Religious instruction Books

Book SynopsisIn this channelled sequel to the international bestseller Anna, Grandmother of Jesus, we journey with Anna, the Holy Family and 18 other Magdalene-Essenes as they travel to France and Britain after Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. This book gives a completely new perspective on the gnostic Mount Carmel Essene mystery school, in which Jesus and Mary Magdalene took initiations, as well as on the Holy Family and the Magdalene Order. Through Claire Heartsong, Anna tells not only the story of Jesus, but also the story of the women who surrounded him throughout his life. The book reveals the deeper mysteries they have safeguarded for aeons of time, including aspects of Jesus's personal life not recorded in history - his relationships and, most radically, his offspring. In this one-of-a-kind story, Claire shares the information she received from Anna on the 'Seeding of Light' - the dispersion of Anna, Mother Mary and Jesus's enlightened descendants whose 'bloodline' acts as a living catalyst for the awakening of the Christ-Magdalene potential today. Not only does this book give a new view of the Christ drama 2,000 years ago but, more importantly, it offers the potential to lift the suppressed Divine Feminine voice in our time.

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Book SynopsisIn The Read-Aloud Family, founder of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast Sarah Mackenzie champions the lifelong benefits of reading aloud to children and offers book lists, strategies, and tools parents can use to form deep and lasting connections with their kids.Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS: PART I: THE TIME IS NOW Chapter 1: Why Reading Aloud Will Change the World Chapter 2: Equipped: The Best Investment Chapter 3: Enlightened: On Becoming Heroes and Heroines Chapter 4: Empathetic: Slipping into Another Person’s Shoes Chapter 5: Engaged: Meaningful Connections through Stories PART II: HOW TO BUILD YOUR FAMILY CULTURE AROUND BOOKS Chapter 6: The Art of Literary Matchmaking Chapter 7: Good Books: You Are What You Read (Aloud) Chapter 8: Ease: It’s Simpler Than You Think Chapter 9: Whim: This Actually Counts?! Chapter 10: Atmosphere: Creating a Book Club Culture in Your Home Chapter 11: Identity: I Am a Reader. Who are You? Chapter 12: Time and Place: The Siren Song of Modern Distractions PART III: 100 BOOKS TO READ WITH YOUR KIDS BEFORE THEY LEAVE HOME Chapter 13: How to Use this Booklist Chapter 14: Meeting Them Where They Are: Age 0-3 Chapter 15: Meeting Them Where They Are: Age 4-8 Chapter 16: Meeting Them Where They Are: Age 9-12 Chapter 17: Meeting Them Where They Are: Age 13-15 Chapter 18: Meeting Them Where They Are: Age 16+

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Book SynopsisIn THE PRODIGAL GOD, New York pastor Timothy Keller uses the story of the prodigal son to shine a light on the central, beautiful message of Jesus: the gospel of grace, hope and salvation.Keller argues that the parable of the prodigal son, while Jesus'' best-known parable, is also his least understood. He introduces the reader to all the characters in this timeless story, showing that it concerns not just a wayward son, but also a judgemental older brother and, most importantly, a loving father. In this challenging and inspiring book, Timothy Keller invites both faithful believers and curious outsiders to come to a new and totally life-changing understanding of the central message of the Christian faith.Trade ReviewFifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbours, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians. * Christianity Today magazine *A fine exposition of the heart of the Christian faith...much needed at the present time * Evangelicals Now *Another great choice for a short, punchy read... Keller shows us that the challenge in this striking parable is for the older brother too. * Together Magazine *

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Book SynopsisSlip into a pew at a Catholic church almost anywhere in the world on a Sunday morning, and you'll likely find something missing: the Bible. More than five hundred years after the Bible came off the first printing press, why does the world's largest biblical religion often not have a printed Bible in the room? And if not, how is it that the life of Catholics is shaped by the Bible?In How Catholics Encounter the Bible, award-winning biblical scholar and historian Michael Peppard explores the paradoxical role of the Bible for Catholics--a book central to their tradition, but not usually in the form of a book. Biblical ideas and beliefs are more often mediated through diverse modes of storytelling, artistic imagination, and ritual. Peppard begins from the conviction that the Bible, for Catholics, is not bound with leather book covers, but with the liturgical binding of the sign of the cross, the wrought-metal framing of a stained-glass window, or the lyrical structures of a God-haunted poe

