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Discover what sets United Methodism apart. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Components include a book, Knowing Who We Are, and video teaching sessions featuring Laceye Warner, making this perfect as a group study throughout the year. A companion book, Who We Are and What We Believe: 50 Questions about The UMC, is also available. In this book, Laceye C. Warner invites you to a richer understanding of Wesleyan Christianity so you can have a clear sense of identity, better express your own beliefs, and deepen your connection with The United Methodist Church. She introduces you to important values and characteristics that make the Wesleyan way distinctive, including emphasizing God's grace for all and sanctification as tangible transformation in your life, your community, and all creation. You'll see how The United Methodist Church today is deeply rooted in the Christian tradition and a legacy of care, compassion, and active response to injustice in the world. And you'll find that Christian faith in the Wesleyan tradition holds together personal faith and community life, along with a commitment to justice through ministry and service. Pick up this book and study it with your small group and discover a way of being Christian that fills you with joy, moves you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and spurs you to live with compassion and grace.

Discover what sets United Methodism apart. In this book, Laceye C. Warner invites you to a richer understanding of Wesleyan Christianity so you can have a clear sense of identity, better express your own beliefs, and deepen your connection with The United Methodist Church. She introduces you to important values and characteristics that make the Wesleyan way distinctive, including emphasizing God's grace for all and sanctification as tangible transformation in your life, your community, and all creation. You'll see how The United Methodist Church today is deeply rooted in the Christian tradition and a legacy of care, compassion, and active response to injustice in the world. And you'll find that Christian faith in the Wesleyan tradition holds together personal faith and community life, along with a commitment to justice through ministry and service. Pick up this book and study it with your small group and discover a way of being Christian that fills you with joy, moves you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and spurs you to live with compassion and grace. The book can be read alone or used by small groups anytime throughout the year. Components include video teaching sessions featuring Laceye Warner and a comprehensive Leader Guide, making this perfect as a six-week group study. A companion book, Who We Are and What We Believe: 50 Questions about The UMC, is also available.

Part of the most comprehensive collection of Wesley's writings. The correspondence presented in this sixth volume of Wesley's letters covers the period when Methodists in North America, by a "strange providence," were severed from their relationship with the Church of England. Wesley made heroic efforts to provide them with ordained clergy and other materials they would need in their life as a "church." It also illuminates the tensions that John's decision to ordain clergy for Methodists outside of England created within his connexion in England--particularly with his brother Charles. The volume includes over 200 items not found in previous editions of Wesley's letters. All Works of John Wesley volumes are designed to keep the pages clean and in place for years to come, with casebound non-cloth hardcover, dust jacket, and secure adhesive binding.

Explore the tenderness and the tensions in the teachings of Jesus. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Components include the book, Matthew: The Gospel of Promised Blessings, and video teaching sessions featuring Matthew Skinner. The Gospel of Matthew portrays Jesus and his message as full of tender compassion and urgent warning. This six-part exploration of an enigmatic Gospel takes readers into the themes, topics, and tensions at the heart of Matthew's story about the life and work of Jesus. Chapters focus on blessing and comfort, judgment and retribution, the meaning of discipleship, Jesus' vision for the Church and world, conflicts and complaints, and how the Gospel of Matthew speaks to believers today.

Explore the tenderness and the tensions in the teachings of Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew portrays Jesus and his message as full of tender compassion and urgent warning. This six-part exploration of an enigmatic Gospel takes readers into the themes, topics, and tensions at the heart of Matthew's story about the life and work of Jesus. Chapters focus on blessing and comfort, judgment and retribution, the meaning of discipleship, Jesus' vision for the Church and world, conflicts and complaints, and how the Gospel of Matthew speaks to believers today. The book can be read alone or used by small groups anytime throughout the year. Components include video teaching sessions featuring Matthew Skinner and a comprehensive Leader Guide.

