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This is the sixth and final volume in the Feasting on the Word Worship Companion series, which provides liturgical pieces used in preparing for worship. It offers a multitude of poetic prayers and responsive readings for all parts of worship for churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary. In...

Robert Callahan validates the anger and betrayal felt by Black Christians who worship in proximity to white Christians, offers advice for healing church hurt, and encourages Black Christians to seek spiritual wholeness wherever it can be found--even outside the church.

This book weaves together narratives, insights, and experiences from diverse congregations at the forefront of this movement. Readers will be inspired to look at the unfolding narrative of unaffordable housing in a new way and be inspired to shape their ministry to harness all available resources to foster access and justice by housing neighbors.

In this critical work, liturgical scholar Paul Galbreath brings together key theological insights and historical analysis to offer a theological roadmap of where the Reformed tradition has traveled in order to propose directions for where it is heading.From the time of John Calvin until today, Reformed theology and worship have acknowledged Word and sacrament as central to its Christian identity. Yet the ways in which Scripture is read and used in worship and the ways in which baptism and the Lord's Supper are experienced have varied and developed throughout the history of the Reformed church. By exploring key liturgies, confessions, directories for worship, and theological movements, this book examines common theological themes and commitments that have undergirded worship as well as ways that our understandings and practices have developed in light of new contexts and challenges. Historical insights from the Reformed tradition provide a basis for exploring patterns of worship that maintain the commitment to Word and sacrament while proposing new ways in which Scripture, baptism, and the Lord's Supper can be experienced in the postmodern context. The study of how theological insights have prompted liturgical change provides a roadmap for how worship can adapt to address significant concerns that we face in our communities, congregations, and personal lives, such as caring for the earth and responding to the needs of the poor. Altogether, Word and Sacrament offers constructive and practical directions that will lead to congregational renewal.Martha Moore-Keish writes in her foreword, "Shaped by his years of serving as a pastor, theologian, and seminary professor deeply engaged in liturgical and sacramental renewal, Galbreath argues that our theological presuppositions shape liturgical development. This was true for Calvin in the sixteenth century, for Barth in the early twentieth century, for the formation of the Worshipbook and the Book of Common Worship in the late twentieth century, and it remains true today. Given this reality, he argues, we need to make 'conscious theological choices for the language and images that we use in worship."

Is It a Sermon? is an informative and daring call to blur the boundaries of the sermon genre, exploring the "shoreline" of homiletics, or the place where preaching laps up against other modes of discourse. Focusing on African American preachers who play at the boundaries of the sermon genre, McCray explores how preaching merges with song, quilting, dance, prayer, storytelling, and activism. Genre play proves central to integrating ancestral wisdom in preaching.

Christians hope for life in glory, but according to Scripture, such life is not to be conceived as leaving this world behind. On the contrary, Christians hope for the renewal of this world: it is the same creation that God made "in the beginning" that God glorifies and redeems at the end.

In a world fixated on outward appearances, discover the joy of cultivating an inward relationship with the Spirit, where virtues like love, joy, and self-control blossom naturally."The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23aThe apostle Paul paints a beautiful picture when he describes the fruit of the Spirit but all too often, we reduce this list of virtues into a checklist of attributes to pursue and strive for. However, pastor and author Eugenia Gamble contends that this understanding is backwards. The Holy Spirit is the One who grows and develops those attributes within us as we pursue our relationship with God. By tending that relationship, the virtues of God develop and blossom as a fruit grows on a well-tended tree.Tending the Wild Garden explores the true meaning behind each of the virtues in Paul's list, guiding us to discover anew what it means to be a deeply loved child of God indwelt by God's Spirit. Gamble helps us to move beyond the checklist mentality of traditional understandings of the fruit of the Spirit, to cultivate our relationship with God, and to uproot the "weeds" that could threaten the flourishing of the fruit in our lives.Key Features of this Bible Study:Ten Chapters/Sessions introduce the garden and explore each of the nine aspects of the fruit of the SpiritSix daily devotions in each chapter with daily Scripture, reflections, and spiritual practicesQuestions for personal and group discussionLet the fruit of the Spirit be more than just words on a page-they're the living expressions of God's love within you. Dare to cultivate a life overflowing with love, joy, peace, and so much more.

Step into Advent with this captivating study and devotional, where angelic encounters come to life, echoing the timeless message of overcoming fear.What would you do if you were not afraid?Life can be daunting, filled with uncertainty and fears. It wasn't any different two thousand years ago when Jesus was born. An aged priest is told he is about to become a father for the first time. A young woman is told she is going to give birth - outside the protection of marriage. A simple carpenter is asked to believe the impossible. A group of shepherds' night on a hill is interrupted by a bright host of angels in the sky.Yet, each of these encounters begins with the same refrain: do not be afraid.Those words, though, are not just words of comfort; they are an invitation and a calling from God. In this captivating Advent study and devotional, pastor Erin Wathen challenges us to take this timeless message and apply it to our lives today. Calling All Angels asks us to contemplate what would change in our relationships, vocations, congregations, and communities if we have the courage to overcome our fears like Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and the Shepherds in the story.Included in this book are:Weekly studies perfect for individuals or groupsQuestions for reflection and discussionDaily reflectionsWorship resources including liturgies, prayers, and children's momentsAn uplifting music playlist to accompany you through the Advent seasonIn addition to the wealth of resources for group study and worship found within the book, to further enhance your seasonal journey, digital resources, including images for displaying during worship services or group study sessions, a Spotify playlist, and chapter introduction videos from the author are available at www.wjkbooks.com/CallingAllAngels.

