Experts on congregational life tell us that ministry in the next century will depend more on called, trained, and committed lay leadership than it has since the days of the early church. But how will congregations recruit these lay leaders? How will they develop new models for training and equipping them for all the ministries of the church? What will the role of clergy be in adopting this new partnership that Leonard Sweet calls "ancient-future ministry"? Equipping the Saints seeks to help congregational leaders answer these and other questions related to mobilizing lay ministry in the years ahead. The chapters include: "Shall We Abolish the Clergy or the Laity?" by Michael Christensen; "Team Building Through Spiritual Gifts" by Brian Bauknight; "The Loss and Recovery of the Biblical Basis for Ministry" by Russell Moy; "Out of the Pew, Into the World" by Jessica Moffat; "The Seeker Service in the Mainline Church" by Eric Park; "Circuit Riding in the 21st Century" by Rob Duncan; and, "Life Together: Reclaiming the Ministry of Small Groups" by Christine Anderson. Key Features: - Responds to emerging trends that promise to be determinative of the shape of ministry in the next century - Addresses an important practical need in congregations - Offers help in formulating new models for congregational ministry Key Benefits: - Readers will understand the important emerging need for called, trained, and committed laypersons to engage in ministry - Readers will learn how to recruit and train lay leaders - Readers will identify a new model of clergy/lay ministry partnership

Father's Love Letter by Barry Adams is a series of paraphrased Scriptures that take on the form of a love letter from God and will impact your heart, soul and spirit. Experience the love you have been looking for all your life. This gift book contains beautiful full-color photographs and fifty-seven powerful devotional thoughts. A prayer that will help you put into words your response to God follows each devotional thought.

Equipping The Saints is based on Ephesians 4:12, and designed to be a devotional for spiritual growth for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Ministry preparation. It is also meant to assist the reader in being a minister of reconciliation for the Lord Jesus Christ, to a lost and dying world.

Christ in the Passover—Celebrate a Traditional Christian Passover Seder. The Passover is the Old Testament feast that celebrates and remembers God’s liberation of Israel from Egypt. It also foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. In just 14 pages, you will learn the history of this special day and the symbolism in the Passover that points to Jesus Christ. Christ in the Passover also includes a Christian Passover Seder script that can be used by Christians year-round. This pamphlet: Shows the parallels between the Passover in the Old Testament and the work of Jesus Christ as the perfect Passover lamb in the New Testament. This is a good way of explaining the Jewish roots of Christianity. Includes a Christian Passover Seder script, with everything you will need, including the recipes. Our staff held a seder and it was very meaningful. It takes only 30 minutes and is good for all ages. Children have fun participating finding the hidden matzah bread that symbolizes Jesus. The Seder can be used at home, in a small group, a Bible study, or a class. Gives insights into the symbolism in the Lord’s Supper and the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. Christ in the Passover is an excellent Bible study topic at any time, but especially near Easter. The Christian Passover Seder script is a touching worship experience for Sunday school classes and lessons on Moses and the Exodus. This pamphlet even includes the Passover Seder recipes. 14 panels, fits inside most Bibles, 8.5 x 5.5 inches, unfolds to 38 inches long This [Passover] is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time. —Exodus 12:14, The Holy Bible This Christ in the Passover Pamphlet is Packed with Fascinating Facts Christians celebrate the Passover as a holiday that commemorates God’s miraculous rescue of Israel from Egyptian captivity. The Lord instituted the Passover feast nearly 3,500 years ago to remind his people of how much he loved them. The Passover is meaningful to Christians today because it is packed with symbolism that points to Jesus Christ. The messianic symbolism in the Passover is a powerful message of salvation in Christ. Christ in the Passover gives hundreds of facts at a glance, including: The Passover story from the Bible—celebrating the Exodus from Egypt The parallels between the Passover in the Old Testament and the work of Jesus Christ as the perfect Passover lamb in the New Testament. This is a good way of explaining the Jewish roots of Christianity. The symbolism of the perfect lamb The similarities between Passover and the Lord’s Supper A Christian Passover Seder script, with everything you will need, including the recipes. Our staff held a seder and it was very meaningful to everyone. It takes only 30 minutes and is good for all ages. Children have fun finding the hidden matzah bread that symbolizes Jesus. The Christian Seder can be used at home, in a small group, a classroom or a Bible study. Christ in the Passover shows six ways that the Passover in the Old Testament points to Jesus, who was called the “Lamb of God.” Why is the Passover story important for Christians today? At some point, you will face hard times, tough problems, and unfair circumstances. It’s good to know that when times are tough, God loves you and watches out for you. Passover is a reminder of God’s control over earthly events and ultimate victory over sin and death. Christ in the Passover will increase your faith in God as you learn that Jesus was sent to earth to become the Passover Lamb for all humanity.

The biblical model for church leadership is found not only in pastors but also in teams of elders who oversee, shepherd, teach, equip and guide the community into God's mission. In this practical guide, J.R. Briggs and Bob Hyatt unpack the role, character and posture of a mission-oriented elder.

Once upon a time, Moses had had enough. Exhausted by the challenge of leading the Israelites from slavery to the Promised Land, Moses cried out to God, "What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? . . . If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me" (Exodus 11:11, 15). If that sounds hauntingly familiar to you, you may be the senior pastor of a contemporary church. The burden of Christian leadership is becoming increasingly unbearable--demanding skills not native to the art of pastoring; demanding time that makes sabbath rest and even normal sleep patterns seem extravagant; demanding inhuman levels of efficiency, proficiency and even saintliness. No wonder pastors seem and even feel less human these days. No wonder they burn out or break down at an alarming rate; no wonder the church is missing the mark on its mission. In Creating a Missional Culture, JR Woodward offers a bold and surprisingly refreshing model for churches--not small adjustments around the periphery of a church's infrastructure but a radical revisioning of how a church ought to look, from its leadership structure to its mobilization of the laity. The end result looks surprisingly like the church that Jesus created and the apostles cultivated: a church not chasing the wind but rather going into the world and making disciples of Jesus.

You are called to lead. This book will help. We are on the cusp of the greatest move of God our generation has ever seen! But, if the right leadership culture is not in place, this new revival will never survive. Jesus' empowering leadership completely transformed the disciples from everyday men and women into revivalists who turned the world upside down. Today's revival needs the same kind of supernatural leadership! Whatever role you find yourself in, the fact is that you are called to be a leader to the people around you, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Equipping the Saints, Paul and Susan Kummer share from their decades of experience as pastors and mentors, leading a culture that builds the Kingdom of God with signs, wonders and miracles. In Equipping the Saints you will: Receive an impartation of supernatural grace to lead from the heart of Jesus. Be equipped to create a Culture of Nurture that develops strong and whole people. Be empowered with practical tools that will sustain you in challenging times. Demolish the Six Enemies that seek to distract and diminish your effectiveness in leadership. Follow the Model of Jesus in humility, hunger, and vulnerability. Experience the great joy of leading people who will transform the world through business, the arts, prophetic community, education, and government. It’s time for you to step into your calling and release revivalists in whatever sphere you have been placed!