how they speak in ways both realistic and encouraging to contemporary readers. Do your students and yourself a favor: adopt this text and get ready for serious conversation about ancient texts that never go out of date."- Ellen F. Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School

You've experienced a setback. Now, through study, prayer, and practice, develop your comeback strategy!

"e;Impact Investor"e; Kim Tan challenges the church to ask whether or not the gospel as we interpret it today really embodies the jubilee vision of the Bible. Imagine a group of forty adults living in a community, assisting each other to buy houses, sharing material wealth and releasing the surplus to help others as a practical outworking of the biblical principles of jubilee. Kim Tan was part of this group who defined principles of sacrificial generosity, stewardship, and social holiness.This book is in two parts. First it walks through the Old Testament on the Jubilee program as given in the covenant to Israel at Mt. Sinai. An idealistic vision was followed by the failure of Israel to practice this teaching. We trace the Jubilee practices in the New Testament through the early Church and later Church history. The second part focuses on modern expressions of Jubilee as it has caught the imagination of various individuals and groups working out different aspects of the Jubilee in their lives. Modern expressions of the biblical Jubilee include: 1. Communities sharing goods2. Wealth creation & distribution3. Cancellation of debt4. Feeding the widows5. Set the captives free6. Stewarding the environment

1 Corinthians is one of the most gripping books in the Bible. In this letter, Paul, the complicated, layered apostle, writes to the people trying a wild new social experiment known as a Christian community. Not unlike the church today, this community dealt with factions, sexual immorality, gender issues, money issues, theological questions, lawsuits, problems in worship, and problems in leadership. In 1 Corinthians: Searching the Depths of God, Jaime Clark-Soles explores these topics and the awe inspiring, breathtaking world of the first-century church. Examining the teachings of Paul, she addresses church history, the logic of the cross, spiritual gifts, death, afterlife and the resurrection, human sexuality, and the joys and challenges of living in community. Participants will learn to look at 1 Corinthians from a variety of viewpoints and apply its lessons to their own faith. Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring Jaime Clark-Soles and a comprehensive Leader Guide.

For more than 200 years, millions of Methodists have shared God's love with the world. Baked into the theological purpose of our mission is the compassion and resolve to relieve human suffering by offering healing, hope, and holiness everywhere in the world. Millions of Methodist people on every continent persist in serving faithfully amid the tensions and challenges that cry out for transformation.This book tells the story of these global efforts, beginning with John Stewart's ministry among the Wyandotte Nation in America, and what Methodists have learned about God's mission along the way. This book also describes how United Methodist Global Ministries is living out these lessons of cooperation, humility, relationship, and practicing holistic mission. Together, Methodists pursue and promote personal, social, and cosmic transformation. Together, we work and live amid the tensions that enrich and expand our awareness of Methodist identity in God's diverse world.

Become a fool for Christ with 1 Corinthians.