New Hope Presbytery Resource Center
New Books  as of January 2009

Whose Birthday is it Anyway

The call to simple and sustainable living has been with us for as long as God has been with us. Scriptures from the Hebrew texts speak to us about not accumulating more than we need, about not hoarding, about sharing with our neighbors, about living justly.

Today in modern society and in the United States particularly we are bombarded with messages of "more, more" and "bigger is better" and "you will be happy if you have this." Advertising, marketing and media industries work together to convince us that we are not happy, that we have yet to outshine our neighbor, that we are not safe, They play on our fears and exacerbate the simple needs we do have so that we no longer have a sense of proportion with the world, so that we no longer know what it means to have enough.

God's call to us gets lost in the cacophony of voices ever vying for our attention, time and money. As we approach Advent and Christmas this year, I invite you to find ways to turn away from those voices and messages and to listen intently for God's call. I invite you consider those who do not have enough. I invite you to consider those who do have enough. I invite you to imagine a world where everyone has enough and no one goes without. I invite you weave God's ancient, steady call for justice, simplicity and sharing into your Advent meditations, practices, gatherings and celebrations.

The pages of Whose Birthday is it Anyway provide excellent resources for this journey. The Presbyterian Hunger Program and Enough for Everyone offer additional materials such as "Ideas for Reclaiming Advent and Christmas." Visit www.pcusa.org/enough to download this resource, read our blog, and learn about ways to practice simple and sustainable liv­ing all year long.

Lift Every Voice

Current Concerns:

This resolution by the 2008 General Assembly continues the Presbyterian tradition of witness for democracy and the equality of electoral rights necessary for its exercise, noting the persistence of low levels of voting in the United States (ranked 114th among recognized democracies, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), the structural limits on the principle of "one person, one vote," the enormously distorting influence of wealth in our electoral process, and the variety of constraints that continue to be imposed on African Americans, other persons of color, and poorer and working class citizens of all races (such as purged voter rolls, disproportionate levels of felon disenfranchisement, higher percentages of challenged voters, unproven allegations of fraud, and practical obstacles to poll access).

In addition, there are increasing concerns for the security of electronic voting machines and the neutrality of election officials chosen on a partisan basis.
 

To Strengthen Christ's Body

PRESBYTERIAN PEACEMAKING PROGRAM

How to Use This Resource

This study guide, designed to help Presbyterians become more comfortable and effective in dealing with tough issues in the congregation's life, may be used in a variety of settings. Though the lesson plans included in these pages envision seven sessions of one hour each, they may be adapted to your needs. Consider some of the following uses for this resource:

·    adult, young adult, or youth Sunday morning classes

·    a midweek or Sunday evening educational series

·    a living-room dialogue by a fellowship group

·    an officer training course

·    a sermon series on "Tools for Tough Issues"

·    any group in the congregation that might face disagreement or conflict

·    a retreat

The Ten Commandments

Greetings

Ways of Learning   

Session 1: Salvation       

Session 2: Revelation     

Session 3: Dedication    

Session 4: Devotion

Session 5: Re-Creation  

Session 6: Compassion   

Session 7: Liberation     

Session 8: Faithfulness 

Session 9: Transformation    

Session 10: Celebration 

What is the Children's Sabbath?

Sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, the annual, multi-faith National Observance of Children's Sabbaths° weekend is an occasion to celebrate children as sacred gifts of the Divine and to recognize and respond to the urgent needs of children. It provides the opportunity for communities of faith to renew and live out their moral responsibility to care for, protect, and advocate for all children. This resource book (and our website, www.childrensdefense.org/childrenssabbaths) provides all you need to plan a service of worship, educational programs, and activities to affirm what your place of worship already does with and for children while challenging members to take new actions and commit to new efforts to meet the needs of children in your community, state, and our nation. In some communities, many local places of worship work together to sponsor a multi-faith service to which the entire community is invited. 

This weekend is part of a broader Children's Sabbaths movement uniting religious congregations of all faiths across the nation in shared concern for children and common commitment to improving their lives and working for justice on their behalf throughout the year.

Be Tween

Are they children? Are they teenagers? Is this simply a stage of life or is it a new frontier in physical, emotional and spiritual development? Is culture creating the "tween" phenomenon simply to sell clothing and music? Or are these young people truly representative of a new age and stage of human development. While it is important to be aware of how culture influences society, and how society influences our children it is just as important if not more critical to simply take the opportunity, as the community of faith, to examine the potential of this very special age and stage of life. Literally BETWEEN childhood and adolescence—the older elementary child or tween is a blessing, a challenge, a mystery and a gift. We are wise to balance our cultural observations with our simple call to bring up our children in the baptismal community—considering every child beloved and worthy of discovery and nurture.

In this study you will find eight sessions designed to gather tweens together for spiritual instruction, biblical training, and community building. In addition there are eight sessions for parents of tweens included. Because—in youth ministry—it is just as important to support the adults surrounding young people as the young people themselves. Be Tween seeks to offer support, inspiration, fellowship and growth for the older elementary child, the parent and the faith community.
 

Out of the Abundance of the Heart: A Jubilee Journal

The Gospel of Luke tells of Jesus' long journey to Jerusalem. Inspired by Christ's journey, you are invited to use this journal to chronicle your own very personal walk with Jesus.

This is your path. In this journal, you can use words or drawings, or simply reflect on each scripture's message. You may make one entry a week for the forty weeks of the Bible study, or one entry a day for a forty-day season such as Lent.

As you contemplate the profound meaning of Jesus' message of jubilee—". . . he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.... to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free . . ." (Luke 4:18)—for your life and the life of the world, you may want to explore additional resources.

Out of the Abundance of the Heart: A Jubilee Journal is a supplemental resource to Dale Lindsay Morgan's 2008-2009 Horizons Bible study, Jubilee! Luke's Gospel for the Poor.
 

Call to Worship

Lectionary Aids for 2008-2009     Volume 42.1

CONTENTS

Introduction      
  Kimberly Bracken Long

Part One: Formula of Agreement

Lutherans and Reformed Living Together in Full Communion: Ten Years              
  Harold M. Daniels

One Church, One Sanctuary: The Message of the Formula of Agreement
  Fritz West

Eating What Is Set Before You  
  A. Michael Brown

Part Two: New Lectionary Resources

Lectionary Commentaries: A Review of Recent Publications      
  David Bartlett

An Overview of the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings: Consultation on Common Texts (2005)      
  Thomas A. Dipko

Part Three: Expanding the Repertoire of Your Congregation

Eucharistic Prayer for Ordinary Time      
  Susan Briehl and Hal Hopson

Eucharistic Prayers for Advent: Year A
  David Garnbrell

Eucharistic Prayer for Ordinary Time    
  Kathryn Schneider

Up from the Ashes: Rebuilding Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee          
   Jim Kitchens and Baird Dixon

Tears in Your Bottle: A Service of Comfort for Mother's Day     
  Eugenia A. Gamble

Part Four: Aids for the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B

Introduction to the Lectionary Aids          

Lectionary Aids for Year B (2008-2009)          

Call to Worship—Scripture

Introduction      Kimberly Bracken Long

Part One: Feature Articles

Scripture in the Reformed Tradition:

A Moment in the International Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue    

  Joseph D. Small

The Place of the Decalogue in Reformed Liturgy            
  Christopher Dorn

Decalogue: A Musical Setting for Congregational Singing           
  David Gambrell

Sing to the Lord a New Psalm: An Essay with Four New Settings for Congregational Singing       
  Greg Scheer

The Work of Our Hands            
In the Spirit: An Artist's Journey through Church, Scripture, and Light

A Photo Essay on the Work of Stained Glass Artist Stephen Wilson

  Cynthia Ford Meyer

How Scripture Speaks to Suffering: The Language of Lament in Christian Worship        
  David Gambrell

The Reading of Scripture: God's Apocalyptic Invasion of the Cosmos?  
  Michael Hegeman

Where Do You Find the Bible? Liturgy and Biblical Authority     
  David G. Forney

ON THE ROAD

Kikanza Nuri Robins and Anna H. Bedford have created this workshop, based on selected stories from Luke, to help participants understand how they and others experience inclusion and exclusion, privilege and powerlessness. The workbook includes space for writing or illustrating personal responses.
The workshop's three sessions may be used individually or in a group setting. The sessions give women the opportunity to reflect on how their personal stories, and the stories of the their faith communities, reflect the Gospel of Luke. An additional session, "Travel on with Kikanza," is also included for women to see what difference Luke's teachings have made in their lives.

