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The Psalms can help us during a time of disruption and division.Deep Calls to Deep demonstrates a new and generative way of reading the Bible, which looks for differences among texts to engage in dialogue over critical issues that are not only biblical but also are relevant to our contemporary crises. Bill Brown explores uncharted territory in the Bible with a particular focus on the Psalms, the most diverse book of the Bible. By taking his cue from Martin Luther, Brown explores how the "little bible" (the Psalter) engages the larger Hebrew Bible in dialogue, specifically how the Psalms counter, complement, reconstrue, and transform biblical traditions and themes across the Hebrew canon, from creation and law to justice and wisdom.In this deep study of the Psalms, Brown asks:- What is humanity's place and role in creation?- What makes for a credible leader?- What is "law and order"?- What is the role of wisdom in the life of faith?- What is the shape of justice in a society polarized by power and fear?These and other questions, such as a chapter that offers a fresh look at the authority of Scripture, are hosted by the Psalms with the aim of prompting dialogue, the kind of dialogue that is most needed in a time of deep division and disruption. Praise for Deep Calls to DeepDeep Calls to Deep extends a hearty invitation to mutual dialogue among Christian communities. It does not encourage harmony and agreement but seeks to generate critical and potentially transformative conversations regarding scripture and authority.--Nyasha Junior, Temple University, and author of Reimagining Hagar: Blackness and BibleIn this moment of societal disruption, Brown warmly invites us to sit together and consider anew the glorious psalms of our faith. We are beckoned to see how these diverse poems create a conversation with other biblical texts, not for the sake of uniformity but for the sake of courageous dialogue.--Tyler Mayfield, Louisville Presbyterian Theological SeminaryIn a world often wracked by arguments and silencing, William Brown provides a valuable witness to those of us who treasure Scripture. Using the central metaphor of "dialogue," this fascinating study shows how all of the Bible interacts with the Psalms in a dialogical relationship. Brown invites us not only to listen in to that lively conversation, but also to join in with our voices, no matter where we are. A necessary book for our time!--Roy L. Heller, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist UniversityDeep Calls to Deep is a timely book. William Brown's commitment to dialogical interpretation is just what the Church needs in this unsettling and divisive time. The inner-biblical reading of the Psalms in conversation with the rest of the canon clarifies the dialogical nature of biblical revelation, and, in so doing it, Brown provides a roadmap for our own self-critical engagement with others as a journey of "fearless dialogue."--Tom Dozeman, United Theological Seminary (Dayton, Ohio)

Are you tired of following your feelings or being disappointed by unchanging circumstances? In this forty-day devotional journey, women will learn how to surrender like Jesus and experience God's power and peace in their life as never before! Inspired by Jesus's forty days in the wilderness, the devotions are divided into four sections: 1. Letting Go of Circumstances2. Letting Go of Others3. Letting Go of Expectations4. Living Like Jesus Each devotion features a Scripture, a big idea, a biblical or personal story, a letting go principle, and personal reflection and application questions. Women can practice letting go as they draw closer to Jesus than ever before. Features forty devotions inspired by Jesus's forty days in the wilderness. Devotions give readers inspiration to find peace in their own lives. Excellent stand-alone resource or companion to the Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible study. Includes Scripture, stories, letting go principles, application questions, and more.

Learn from the fierce women of God who changed the world. The word fierce is trendy. It is used to describe women who are extreme athletes, high-level executives, or supermodels. Women at the top of their game. But what about the rest of us? Can we be fierce? Absolutely! In fact, women like us have been changing the world for thousands of yearsmany who received little fanfare yet lived fiercely anyway. In this six-week study we will look at lesser-known female characters in the Bible and the ways they changed the world by living into God's calling, including: The midwives of Egypt (Shiphrah and Puah), who made hard decisions in the face of evil Deborah, who was an unlikely and powerful leader Naaman's slave girl, who bravely points others to God's healing power The Woman at the Well, who boldly repented and shared her faith Lois and Eunice, who parented with intentionality and effectiveness Dorcas, who showed kindness to those in need. As we explore their lives, we will discover how we too can live into our callings, honor the Lord, and even change the world through our courage, faithfulness, and obedience. Bible Study Features: A six-week study of lesser-known female characters in the Bible. Helps women consider how they can be fierce women of God. Workbook includes five devotional lessons for every week of study. Each DVD segment features an opening ';fierce' vignette followed by engaging Bible teaching with practical life application.Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Participant Workbook and DVD.