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Book Synopsis★ Publishers Weekly starred review One of the Top 100 Books and One of the 5 Best Books in Religion for 2019, Publishers Weekly Christianity Today 2020 Book Award Winner (Spiritual Formation) Outreach 2020 Resource of the Year (Spiritual Growth) Foreword INDIES 2019 Honorable Mention for Religion This is not a book about Saint Augustine. In a way, it's a book Augustine has written about each of us. Popular speaker and award-winning author James K. A. Smith has spent time on the road with Augustine, and he invites us to take this journey too, for this ancient African thinker knows far more about us than we might expect. Following Smith's successful You Are What You Love, this book shows how Augustine can be a pilgrim guide to a spirituality that meets the complicated world we live in. Augustine, says Smith, is the patron saint of restless hearts--a guide who has been there, asked our questions, and knows our frustrations and failed pursuits. Augustine spent a lifetime searching for his heart's true home and he can help us find our way. "What makes Augustine a guide worth considering," says Smith, "is that he knows where home is, where rest can be found, what peace feels like, even if it is sometimes ephemeral and elusive along the way." Addressing believers and skeptics alike, this book shows how Augustine's timeless wisdom speaks to the worries and struggles of contemporary life, covering topics such as ambition, sex, friendship, freedom, parenthood, and death. As Smith vividly and colorfully brings Augustine to life for 21st-century readers, he also offers a fresh articulation of Christianity that speaks to our deepest hungers, fears, and hopes.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionOrientationHeart on the Run How to Hit the RoadAugustine Our Contemporary How to Find YourselfA Refugee Spirituality How to Live BetweenDetours on the Way to MyselfFreedom How to EscapeAmbition How to AspireSex How to ConnectMothers How to Be DependentFriendship How to BelongEnlightenment How to BelieveStory How to Be a CharacterJustice How to ProtestFathers How to Be BrokenDeath How to HopeHomecomingIndex

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Book SynopsisA brilliant introduction to prayer' Richard Rohr, Author of Everything BelongsOne of America's most beloved spiritual leaders and the New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage teaches anyone to converse with God in this comprehensive guide to prayer.What do we need to learn? That prayer changes usand so changes the world we live in; that God is always there before us; that it''s God''s action that makes the difference. Practical, comprehensive, and above all God-centered, this book is a deeply valuable companion for growing in faith.' Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of CanterburyIn The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, Father James Martin included a chapter on communicating with God. Now, he expands those thoughts in this profound and practical handbook. Learning to Pray explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform us when we make it a regular practice in our lives.A trusted Trade Review‘Prayer, Martin says, is building a relationship with God in the way other relationships are built: through conversing, listening, and spending time with one another. . . . With Martin's guidance, interested readers may see prayer as both the most natural yet transcendent thing in the world.’ Booklist ‘Personal, insightful, honest, practical, expansive, enriching, freeing, hopeful—these words only begin to describe this excellent book about prayer. Learning to Pray deserves to be in the hands and heart of anyone intent on engaging with the unfolding path of prayer.’Joyce Rupp, author of Anchors for the Soul ‘The life of prayer is essential for the believer. And yet so many people feel frightened by prayer. Fear not! James Martin has written a brilliant introduction to prayer, which will help you encounter the Living God, who wants to encounter you! Richard Rohr, author of Everything Belongs

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Book SynopsisGod''s Dream for Your Life Awaits You.A great dream is a statement of faith. Whether you dream of creating something beautiful or accomplishing something incredible, your dream is the first step God uses to develop your spiritual maturity and change your life. The Bible is full of stories of people whose God-given dreams became reality—but to get there, they had to take a journey of faith.In this 6-session video Bible Study (streaming code included), Rick Warren reveals how God uses six phases to develop your spiritual maturity while fulfilling the dreams God gives you.Sessions and video run times: How Faith and Dreaming Are Connected (25:30) Discovering God’s Dream for You (25:30) Making Wise Decisions (22:00) Persisting Through Delays (24:00) Dealing with Difficulties (28:00) From Dead Ends to Deliverance (25:30)  This study guide ha