On the Road is a supplemental resource to Dale Lindsay Morgan's 2008-2009 Horizons Bible study, Jubilee! Luke's Gospel for the Poor.
 

Eyewitness News
Transcripts of Live Interviews with Those Who Saw Jesus
by Dale Lindsay Morgan
 

Imagine sending a crackerjack investigative reporting team to ancient Galilee and Judea to interview those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' healings, teachings, and miracles. And imagine that this team transmitted their findings to faithful television viewers!

In Eyewitness News, Dale Lindsay Morgan has compiled a very orderly account of the miraculous events as interpreted by those "reporters." Though fictional, this interactive resource provides important and often humorous insights into the New Testament world of Jesus' earthly ministry. Suitable for individual amusement and for use as a group skit or reading.

Eyewitness News is a supplemental resource to Dale Lindsay Morgan's 2008-2009 Horizons Bible study, Jubilee! Luke's Gospel for the Poor.
 

The Perfect Compass for Your Life's Journey

The Discipleship Study Bible is the first completely new NRSV study Bible to be published in more than five years. While other study Bibles help readers understand either the ancient texts on their own terms or the meaning of the texts for us today, The Discipleship Study Bible brings these together in one indispensable book for reference and discipleship.

With notes that emphasize both personal piety and social witness as aspects of faithful living in the Christian community, The Discipleship Study Bible features intro­ductory essays to each book of the Bible by highly esteemed contemporary bibli­cal scholars. With everything you need to begin your study, it includes the complete text of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, including the Apocrypha; a chronology of the events and literature of Ancient Israel and early Christianity; a con­cise concordance; and eight pages of color maps.

"A wise team of editors and writers, some of the best in the church, have produced a study Bible that is focused on the actual living of faith in our daily lives. This is a wonderful resource for today's church."

–Rev. William H. Willimon, Bishop, the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church

"A most valuable resource. Featuring our most able interpreters, this study Bible will assuredly bring about a much better informed readership for the Bible, a welcome prospect!"

–Rev. Walter Brueggemann, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary

"This new study Bible makes a wealth of contemporary scholarship available to the average reader... An important addition to everyone's library."

–Rev. Cynthia M. Campbell, President, McCormick Theological Seminary

"Filled with insights that highlight the social witness and discipleship dimensions of Scripture, this Bible will help busy pastors and laypeople alike see more dearly the connections between the biblical text and the way we are called to live as Christians."

–Rev. John Buchanan, editor and publisher of The Christian Century and pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago

About the Editors

Bruce C. Birch is Dean and Woodrow W. and Mildred B. Miller Professor of Biblical Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary, and author of numerous books, including Let Justice Roll Down: The Old Testament, Ethics, and Christian Life.

Brian K. Blount is President and Professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. A respected New Testament scholar, he is the author of Can I Get a Witness? Reading Revelation through African American Culture and coauthor with Gary W. Charles of Preaching Mark in Two Voices.

Thomas G. Long is Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. One of the most highly regarded preachers in North America; he is the author of numerous books, including The Witness of Preaching.

Gail R. O'Day is Associate Dean of the Faculty and Academic Affairs and A. H. Shatford Professor of Preaching and New Testament at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. She has been the editor of Journal of Biblical Literature (the official journal of the Society of Biblical Literature) and the coeditor of The Oxford Access Bible.

W. Sibley Towner is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation, Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and author of Daniel in the Interpretation commentary series.

Fair Trade

"Everyone asks, 'What can I do about a billion people living on $1 per day?' The statistics of world poverty are staggering and emotionally numbing. This remark¬able Bible study will change the way you think, warm your heart and, best of all, show the way to be an agent of change. With thoughtful grace, it invites all of us to practice Fair Trade as a way to answer the question, 'What can I do?"'

Dr. John Buchanan Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago

"Partners for Just Trade's full commitment to Fair Trade offers artisans the op¬portunity to lift themselves out of poverty. With this useful and thorough Bible study, Partners for Just Trade provides consumers the opportunity to change their lives and the lives of those around the world through responsible consumerism."
Carmen lezzi, Executive Director, Fair Trade Federation
 

Pathway to Renewal

"If you want a faithful, practical set of concrete steps for moving toward the renewal of a congregation, this is it. Pathway to Renewal is faithful without being narrow, practical without being mechanical, and provides concrete steps while remembering that renewal is a journey."

"Congregations don’t do change easily, but change in your congregation is possible!  Daniel Smith and Mary Sellon's prescription is based on their experience consulting with numerous churches moving toward renewal. They describe each stage, how to do it well, and how to avoid doing it poorly!"

"This book is like a GPS guidance system for congregations on an arduous wilderness journey to the most beautiful spot on earth. It keeps our eyes on the destination of congregational renewal, shows us ways around very real obstacles, shares the experience of others who have traveled this way, and reminds us that the journey is always worth it. Highly recommended!"

"Realistic, comprehensive, practical, wise, and well-balanced between process and flexibility, this book is designed to be used by real congregations—especially those curious to stick their toes into the waters of renewal but apprehensive about the journey. These authors know
how to get a church prepared, spiritually and communally."

Pathway to Renewal carefully distinguishes three phases of the wilderness journey: building the readiness of leaders to lead, developing a vision, and aligning the congregation's life with the vision it has discerned. In their descriptions of these phases, the authors integrate wisdom from many sources into a coherent stream of guidance.

Daniel P. Smith, a United Methodist minister, has served as a pastor, a district superintendent, a judicatory executive, and currently as a coach and consultant.

Mary K. Sellon (Huycke) is a United Methodist minister who has pastored in new church start and redevelopment settings as well as worked with leader development regionally and nationally. She is a workshop leader and coach who helps clergy and congregational teams find effectiveness and fulfillment in their work. Together they coauthored Practicing Right Relationship: Skills far Deepening Purpose, Finding Fulfillment, and Increasing Effectiveness in Your Congregation (Alban Institute, 2005).
 

Clean Water for All of God’s Children DVD

Vacation Bible School Curriculum

Over one billion people lack access to clean water resulting in the death of millions each year - and most are children.
Living Waters for the World, the mission project of the Synod of Living Waters, Presbyterian Church (USA), trains and equips mission teams to share the gift of clean, sustainable water with communities in need.

Our motto is "Jesus Christ is Living Water for our Bodies and Souls." We invite you to join with us so that more and more clean water may flow!

To learn more, call 61 5-26 1-4008 or visit www.livingwatersfortheworld.org
 

The Trinity   DVD

Exploring the triune character of God and how the trinity
shapes the faith, worship and practice of the church.
26 minutes

A DVD VIDEO PROJECT BY

The Office of Theology & Worship
The Presbyterian Church (USA)

An introduction to the Doctrine of the Trinity that can be used in Worship Services, Adult Sunday School Classes, Seeker and New Member Classes, and confirmation classes.

Featuring pastors, scholars and laypeople from across the U.S.
 

SOUL SEARCHING A MOVIE ABOUT TEENAGERS AND GOD DVD
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL EATON AND TIMOTHY EATON
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CHRISTIAN SMITH

 A REVELATION STUDIOS PRODUCTION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NATIONAL STUDY OF YOUTH & RELIGION
 

On the streets of Philadelphia, Christina makes her way past the crack houses to a small church where Pastor Frank Vega, a former drug addict, ministers to young people who, like Christina, face tough choices about who they want to be.