LEADER GUIDE - Imagine waking up every single day convinced that the twenty-four hours ahead of you are a precious gift to be used wisely. Now imagine that you know exactly how to spend them to be a force for God's good.All too often we wander through life without appreciating the gift of every moment we've been given. The result? An unsatisfying life, missed opportunities to experience the joy of being in sync with God, and days marked with apathy instead of passion. Our time on earth is measured. We should want to make every moment countnot only because we aren't guaranteed the next one, but also because this is exactly how our Savior spent His time here. How, then, do we walk out unwavering joy-filled faith every day, determined to let go of the things that keep us from experiencing abundant life and fulfilling the plans God has for us? The answers are found in following the footsteps of the One who lived fully, because He was determined that we might do the same.In this six-week study of Luke, we will follow the life and ministry of Jesus as we consider the choices He made on His way to the cross. We'll intimately connect with a Savior who remained laser-focused on His mission to love the world. In return, we'll receive a model for intentional living that we can replicate to ensure we are living each day to the fullest and making a difference for God's kingdom. And together we'll determine to embrace the abundant life we are promised in Jesus.It's time to stop wandering and start living!

Learn from the fierce women of God who changed the world. The word fierce is trendy. It is used to describe women who are extreme athletes, high-level executives, or supermodels. Women at the top of their game. But what about the rest of us? Can we be fierce? Absolutely! In fact, women like us have been changing the world for thousands of yearsmany who received little fanfare yet lived fiercely anyway. In this six-week study we will look at lesser-known female characters in the Bible and the ways they changed the world by living into God's calling, including: The midwives of Egypt (Shiphrah and Puah), who made hard decisions in the face of evil Deborah, who was an unlikely and powerful leader Naaman's slave girl, who bravely points others to God's healing power The Woman at the Well, who boldly repented and shared her faith Lois and Eunice, who parented with intentionality and effectiveness Dorcas, who showed kindness to those in need. As we explore their lives, we will discover how we too can live into our callings, honor the Lord, and even change the world through our courage, faithfulness, and obedience. Bible Study Features: A six-week study of lesser-known female characters in the Bible. Helps women consider how they can be fierce women of God. Workbook includes five devotional lessons for every week of study. Each DVD segment features an opening ';fierce' vignette followed by engaging Bible teaching with practical life application.Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Leader Guide and DVD.

GROUP PARTICIPANT WORKBOOK - Imagine waking up every single day convinced that the twenty-four hours ahead of you are a precious gift to be used wisely. Now imagine that you know exactly how to spend them to be a force for God's good.All too often we wander through life without appreciating the gift of every moment we've been given. The result? An unsatisfying life, missed opportunities to experience the joy of being in sync with God, and days marked with apathy instead of passion. Our time on earth is measured. We should want to make every moment countnot only because we aren't guaranteed the next one, but also because this is exactly how our Savior spent His time here.How, then, do we walk out unwavering joy-filled faith every day, determined to let go of the things that keep us from experiencing abundant life and fulfilling the plans God has for us? The answers are found in following the footsteps of the One who lived fully, because He was determined that we might do the same.In this six-week study of Luke, we will follow the life and ministry of Jesus as we consider the choices He made on His way to the cross. We'll intimately connect with a Savior who remained laser-focused on His mission to love the world. In return, we'll receive a model for intentional living that we can replicate to ensure we are living each day to the fullest and making a difference for God's kingdom. And together we'll determine to embrace the abundant life we are promised in Jesus.It's time to stop wandering and start living!