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Book SynopsisIn this six-session video-based small group bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Gary Thomas uses a unique lens to look at parenting, moving beyond raising great children to becoming more holy as a person.What if one of God’s primary intentions for you as a parent isn’t about successfully raising perfect children, but about you becoming more holy? In Sacred Parenting Gary Thomas illustrates how God can transform lessons in raising children into opportunities to grow in the image of Christ.It will help you and your group, rediscover parenting from a different perspective: as a method of spiritual formation expressly designed by God to shape your soul in ways you could not imagine! This study will help you dig deeper into learning how God can transform dirty diapers, toddler tantrums, and a teenager’s silence into occasions for becoming more like Christ.Sessions include:The Soul-Transforming Journey of Parent

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Book SynopsisThe authors of volume 5 are nearly all accredited Godly Play trainers. It has been written not only to introduce you to some of the next generation of leaders in Godly Play, but also to make available to you the benefit of their experience and insight.The kind of help you will find here for your continuing development as a Godly Play teacher supplements the first four volumes of The Complete Guide to Godly Play and their related videos. You will find wisdom about developing the storyteller you already are. There is advice on how to manage time and space in the classical teaching and learning environment for Godly Play.Since there is nothing quite so practical as good theory, there are also reflections about children's education, their spirituality and a theology of childhood for adults. This information is based on what has been learned about children in Godly Play settings around the world so we adults can be guided toward entering the reality Jesus called "the Kingdom of Heaven."What's inside Volume 5: Practical Helps from Godly Play Trainers? Each chapter lends special insight to the teaching process. Chapter 1: Help with Telling Stories Chapter 2: Help with Managing Time Chapter 3: Help with Managing Space Chapter 4: Help with Nurturing Relationships: Congregations and Parents Chapter 5: Help with Nurturing Relationships: Teachers and Children Chapter 6: Going Deeper with Godly Play Table of Contents Chapter 1: Help with Telling Stories Chapter 2: Help with Managing Time Chapter 3: Help with Managing Space Chapter 4: Help with Nurturing Relationships: Congregations and Parents Chapter 5: Help with Nurturing Relationships: Teachers and Children Chapter 6: Going Deeper with Godly Play

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Book SynopsisA collection of resources for summer - prayers, responses, liturgies, songs, poems, reflections, meditations, sermons and stories. It offers resources for groups and individuals covering the weeks from Trinity to the Feast of the Transfiguration.

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Book SynopsisThe Classic Guide for Educators of Any Denomination What mission calls us to teach? How do societal issues-socialoppression, poverty, politics-affect what we teach, how we teachit, and how people learn? Who are our students? What and when arethey ready to learn? Once we understand these foundations, how canwe facilitate an educational experience that has the power to shapeand transform people and communities in life-giving ways offaith? In this classic text, Thomas Groome asks and answers these centralquestions, providing a comprehensive integration of the history,theory, and practice of modern religious education for a newgeneration of educators. His self-reflective approach-sharedpraxis-will inspire school teachers, students of religiouseducation, pastors, parents, and religious educators in localchurches who want to understand themselves, their mission, andtheir surroundings-to inform, form, and transform their students''lives. Anyone tugged by the callingTrade Review"Anyone tugged by the calling at the heart of education orreligious life can only cheer for the republication of this classicbook." --Robert Kegan, Harvard Graduate School of Education "Christian Religious Education is one of the most important books-if not the most important-on Christian education published duringthe last fifty years." --Don Browning, University of Chicago,coauthor, From Culture Wars to Common Ground: Religion and theAmerican Family Debate "Whether returning Christian Religious Education or reading it forthe first time, readers will discover freshness leaping from thepage; you will soon know why this formative book of the past is abeacon for the future-informative, inspiring, and wise!" --MaryElizabeth Moore, professor of theology and Christian education,Claremont School of Theology "Tom Groome combines the great masters of the past with the mostcreative innovators of the present to provide us with a modern dayclassic." --Virgilio P. Elizondo, founder, Mexican AmericanCultural CenterTable of ContentsTHE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. Education in Time. A Coming to Terms. THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. Education for the Kingdom of God. For Christian Faith. For Human Freedom. THE CONTEXT OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. On Becoming Christian Together. AN APPROACH TO CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: SHARED PRAXIS. In Search of a "Way of Knowing" for Christian ReligiousEducation. Some Philosophical Roots for a Praxis Way of Knowing. Shared Christian Praxis. Shared Praxis in Praxis. READINESS FOR CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION BY SHARED PRAXIS. Shared Praxis from a Piagetian Perspective. THE COPARTNERS IN CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. Our Students, Our Selves. Postscript: Until Break of Day. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisA brilliant introduction to prayer' Richard Rohr, Author of Everything BelongsOne of America's most beloved spiritual leaders and the New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage teaches anyone to converse with God in this comprehensive guide to prayer.What do we need to learn? That prayer changes usand so changes the world we live in; that God is always there before us; that it''s God''s action that makes the difference. Practical, comprehensive, and above all God-centered, this book is a deeply valuable companion for growing in faith.' Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of CanterburyIn The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, Father James Martin included a chapter on communicating with God. Now, he expands those thoughts in this profound and practical handbook. Learning to Pray explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform us when we make it a regular practice in our lives.A trusted Trade Review‘Prayer, Martin says, is building a relationship with God in the way other relationships are built: through conversing, listening, and spending time with one another. . . . With Martin's guidance, interested readers may see prayer as both the most natural yet transcendent thing in the world.’ Booklist ‘Personal, insightful, honest, practical, expansive, enriching, freeing, hopeful—these words only begin to describe this excellent book about prayer. Learning to Pray deserves to be in the hands and heart of anyone intent on engaging with the unfolding path of prayer.’Joyce Rupp, author of Anchors for the Soul ‘The life of prayer is essential for the believer. And yet so many people feel frightened by prayer. Fear not! James Martin has written a brilliant introduction to prayer, which will help you encounter the Living God, who wants to encounter you! Richard Rohr, author of Everything Belongs