A Vision of United Methodist Life Together. Our world needs love during these desperate days of radical polarization and division. Our United Methodist churches yearn to embrace love more completely because God first loved us. Our "faith" (including doctrine) is important; Christian "hope" (including renewal) is important; "love" of God and neighbor is more important. Multiplying Love underscores what matters most and stands in contrast to divisive misreadings of essential Methodist teachings. Chilcote helps us embrace anew the Wesleyan vision of love of Jesus as central to what we believe and how we live. When I finished Multiplying Love, I found myself jumping up and down shouting, "Yes, yes, yes! Gosh, do we need this!" We are at a remaking moment in the church. Dr. Chilcote beautifully articulates the deeper theological vision that beckons and sustains us. Multiplying Love helped me more thoroughly embrace the kind of loving people we are hoping to become. That's what it's all about to me, and this book nails it! --Rev. Christy Allen Holden, co-creator of The Channel UMC, a new hybrid community of faith (@christyallenholden) Every United Methodist pastor would do well to invite their church council to read Paul Chilcote's brief and powerful Multiplying Love. It recalls the power of the Wesleyan approach to the gospel and makes a compelling case for the future of The United Methodist Church. I loved this book! --Rev. Adam Hamilton, Kansas pastor and author of Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith

Devotions by Abigail Browka for each day of Lent. The Sanctuary for Lent 2024 contains brief readings for each day in Lent, from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, including a suggested Scripture, a short devotion, and a short prayer or practice--all based on the Revised Common Lectionary. This annual favorite helps readers faithfully journey through Lent as they prepare to experience the joy of the Resurrection. Along with being a great congregational resource, it is an excellent gift for family, friends, and those your congregation connects with through outreach.

A weekly worship planning book for pastors and musicians - Refreshed! New with the 2024-2025 edition! The Music & Worship Planner includes both the CEB and NRSVue translations in one planner and added space for notes. An all-in-one resource that helps both the music director and pastor plan the worship services for each Sunday and holy day of the church year, the 2024-2025 edition of Prepare! is lectionary-based and places everything at your fingertips: - Theme index! Includes themes like assurance, doubt, family, justice, prayer, temptation, and many more - Scripture Index - Calendar format that helps you plan the entire choir year, from September through August - Eight or more suggested hymns for each service keyed to 16 hymnals from at least seven different denominations, including Africana Hymnal, The Baptist Hymnal, Chalice Hymnal (Disciples of Christ), The Faith We Sing, Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal, The Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal), Hymns for the Family of God, Lutheran Book of Worship, The Presbyterian Hymnal, The New Century Hymnal (United Church of Christ), Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship, Songs for Praise and Worship Singalong Edition, The United Methodist Hymnal, Voices United, Worship & Song, and Worship III (Roman Catholic) - Complete lectionary text of the Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel readings, using the Common English Bible translation - Reproducible worship planning forms - Resources for holidays and special days - Suggestions for prayers, solos, anthems, visuals, and much more In addition, you will find more: - Consistent Worship elements - Content for contemporary worship services - More innovative worship elements

The last place on earth young Charles Johnson wanted to go was Mississippi during the heat of the civil rights movement.As the key African American witness to take the stand in the trial famously dubbed the "Mississippi Burning" case by the FBI, Dr. Charles Johnson, a young preacher fresh out of Bible College, became a voice for justice and equality in the segregated south.Unwittingly thrust into the heart of a national tragedy - the murder of three civil rights activists - Dr. Johnson overcame fear and adversity to become a leader in the civil rights movement. He played a vital role for the Federal Justice Department, offering clarity to the event that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And, in a shocking turn of events, Johnson offered a path of reconciliation for one of the convicted killers. A story of love, conviction, adversity, and redemption, Called to the Fire is a riveting account of a life in pursuit of the call of God and the fight for justice and equality.

Learn what it means to be a United Methodist Christian. How may we describe United Methodists? Where do we come from? What do we believe? How do United Methodists act? What are our distinctive characteristics? What is required to be a member of our denomination? How do we grow as disciples of Jesus Christ within this great communion? In this resource, we offer answers to these questions and others in broad strokes as we describe our United Methodist Church. We will introduce you to how United Methodists live and think as followers of Jesus Christ. The United Methodist Church possesses the characteristics of many other Christian traditions but has its own distinctive profile. Our denomination combines knowledge and vital piety, believing that serious theological reflection and spiritual practices are both part of the Christian life. United Methodists link personal and social holiness, expecting high personal integrity and deep concern for social justice. We are both evangelical and sacramental, showing concern for people who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and honoring the transforming power of Baptism and Holy Communion. We welcome people with many different theological perspectives. Finally, United Methodists are both local and connectional, expressing our faith in local congregations, regional associations, and global missions, so that we might do more together than any of us could do separately. This book will help readers: - hear and claim for themselves the story of God's love, God's redemption, and God's ongoing presence and power through Jesus Christ. - explore and claim for themselves the unique beliefs and emphases of United Methodist Christians. - identify ways to live day by day as United Methodist Christians as individuals and in community with other Christians. We invite you to claim for yourself the continuing story of God's mighty acts of creation, redemption, and power through Jesus Christ within our great denomination. As you begin or continue to see yourself within this living, dynamic part of the universal body of Jesus Christ, we invite you to live, be, and grow as a United Methodist Christian. The book includes reflection questions. Supplementary resources include a downloadable Sermon, Worship, and Study Series outline.