God's Gift of Generosity is ideal for pastors who must engage in one of the most uncomfortable tasks of their role: asking people for money.Why does generosity matter, and why should we give back to God?Tailored specifically for pastors and lay leaders navigating the delicate task of stewardship, this insightful book transcends the mundane "how" of giving to explore the profound "why" behind our acts of generosity.In this book Travis skillfully discusses the essence of generosity in three thought-provoking sections. Initially, he invites readers to ponder "what" generosity truly entails, painting a vivid picture of God's boundless generosity woven throughout the entirety of Scripture. From there, he considers the "so what" question, confronting the challenges of practicing generosity today in a world consumed by materialism and acquisition. Finally, in the enlightening "now what" segment, Travis offers a practical roadmap for church leaders, equipping them with the tools and insights needed to navigate stewardship campaigns with grace and confidence.With a blend of scholarly insight, heartfelt conviction, and practical advice, God's Gift of Generosity serves as a beacon of wisdom and encouragement for those seeking to cultivate a spirit of generosity in their congregations, encouraging all to celebrate the timeless nature of God's generosity and translate its profound truths into tangible, transformative actions in our contemporary world.

Prophets beyond Activism insightfully challenges the common progressive narrative that the prophets of ancient Israel were primarily concerned with social justice. Instead it daringly offers more life-giving ways of engaging the prophetic books for the causes of justice.

This volume significantly helps us understand Jewish interpretations of Torah, preoccupations with purity, penchants for creating new prayers, the need to bless the Creator at all times, the sacredness of the land, eschatology, and celebrating the importance of the Creator "God" and "Israel." Eldon J. Epp and Larry Hurtado provide the Qumran Greek Fragments. Almost all of the volume is the work of James Charlesworth with Lea Berkuz, but contributions by Daniel Gurtner, Blake Jurgens, and one contribution each by Jolyon Pruszinski and B. Allen complete the volume. Henry Rietz and Loren Johns served as Associate Editors.

Kari creates a seed bank in an effort to save her beloved delicia tree from extinction. Includes author's note on seed banks.

Drawing from Greco-Roman history, Second-Temple Jewish studies, archaeology, the social world of the New Testament, parable studies, and the burgeoning literature on Galilee, The People of the Parables describes life in first-century Galilee as it was experienced by the characters in Jesus' parables.R. Alan Culpepper assesses both primary literature and recent research on Galilee--including important archaeological discoveries--and fashions a new and insightful social history of Galilee, the people of the parables, and the historical context of Jesus' ministry.Culpepper builds this history by elucidating the lives of first-century Galileans featured in Jesus' parables: children, women, daughters, mothers, widows, fathers, sons, landowners, tenants, day laborers, debtors, farmers, fishermen, shepherds, merchants, travelers, innkeepers, masters, slaves, tax collectors, judges, Pharisees, priests, Levites, Samaritans, bandits, and, finally, Jesus. Who these people were--their place in Galilean society, how they lived, socialized, worshiped, and conducted business; how they were educated--is described in straightforward, nontechnical language. Culpepper brings new meanings to the parables for today's readers by shedding light on the people of Galilee in the time of Jesus.

John Pavlovitz has inspired millions to keep boldly loving both neighbors and strangers throughout the years of Trump's hate-mongering campaign and presidency and continues to be a voice of sanity and urgency when so much is still at stake.It's a scary time for America, with rights for women and transgender people being rolled back, the truth about Black history and experience being silenced, and unrestricted gun violence on the rise. People who value inclusion, compassion, and the common good are understandably anxious and angry-but we can't give up hope. We need motivation to keep fighting for justice.This inspiring volume features Pavlovitz's most important writing from the past several years alongside brand-new essays to provide the encouragement, stamina, and direction we need to keep going, even when things feel bleak.Reviews"John Pavlovitz's Worth Fighting For is a stirring playbook for Christians who strive to ensure that kindness triumphs over toxicity. Forthright and encouraging, Worth Fighting For envisions a grassroots revolution of love led by a 'compassionate coalition of those who give a damn.'"-Foreword Reviews"John's writing is both prophetic and empathetic: bold in its call to social action while keenly aware of the inner workings of the human heart. This book is honest about the dangers of these days, but it beautifully reminds us that we still have agency in what happens next." -Thom Hartmann, New York Times best-selling author and progressive talk show host"John's new book is an inspiring call to action for anyone who wants to learn how to tap into their humanity and help repair our turbulent and troubled world. With wisdom and insight, John ignites the spark of hope, urging us all to stand up, speak out, and push back against the tide of cruelty currently washing over all of us." -Shannon Watts, Activist and the founder of Moms Demand Action"Leave it to John Pavlovitz to give you hope while calling you to fight even harder in what feels like an impossible battle for the heart and soul of our country. He shows us how to hang on to our sanity and courage, so that we can maintain the strength it will take to bring honor and decency back into our nation's politics." -Mary Engelbreit, artist and illustrator"John Pavlovitz is one of those people who reminds you there's still good in the world. When cruelty becomes popular love becomes brave, and it's writing like this that inspires the courage we need to come together and fix what's broken. I feel deeply grateful for this book." -Leigh McGowan, PoliticsGirl"John is truly a national treasure. His kindhearted, compassionate words here provide support and wisdom for good people working for a better world. This book is a work of art." -Lindy Li, political commentator and strategist