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Book SynopsisThe Alliance for Catholic Education, referred to most commonly by its acronym ACE, is one of the best known and widely respected programs at the University of Notre Dame. The rock band U2 praised it during a concert at Notre Dame, the President of the United States acknowledged it in a valedictory address, and each year hundreds of students compete for admission. Established in 1994 by Fr. Timothy Scully, C.S.C., and Fr. Sean McGraw, C.S.C., ACE places more than 150 college graduates in over one hundred parochial schools throughout the United States. The overarching purpose of ACE is to improve Catholic schools, especially in underprivileged areas of the U.S., by enabling exceptionally talented students to teach in them. ACE, in turn, offers students two years of meaningful service and a graduate degree from Notre Dame.In Teaching Service and Alternative Teacher Education: Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education, Michael Pressley and his fellow contributors provTrade Review“Teaching Service and Alternative Teacher Education is highly significant to scholars and students in related disciplines. It reports on a program that is likely to be used as a model for similar programs for years to come. This volume will be an important resource for anyone who is interested in alternative teacher education. Readers cannot fail to be impressed by the ACE program—and they will learn a lot about the design and development of quality alternative teacher education.” —Joanna Williams, professor of psychology and education, Teachers College, Columbia University“ACE is an innovative program and has a worthy story to tell. Teaching Service and Alternative Teacher Education makes a solid contribution to the fields of Catholic education and teacher education reform. It will be significant for educators interested in innovative approaches to the design of teacher preparation experiences.” —Jennifer Whitcomb, assistant professor of education, University of Denver“Philanthropists interested in models for strengthening teacher training will find much to benefit them in this book.” —Philanthropist“Pressley effectively describes the history of ACE and the philosophical underpinnings of the program, including emphases on professional education, community, and spirituality. Pressley provides a very good understanding of these philosophical bases.” —Choice