Francis Asbury said he was "feeling the pain of a partial separation in spirit and practice from some who were as my brethren and sons in the gospel," He "saw so clearly the evil consequences of a division, and how good and pleasant a thing it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity." So he began to abridge and edit two works written in the 1600s during the English Civil War. Asbury's 1792 result, The Causes, Evils & Cures of Heart & Church Divisions, was one of the earliest publications sold to Methodist congregations and leaders by John Dickins, the first book steward of what is now the United Methodist Publishing House. The book was recommended in the Book of Discipline during the 19th century and repackaged in a new edition by the Methodist Book Concern in 1849 after Methodists split, north from south, over the battle to end slavery.Decisions about what to include or omit were made while abridging and reissuing a work in 2016 that is based in sources from 1653 and 1670, when the dialect of Elizabethan English was spoken. We no longer speak this dialect, so the following principles guide the translation of archaic English in this further abridgment of Francis Asbury's selections.First, scripture quotations are converted to the Common English Bible, which also influences the vocabulary and syntax of the text where biblical allusions are employed. Second, with occasional exceptions, the text is now gender inclusive. Third, archaic words and idioms are replaced with functional or dynamic equivalents in present-day English. For example, few readers would know that a "jade," who plays "jadish tricks," is a worn-out old horse who is ill tempered. As another example, the word livery is replaced with "attire."The structure and flow of the abridgment by Bishop Asbury is preserved, with the headings adjusted to fit with the selected excerpts as well as the translation principles. This book compiled by Francis Asbury continues to resonate with readers as a classic for painfully clear reasons: it shows how we love ourselves and our ideas far more than we love our neighbors or our adversaries."Causes, Evils & Cures can be a catalyst for perfecting the spirit and witness of the UMC in the same way that Three Simple Rules helped to enrich our life together two quadrennia ago. Every United Methodist should read and pray with this little treasure close to their heart."-Bishop Gregory V Palmer

'Calm' is a guidebook written for United Methodist churches and church leaders to help them proactively make decisions and deal with conflict. Working through the book's four modules, leaders and churches find the path forward becomes clear, whether a church is faced with a micro-level decision (should we introduce a new worship service?), or a macro one (where does our congregation fall in the denominational split?). -This book presents the skills and tools necessary to engage in critical conversations that lead to healthy communities--churches that remain God-focused in times of conflict and tension. It comprises a Foreword, the four Modules, a Conclusion, and additional resources for planning, assessing, and managing conflict. It includes stories and examples of conflict and conflict resolution in practice. -The modules contain detailed instructions and helpful tips for leading groups through a process which incorporates group activities, discussion, individual and group reflection, and times of corporate worship. The book is a complete guide for leading this 'Forward' process, including instructions for the pastor or other leader, helping to ensure success. -The authors also provide clear adaptations for groups gathering virtually - an inescapable reality in the life of today's church. These adaptations both underscore and equip groups for the special care to be taken while engaging in the sensitive nature of conflict work in a virtual space. -This book is for local church leaders who feel stuck implementing a denominational schism in the local context. It is for the leader whounderstands what is happening in the larger church but who needs a guide book for how to shepherd their local church towards congregational health. This book is not intended to see any one outcome but instead provides a set oftools for the local church to decide their unique path forward. Chapter Outline: Foreword, How to Use This Book, Module One: Acknowledging the Struggle, Module Two: Understanding the Paths Forward, Module Three: Making Informed and Collective Decisions, Module Four: Reflecting on the Journey, Conclusion, Additional Resources

Connect the dots of triumph and trauma in your life to discover God's presence by studying the story of Joseph in Genesis. The story of Joseph teaches us to see the big picture. For many of us, life can feel like a scattering of random events. The various choices, opportunities, or even pain we experience seem to have no real purpose or connection. Our souls wonder: Is that just a coincidence? Does this have a purpose? Is any of this connected at all? But, if we pay attention to God's work, our lives tell a different story: A dot of God's grace here. A dot of God's presence and protection there. When we look closely, connecting the dots, we discover that our lives are not a series of disconnected events, but a story in which God is weaving what seems random into a beautiful image of joy, survival, purpose, and meaning. In The Big Picture: Seeing God's Dream for Your Life, a five-week study based on the story of Joseph in Genesis, authors Nicole and Jevon Caldwell-Gross take a closer look at the life of Joseph to discover God's presence in moments of triumph and trauma, and help us begin connecting the dots in our own lives. Components for the five-week study include a book, comprehensive Leader Guide, DVD/Video sessions.