Two thousand miles away, in rural Caldwell, Idaho, morning chapel is just beginning at Nampa Christian School, where Kelsey, a senior, is also searching for who she wants to be

Soul Searching: a Movie about Teenagers and God looks at teenagers like Christina and Kelsey from around the country: to get into their lives and get at the core of their beliefs. This documentary is based on the findings of the book, Soul Searching: the Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, by Christian Smith and Melinda Denton (Oxford University, Press, www.oup.com). which reports on research conducted over a seven year period by the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR, www.youthandreligion.org).

Revelation Studios worked closely with Dr. Christian Smith to produce this documentary based on his comprehensive research. The movie illustrates some of the major themes and findings of the book, but it also goes behind the book in depicting the inner lives of a sample of American teenagers.

Find out what these teenagers really think about God and religion, what their hopes and aspirations are, and what the research says about the effects of religion in their lives.

Running time: Approx. 79 minutes Color/B&W, Stereo, 16:9 Format, NTSC

Produced by REVELATION STUDIOS www.revelationstudios.com

@ 2007 Revelation Studios. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.

“International Health Ministries—

Building Healthy Communities for Christ”

International Health Ministries
General Assembly Council
PC(USA)
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
1-888-728-7228 x 5279
www.pcusa.org/health/international
 

STORIES OF OPPRESSION 15:12

THE MOVEMENT 14:16

LIVES OF LEGACY 22:28
 

New church development is not the implementation of successful models and techniques; it is the faithful discernment of God's leading and the faithful implementation of God's mission. Starting a new church is not rocket science; it is much more complicated! A new church is the work of the Holy Spirit, which immediately puts this task way beyond our understanding.

"Starting New Churches" is linear, a series of 16 gatherings with assignments and steps that can take you from zero to a new church. Each of the 16 gatherings suggests a Bible study and an extended time of prayer. Unfortunately, starting a new church is not linear; it is organic, contextual, and based on relationships between God and people. It is reformed and always reforming.

We provide you with a process that addresses the key aspects of starting a new church and encourages you to listen to the sometimes still voice of God, rather than ours or anyone else's. While discernment does not guarantee success, we believe it will steer you away from things that will guarantee your failure.

Only God knows what God wants to accomplish through you and the new church the Holy Spirit is placing on your heart. Trust God. Strive to be faithful rather than successful. Faithfulness brings a success beyond our imagination and wildest dreams.

As you proceed through these 16 gatherings, wrestle with the scriptures, listen and discern, fall on your knees in humility and wait for God's right time.

Starting New Churches: A Process of Discernment is for:
• Church Development Committees
• An existing church desiring to start a new church(es)
• An individual led to start a new church

This process includes a DVD and a Guidebook that outlines sixteen 90-minute gatherings that will take you and your committee from "The Big Picture" to "Support and Implementation." ©2008 Version 1.0
 

"It is their deep familiarity with the sweep of the church's history that allows Justo L. and Catherine Gunsalus Gonza’lez to present complex issues with a light but never condescend¬ing touch. The book is a treasure. It will serve as a lively, accessible introduction for the non¬specialist and a handy review for the pastor." —REBECCA H. WEAVER, John Q. Dickinson Professor of Church History, Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education

"Who could pass up a title like this? The Gonza’lez team has cooked up a good entry into theological method by examining the issues and implications at the heart of heresies that remain burning questions today. Believers, strangers to Christianity, and nonspecialist scholars will enjoy brushing up on church history with this welcome addition to the Armchair series. " — LISA D. MAUGANS DRIVER, Assistant Professor of Theology, Director, Mentoring Program (Center for Church Vocations), Valparaiso University

WRITTEN BY EXPERTS but designed for the novice, the Armchair series provides accurate, concise, and witty overviews of some of the most profound moments and theologians in Christian history. These books are essential supple¬ments for first-time encounters with primary texts, lucid refreshers for scholars and clergy, and enjoyable reads for the theologically curious.
In this volume, noted church historians Justo and Catherine Gonzalez introduce readers to important early church figures whose teachings were denounced by the church as heresies. Instructional for what they taught and for revealing what the church wished to safeguard and uphold, these "heretics" are engagingly presented in their contexts through clear and accessible text that is highlighted by the humor¬ous illustrations of Ron Hill.

JUSTO L. GONZALEZ is a noted and prolific historian of Christian thought and is the author of numerous books, including Essential Theological Terms and The Apostles' Creed for Today.

CATHERINE GUNSALUS GONZALEZ is professor emerita from Columbia Theo¬logical Seminary, where she taught church history for many years.

RON HILL is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist living in Cleveland, Ohio.
 

During the past 10 years, Lilly Endowment launched the Transition into Ministry initiative. Through it the Endowment has supported more than 30 experimental projects aimed at assisting new pastors in making the transition from seminary student to full-time pastoral leader.

Why concentrate on this transition? Most ministers develop their leadership practices and form their pastoral habits in the critical first years of ministry. During this period, especially, pastors need mentors and peers who help them work through difficult situations and flourish in parish life. Unfortunately, new pastors often experience professional and geographic isolation. Too many lack the kinds of mentoring and support that can help them negotiate the challenges they face in the earliest stages of their careers. As a result, some talented young pastors become disillusioned and consider dropping out of the ministry.

To address these challenges, the Endowment invited a number of congregations as well as regional and national church organizations to create experimental programs to help new pastors make a good transition into ministry. Each group responded imaginatively, designing a program that fit well within its particular theological tradition and utilized its specific strengths and resources. The Endowment provided grants to enable these organizations to launch their programs.

Scores of new pastors have participated in these efforts, and many credit their experiences with helping them to develop life-giving leadership practices and spiritual habits and to build lasting friendships with wise mentors and attentive peer colleagues.
Two years ago, we asked the Alban Institute to take a close and careful look at the Transition into Ministry initiative. As you will see in the following pages, James Wind and David Wood provide a thorough description of the challenges faced by new pastors today, give a rich description of the central characteristics of the experimental programs, and, most importantly, offer insightful reflections regarding ways that all of us—congregations, denominational judicatories, seminaries, and other religious organizations—can work collaboratively to help new pastors (and congregations) thrive.

We hope you will find fresh perspectives and encouragement in this special report. We believe collaborative efforts among many organizations can make a big difference in helping a new generation of young people become excellent pastoral leaders who find deep satisfaction and fulfillment in their ministries.
 

“The best book on collaboration ever written!"  —Diane Flannery, founding CEO, Juma Ventures

And now this classic book is even better—much better. Completely revised and updated, the second edition is loaded with new tools and techniques.

• TWO POWERFUL NEW CHAPTERS ON AGENDA DESIGN
• A FULL SECTION DEVOTED TO REACHING CLOSURE
• MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY TOOLS FOR HANDLING DIFFICULT DYNAMICS
• 70 BRAND-NEW PAGES AND OVER 100 PAGES SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED

"In cross-functional environments, where diverse perspectives are intentionally brought together to produce high-quality thinking, a highly skilled facilitator can add great value—and Sam Kaner is one of the bestThe Facilitator's Guide provides a full set of models and tools to enable an organization to reap the benefits of a well facilitated, participatory decision-making process. Having seen Sam's methods in action, I can attest to their power and effectiveness."  --Pierre Omidyar, founder and chairman, eBay and Omidyar Network

"Our organization's core purpose is to dissolve boundaries across sectors in order to find innovative solutions to difficult social problems. We know how immensely challenging it is to facilitate dialogue among multiple stakeholders. This amazing book is a comprehensive guide for meeting that challenge. I've worked with a myriad of consultants during the past 16 years, and Sam Kaner's approach is vastly superior for bringing about lasting system change."  --Kriss Deiglmeier, executive director, Center for Social Innovation, Stanford University

WILLIAM BARCLAY was one of the most beloved writers of his generation, and his Daily Study Bible remains one of the most popular commentaries ever written. Collected in this devotional volume are some of the finest writings from the Daily Study Bible, each one carefully selected and arranged for daily meditation throughout the year. These wonderful insights into the wisdom of the New Testament are sure to draw readers closer to God and help lead them to a clearer vision of God's will for them each day.