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Book SynopsisReligion, Scholarship, and Higher Education explores foundational issues surrounding the interaction of religion and the academy in the twenty-first century. Featuring the work of eighteen scholars from diverse institutional, disciplinary, and religious backgrounds, this outstanding collection of essays issues from a three-year Lilly Seminar on Religion and Higher Education. Reflecting the diversity of the seminar participants, this insightful volume presents a wide variety of viewpoints on the role of religion in higher education and different approaches to religiously informed scholarship and teaching.Religion, Scholarship, and Higher Education is distinct in its orientation toward the personal and the practical. Contributors use personal examples to demonstrate how individual religious beliefs and backgrounds shape the way an educator approaches research and teaching.The first part of the book addresses foundational issues, offering a range of persTrade Review“This collection of essays is a lively read not only for scholars, institutional administrators, and foundation officers, but for anyone interested in the evolving role of religion in American intellectual life over the last half century. This well-edited book is comprised of short, thought-provoking pieces from some of the country’s leading lights in the humanities and social sciences. In first-person reflections, this collection offers a vivid and informative account of religion and scholarship over the last few decades and poses constructive questions for its future.” —Publishers Weekly“The connection between religion and higher education upsets some people and satisfies others, but this volume’s 18 essays plus epilog could please both parties. The essays offer an insightful and good-humored perspective on the links between religion and higher education. A strength of the collection is the distinguished and diverse retinue of participants, a rich mixture of Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and agnostics.” —Library Journal“[T]thoughtful essays from a seminar on religion and higher education. [T]he essays will no doubt be useful to people in the religion and higher education business.” —First Things, March 2002“The essays in Religion, Scholarship, & Higher Education cover a wide variety of topics, from whether religious beliefs affect students’ relationships with their teachers to how faith can influence the interpretation of poetry, and they each make a worthwhile contribution.” —The American Enterprise“This is clearly a definitive volume and should be taken seriously by anybody who wishes to investigate the topic of religion, scholarship and higher education.” —Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology“The book’s greatest merit is its accessibility, its coverage of a wide range of issues, its practical testimonies, its interdisciplinary and ecumenical range. For all of this, it can be greatly commended.” —Theology“Religion, Scholarship, and Higher Education is an outstanding collection of essays that serves to clarify, strengthen, and enrich the relationship between religion and the academy in the first decades of the twenty-first century. The collected wisdom in this volume will stimulate serious reflection on the vocation of teaching and research.” —Teaching Theology and Religion“[A] wonderful introduction to an issue of great import. . . . [A] most interesting volume.” —Catholic Southwest“[A] useful book.” —International Journal of Education and Religion“This is a valuable and well-edited book whose implications stretch wider than North America. The text helps to create a vision of what higher education might be.” —Journal of Beliefs & Values“[I]nsightful and useful. . . . This book will be useful to the scholar of higher education because it provides a variety of explanations—especially in terms of disciplines and fields of study in the social sciences and humanities—of the relationship of theology and religion to higher education. I recommend this work to anyone interested in religion and higher education.” —Journal of Higher Education“[T]he revealing autobiographical style adopted by many of the contributions . . . provides some interesting insights into the religious motivation of at least some examples of scholarship and teaching.” —Theory and Research in Education

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Book SynopsisExplores foundational issues surrounding the interaction of religion and the academy in the 21st century. Featuring the work of scholars from diverse institutional, disciplinary and religious backgrounds, it issues from a three-year Lilly Seminar on religion and higher education.Trade Review“This collection of essays is a lively read not only for scholars, institutional administrators, and foundation officers, but for anyone interested in the evolving role of religion in American intellectual life over the last half century. This well-edited book is comprised of short, thought-provoking pieces from some of the country’s leading lights in the humanities and social sciences. In first-person reflections, this collection offers a vivid and informative account of religion and scholarship over the last few decades and poses constructive questions for its future.” —Publishers Weekly“The connection between religion and higher education upsets some people and satisfies others, but this volume’s 18 essays plus epilog could please both parties. The essays offer an insightful and good-humored perspective on the links between religion and higher education. A strength of the collection is the distinguished and diverse retinue of participants, a rich mixture of Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and agnostics.” —Library Journal“[T]thoughtful essays from a seminar on religion and higher education. [T]he essays will no doubt be useful to people in the religion and higher education business.” —First Things, March 2002“The essays in Religion, Scholarship, & Higher Education cover a wide variety of topics, from whether religious beliefs affect students’ relationships with their teachers to how faith can influence the interpretation of poetry, and they each make a worthwhile contribution.” —The American Enterprise“This is clearly a definitive volume and should be taken seriously by anybody who wishes to investigate the topic of religion, scholarship and higher education.” —Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology“The book’s greatest merit is its accessibility, its coverage of a wide range of issues, its practical testimonies, its interdisciplinary and ecumenical range. For all of this, it can be greatly commended.” —Theology“Religion, Scholarship, and Higher Education is an outstanding collection of essays that serves to clarify, strengthen, and enrich the relationship between religion and the academy in the first decades of the twenty-first century. The collected wisdom in this volume will stimulate serious reflection on the vocation of teaching and research.” —Teaching Theology and Religion“[A] wonderful introduction to an issue of great import. . . . [A] most interesting volume.” —Catholic Southwest“[A] useful book.” —International Journal of Education and Religion“This is a valuable and well-edited book whose implications stretch wider than North America. The text helps to create a vision of what higher education might be.” —Journal of Beliefs & Values“[I]nsightful and useful. . . . This book will be useful to the scholar of higher education because it provides a variety of explanations—especially in terms of disciplines and fields of study in the social sciences and humanities—of the relationship of theology and religion to higher education. I recommend this work to anyone interested in religion and higher education.” —Journal of Higher Education“[T]he revealing autobiographical style adopted by many of the contributions . . . provides some interesting insights into the religious motivation of at least some examples of scholarship and teaching.” —Theory and Research in Education