We have been there and are there still. Since the beginning of the Methodist movement, "Methodists" have spoken to the issues of the day as an expression of the Wesleyan commitment to social holiness. The General Board of Church and Society upholds the Wesleyan commitment to social holiness through witnessing to just social policies and practices. This 100-year commemorative book will utilize archival materials from the agency's historic publications to tell the story.

A comprehensive account of Wesley's doctrine of justification. To properly understand Wesley's via salutis and theology, one needs to grasp the particulars of his doctrine of justification. The best way to do this is to tell the story of how he came to understand the doctrine over the course of his life. It is a complex story, with many twists and turns, that deserves to be fully told.

Aprenda a desarrollar, implementar y sostener un ministerio de cuidado congregacional en su iglesia, sin importar el tamaño, su forma o a la denominación a la cual pertenezca. Los pastores y líderes de la iglesia realmente quieren cuidar a las personas en sus congregaciones y comunidades. No obstante, ellos no pueden cuidar a una iglesia por sí solos. Además, la mayoría del liderato laico no tiene la capacitación requerida para ejercer este ministerio de cuidado. El Ministerio del Cuidado Congregacional es un modelo del cuidado de persona a persona, el cual su efectividad ha sido comprobada en iglesias pequeñas y grandes en los EE. UU. Es un ministerio centrado en el servicio del laicado. Estos líderes reciben una capacitación rigurosa, y luego son comisionados para servir como ministros del cuidado congregacional (MCC), para brindar el cuidado en sus congregaciones y comunidades extendidas. Este notable enfoque del cuidado congregacional fue primeramente desarrollado, por la autora, Karen Lampe, junto con su equipo, en la Iglesia Metodista Unida de la Resurrección, en Kansas City. El mismo ha sido probado, refinado y fortalecido, y ahora se está adaptando a todo tipo de contextos congregacionales. Una de las primeras adaptadoras de este modelo fue la coautora, Melissa Gepford, quien desarrolló un Ministerio del Cuidado Congregacional en su iglesia rural. Juntas han creado esta guía, inmensamente práctica, para cualquier pastor/pastora o líder que busque desarrollar un Ministerio del Cuidado Congregacional. Este libro presenta el modelo de ministerio, y explica los cinco pasos esenciales que establecen el fundamento para el ministerio. Es extremadamente práctico, lleno de listas de verificación y otras herramientas para ayudar a los pastores y a otros líderes a comprender (y explicar) esta forma de brindar el cuidado congregacional. El libro también incluye una sección enfocada en el componente vital de este ministerio: el ministro/la ministra del cuidado congregacional, o el/la MCC. Esta sección describe completamente las características de los MCC, tales como: reclutar personas para este ministerio; cómo discernir quiénes son los candidatos idóneos para el ministerio, y cómo llevar a cabo la capacitación de los MCC durante un período de varias semanas. Detalla, además, información importante que los MCC deben saber y los comportamientos y hábitos que deben practicar para ser efectivos en el desempeño del ministerio.

Living into a less colonial way of being together. Methodism and American Empire investigates historical trajectories and theological developments that connect American imperialism since World War II to the Methodist tradition as a global movement. The volume asks: to what extent is United Methodists' vision of the globe marred by American imperialism? Through historical analyses and theological reflections, this volume chronicles the formation of an understanding of The United Methodist Church since the mid-20th century that is both global and at the same time dominated by American interests and concerns. Methodism and American Empire provides a historical and theological perspective to understand the current context of The United Methodist Church while also raising ecclesiological questions about the impact of imperialism on how Methodists have understood the nature and mission of the church over the last century. Gathering voices and perspectives from around the world, this volume suggests that the project of global Methodism and the tensions one witnesses therein ought to be understood in the context of American imperialism and that such an understanding is critical to the task of continuing to be a global denomination. The volume tells a tale of complex negotiations happening between United Methodists across different national, cultural, and ecclesial contexts and sets up the historical backdrop for the imminent schism of The United Methodist Church.