WILLIAM BARCLAY (1907-1978) is known and loved by millions worldwide as one of the greatest Christian teachers of modern times. His insights into the New Testament, combined with his vibrant writing style, have delighted and enlightened readers of all ages for over half a century, He worked for most of his life as Professor of Divinity at the University of Glasgow, and wrote more than fifty books—most of which are still in print today. The worldwide popularity of his Daily Study Bible remains unsurpassed, with more than 10 million copies in print.
 

From time to time most of us wonder if life is really worth living. Even strongly religious people feel disappointed in life. People in the Bible had the same feelings too.

One such person wrote the Old Testament book called Ecclesiastes. He was called "the Teacher." His message is right for North Americans today. While we enjoy an unparalleled standard of living, our endless search for self-fulfillment reveals how unfulfilled and dissatisfied many of us are.

This study of the book of Ecclesiastes will guide every serious seeker down the only path of ultimate satisfaction in this life and beyond.

Discover Life is a Bible study series for small groups. It is designed to bring people to Jesus Christ and to help them grow spiritually and enjoy the fellowship of other believers. For a complete list of additional titles in the Discover Life series, call toll-free 1-800-333-8300 or visit www.FaithAliveResources.org.
 

"A well-known version of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi contains the line, 'And in dying we are born to eternal life.' The church must understand that its death is possible—is, in fact, inevitable. Only then can it experience the amazing power of the resurrection."

Deeply ingrained in Western culture, and in the minds of most church leaders, is the belief that there is a solution to every problem. Peter Bush offers a powerful challenge to this approach, arguing that for new life, energy, and passion to arise in congregations, they must die—die to one way of being the church in order that a new way may rise. Some congregations need to close their doors, bringing to an end years of ministry. Other congregations need to dramatically change their culture and ways of doing ministry, requiring people to give up deeply held understandings of the life and purpose of the congregation.

A skillful storyteller, Bush shows readers why churches must confront their mortality. He examines the role of the prophetic leader, who proclaims both the congregation's death and its resurrection. He explores spiritual practices and the habits of wonder, remembering, and risk taking for congregations that know they are dying or need to die. Only by dying, Bush says, will a congregation find resurrection life, given by God.

Peter Bush is Teaching Elder at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and formerly served at Knox Presbyterian Church in Mitchell. Ontario. He codirected three Worship Renewal Grant Projects that focused on training lay people to preach and to plan and lead worship services. He is the author, with Christine O'Reilly, of Where 20 or 30 Are Gathered: Leading Worship in the Small Church
 

"Get a life! That imperative ought to be the first wisdom imparted in seminary, lest when she or he retires at the end of active ministry years, the ethical imperative to sever the pastoral relationship with a congre¬gation is violated. Clayton's advice for gracious, fulfilling retirement proves that it is never too late." — Kate Harvey, Executive Director, Ministers Council, American Baptist Churches USA

Called for Life reflects on our calling to serve God and neighbor in the context of retirement. People facing retirement ask a variety of questions, each framed by a different perspective. "Will I ever be interested in retiring?" some baby boomers ask. "Who am I now?" newly retired clergy ask. "What, if anything, is God calling me to do and be after retirement?" all inquire. Paul Clayton uses examples from his own experience and from others, laity and clergy, to explore retirement and the three components of our calling: our identity, our gifts, and our occupation. He also examines the role of community in our calling and retirement; the challenges of the transition into retirement; options for meaningful activity; the importance
of identifying our purpose; doing and being in retirement; and the final call to death. Readers will be encouraged to see retirement as an opportunity to do what they have always wanted to do and to become the kind of person they have wanted to be.

Paul C. Clayton is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, past director of the City Mission Society in Boston, and past director of the United Church Board for World Ministries. His previous publications include Letters to Lee: Mentoring the New Minister (Alban, 1999) and Add Salt to Season: God's People in a New Time,
 

“Planners often say, 'If you want people in for the landing, you better have them on board for the takeoff.' Drawing on the important work of recent decades in the field of whole-systems design, Loren Mead and Billie Alban give us methods and examples for getting the entire congregational system on board in facing significant challenges.” --Anthony B. Robinson, President of Columbia Leadership Network and author of Transforming Congregational Culture and What's Theology Got To Do With It?

“Loren Mead and Billie Alban have crafted a 'playbook’ for those who lead organizations in times of transition. Key leaders will understand the art of preparing their community for the transformative process of planning.”
--Richard Bruesehoff, Director for Lifelong Learning, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and author of Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning

“This book demystifies large-group methodologies, showing through
well-told stories the variety of purposes for which they might be used
and the multiple ways they can be implemented. The book provides
real hope for congregations facing very difficult problems.” --Jean M. Bartunek, Past President of the Academy of Management, Ferris Chair
and Professor of Organization Studies, Boston College

“If your faith community is ready for a miracle, the cases in this book
will inspire you to lay the groundwork and let it happen.
Pay attention to a few basic principles, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised! --Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff, codirectors of Future Search Network and coauthors of Don't Just Do Something, Stand There! and Future Search: An Action Guide

Loren B. Mead is president emeritus of the Alban Institute and author of numerous books including The Once and Future Church: Reinventing the Congregation for a New Mission Frontier. Billie T. Alban is president of Alban and Williams, Ltd., an internationally known management consultant firm. She is the coauthor, along with Barbara Bunker, of The Handbook of Large Group Methods: Creating Systemic Change in Organizations and Communities.
 

“In this richly detailed and passionately argued book, Maggie Jackson warns that modern society's inability to focus heralds an impending Dark Age—an era historically characterized by the decline of a civilization amid abundance and technological advancement. . . . The author provides a lively historical survey of attention, drawing upon philosophy, the impact of scientific innovations, and her own experiences to investigate the possible genetic and psychological roots of distraction. . . . Jackson has produced a well-rounded and well-researched account of the travails facing an ADD society and how to reinvigorate a 'renaissance of attention."' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"This is an important book.... Others have commented on these issues, but I have never seen them gathered together and documented as completely as Maggie Jackson has done." --ALAN LIGHTMAN, MIT professor, National Book Award finalist, and author of the best-selling Einstein's Dreams

"Maggie Jackson is one of the most original and perceptive journalists writing about the challenges of modern life. In Distracted, she explores our hectic, multitasking world. She shows that while digital technology fills our lives with information and entertainment, it is far too often at the expense of human contact and thoughtful reflection. This book will make you slow down and think." --SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR

"Maggie Jackson's fascinating book on America's collective attention deficit disorder is a wake-up call to all of us to take back our lives, turn off the technology, and focus on paying attention to what makes us human and fulfilled." --ROSABETH MOSS KANTER, Harvard Business School professor and author of America the Principled and Confidence

"Distracted challenges us to reconsider the information-saturated and demand-driven world that we have created. Does our sensate culture, in eroding attention, threaten the self that is at the very pith of our humanity? Maggie Jackson tackles this question with finesse, distilling the essence from the chaos to end in hope." --M PETER C. WHYBROW, MD, director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and author of American Mania: When More Is Not Enough
"Hold on and get ready for a magical tour of the new world of 'paying attention.' In a masterful way, Maggie Jackson weaves together cutting-edge research, literature, philosophy, and compelling stories and makes sense of the multitasking, overstimulating, distracting present times. She helps us think about—in fact choose—the future we want." --Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute
 

“This is wisdom literature! Drawing on the experience of scores of students and colleagues as well as their own, Bruce and Katherine Epperly have given us a book full of spiritual and emotional insight for every minister, no matter the season in which they are living now.” --Richard L. Hamm, Executive Administrator of Christian Churches Together in the USA and author of Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age

"Ministers at whatever age or stage of life will find many things in this book to encourage and to challenge them. Whether you need to refine your spiritual practice, develop new gifts for new times, or learn to take Sabbath, Four Seasons of Ministry will serve as a companion on your Journey.” —Marjo Coons-Torn, Penn Central Conference Minister, United Church of Christ

"The Epperlys ask: 'Can a life devoted to ministry continue to bring beauty to God, our congregations, our families, and ourselves?' The answer is yes."
--David McAllister-Wilson, President, Wesley Theological Seminary

“Pastors can't read Four Seasons of Ministry too soon. The Epperlys' paradigm of the ministerial life cycle and suggestions for cultivation and growth are words of wisdom for seminary days to retirement.” --Mary Anne Parrott, President, Disciples Seminary Foundation, Claremont and Berkeley, California

Bruce G. Epperly serves as Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Practical Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary and is ordained in the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Katherine Gould Epperly is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Together they serve as copastors of Disciples United Community Church in Lancaster, PA.
 