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Book SynopsisThis book lists 100 essentials of biblical and Christian knowledge that all children should know before they are confirmed. For each item on the list, the author provides a brief description or explanation, followed by suggestions for exploring the subject with children and young people, including at confirmation level.

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Book SynopsisBook 2 in a series of worship and Bible storytelling resources for babies, toddlers and young childrenTrade ReviewThis is a book for those who take children seriously. A wonderful, practical resource for those who want to nurture children to be disciples in their own right: to pray, to engage with Scripture, to contribute to worship, to play their part as children of God. A must-read for those who work and volunteer with very young children. -- The Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of CanterburyDiddy Disciples is an invaluable blend of Sharon Moughtin-Mumby's reflective practice and contemporary thinking about childhood spirituality. The result is an exceptional and inspiring resource for churches working with the very youngest children. A powerful case for seeing why the very young deserve the very best, and this is a well-tested method for doing that. -- Dr Rebecca Nye, Godly Play expert; researcher and consultant in children's spiritualityDiddy Disciples is brilliant: a rich resource for leaders, simple and accessible for young children, inviting them into a lifelong journey of faith. Highly commended. -- The Rt Revd Steven Croft, Bishop of OxfordWe all think we know that biblical scholarship and Sunday School teaching belong in different worlds. Diddy Disciples shows that we are wrong. Sharon Moughtin-Mumby brings the wisdom of a professional biblical scholar to the task of communicating the essence of the Bible to very young children, unveiling the depths of biblical stories for young disciples. Very user-friendly material from which adults can learn too. -- The Revd John Barton, Emeritus Professor, Oxford UniversityI'm excited by Diddy Disciples! It's a celebration of Psalm 8.2 and all that babies and toddlers bring to worship. Movement, stories, actions and songs combine in carefully crafted sessions to draw groups into a new way of worshipping that will enrich everyone involved. I can't wait to start using it. -- The Revd Mary Hawes, National Children and Youth Adviser, The Church of EnglandDiddy Disciples is a first-rate programme of worship, prayer, and teaching materials designed particularly for babies, toddlers, and young children. -- Rona Orne * Church Times *Sharon Moughtin-Mumby demonstrates clearly how we can share worship with babies and toddlers. She, her team, and all the children who have helped to develop Diddy Disciples deserve our gratitude. -- Rona Orne * Church Times *This is the most comprehensive and creative resource that I have seen for this age-group. -- Rona Orne * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisSpiritual teacher and bridge-builder Brother David Steindl-Rast translates the Apostles' Creed for today, uncovering the deeper universal truths that can be an inspiration to all people. In Deeper than Words: Living the Apostles’ Creed, Brother David reexamines the words with which the early followers of Jesus summarized their faith. Reading line-by-line with an open perspective, he reveals the often overlooked message of trust, compassion, peace, love, and awareness contained in this widely known but rarely examined statement.       Deeper than Words moves beyond ritual and exclusivity and instead finds a deeper faith based in real human experience and the sense of limitless belonging that is shared by all people who seek to understand themselves and the world. The words of the Apostles' Creed are Christian, but its heart is a universal and timeless guide to fullness of life. From this transformation perspecti

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Book SynopsisPeople in churches and in homes everywhere are experiencing God's word in a whole new way. The Story Church Campaign Kit provides all tools you need to draw your congregation, small group, and family into the grand, unfolding story of the Bible as one sweeping narrative, arranged chronologically from Genesis to Revelation.

