"Let me tell you a story." Since childhood, those introductory words capture our attention like few others. Sharing our faith story can be just as captivating and influential. Yet even the most experienced public speaker may need help preparing a sermon that's both engaging and compelling. Franks and Carroll will help you develop such a sermon. The parts of this helpful experiential guide for novice and already certified lay speakers include types of sermons, from exegetical to topical to t...

The instructor's guide for From Your Heart to Theirs breaks down the important ideas to relate as you plan your study, the preparatory tasks, logistical steps, and the session goals in short, practical outlines. The objective of this guide is to help you lead a 10-hour advanced course for certified lay speakers who want to hone their preaching skills. During the training, you'll lay the groundwork to help each speaker present a short sermon, and you'll be equipped to coach them to do their be...

Stewardship is a dirty word in most churches. Pastors preach about it knowing they must while members sit uncomfortably through the "it's-that-time-again" sermons and other appeals. Afire with God urges ministries and congregations to become stewards-in-action of all God has entrusted to us. Members go beyond thinking in terms of dollars contributed to see stewardship as becoming living examples of the gospel. "Real stewardship is radical, which means going to the roots of our faith," writes ...

"Imagine my surprise at learning that I needed to get to know my God a lot better." Despite lifelong Christian devotion, Maricle came to this startling realization after experiencing a crisis of faith. "I needed answers that are so fundamental to Christian living," he writes. "Why is this life, at times, so hard? Why isn't my faith helping me? Why am I finding no comfort in prayer? These questions—and the struggles behind them—challenged all my notions of faith, my perception of God and the...

Come back home to God! Salvation is a central theme in John Wesley's writings. Wesley urged people to become and continually grow as committed disciples of Jesus Christ. His appeals and reasoning are just as relevant today as they were in the 18th century. "Wesley's 'Way of Salvation' is a road map of the journey of humanity toward God," write the authors. "It's a pathway of grace in which we respond to God with increasing self-awareness of our separation and our need to come back home. Our a...

Even when your life and faith seem broken, God loves you and wants you to enjoy a life abundant in blessings, freedom, and opportunity. Motivational speaker, spiritual guide, and mentor to women, Patricia Wilson offers a wise and lighthearted take on the serious business of maturing in faith. Her deliciously candid descriptions of contemporary life reveal the ways we lose touch with God. Then she shows us how to reconnect and stick close. "Sticking close to God is not as easy as I thought it ...

Let the Children Give provides adults the resources to demonstrate and teach a stewardship lifestyle to kids. Stewardship is more than a church committee assigned to raise money for the budget. Christians are expected to act as responsible caretakers of everything we've been given by God. All have abilities to accomplish this work, and the apostle Paul reminds us that everyone, including children, must work together. Each of us holds an important role in Christ's mission. "With our abilities ...

Like many mainline denominations, The United Methodist Church is ailing. Declining membership, worship and Sunday school attendance, outreach, and giving—all troubling signs. In an age of megachurches, "Ten Steps to…" congregational self-help programs point to models that may not be in the church's best interest. Following the suggestions of this new conventional wisdom may reverse the trends and attract thousands to highly entertaining services (bolstered by a strong budget and marketing pla...

Many of us go through our busy lives with many acquaintances but few true close friends. Most of our daily conversations focus on the mundane, or we barely scratch the surface of what's going on in our friends' lives as we try to catch up on the run. We weren't meant to travel alone. Yet many of us are afraid to reveal our innermost thoughts, of being too nosy or not "religious enough" to commit to spiritual kinships. Using the story of Ruth and Naomi as an example, Stephanie Ford describes h...