Prayer is a relationship with God that grows and matures over time. "We can be mature in one area of our Christian walk and still be a beginner in other areas," Burger writes. "That is not an indictment but an acknowledgment of the different ways we grow. If we are still a beginner in our prayer life, God simply desires us to take the next step… We are not striving in our own strength. God desires and provides for an intimate prayer life for all believers." Burger's study combines scriptural ...

Conscious of the need for a closer walk with God, of a deeper spiritual need . . . I covenant with God to seek an enrichment of my own spiritual life by observing a period of devotions each day. —The Upper Room Covenant (1935) This is the story of a little magazine and how it grew. From its first issue in spring 1935 to now, The Upper Room daily devotional guide is prayer raised to a lifestyle. The vision has always been to reestablish the practice of daily prayer and Bible reading. But the...

As an attorney, Joy Thornburg Melton understands the need to educate clergy concerning basics of ethical practice within their particular leadership role in the church. She also wants to help clergy become aware of the potential traps they face: isolation, improper self-care, and lack of accountability. Safe Sanctuaries for Ministers explores three large areas of special concern to clergy: Counseling and the potential improprieties within the counseling relationship Finances and the potenti...

Discover what it truly means to be an involved member of your church and grow in your faith. Unlike many books on church membership, Being a Christian in the Wesleyan Tradition does not spend a lot of time on bylaws or matters of organization. Instead, the author speaks to the heart of our participation: how we belong, what we believe, how we live, and the possibilities for our growth in faith. Christians belong to a community of faith, John Gooch stresses. Being a Christian in the Wesleyan...

Caregivers have a front-row seat to suffering. Helping someone (most likely a close loved one) through disease, pain, frailty, and death exacts a tremendous toll. In the midst of caregiving, we often feel inadequate, fatigued, and overwhelmed with despair. The thought of reaching out for help does not occur to many caregivers, but we cannot go it alone-we need to find ways to connect with others. Self-care is also critical to our mental and physical health. Nell Noonan offers 150 honest and ...

Do no harm. Do good. Practice the spiritual disciplines. Watch over one another in love. ?John Wesley's General Rules Why is this so hard? Does being a part of the Wesleyan tradition make any difference in living out your faith? Does Methodism offer guidance as we look to the future and seek renewal? Methodist Christians sometimes exhibit the most unchristian attitudes and behavior. People notice. And it's reflecting badly on the church, but we can?individually and colle...

Entering the Psalms Participant's Book is available for small group members. A 6-week study opens the door to experience the Psalms in a new way! This leader's guide includes a process and resources for an introductory meeting and 6 weekly meetings of either 45 or 90 minutes. The longer format includes group lectio divina (contemplation of and individual response to scripture) in each session. "O taste and see that the Lord is good." — Psalm 34:8 This is a different Bible study from most. E...

The story of how a church dying for more than two decades found its soul—and a new identity. In the foreword to this book, Tex Sample says: "The Christ who is Lord of the Church stands at the margins of the world. To forget either Christ as Lord or the Christ at the margins is to lose our ways as the church…In this faith-inspiring book, John Flowers and Karen Vannoy call the church again to the Christ who is Lord who appears at the margins of established, respectable life." Not Just a One-Nig...

Entering the Psalms Leader's Guide is also available. A 6-week study opens the door to experience the Psalms in a new way! "O taste and see that the Lord is good." — Psalm 34:8 This is a different Bible study from most. Entering the Psalms invites you to consider how a collection of poetic praises and laments dating from 1400 BC to 500 BC relate to your own life and experiences. Finding that connection is at the heart of formational reading, and that's the thread of the "Meeting God in Scrip...

Does Your Church Have a Prayer? presents a model of revitalization, transformation, and discipleship for congregations to fulfill Jesus' prayer in John 17. Your church can move from maintenance to mission, from defending current realities to living into a joyful future. The authors provide pastors and church leaders with a step-by-step planning guide that will equip them for the task of leading the church in a scripturally grounded visioning and strategic ministry planning process. "Every chu...