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Book SynopsisIn this five-week video Bible study, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges offers participants a practical guide for the next steps they can take to deepen their faith.

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Book SynopsisLead-er-shift [verb]: The act of nimbly adapting one’s leadership in the midst of rapid change.The term leadershift may be new to you, but the climate of change that demands it is not. As a leader, you already know that it takes more than staying the course to be successful. The key to not just surviving but to continual innovation, improvement, and influence is to learn how to leadershift.In the Leadershift Workbook, based on the bestselling book of the same name, author John C. Maxwell helps leaders make the changes the current fast-paced environment demands. He begins by helping leaders embrace seven principles to face every situation with flexibility and confidence: Continually learn, unlearn, and relearn Value yesterday, but live in today Rely on speed, but thrive on timing See the big picture as the picture keeps getting bigger Live in today, but think about tomo

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Book SynopsisWhat On Earth Am I Here For? is a six-week, video-based small group study of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. This curriculum kit for groups or individuals contains a copy of The Purpose Driven Life, one What On Earth Am I Here For? DVD, and one What On Earth Am I Here For? Study Guide.

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Book SynopsisIn this eight-session Bible study, Lisa Harper looks at the lives of the believers in Acts and how Jesus’ command to spread the gospel forever shaped their lives.

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Book SynopsisPastor Louie Giglio examines the story of David and Goliath to reveal how we must slay the giants of fear, rejection, complacency, anxiety, anger, and addiction in our lives.

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Book SynopsisOf all the books of the Bible, few are as fascinating or as intimidating as Revelation. Four grim horsemen, the Antichrist, the ten-horned beast, the ultimate battle at Armageddon, the mark of the beast. It''s no wonder that these images have griped the imagination of so many--and have been variously interpreted as symbolizing everything from Hitler and Gorbachev to credit cards and the Internet. Is the book of Revelation a blueprint for the future? A book of powerful symbolic imagery with warnings for the church? Is it essentially an imaginative depiction of historical events in the first century? Four Views on the Book of Revelation explores four interpretations of the book of the Apocalypse: Preterist – a historical interpretation, arguing that most of John’s prophecies occurred in the first century, soon after his writing of them. Idealist – a spiritual or symbolic interpretation, arguing that th

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Book SynopsisA workbook to help readers explore their hiding patterns and discover the freedom of connected relationshipsWhen we experience emotional injury, fear, shame, or pride, our first impulse is to hide the hurting parts of ourselves from God, others, and even ourselves. The problem is that when we hide our injuries and frailties, we run from the very things we need to heal and mature. What served as protection for a child becomes a prison to an adult.This workbook helps readers explore the hiding patterns they have developed and guides them toward the healing grace and truth that God has built into safe, connected relationships with himself and others.

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Book SynopsisRevised and updated, this introduction for current and future missionaries presents the theological, cultural, and strategic foundations for effective Christian missions. Written by veteran missionary and church planter Gailyn Van Rheenen, Missions takes you on a spiritual, intellectual, and personal tour of the issues involved with contemporary mission work.

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Book SynopsisThis six-session small group Bible study, start> Becoming a Good Samaritan, helps believers learn how to make an individual difference today, right where they live.

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Book SynopsisAre you searching for more than a surface reading of the Bible? These 52 weekly studies emphasize personal application and will draw you directly into God''s Word in order to love Him more. In this roll-up-your-sleeves look at Scripture from Anne Graham Lotz, each of the studies begins with a short reflection tied to the present day, providing you a springboard into the various passages presented from the Old and New Testaments. In a refreshing departure from other weekly Bible studies, the Anne doesn’t explain what the passage means or offer support on what she feels God is trying to say through Scripture. Instead, she asks insightful questions in each study, prompting you to personally dig into Scripture and discover God’s specific message for yourself.Into the Word is a spiritual study guide that leads you to the heart of God’s Word.

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Book SynopsisThrough this six-session small group Bible study, 40 Days of Love, pastor Rick Warren teaches participants to constantly focus on authentically loving God and loving others as their deepest desire and highest aspiration.