"Dr. Cole helps us understand what experiences of loss involve, how they affect us, and what we need in their wake. He also shows concretely how we may draw on the best practices of bereavement counseling, and of religious faith and spirituality, to encourage 'good mourning.' " —Harold G. Koenig, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Associate Professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

"In Good Mourning, Allan Hugh Cole wisely and gently guides the person who has suf¬fered loss, first through grief and then through mourning. There are no evasions of hard reality, there is no sanctimonious rhetoric; the book is true throughout. It will prove a gift to many." —Nicholas Wolterstorff, Noah Porter Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology, Yale University

"This wonderfully concise and thoughtful book offers an array of down-to-earth steps to guide the hard labor of grieving. Especially appealing are concrete suggestions on prayer, Scripture reading, and worship as essential to healing. These and other insights will help those with hearts heavy from loss tap into the wellspring of God's love known through community and tradition." —Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Carpenter Professor of Pastoral Theology, Vanderbilt University, Divinity School

"Allan Cole's book is one I can offer with confidence to a friend or church member reeling from loss. It walks that fine line between spiritual and scholarly depth on the one hand and accessibility to the general reader on the other." — Michael L Lindvall, Senior Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church, New York

When we are confronted with loss, it consumes much of our energy and our very selves. The experience of grief and the process of mourning are some of the hardest parts of life any of us will ever face, but there is hope because the process of mourning can give all of us, regardless of the loss we experience, a way to restore our lives. In this brief book Allan Hugh Cole Jr. explains the process of grief and what loss can do to us. Demonstrating pastoral sensitivity and insight, he identifies ways of coping and reminds us of the hope that we can find in mourning. Ultimately, Cole offers a plan of "good mourning"—a way to work through the loss and rebuild life with new strength. Cole describes what it takes to be engaged in good mourning instead of endless suffering and demonstrates how faith and prayer can be practical tools in rebuilding life after loss.
ALLAN HUGY COLE, JR. is Nancy Taylor Williamson Associate Professor of Pastoral Care at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is the coauthor of Losers, Loners, and Rebels :The Spiritual Straggles of Boys, also published by Westminster John Knox Press.
 

Where is God in the midst of suffering?

"Christians who are looking for theologically nuanced ways of thinking about suffering can learn much from this brief book." —Publishers Weekly

"With wisdom and humility, humor and depth, assurance and honest ques¬tioning, Greg Garrett enlists numerous sages of faith to help us assess the stories we believe, tell, and live concerning God, suffering, faith, and hope. Readers cannot help but grow from encountering Garrett's authenticity and courage." —Allan Hugh Cole Jr., author of Good Mourning: Getting through Your Grief

"Greg Garrett retells the stories of those he met in the hospital as they struggled with the question of where God is—and who God is—in the agony of pain and loss. Whether you are clergy, a chaplain, or a lay person seeking to understand the issue of human pain, this book is well worth your time and money." —Daniel G. Bagby, Theodore E Adams Professor of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond

In Stories from the Edge Greg Garrett compassionately and insightfully aids readers in grappling with the age-old question of where can God be found in times of tragedy? Exploring the theological themes of both Biblical stories and American myths, he helpfully reveals how these foundational narratives have shaped our beliefs about God, continue to inform how we live our lives, and influence how we experience God's presence in the midst of suffering.

GREG GARRETT is Professor of English at Baylor University and Writer-in
Residence at Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. A lay preacher in the Episcopal Church, he is the author of numerous books, including the Pulitzer-nominated novel Free Bird. With Jim Wallis, Lauren Winner, and Brian McClaren, he is a lead writer of the new Bible translation The Voice.
 

“A little gem. Remarkably free of technical vocabulary, and taking account of the many ways people meet God, this book provides holistic, accessible, and solid guidance for practicing discernment across the spectrum of Christian denominations." —Janet Ruffing, PhD, RSM, Professor of Spirituality and Spiritual Direction, Fordham University, New York

"A remarkably clear, practical, wise, and inviting introduction to the spiritual practices—and the good old-fashioned legwork—that constitute the practice of discernment. Anyone who wishes to live a more discerning life as a whole, as well as the person facing specific and immediate decisions, will find the guidance and encouragement they need in these pages." —Debra K. Farrington, author, Hearing with the Heart: A Gentle Guide to Discerning God's Will for Your Life

"Elizabeth Liebert marries practical tools of discernment with sound theolog¬ical principles. A must-read for anyone serious about teaching or practicing discernment." —Margaret Benefiel, PhD, author of Soul at Work and The Soul of a Leader

"Liebert's wise spiritual counsel will aid many seekers." —Publishers Weekly

In this graceful book, Elizabeth Liebert introduces the way of discernment—the practice of making faithful decisions—and invites us to begin our own discernment journey. At the heart of the book is a series of helpful practices that can be done individually or in a group setting. By means of these practices, Liebert shows us how to become increasingly perceptive of God's work in the World and, in the process, to live more holistic, discerning lives in response.

Elizabeth Liebert is Professor of Spiritual Life at San Francisco Theological Seminary and the author of many books -on spirituality.
 

"In this witty, engaging, thoughtful, and provocative book on pastoral leadership, John Berntsen hits so many nails squarely on the head that you'd think he's spent the past thirty years of his life as an apprentice to the Carpenter of Galilee. And so he has!" --Donald Capps, William Harte Felmeth Professor of Pastoral Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary

"A book that is both delightfully painful and painfully delightful! I wish I had been able to read it when I first entered seminary half a century ago!"
--Justo L. Gonzalez, anchor of The Story of Christianity, A History of Christian Thought, and Three Months with the Spirit

"John Berntsen invites us to embrace the struggle and suffering, the grace and good will found in a true theology of the cross, a theology that leads to the transformation of leaders and congregations who seek to experience resurrection for themselves." --Marcia Barnes Bailey, author of Choosing Partnership, Sharing Ministry: A Vision for New Spiritual Community

"For leaders in the modern church, Cross-Shaped Leadership provides a scripture-based guide to the myriad challenges they encounter every day.
By integrating realistic conundrums familiar to all who do this work, shared wisdom from spiritual and psychological giants, and a wit that engages Berntsen takes the next step in emboldening church leaders."
Dennis O'Hara, President, Physic Associates, West Chester, Pennsylvania
 

“A story, some reminiscences, a handful of poems about my family, a scene from a novel—they are the yellow leaves that hang upon these boughs that are not so bare and ruined but that they still dream from time to time of the sweet bird’s return. –from the introduction
Heartbreaking, sardonic, whimsical, elegiac, crazy-funny: this is a book to be sipped like a rare wine, the last bottle of a fabled vintage, brought up from the cel¬lar for our delectation." —John Wilson, editor, Books & Culture

“Here yet again, is Fred with his compelling talent for storytelling, his artistry with image and phrase, and his cunning sense of depth and hiddenness in the ordi¬nary. The tales he tells of mother and Johnny and presidents and aunts will be echoed in our laughing and our weeping."
—Walter Brueggemann, best-selling author and world-renowned Old Testament scholar

“This book is cause for rejoicing. Buechner's remarkable way with words continues. From presidents to teachers, from famous folk to family, Buechner's subjects become poignant portraits that bespeak his artful attentiveness. Ranging from memoir to short story, from book review to poetry, this book will be good company for longtime Buechner readers and a revelation to those just arriving." —Dale Brown, director of the Buechner Institute and author of The Book of Buechner
 

"The earth is God's world of wonders. It's a place filled with hope and promise by the God who crafted it, sustains it, and lovingly works to redeem it."