Does your faith make room for questions? The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Everyone has doubts. Where is God when bad things happen? Does God hear our prayers? Is there a heaven? How can we know? Often, we treat such questions as the enemy of faith. But uncertainty doesn't mean our belief is lacking. Doubt can be a path to a deeper, richer encounter with God. In Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith, join best-selling author and pastor Adam Hamilton as he discusses some of our most significant sources of doubt and shows how a steady trust in God can emerge from them. You will delve into questions like: "Does God exist? How can I know?" "Is the Bible true?" "Why do prayers go unanswered?" Hamilton approaches these sources of doubt with honesty and insight, drawing on the rich wisdom of the Bible, Christian tradition, and his experience walking with thousands of people on their spiritual journeys. Whether you're a longtime Christian or someone brand new to faith, this book will lead you to a trust in God that gives you the courage to ask tough questions. Though you may wrestle with doubt, you'll discover a faith that--rather than providing simple answers--includes belief and trust as well as uncertainty and mystery. Additional components include the book, Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith, video teaching sessions featuring Adam Hamilton (with closed captioning), and a digital worship and sermon series that make this perfect as a group study and church-wide program done throughout the year.

The correspondence presented in this fourth volume of Wesley's letters casts light on the growth of his movement, documenting (for example) the emergence of connexion-wide financial campaigns and continuing debates over the desire of lay preachers for ordination. It covers the decisive split between the Wesleyan and Calvinist wings of Methodism, including the ways in which Charles Wesley drew closer to his brother through these developments. The volume includes over 100 items not found in previous editions of Wesley's letters. All Works of John Wesley volumes are designed to keep the pages clean and in place for years to come., with casebound non-cloth hardcover, dust jacket, and secure adhesive binding.

The correspondence presented in this fifth volume of Wesley's letters includes a large number of his pastoral letters to various female and male lay persons in his societies. It also traces the fluctuations of Wesley's stance on the British colonists in North America (and their Whig supporters in England) from the growing flames through the closing battles of their revolution. The volume includes over 180 items not found in previous editions of Wesley's letters. All Works of John Wesley volumes are designed to keep the pages clean and in place for years to come., with casebound non-cloth hardcover, dust jacket, and secure adhesive binding.

Daily prayer the Wesleyan way. Prayer is a spiritual practice, and daily prayer uses the repetition of forms and words to cultivate a deep, meaningful ritual, drawing the individual into an ever-closer relationship with God. This book is organized by liturgical season, but is undated, so the individual is free to begin using it at any point during the year. The book is concise and easy to use and includes the words of scripture and other necessary text. It is a simple, frictionless tool for spiritual health. The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer provides complete texts for Morning Prayers and Evening Prayers, with a new set of texts for each week of the year. Each week is anchored in its liturgical season: Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Eastertide, Pentecost, Sow & Rest (Ordinary Time), and Harvest & Create (Ordinary Time). Each set of prayers centers on a scripture passage, with an emphasis on the Psalms. The prayers draw from familiar historic, classic, and ancient Christian texts, and from Methodism's rich hymnody. They also feature fresh, original words from new writers. This book facilitates deep daily connection with God--a method for spiritual sustenance.

A spiritual practice for serious-minded (but busy) people.Everyone needs renewal, even the most committed among us. The spiritual life requires regular practice and a bit of time. Coming Alive: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Renewal offers five brief meditations each week for focused reading, reflection, and prayer. Each entry centers on a passage of scripture or spiritual writing. The meditations are deep, insightful, and beautifully simple, as readers have come to expect from Steve Harper's writing. This timeless book offers a gently challenging daily habit, which leads to renewal of spirit and mind. Coming Alive features- Brief readings, about 10 minutes per day- Undated readings, so readers can determine their own pattern of practice- Spiritual depth and wisdom from ancient and contemporary sources- Foreword by Brian McLarenFrom the Foreword:"e;Steve Harper's new book beautifully focuses in on the real core of the spiritual life: Not dogma, not rules and regulations, not duties or guilt, not pressure or obligation ... but life, life to the full, what I like to call aliveness."e;--Brian McLaren

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

Fresh Expressions is a canary in the coal mine, alerting congregations to reevaluate what the Church is, where and when it can happen, and who can lead it. Church as we know it is inaccessible to most people. A fundamental premise of the movement is that Church can become accessible again by emerging in every nook and cranny where life already happens. Fresh Expressions is based in simplification, returning to basic scriptural principles, and a recovery of a "e;priesthood of all believers"e;-in the three places where people live and relate to others.First Place: The home or primary place of residence. Second Place: The workplace or school place. Third Place: The public places separate from the two usual social environments of home and workplace, which host regular, voluntary, informal, and neutral spaces of communion and play. Examples are environments such as cafes, pubs, theaters, parks, and so on.During a pandemic, our two primary mission spaces were closed off; the second and third places were shut down. We couldn't have Tattoo Parlor Church; the tattoo parlor was closed. We couldn't gather in Moe's Southwest Grill for Burritos and Bibles; they were doing take-out only. The dog park was empty; no Paws of Praise. This limited us to the only spaces we have left: the first place, or the home place. The digital place, or the "e;space of flows."e; This forces us into recognizing the digital space as its own kind of third place, a new missional frontier.