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Book SynopsisIn this six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Rick Warren helps you find the simple, straightforward answers in ancient Scripture that lead to purpose, peace and joy… starting today.Drawing from the examples of bible characters who faced many of the same issues we face today – stress, failure, crisis, loneliness, and change – Warren offers concise, practical insights you can understand and apply in order to move past ordinary struggles to experience a life of extraordinary peace and significance.Life’s difficult questions do have answers… answers from the Bible that can change your life.This Participant Guide features discovery questions, key verses, space for notes, guidelines for application, and much more.Sessions include: How Can I Cope with Stress? How Can I Rebound from Failure? How Can I Be Confident in Christ? How Can I Live above Average?

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Book SynopsisFuller Youth Institute Executive Director Dr. Kara E. Powell and youth expert Chap Clark use research from the Fuller Youth Institute’s “College Transition Project” to empower parents with positive and practical ideas to nurture within their kids a living, loving faith that lasts a lifetime.

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Book SynopsisThe 100 illustrations in this book are some of the hottest ever used -- short stories, parables, humorous anecdotes--all of them guaranteed to deliver the truth of God’s Word in a way that young people can understand and remember.Table of ContentsCONTENTS CONTRIBUTORS INTRODUCTION HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE ILLUSTRATIONS HOT ILLUSTRATIONS Alexander the Great An Answer to Prayer Awesome Obedience The Battleship and the Lighthouse The Bear in the Cave Beauty and the Beast The Bee Sting Beware of Curare Big Adventures The Big Rock The Blind Date The Blind Men and the Elephant The Blood of an Overcomer The Boat in the Window Bonny’s Bunny Born to Fly The Bottle Bought to Be Freed The Boy and the Circus Brandon’s Mess Caught in a Blizzard The Chicken and the Pig Choosing Mary The Circus Clown The Cliff The Coffin Coming Home Computer Grace The Cookie Snatcher Deadly Marbles The Diamond Merchant The Emperor Moth Eskimo Wolf Hunters Excuses, Excuses Face the Music Finish the Race The Flying V The Flying Wallendas Footprints in the Sand France, 1943 Getting the Word Out The Glove The Greatest Hitter in the World The Greyhound Races The Grocery Store Clerk Hannibal’s Fire The Hermit’s Gift The Hopeless Baseball Game How to Catch a Monkey The Insurance Claim Jesus and the Football Team The Jewelry Store Caper The Jigsaw Puzzle The Job Applicant The Kebbitch Itch The Kiss “Lambing” in New Zealand Laying Bricks or Building Cathedrals The Lifeboat The Lifesaving Station The Little Girl and the Piano The Long Jump Lost Dog---$50 Reward Love, Julie The Mirror A Night in the Haunted House Not Much of a Man The Oil Refinery Out at Home Plate The Painting of the Last Supper Pepe Rodriguez The Prince of Grenada The Queen of England Real Friends The Reverse Thread Right Decisions Rudolph and Olive The Secret Sharpen Your Ax The Smartest Teenager in the World The Society Woman Sparky, the Loser The Suicide Attempt Teddy and Miss Thompson Telemachus Goes to Rome Thermometers and Thermostats Thomas Edison, the Failure The Three Spinners The Tightrope and the Wheelbarrow Too Many Engineers The Tractor Pull The Turtle Picnic Uncompromising Determination The W.C. We’ll Get Back to You What Life? When Do I Die? The Window Wrong Way Riegel You, Too, Can Be Beautiful We want your Hot Illustration! Index to Topics

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Book SynopsisThe Story reveals the unfolding, grand narrative of the Scriptures. Using the clear, accessible text of the NIV, this rendering of the Bible allows its stories, poems, and teachings to come together in a single, compelling read. Now with the exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface.

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Book SynopsisGod created us to crave more of Him in our lives. . .but it''s so easy to misplace that craving, overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. What would happen if you started listening to your cravings for your Creator?In this Participant''s guide (designed for use with the Made to Crave DVD, sold separately), bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst with teach you how to identify your cravings and understand how they point you up to God.For a woman struggling with unhealthy eating habits, Made to Crave will equip you to: Break the ''I''ll start again Monday cycle'' and start feeling good about yourself today. Stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale and make peace with the body you''ve been given. Discover how weight loss struggles aren''t a curse but, rather, a blessing in the making. Replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scr

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Book Synopsisstart> Becoming a Good Samaritan Teen Edition Participant's Guide is a companion to the groundbreaking DVD hosted by Jarret and Jeannie Stevens (sold separately). It helps teenagers learn how to make an individual difference today, right where they live.

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