You'll find that perspective woven throughout the ten chapters of Living the Good Life on God's Good Earth. This book is a compelling invitation to live out our calling as caretakers of God's good earth in our daily living.

Chapters discuss the impact of environmental stewardship on
the way we live • the energy we use
the homes we live in • the plants we grow
the food we eat • the work we are called to do
the clothes we wear • what we do for rest and enjoyment
Representing a variety of disciplines, each of the is passionate about equipping people of faith to be good stewards of God's good earth.

This book is for you—whether you're a seasoned Christian or one who is just beginning to explore what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Read it on your own, or read and discuss it with a small group. Chapters include questions for reflection and discussion and resources for those who want to learn more.
 

"Somebody said the hardest instrument to play is second fiddle. But since Jesus had one or two things to say about serving and submitting, this is a rich field. Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson have addressed a key need with wisdom and clarity." —John Ortberg, author, If You Want to Walk on Water, Get Out of the Boat, teaching pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

"The mission of an organization either hangs together or falls apart at the criti¬cal interface between first and second chairs. This helpful volume from seasoned practitioners identifies and addresses the character, competencies, and chemis¬try that make for effective second chair leadership. It's a book for you, no matter which seat you're in."
—Reggie McNeal, author, The Present Future; director, Leadership Development, South Carolina Baptist Convention

"The Bible is full of strategic leadership partnerships: Moses and Aaron, Mordecai and Esther, Paul and Silas, and even the Trinity. Each one demonstrates individual gifts being cojoined for maximum ministry effect. Leading from the Second Chair articulates and celebrates the necessity of God's strategic partnerships." —Mike Slaughter and Kim Miller, lead pastor and creative director, Ginghamsburg Church

"If you area second chair leader, are considering a second chair role, or work with a second chair leader, this book is a must-read! Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson have done a superb job of defining the living paradoxes a second chair leader deals with day in and day out. Don't consider a second chair role without reading this book first."
—Warren Schuh, executive pastor, Calvary Community Church

"Leading from the Second Chair targets the misunderstood and often unrecog¬nized paradoxes of empowered second chair influence. Leaders in the twenty-first century church can avoid tragic pitfalls while leveraging the powerful contribution of second chair leaders by understanding and engaging the experience-forged insights in this important book."
—Jared Roth, vice president, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
 

"Prayer is a common, ubiquitous, recurring human practice. It is the human
reach toward Holy Mystery and Holy Ultimacy, an acknowledgment that human persons and human community are penultimate and stand in response to one who is scarcely accessible but who, in any case, will be addressed."
—from the introduction

In this engaging book the world-renowned Walter Brueggemann offers his wisdom on twelve moving prayers in the Old Testament. As he listens to their words, he shows us how this ancient text can make prayer come alive for us today.
The prayers explored are those by Abraham (Genesis 18:22-33), Moses (Numbers 14:13-23), Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10), David (2 Samuel 7.18¬29), Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15), Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:16-25), Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:15-19), Ezra (Ezra 9:6-15), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4-11), Daniel (Daniel 9:3-19), and Job (Job 42:1-6).

WALTER BRUEGGEMANN is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. He is the world's leading inter¬preter of the Old Testament and is the author of numerous books, including Mandate to Difference: An Invitation to the Contemporary Church; An Introduction the Contemporary Church; An Introduction to the Old Testament; The Cannon and Christian Imagination; Reverberations of Faith; A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes; and Genesis and First and Second Samuel in the acclaimed Interpretation commentary series.
 

Here is a Bible you can trust: the old, old stories are told simply yet faithfully, and with great respect for the original text.

Here is a Bible you will love: its bright and appealing pictures are full of warmth and charm.

Here is a Bible you will treasure: a lasting gift for a special child.
 

A half century ago, The Westminster Press published The Layman's Theological Library, a classic series of books on theological issues for laypersons, edited by Robert McAfee Brown. Following that same tradition, Geneva Press proudly presents the Foundations of Christian Faith Series for a new generation. This series consists of twelve volumes on major theological themes such as the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, suffering and evil, the church, and the person and work of Jesus Christ. Each book is concise, readable, thought provoking and is written by a knowledgeable theologian who is both a gifted writer and committed to the life of the church.
This series enables readers to learn about contemporary theology in ways that are clear, enjoyable, and meaningful. It examines the doctrines of the Christian faith and stimulates readers not only to think more deeply about their faith but also to understand their faith in relationship to contemporary challenges and questions. Individuals and study groups alike will find these guides invaluable in their search for depth and integrity in their Christian faith.

A New Church for a New World

In this new volume pastor and distinguished church leader John Buchanan reviews the history of the Christian community, examines the realities of the church world¬wide, and looks forward to the future where a new church may be needed to meet the challenges of a new world. Drawing upon his belief that the church is a work in progress, Buchanan describes changes impacting the church and invites Christians to be hopeful and look for signs of what God might be calling the church to be in our time and beyond. A New Church for a New World is an accessible and insightful guide for all who seek to understand the church as the body and reminder of Jesus Christ, the mission and work of the church in the twenty-first century, and how God continues to call people to be the church in ways that are both old and always new.

JOHN M. BUCHANAN is Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago and Editor and Publisher of The Christian Century. He is the author of Being Church, Becoming Community, published by Westminster John Knox Press. He is a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
 

Discover Your Bible Series

Bible Studies for Small Groups

Genesis is the book of beginnings. This first book of the Bible explores the creation of the world and all living creatures, including people, who are made in God's image. It records the fall of humankind into sin and God's first promise of a Savior. It tells of the spread of civilization and of God's call to one family to begin making a new nation from which the Savior would come.
Discover Genesis: Creation and Covenant is the first part of a two-part study of the book of Genesis. Part One features 12 lessons covering Genesis 1:1-25:18, and Part Two, titled Discover Genesis: For All Generations, features 12 lessons covering Genesis 25:19-50:26. This material is intended for small group Bible study, but it can also be used profitably for personal study. Guides for leaders and students are available.
The approach to Bible study in this series is inductive (the reader discovers what the Bible has to say by asking questions and seeking answers directly from the passage studied). This is an effective and enjoyable way to study God's Word.

For a complete list of titles in the Discover Your Bible series, call toll-free

1-800-333-8300 or visit www.FaithAliveResources.org.

 

The “Bib Bang.” Creation. Evolution. Design.
Can faith and science get along?

When it comes to the history of the universe, many believe that science and faith are mutually exclusive. But not physics professors Loren and Deborah Haarsma. For them, God is sovereign over every part of live. In Origins, they explore what both God’s Word and God’s world teach us about creation, evolution, and design.

The Haarsmas clearly explain the science—what is well established and what is speculative. They take a Reformed view, focusing on areas where all Christians agree, while sympathetically pressing the strengths and weaknesses of positions when Christians differ.

Origins offers helpful guidance for Christians who seek to resolve their differences and come to a deeper, more biblical understanding of the orgins of the universe. Each chapter includes starter questions for small group discussions.

Loren and Deborah Haarsma are professors in the Physics and Astronomy Department of Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI. Deborah (Ph.D.., Massachusetts Institute of Technology) researches galaxies and cosmology; Loren (Ph.D. Harvard University) studies electrical activity of nerve cells. Together, they have explored the science and theology of origins, speaking at numerous conferences, colleges and churches.
 

Becoming a disciple of Jesus can seem like a hard road sometimes. But it's a road that leads to a beautiful life!

In Follow Me: Daily Readings for Disciples, authors Peter Slofstra and Peter Schuurman offer 37 daily readings to help you discover just how beautiful life as a disciple can be.