Find the good news that brings hope and spiritual renewal.We live in a world full of bad news. The media recounts stories of natural disasters, violence, and conflict. In the midst of all this heartbreak, we can't lose sight of the fact that God has given us good news. We call it the gospel. It reminds us that God loves us and longs to redeem our suffering. He stepped out of eternity and into time to send us His one and only Son. The gospel truths shared with the early church at Rome echo into our day, reminding us that we still have good news to embrace personally and to share with others. In this six-week study of the Book of Romans, we will be highlighting significant concepts regarding the good news about faith, grace, daily life, God's plan, relationships, and eternity. Whatever bad news we may receive, in Romans we will find good news to encourage and transform us. Join Melissa in taking a posture of listening and learning as we approach this powerful book packed with good news. Let's ask God to do a mighty work in and through us as we study so that we might be inspired with a spiritual renewal that spreads to those around us! Bible Study Features: A six-week study of the Book of Romans. Encourages women with the good news of the gospel, regardless of what bad news they are facing. Women will be inspired with a spiritual renewal that spreads to those around them. Study offers different levels of commitment for women in every season of life. Strong, solid Scripture study from popular Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra."e;All too often, God's Word can seem intimidating and hard to understand even, especially with books like Romans. In this study Melissa helps us take in the truths of Romans in a way that makes a difference in our lives today. Getting beyond the surface of reading God's Word for feel-good feelings, Melissa helps us read to know God better and, as a result, build godly confidence that will stand no matter what may come in our lives."e; Lynn Cowell, Author of Make Your Move and Brave Beauty, and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and writerIn a bad-news world, how deeply we need to bathe our hearts afresh in the good news of the Gospel! Melissa's beautiful study on Romans makes room for an invigorating encounter. Her teaching and insight caused the words to leap off the page, leaving me more deeply enthralled with this important book of God's great narrative.Allison Allen, Speaker and Author of Shine and Thirsty for More: Discovering God's Unexpected Blessings in a Desert SeasonOther components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Leader Guide, DVD, and boxed Leader Kit (an all-inclusive box containing one copy of each of the Bible study's components).

Pastors and church leaders genuinely want to care for people in their congregations and communities. But pastors cannot care for an entire church, and most laypersons don''t have the training to do it. The Caring Congregation Ministry is a model for person-to-person care that''s been proven to work in small and large churches across the U.S. It is a laity-centered ministry, where laypersons receive rigorous training and then are commissioned to serve as Congregational Care Ministers, caring for others in their own congregation and their extended community.This remarkable approach to congregational care was first developed by author Karen Lampe and her team at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Kansas City. It has been tested, refined, and strengthened, and is now being adapted in all sorts of congregational settings. One early adapter was co-author Melissa Gepford, who launched a Caring Congregation Ministry in her own rural church. Together, they have created this immensely practical guide for any pastor or leader seeking to create a congregational care ministry.This Implementation Guide is the main book for getting started. It introduces the ministry model and explains the Five Essentials which form the ministry''s foundation. It is extremely practical, full of checklists and other tools to help pastors and other leaders understand (and explain) this way of providing congregational care.The Implementation Guide also includes a section focused on the crucial component of this ministry-the Congregational Care Minister, or CCM. This section fully describes the characteristics of CCM''s, how to recruit people to this ministry, how to discern if candidates are a good fit, and how to conduct the CCM training over a multi-week period. It details the critical information CCM''s must know, and the behaviors and habits they must practice in order to be effective.Note that the companion book, The Caring Congregation Ministry: Care Minister''s Manual, is required for the CCM training. It serves as a training workbook, which then becomes the CCM''s personal reference manual.

The Care Minister''s Manual is the personal training workbook and reference guide for Congregational Care Ministers (CCM''s), who serve a central role in the Caring Congregation Ministry. CCM''s receive in-depth training, where they learn the theological foundations of congregational care, plus the behaviors, habits, and practices they will need to follow in order to serve others well. Each CCM-in-training should have a copy of this Manual. It serves as their training workbook, which then becomes the CCM''s personal reference guide.The Caring Congregation Ministry is a model for congregational care that''s been proven to work in small and large churches across the U.S. It is a laity-centered ministry, where laypersons receive training and then are commissioned to serve as Congregational Care Ministers or CCM''s, caring for the people in their congregation and community. The Caring Congregation Ministry: Implementation Guide is the main book for pastors and other leaders seeking to build, launch, and sustain a Caring Congregation Ministry in their church.