"e;On the day that Mahatma Gandhi was killed, I arrived in Delhi just an hour and a quarter before the tragedy ... the greatest tragedy since the Son of God died on the cross."e; So begins this compelling account of Gandhi by E. Stanley Jones, the world-renowned missionary evangelist to India during 40 seething years of struggle. Based on an intimate knowledge and understanding, Jones's revealing interpretation was written in gratitude to Gandhi, who, although they often disagreed, showed Jones "e;more of the spirit of Christ than perhaps any other . . . in East or West."e;"e;Martin Luther King, Jr., told me he owed a debt to my father for his book on Mahatma Gandhi. He had read many books on Gandhi, read his writings, but it was that particular book of my father's that had triggered his decision to use the method of ... nonviolence in his civil rights movement for his people."e; --Eunice Jones Mathews"e;Highly recommended."e;--Library Journal"e;To understand the meaning of this great leader ... read this book of interpretation."e;--Kirkus"e;Jones ... possesses a great gift of sympathetically interpreting the East to the West."e;--[London] Times Literary Supplement

Jesus Christ lifted our fear by giving us the capacity to face things that happen to us and to make something out of them. In Mastery, E. Stanley Jones shows us how to attain the moral and spiritual mastery that came to the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. He demonstrates that mastery of living comes not by being tense and anxious, but by being receptive to the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. In daily inspirational readings, affirmations, and prayers for one full year, Jones offers us guidance in mastering our lives.guidance in mastering our lives.

Study the whole Bible in a year with J. Ellsworth Kalas.The Grand Sweep: 365 Days from Genesis through Revelation guides adults to read through the Bible in a year, reading three to four chapters daily. The Psalms and Proverbs are scattered throughout the reading as devotional elements. Because the plan moves through the Bible in biblical sequence, readers grasp the grand weep of the Scriptures--something missed in most Bible studies that take up only a certain book or section of the Bible. Also, daily readings are manageable; someone who is just beginning a serious devotional life need not feel threatened or inadequate. By the time readers finish their year of reading, they will have a grasp of the biblical story from beginning to end. And with it, because of the daily discipline, a stronger devotional life. Kalas also provides a faithful daily summary of each day's reading, but with a devotional quality to encourage warmth of spirit as well as knowledge of mind. Congregations, study groups, and individuals can begin The Grand Sweep at any time during the year with this study. Allow at least 30 minutes daily when using this resource. Includes selected quotations from Kalas's 35 books.The book includes: Questions or directions and daily devotional summary/commentary for Days 1-7 each week call for written response to the assigned Scripture and provide a devotional element. "e;Prayer Time"e; suggests a focus for daily and weekly praying and invites you to identify persons and concerns for prayer. "e;How the Drama Develops"e; summarizes the week's Scripture and situates it in the ongoing biblical story. "e;Seeing Life Through Scripture"e; invites you to view life through the lens of Scripture in order to draw guidance and insights for living. Think of yourself in conversation with Scripture. "e;The Sum of It All"e; in a verse or verses, sums up the week's Scripture. Over the course of fifty-two weeks, the verses become a synopsis of the biblical story.The Grand Sweep is designed for personal use. The added component of a Leader Guide enables congregations and study groups to share the experience. It provides an overview of how to use the book as a study, along with specific content for weekly, monthly, or occasional group meetings.

Make this year's Advent even more special than usual. Prepare your heart and life for the celebration of God's presence in this season of waiting with God Is With Us, a study of the lectionary Bible readings for Advent and Christmas. By following the lectionary, your study of the Bible and your prayers will be in tune with your pastor's sermon. You'll have a better understanding of the flow of the Scripture readings chosen for the season. Be ready to claim and celebrate the new hope we have in Jesus Christ!God Is With Us is based on the Revised Common Lectionary scriptures for church Year A, the first of a three-year cycle of Bible readings. The study includes commentary and reflection on readings from the Old Testament, the Epistles, and the Gospels. It offers the opportunity to explore these Bible readings in a five-session study.