In Proclaiming the Parables, noted preacher and scholar Thomas G. Long moves away from past treatment of the parables primarily as literary devices and moves toward an emphasis on their theological impact as pointers to the kingdom of God.While the parables are indeed significant poetic literary creations that have enchanted readers over the centuries, their main power, he claims, lies in their disclosure of the kingdom of God, which is not merely an idea, nor even just a complex symbol with generative and centrifugal force, but an event: the inbreaking of the life of God into human history and experience.Long sees parables not merely as creative figures of speech but as GPS devices taking hearers to those places where the event of God is happening all around us. This book provides two chapters for each synoptic Gospel. The first focuses on the Gospel as a whole and the parables' place in it, and the second provides preachers and teachers with detailed exegetical and homiletical commentary for each major parable in that Gospel. Two introductory chapters additionally situate this book in the history and theology of the parables' interpretation and address questions that preachers have about preaching the parables. Preachers who consult this volume will be informed about each major parable, guided through the controversies regarding interpretation, and stimulated to preach on the parable in fresh, faithful, and creative ways.

The Connections Worship Companion is an essential resource for leaders and planners of Christian worship services.This volume offers complete liturgies--from the call to worship to the closing charge, with prayers and litanies for every need in between--for all worshiping occasions for the season after Pentecost of Year B. Part of the Connections commentary series, these worship resources help congregations illuminate the connections between Scripture and liturgical rhythms.The Connections Worship Companion is a six-volume series, with each volume focusing on a different season of the Christian year. Each volume provides three kinds of materials to enhance your liturgical experience. First, there are "Making Connections" essays at the beginning of each major section, which introduce the primary theological themes of the Christian year, highlight particular biblical texts, point to distinctive features of the lectionary cycle, and offer practical and pastoral guidance. Second, there are seasonal/repeating resources, which are liturgical texts intended for multiple uses during a particular span of time in the Christian year, promoting diachronic connections from one Sunday to the next. Last, there are resources for each Sunday or festival in the Christian year, which promote synchronic connections between the liturgy and the lectionary. The combination of these resources assists worship planners in assembling complete orders of worship for the Lord's Day.Contributors to this volume include Claudia L. Aguilar Rubalcava, Mamie Broadhurst, Marci Auld Glass, Marcus A. Hong, Kimberly Bracken Long, Emily McGinley, Kendra L. Buckwalter Smith, Samuel Son, Slats Toole, and Byron A. Wade.

Robert Turner provides an accessible guide for individuals and groups wanting to influence significant institutional action while also acting on their own to repair the effects of racial injustice in our communities, churches, and spheres of influence. Dividing into categories of individual, social, institutional, and spiritual repair, Turner offers more than one hundred actions readers can begin practicing and implementing immediately.

Homiletics textbooks often discourage the use of humor in preaching, regarding it as trivializing or distracting. The result is that many preachers have failed to understand humor's positive power, demoting it to the opening joke to get a guaranteed guffaw to warm up the crowd. Humor Us!, the second volume in the "Preaching and... series," is a collaborative effort by homiletician Alyce M. McKenzie and humor scholar Owen Hanley Lynch that promotes humor, a force capable of great good, to its rightful place in the pulpit. Establishing humor as a divine gift, Humor Us! opens to preachers the world of humor studies with its positive portrayal of humor's usefulness to speak truth to power, unite people in their common humanity, and strengthen them to cope and survive in tough times.Humor Us! helps preachers understand how humor works and shows them, in very practical and specific ways, how preachers can put it to work in their sermons. It combines the wealth of knowledge of two highly regarded scholars-practitioners to show how humor can become a potent tool for sharing the good news in sermons. McKenzie and Lynch prove that humor, when applied thoughtfully, can foster compassion and a sense of common humanity, help challenge an unjust status quo, and invite listeners into a shared experience of the presence of God.

One of the theological classics of the twentieth century, Niebuhr's Moral Man and Immoral Society argues that using moral persuasion and shaming to affect the behavior of such collectives as corporations and nation states is fruitless, as these groups will inevitably seek to promote only their self-interest. He calls for a realistic assessment of group behavior and enumerates how individual morality can mitigate social immorality.This edition includes a foreword by Cornel West that explores the continued interest in Niebuhr's thought and its contemporary relevance.