Each of these readings includes a Scripture text and a thought-provoking meditation. To go even deeper, readings also include three application options:

"Talk It Over" questions invite you or your small group to go deeper into the topic of the day.

"In Other Words" stirs your imagination with a short quote from Christian writers or artists—from G.K. Chesterton to U2.

"Do Something!" suggests an activity you and your family or small group can do together.

Follow Me: Daily Readings for Disciples is part of Faith Alive's Disciples program, which includes devotional readings, small group discussion guides, and worship resources.

For more information, visit www.GrowDisciples.org.
 

Most of you who pick up this book are already following Jesus. Your trail guide has been Disciples, year 1. And now you're eager to build on that foundation, to explore more deeply some of the key practices and habits of disciples.

Disciples of Jesus are people of the Book. God's living Word continues to speak to us today; even as it spoke to the people it was written for. But it's not an easy book to understand. In this study you'll find out how to understand, interpret, and apply the Scriptures in a way that honors their intent and deepens your faith.

Reading the Bible is one of five discussion guides in Disciples, year 2. Disciples is a multiyear faith formation program for adults that features a series of discussion guides and daily readings.

Year 2 includes studies on

Prayer
Reading the Bible
Worship
Living in Community
Overcoming Sin
 

Most of you who pick up this book are already following Jesus. Your trail guide has been Disciples, year 1. And now you're eager to build on that foundation, to explore more deeply some of the key practices and habits of disciples.
One of the first things the first disciples asked Jesus to teach them was how to pray. That's because prayer is much more than conversation with God—it's the way we build a relationship with God and it helps us live out our calling in God's kingdom. So let's get started!
Prayer is the first of five discussion guides in Disciples, year 2. Disciples is a multiyear faith formation program for adults that features a series of discussion guides and daily readings. Year 2 includes studies on
Prayer
Reading the Bible
Worship
Living in Community
Overcoming Sin
 

Many people will pick up this book expecting that it will help them deal with a nasty neighbor or a long-held grudge. It probably won't. The focus here is not on the psychology of forgiveness nor on the interpersonal skills involved, but on what the Bible teaches about this topic.

In seven chapters this book offers an in-depth look at what the Bible teaches about forgiveness—God's forgiveness of us, our forgiveness of each other, and the link between the two. "Forgiveness," say the authors in their preface, "is people's greatest need, and it is an overwhelming gift, inseparable from the work of Jesus Christ."

The writers are a father-son team, two preachers of the gospel representing two generations.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven is a retired pastor in the Christian Reformed Church. A former editor of The Banner, Kuyvenhoven has written several books including The Day of Christ's Return, Comfort and Joy: A Study of Christ's Return, and Twilight, a collection of 365 devotions.

Leonard Kuyvenhoven is pastor of Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is author of the leader's guide that accompanies this book.
 

"Finally, an informative and engaging book that helps us think
more holistically as well as critically about worship. Persons seeking a way
to reframe the worship discussion while deepening and strengthening
their practice of worship will find this book to be a great resource."
CRAIG VAN GELDER, PROFESSOR OF CONGREGATIONAL MISSION, LUTHER SEMINARY

"Worship Frames provides a refreshing, creative approach
to congregational leadership for worship and preaching.
This book is beautifully researched, informative, and practical."
JOHN S. MCCLURE, CHARLES G. FINNEY PROFESSOR OF HOMILETICS,
CHAIR, GRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION, VANDERBILT DIVINITY SCHOOL

Worship is a congregation's most important practice. In worship we encounter God's gracious presence and come face to face with the frailty, goodness, and potential of our humanity. We are comforted, corrected, forgiven, healed, challenged, and sometimes even disturbed by the divine and one another. We are morally formed and sent by God into the world. The mysterious and uncontrollable work of the Spirit is at the heart of all genuine worship. Yet worshipers and leaders work hard to worship. In Worship Frames, Deborah Kapp explores how the sociological concept of frames can help us better understand the social and human dynamics of worship. By understanding our frames, we can learn how to reframe worship to give fuller and richer expression to our faith.

DEBORAH J. KAPP is the Edward F. and Phyllis K. Campbell Associate Professor of Urban Ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. An ordained minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), she previously served in three congregations and with the women’s program staff of her denomination.
 

Louis Weeks uses the practical everyday leadership experiences of a wide variety of pastoral leaders to help us see that 'scutwork,' the menial, mundane tasks of ministry, is holy work. This book is filled with a host of faithful, hopeful, and practical suggestions for strengthening congregational leadership for new and experienced leaders alike." —Dent Davis, Dean and Vice President for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary

"Louis Weeks offers dozens of good ideas and insights as to how the churches we serve can be more faithful to God through good organization and effective administrative practices. Biblically based and theologically sophisticated, All for God's Glory is a genuine page-turner. No pastor or lay leader ought to be without it." —Joanna M. Adams, Senior Pastor, Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia

"All for God's Glory takes the common lament about the drudgery of church 'scutwork' and turns it into a joyful song of praise. By grounding administration in theology, Louis Weeks offers a fresh perspective on how healthy administration leads congregations to extend their 'care of souls."' —Lewis F. Galloway, Pastor, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana

"Whether you are a pastor plagued by the mountain of administrative work or a church administrative leader wondering where ministry is in your daily transactions, this volume will be a redemptive read." —Rev. Phill Martin, CAE FCBA, Deputy CEO, National Association of Church Business Administration

"For those who practice faithful church administration as stewardship and pastoral care, this book will be both comforting and instructive. For those who indulge a false dichotomy between administration and spiritual work, it will be both challenging and helpful. For all readers, the focus on congregations of 'best practice' will prove wonderfully encouraging." —Anthony B. Robinson, author of Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations

LOUIS WEEKS is President Emeritus of Union-PSCE, Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. During his career he has served as a stated supply pastor, a missionary in the Presbyterian Church in Congo (Zaire), and as professor and dean at Louisville Seminary and president of Union-PSCE. His books include To Be a Presbyterian, The Presbyterian Presence: Bible Words That Shape a Faith, and Making Ethical Decisions.
 

Bible Studies for Small Groups

Someone has done you wrong—given you a wound that hurts deeply—and it just won't go away. How do you respond? How do you make things right again? How do you avoid bitterness? How do you restore the relationship?
Discover the Power of Forgiveness is a six-session study on the biblical art of forgiveness. With sensitivity and care, author Edith Bajema lays open challenging and refreshing Scriptures that help us learn the healing power of forgiveness.
Discover the Power of Forgiveness is intended for small group Bible study, but it can also be used profitably for personal study. Guides for leaders and students are available.

The approach to Bible study in this series is inductive (the reader discovers what the Bible has to say by asking questions and seeking answers directly from the passage studied). This is an effective and enjoyable way to study God's Word.
 

Some days it hits us from all directions—environmental concerns are in our news, our classrooms, our sermons, our conversations. Our way of life and our abuse of the earth in today's global economy lead to more and more land and habitat destruction, pollution, and species extinction. Our ap¬petite for fossil fuels and large-scale destruction of forests lead to a warming of the earth, which can lead to a domino effect on climates, rainfall, food production, natural disasters—even the melting of earth's ice caps.
In response to all this, what's a Christian to do? Is there reason for concern? Yes. Is there anything we can do about these enormous degradations? Yes.

And our first response, says author, professor, and lifelong environmen¬talist Calvin B. DeWitt, is to regain a joyful, positive attitude about our abil¬ity to work for good in the world: "Ours is not to grovel in polluted gutters or to wring our hands over our sins. Instead, we are called to go about reclaim¬ing creation for our Lord, knowing that 'the earth is the LORD's, and every¬thing in it' (Ps. 24:1) and that we may eagerly do so out of joyful gratitude for God's great gift of salvation." This book, now in its second edition, helps to provide you with the information and encouragement you need to become truly earth-wise.