"e;This is beautiful and brilliant stuff, profound and plain, incredibly human, wise and charming. I trusted and enjoyed every word."e; -Anne Lamott, New York Times bestselling author about Looking for God in Messy PlacesFor any who feel frustrated and world-weary, and who want more than just wishful thinking or superficial spirituality, this book is for you! In these pages, my friend Jake Owensby poignantly shows how LOVE is what can truly give us hope to carry on: real love, God's love for us, our love for each other, right here, right now in all the struggles of this messy life. And God knows, we need this book NOW!-Bishop Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and author of Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling TimesLife is messy. We can get discouraged by setbacks, overwhelmed by busyness, and shaken by worry. Hope is the power that gets us out of bed in the morning and gives us the courage to face adversity. Looking for God in Messy Places by Jake Owensby is a book about how love gives us an inextinguishable hope.This book is for anyone who has ever been frozen in place by loss or regret, anyone who has endured suffering, cruelty, or rejection. From word to word and page to page, readers will experience themselves as God's beloved-so that they can be hopeful. From the introduction[This book is] For those whose struggles have been long and for those who are growing weary from heavy burdens. For those facing an unforeseen crisis or for those enduring a slow personal train wreck. For those whose throats have grown raw from crying for justice and for those whose wounds have gone unhealed. This is a book about hope, and I have written it especially for those who refuse to yield to discouragement and despair.Topics include:- The power of love to give us hope- The ways that God shows up in our daily lives- Recognizing God's call in our lives- Becoming your true self - Having a sense of belonging- Forming a friendship with Christ- Contemplative faith

The Bible is the best-selling, most widely read, and most quoted book in history. It is also misunderstood, misquoted, and fiercely debated. If, as Christians believe, the Bible is the Word of God, why is it so complex and difficult to interpret in parts, yet simple enough for even children to understand in others?In Scripture and the Skeptic Eric Huffman, author of 40 Days of Doubt, helps readers understand and cope with confusion about the Bible and provides answers to questions by reframing it as a perfect and seamless story. Huffman illustrates how the Bible, even the parts some consider ungodly, presents the beautiful story that God intended to tell. Through storytelling from his own experiences and his take on Bible stories, Huffman helps readers understand the Bible by interpreting the entire book through the lens of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. He shows how every part of the Bible is either crying out for Jesus, witnessing his incarnation, or responding in the aftermath of his resurrection. Readers discover how to trust the Bible as God's beautiful and perfect salvation story. Includes questions with each chapter for personal reflection or group study. From the author of 40 Days of Doubt: Devotions for the Skeptic.

Traditioned innovation is a habit of being and living that cultivates a certain kind of moral imagination shaped by storytelling and expressed in creative, transformational action. Moral imagination is about character, which depends on ongoing formation that takes place in friendships and communities that embody traditions and that are sustained by institutions.There is no quick-fix or set of techniques that will create a mindset of traditioned innovation. But we do believe that you can learn to cultivate it by Becoming immersed in an imaginative engagement with the story of God told through Scripture Learning from exemplary institutions, communities, and people practicing traditioned innovation. Discovering new skills for integrating character formation and dense networks of friendships, communities and institutions into your leadership and life.Navigating the Future will explore stories and tips for cultivating traditioned innovation that will stimulate your thinking and inspire your imagination for more faithful and fruitful living along with the cultivation of more vibrant, life-giving institutions.

What if the Ten Commandments were not just a set of ancient rules, but a guide to experiencing the good life today?

While many of us naturally wish to avoid the reality of the cross, it's from the cross that Jesus speaks and shows his deepest love for us. It's from the cross that Jesus' full humanity draws us closest to him. It's from the cross, as Jesus breathes his last breath and speaks his last words, that his deep trust in the Father and his divine glory are revealed. Those who listen to Jesus' last words from the cross will discover what he most wants them (the world) to hear and will experience an intimate and divine awe only available to those who are willing to draw near his cross.In Seven Words, Susan Robb looks at the seven last words of Christ on the cross through a lens that finds life and hope in his final sayings, while exploring each from a biblical and historical perspective. The book brings a hopeful and contemplative take on the cross during the weeks of Lent.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

At its beginning Christianity was surprising, powerful, creative, world-shaking.Today in the West it is many times familiar, common, andexpected, losing its power to surprise and transform. We have developedsocietal amnesia and ignorance of what Christianity originally was andwhat it still can be. We need to recover the surprise of Christianity. Weneed to ask the same fundamental questions as the early Christians, whichwill help us rediscover the surprising power of Christianity in our midst.Focusing on the surprise of the gospel message takes us into the heart ofwhat it is to understand Christianity at all, and thus what it is to rememberand relearn the life-giving power and witness that went with being Christianat the beginning. This remembering and relearning can, in turn, surprise usall over again and chart a course for our witness today.