Calvin B. DeWitt is a professor of environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He helped found and is president emeritus of the Au Sable Institute of En¬vironmental Studies (www.ausable.org). He also serves as president of the Academy of Evangelical Scientists and Ethicists, an organization dedicated to responsible Christian environmental stewardship
 

Greet your trials with perseverance and joy. Ask God for wisdom. Watch your tongue. Be humble. Don't just say you have faith—show it.

James says all this and much more to Christians who need encouragement and direction. Like his earliest readers, we need to hold on to our hope in Christ no matter what happens, for only then can we experience and share God's gift of deep peace that is pure joy.

This study guide, written by William C. De Vries, pastor of First Christian Reformed Church, Detroit, Michigan, includes printed Scripture passages within the lessons author's comments on those passages thought-provoking questions for discussion and application small group session ideas, including suggestions for group projects.

The accompanying leader's guide, written by Verlyn Verbrugge, a senior theological editor for Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, adds helpful background notes for leading each lesson suggestions for answering the discussion questions small group session ideas for leader's use Word Alive Bible studies for small groups seek to challenge Christians with in-depth, thought-provoking study materials that can help them grow in faith and show it in their daily living.
 

"Reaching Out in a Networked World is a true eye opener about how we should be thinking about the use of new media technology in our churches from someone who knows exactly what questions to ask—and how to think about the answers." —DR. STEPHEN HAYNER, PROFESSOR
OF EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH, COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

"Our world and culture are changing rapidly and the ways that we as churches communicate our values and identity need to change too in order to be relevant. The use of technology in particular has revolutionized the ways that we form community and network. In her book Reaching Out in a Networked World, Lynne Baab gives us very practical suggestions as to how we can continue to be relevant in this rapidly changing world. It is full of rich examples and information that make it essential reading for anyone seeking to lead a church today."
CHRISTINE SINE, CEO, MUSTARD SEED ASSOCIATES, SEATTLE

"This is the book pastors and lay leaders need to read if they care about the face their congregation presents to the community. In a thoughtful yet accessible way, Lynne Baab discusses the ways congregations communicate (or fail to communicate) their heart and, especially, how the new communication technologies can be used faithfully and effectively."
WILLIAM DYRNESS, PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AND CULTURE, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

"If you're looking for Church Communications 2.0, you've found it. Lynne Baab leaves no technology unturned in this marvelously practical, thoughtful guide. From the latest trends in marketing, websites, e-mails, blogs, mission statements, projection screens, and PowerPoint to online communities, this book will help your congregation express its unique identity with authenticity, style, and coherence." —SALLY MORGENTHALER, AUTHOR, WORSHIP EVANGELISM

LYNNE M. BAAB served in pastoral roles in two Seattle Presbyterian congregations before earning a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Washington in 2007. Her earlier Alban Institute books include Beating Burnout in Congregations and Personality Type in Congregations. She has also written three books on Christian spiritual disciplines.
 

"Tim Geoffrion offers stories about his own pilgrimage, reflections on the
journey, and suggestions about our pilgrimage. This is a great addition to
the theory and practice of helping people to be formed by God"

Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims walk el Camino de Santiago—The
Way of St. James—a 500-mile route across northern Spain that has existed
for over a thousand years. Tim Geoffrion made this pilgrimage with his wife and teenage sons in 2006. He writes not only about his own journey but about how God works in those who seek to be led by the Spirit. Using pilgrimage as a metaphor for the Spirit-led life, Tim offers his experiences, thoughts, and reflections as a catalyst for readers' own spiritual pilgrimage—so that we can learn to recognize God's activity in our lives, live more fully in God's love, follow Jesus Christ according to our unique calling and purpose, and let the Holy Spirit fill and lead us in every aspect of the journey.

TIMOTHY C. GEOFFRION is cofounder and president of Faith, Hope and Love Global Ministries (www.fhlglobal.org). A teacher, spiritual life coach, and consultant, Tim has also served as a pastor, seminary professor, and nonprofit executive director. His previous publications include The Spirit-Led Leader: Nine Leadership Practices and Soul Principles (Alban Institute, 2005).
 

"Here Donald Capps demonstrates why he has been and continues to be one of the most influ¬ential voices in the fields of pastoral theology and pastoral care. Displaying unique insight, wis¬dom, and above all a deep respect for lived experience, he relocates the traditional stages and developmental issues of the life cycle according to the decades of human life. Capps provides us with nothing short of a new framework that is destined to guide the work of educators, practi¬tioners, and clergy for years to come."
—Kirk A. Bingaman, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Counseling,
Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, Fordham University

"Does Erik Erikson's developmental theory still have relevance in our contemporary world in which human life is prolonged, markers of adulthood are diffused, and sources of childhood trust have been displaced by cultural fragmentation? Drawing from new case materials and refraining Erikson's theory, Don Capps provides a new way to view the human journey of devel¬opment. It deserves to be read by anyone interested in how cultural shifts are influencing human development."
—David F. White, C. Ellis and Nancy Dribble Nelson Associate Professor
of Christian Education, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

"An exceptional look at 'the decades of life.' Capps's examination of older adulthood is certain to inspire hope, especially for those who are young and middle-aged: life isn't over at seventy! This book will appeal to anyone who has ever paused to think about the aging process, but it is a 'must-read' for all ministers engaged in intergenerational ministry."
—Carol L. Schnabl Schweitzer. Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care. 'Union Theological Seminars and Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, Virginia

"Donald Capps rejuvenates Erik Erikson's eight psychosocial stages by 'relocating the stages' according to decades. His most creative work takes both Erik and Joan Erikson's contributions in The Life Cycle Completed further to formulate a fuller and fleshly treatment of life in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh decades. Thus, in his own generative way, Capps continues to create more of 'the end of the life story'—all while seasoning his book with anecdotes, poems, literary references, greeting card texts, case studies, and allusions to Freud, Shakespeare, and Luther!"
—Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Professor of Pastoral Care, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

DONALD CAPPS is the William Harte Felmeth Professor of Pastoral Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. He is coauthor of Losers, Loners, and Rebels: The Spiritual Struggles of Boys and the author of more than two dozen books on pastoral theology, including Jesus the Village Psychiatrist, The Poet’s Gift, and The Child's Song, all published by Westminster John Knox Press.
 

"These are pithy prayers — terse and full of substance. They tell of the essentials of our lives—our frustrations and fears and then the aspirations of those who would open themselves to God. They are responsible prayers—candid about who we are both in our shortcomings and in our passion to respond to God's love for us. At times startling in their honesty, the prayers are stirring to read. They are strong to pray.

Drawing from Jesus' words to the disciples to "become like children,"Marilyn McCord Adams presents more than 250 original prayers that serve as powerful and practical models of how adults can pray in a manner that combines the complexity and richness of their adult experiences with the candor, emotional immediacy, demands, and expecta¬tions of a child.

The prayers in this collection encourage us to move to a deeper level of intimacy and openness to God, which Adams believes will compel us to bring the pressing problems facing us directly to God. Scripture references are provided at the end of each prayer, making the prayers easier to use in public worship and during private meditation. These wide-ranging and moving prayers address our understandings of God and the Bible, our daily needs, and social and personal concerns such as peace, justice, care of the environment, and responding to God's call.

Marilyn McCord Adams is Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University, Canon at Christ Church Cathedral, and an ordained Episcopal priest. She was Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology at Yale Divinity School and for many years taught medieval philosophy and philosophy of religion at the University of California, Los Angeles.
 

Peter and Paul

We see in Peter the change he underwent from having a narrow, parochial perspective to having a great vision for the world. The turning point was in Joppa, where Peter received the vision that Gentiles did not have to become Jews first. This threw open wide the doors of the church. This teaches us that, in the Bible, visions are not for one's comfort; rather, they challenge a person to do something risky.

Paul's experience on the Damascus road was likewise life changing. He was determined to focus on Christ, not the law. The early church caused an explosion that sent sparks in all directions. Paul was the touchstone of much debate because he took theology so seriously. Unity was important to him, but not at the cost of truth. That principle must always guide the church.