Adam Hamilton helps pastors and church leaders consider the purpose, planning and execution of excellent preaching by offering detailed descriptions of the sermon planning, writing and preaching process behind one of the fastest growing churches in the United States.

Go on an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley's means of grace.

Go on an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley's means of grace.

A new articulation of pastoral theology, care, and counseling.Too often we think and teach in ways that reinforce a mind-body split. This can lead people to self-alienation, impeding holistic, healthy relationships between people, God, and each other. Body Connections takes a different approach, teaching us to see the connections between our embodied experience and faithful spiritual care. Author Michael Koppel focuses on the human body and its relationship to faith and spiritual care. He engages religious texts and traditions as well as scientific insights, offering accessible theology and spiritual practices for healing and care of the body.Our bodies are amazing resources, but we are too often unaware of their power, or unable to harness it in helpful ways for our own good. This remarkable book empowers pastors, counselors, chaplains, seminarians, and caregivers to understand and provide the ministry of care in an entirely new, life-giving way. This book is highly useful for individuals and groups. It is for clergy, chaplains, spiritual directors, seminarians, clinical educators, lay people in churches, and those who are institutionally unaffiliated but care deeply about fostering a holistic spiritual path.Praise for Body ConnectionsEverything we think, feel, and do comes through the body. But practices of spiritual care tend to downplay the body as a source of knowledge and a tool for responding to others and to God. Koppel's book reclaims that wisdom, coaching us to strengthen our abilities to read, listen, and think with the body. I can't wait to teach this practical, wise, and convicting book, which addresses embodied emotion, grief, silence, trauma, and more. Koppel's seasoned, pastoral voice offers a rich synthesis of sources and insights that demonstrate the body's place at the center of ministry. --Duane Bidwell, professor of practical theology, spiritual care, and counseling, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CABody Connections provides new insights into the voice and language of the body. Koppel crafts a "e;body theology"e; that encourages spiritual care practitioners to be proactive in their spiritual practices of listening, adapting and responding to our bodies and to the bodies of those to whom we offer care. Using the image of "e;body as storyteller"e; and other metaphors, Koppel captures and defines the healing power of the body in clear and profound ways. --Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, D.Min., Presiding Bishop, Fifth Episcopal District, The CME ChurchMichael Koppel returns the body to its rightful place at the center of each person's story and the center of the Christian story. He calls readers home to their bodies and gently challenges escapes from the body into hasty fixing, detached rationalizing, anxious dithering, or addictive numbing. At a time when the COVID pandemic has underscored the vulnerability of bodies, Koppel's focused, healing, deep body consciousness paints a portrait of health far beyond mere absence of disease. Don't just read this book: absorb it, practice it, and let it heal you. --Douglas M. Thorpe, PhD, is Executive Director of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care and a past president of the American Association of Pastoral CounselorsIt is surprisingly difficult, even confusing: to have a body; to be a body; to touch, talk and listen to, even read a sensing body; to honor and restore the body's wounds, traumas, and shame while celebrating its healing and resilience Koppel is a wise guide and caregiver for those seeking to embrace the sacredness of a human body and its unique story. Body Connections empowers a reader to discover body knowledge anew. It deepens trust in the most intimate relationship one has, the relationship with one's body. --Jaco J. Hamman, professor of religion, psychology, and culture, and director of the Program iin Theology and Practice, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Rediscover the gift of Advent that comes without packages, ribbons, and bows.

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Adam Hamilton's classic, The Journey.

Go on an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley's means of grace.

Rediscover the gift of Advent that comes without packages, ribbons, and bows.

Examine the most difficult teachings of Jesus with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine.