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Wesleyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity
by Ashley BogganLearn what it means to “submit to be more vile” for today’s Methodists.Wesleyan Vile-tality calls us back to the roots of our identity. Centered on the moment John Wesley “submitted to be more vile" in spreading the love of God to all people, Ashley Boggan argues that Wesleyan vile-tality is at the core of who we are as Methodists. As rule-benders, rabble-rousers, and outcast-embracers, those early Methodists stood out and stood up. She traces how that original identity was lost as the predecessor denominations to The United Methodist Church grew and began to embrace respectability over “vile-tality.” In an accessible and engaging account of a fascinating history, these stories of our past call us to understand who we were, question who we are, and reclaim who we should be. Each chapter includes questions for personal reflection or group study.
A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader
by Rueben P. JobA Wesleyan Spiritual Reader provides resources for a 26-week devotional experience. The volume includes Scripture, spiritual readings (primarily quotes from the writings of John Wesley), and an essay by the author. This material is woven into a pattern for daily prayer and reflection. This devotional experience will lead readers to live with Wesley's ideas and spirit as a window or vehicle for reaching God. Among the 26 themes explored are: Scriptural Christianity; Life in Christ; Reaching Out to the Poor; The Means of Grace; Holiness of Life; Justifying Grace; The Ministry of All God's People; Sanctifying Grace; and God's Love and Ours. While intended for devotional use by both clergy and laity, pastors will also find this a helpful resource for sermon preparation. This wonderful guide to deeper spirituality will become a cherished companion for all who seek to grow in faith and knowledge of God.
Untangling Faith Women's Bible Study Leader Guide: Reclaiming Hope in the Questions Jesus Asked
by Amberly NeeseYour questions can lead to a deeper faith and trust in God.Have you ever felt you struggled to find your faith footing? Join Amberly Neese in she explores the questions Jesus asked as a way to reclaim that faith. Chapters explore our own questions like Can God Be Trusted? and How Can I Grow in Faith. Amberly’s unique humor and wit help the whole group find their way through deep and rich issues of personal faith, doubt, and growth.Components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook with daily reading and reflection, a full Leader Guide to help plan full group sessions, and video sessions with six 20 to 25-minute segments (with closed captioning).
Calm: How to End Destructive Conflict in Your Church
by Mary Gladstone-Highland Kathryn E. Stokes Christina WichertGuide your church to proactively make decisions and deal with conflict.Calm: How to End Destructive Conflict in Your Church is a guidebook written for United Methodist churches and church leaders to help them proactively make decisions and deal with conflict.This book equips pastors and other leaders with the skills and tools necessary to engage in critical conversations that lead to healthy communities--churches that remain God-focused in times of conflict and tension. In addition to the four Modules, Calm includes the practical resources pastors, judicatory leaders, and others will need to lead congregations through the Modules.The Modules contain step-by-step instructions for planning and facilitating the Module sessions. They include detailed instructions and helpful tips for leading people through the Calm process of group activities, discussion, reflection, and times of worship. The book is a complete guide for leading this process, including instructions for the pastor and facilitator, helping to ensure success.The authors also provide clear adaptations for groups gathering virtually – an inescapable reality in the life of today's church. These adaptations both underscore and equip groups to take special care while engaging in the sensitive nature of conflict work in a virtual space.
The Art of Hospitality Companion Book Revised Edition: A Practical Guide for a Ministry of Radical Welcome
by Debi NixonCreate a culture of radical hospitality that surprises and delights guests beyond their expectations.The Art of Hospitality guides you and your church to creating a ministry of radical hospitality. While the main book is intended for pastors and church leaders, this Companion Book is designed for the whole congregation, to equip and inspire everyone to embrace a ministry of welcome. Engaging worship and intentional follow-up processes are important, but what compels guests to return to our churches is the warmth of our welcome and hospitality that goes beyond their expectations. In The Art of Hospitality, Yvonne Gentile and Debi Nixon guide you and your church creating radical hospitality that infiltrates the heart and culture of the entire congregation. Choose The Art of Hospitality main book for pastors and other leaders in the church. Choose the Companion Book for everyone else in the congregation.
Bible Stories for Grown-Ups: Reading Scripture with New Eyes
by Josh ScottRead the Bible for the first time – again. In Bible Stories for Grown-Ups: Reading Scripture with New Eyes pastor Josh Scott looks at familiar Bible stories and reveals new details and interpretations for an adult audience. This six-week Bible study will consider stories many read as children including Noah's Ark, the binding of Isaac, Jonah and the big fish, Jesus and Zacchaeus, Jesus healing a blind man, and the parable of the talents. Scott reimagines these stories and opens new visions for readers to understand well known pieces of Scripture in our current cultural environment.The book can be read alone or used by small groups, and can be used anytime throughout the year. Additional components include video teaching sessions featuring Josh Scott, and a comprehensive leader guide, making this perfect as a six-week group study done throughout the year.
The Message of Jesus Leader Guide: Words That Changed the World
by Adam HamiltonA fresh encounter with the words of Jesus.This Leader Guide contains everything needed to facilitate a 6-week study on The Message of Jesus, by Adam Hamilton. Helps include opening prayers, summaries, discussion questions and more.More than 3 billion people claim to follow Jesus. But aside from a few verses, how many actually know what he taught? In fact, much of what people think Jesus taught, he never said. In this six-week study, pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton explores six of the most important themes in Jesus's teachings, why they matter, and how they speak to us today. The book will explore Jesus’s preaching on the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the “I am” sayings in John, and more. Jesus's message is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Join Adam Hamilton in studying The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World. Other components for the study include a leader guide, and teaching video are available.
Knowing Who We Are: The Wesleyan Way of Grace
by Laceye C. WarnerDiscover what sets United Methodism apart. In this book, Laceye C. Warner invites you to a richer understanding of Wesleyan Christianity so you can have a clear sense of identity, better express your own beliefs, and deepen your connection with The United Methodist Church. She introduces you to important values and characteristics that make the Wesleyan way distinctive, including emphasizing God’s grace for all and sanctification as tangible transformation in your life, your community, and all creation. You’ll see how The United Methodist Church today is deeply rooted in the Christian tradition and a legacy of care, compassion, and active response to injustice in the world. And you’ll find that Christian faith in the Wesleyan tradition holds together personal faith and community life, along with a commitment to justice through ministry and service. Pick up this book and study it with your small group and discover a way of being Christian that fills you with joy, moves you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and spurs you to live with compassion and grace. The book can be read alone or used by small groups anytime throughout the year. Components include video teaching sessions featuring Laceye Warner and a comprehensive Leader Guide, making this perfect as a six-week group study. A companion book, Who We Are and What We Believe: 50 Questions about The UMC, is also available.
The Third Day Leader Guide: Living the Resurrection
by Tom Berlin Mark A. MillerOn the third day, he rose again.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. In The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, Tom Berlin uses his gifts of storytelling and understanding the Scriptures to connect the reader to the experiences of several individuals around Jesus in his final days, focusing on new life and redemption rather than loss.Join Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Thomas as they feel the despair of losing Jesus and the surprise and joy that awaits them in the resurrection. This study traces events around these characters, along with Paul and the disciples at Emmaus, and how the resurrection transforms their lives.Additional components include the book, The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, and video teaching sessions featuring Tom(with closed captioning).
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024
by United Methodist ChurchThe Guide to the Historical Record and Up-to-Date Policies and Practices for Governance of The United Methodist Church. This essential volume includes The United Methodist Church's current law, doctrine, administrative guidelines, and organizational procedures. Each General Conference amends The Book of Discipline, and the actions of the 2024 General Conference are reflected in the quadrennial revision. Freshly updated to reflect the latest General Conference actions, the new Discipline features a comprehensive list of bishops spanning from our early leaders, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury to the 2024 episcopal elections. Additionally, it includes a revised historical statement, an expanded index, and is divided into six informative sections: The Constitution General Book of Discipline Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task The Ministry of All Christians Social Principles Organization and Administration
The Angels of Christmas Leader Guide: Hearing God's Voice in Advent
by Susan RobbExplore the four angelic visits surrounding the birth of Jesus with Susan Robb in The Angels of Christmas, a four-week Advent study. The Angels of Christmas: Hearing God’s Voice in Advent, a four-week Advent study by Susan Robb, explores the four angelic visits surrounding the birth of Jesus with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. In this study, the reader will explore the visits and dive deep into the history of the angel Gabriel–and other angels–in the Old Testament. The Angels of Christmas uses these four angelic appearances to discuss God’s presence in history and our lives today. The messages of the angels hold meaning for listeners both then and now.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the four-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.
Cross-Examined: Reading the Bible in Times of Division
by Josh ScottIncisive responses to society’s most pressing biblical questions.Does the Bible really say that women shouldn’t lead in the church or that the LGBTQ+ community can’t be included in the church? Does the Bible support racism, white supremacy, and Christian nationalism? Do we have to choose between an understanding of the Bible that has been weaponized for harm and exclusion or not engaging the Bible at all? This book explores what the Bible is and what it does (and, maybe more importantly, doesn’t) say about these important questions. The answers might surprise you.Through thoughtful analysis and personal transformation, Josh Scott invites you to rethink dominant interpretations and uncover new possibilities for justice, inclusivity, and generosity in faith. Perfect for those seeking a deeper connection with their beliefs or grappling with these pressing issues, Cross-Examined serves as both a guide and a conversation starter. Open your heart and mind to an alternative understanding of faith, and join the movement toward a future of hope, justice, and unity.
Perfectly Flawed Women's Bible Study: God Transforms Our Weaknesses into Strengths (A Women’s Bible Study on the Life of Peter)
by Lisa ToneyWe are all flawed, but God can turn those weaknesses into strengths. The apostle Peter’s passion and imperfections make him one of the Bible’s most loved and relatable people. Even when Peter gave up, gave in, and gave out, Jesus was there for him. Join Lisa Toney as she follows Peter through his time with Jesus, from the beginning of Jesus’s ministry to the Resurrection and through Pentecost, when Peter begins to live into his call. Along the way, discover the raw honesty of a man who veered from staunch devotion to moments of doubt, mirroring our own human struggles. In the six-week Bible study Perfectly Flawed, we see that there is an unparalleled power Jesus gives that can only be found in our weakness. We discover the strength of Jesus that is available to each of us. Learn to persevere in your faith, live confidently, and boldly step into God’s purpose for you. See how Peter’s story is an invitation to embrace imperfection, find strength in the relentless grace of God, and discover how each one of us is perfectly flawed but still deeply loved by God. The participant workbook includes five daily readings for each week, combining the study of Scripture with personal reflection, application, and prayer. Other components for the Bible study include a Leader Guide and teaching video available on DVD.
The Final Days: A Lenten Journey through the Gospels
by Matt RawleThis Lent, ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love.The four New Testament Gospels aren’t the same story, but they offer the same Resurrection hope. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John devote most of their story detailing Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, all highlighting Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city, the suffering and humiliation of the cross, and the empty tomb come Sunday morning, but the stories they tell aren’t quite the same. Each Gospel offers a different lens through which we understand Jesus’ Passion. One portrait reveals Jesus to be in control, while another emphasizes his suffering. In one story Jesus offers hope to the thief on the cross, and in another Jesus only receives derision. These different perspectives aren’t a reason to dismiss the Gospels; rather they reveal an abundant, diverse, and complementary picture of God’s work in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Other components for the study include a leader guide, and teaching video are available.
Context Leader Guide: Putting Scripture in Its Place
by Josh ScottExploring the Chapter Behind the Verse. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. Components include a book, Context: Putting Scripture in Its Place, and video teaching sessions featuring Josh Scott, making this perfect as a group study throughout the year. Context looks at verses we know by heart but may not know the people, places, and times that give them meaning. Josh Scott delves into these well-known Scripture verses, exploring their true meanings by examining them in their original biblical context. Through this process, he unveils fresh and enlightening interpretations that are often missed when these Scriptures are taken out of context.
The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World
by Adam HamiltonA fresh encounter with the words of Jesus.More than 3 billion people claim to follow Jesus. But aside from a few verses, how many actually know what he taught? In fact, much of what people think Jesus taught, he never said. In this six-week study, pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton explores six of the most important themes in Jesus's teachings, why they matter, and how they speak to us today. The book will explore Jesus’s preaching on the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the “I am” sayings in John, and more. Jesus's message is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Join Adam Hamilton in studying The Message of Jesus: Words That Changed the World. Other components for the study include a leader guide, teaching videos, and sermons and worship.
The Christmas Letters: Celebrating Advent with Those Who Told the Story First
by Magrey deVegaHear from “those who told the story first.” You may or may not know the story of your birth. If you do, there is something special about hearing your origin story again and remembering how it all began for you. That’s why we observe Advent: to celebrate how it all began for us. In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. The letters in the New Testament, known as the Epistles, contain the first attempts by the church to understand and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. They point us to the origins of what we believe about Jesus, fully human and fully divine. By spending time with these holy, ancient words this Advent, you’ll come to know the meaning of Christ’s coming like never before. Read the New Testament letters, Romans, 1 John, Philippians, and Colossians as your first Christmas letters of the season and find within them an invitation from God to deepen your understanding of the Incarnation and embrace a fuller commitment to Jesus Christ. Components available to use this book in a small group study include a leader guide and video available on DVD.
Daily Bible Study Spring 2025
by Amy Sigmon Gregory M. WeeksGrow your faith daily. Transform your life.Experience God in deeper ways by spending time in God’s Word. Daily Bible Study is the perfect resource for individuals who want to grow in their relationship with God and enhance their engagement with lessons in Adult Bible Studies. Designed to meet the needs of busy people, each daily reading includes a Scripture reference, a personal faith-related question, an explanation and application of the biblical text, and a prayer, all on one page. Available in print and eBook and as an app.Spring 2024 Theme: Exclusion and EmbraceThis spring, Daily Bible Study presents a series of readings supporting the theme “Exclusion and Embrace.” These readings, divided into two units during Lent and the weeks following, encourage us to consider what we need to let go of and what we need to take on as followers of Jesus. These daily readings come from the Old and New Testament texts and prepare us for the lessons in Adult Bible Studies.
A Full-Hearted Life: Following Jesus in This Secular Age
by Jake OwensbyMeaningful answers for life’s big questions.Everyone must ask life’s big questions. Even people who reject any hint of the supernatural and insist that nothing exists apart from matter will have to find meaning for themselves. To put this another way, the defining mark of our secular age is not the absence of belief, but rather the effect on our consciousness of the sheer number of competing belief systems. That effect is fragilization. And so, belief is fragile. We don’t have to believe what we believe. We could believe something else entirely. This book articulates how believing in Jesus gives us a sense of who we are, why we’re here, what the good life is, and how to move toward that good life. This is not traditional apologetics, offering logical proofs that God exists or that Jesus is God incarnate or that all those alternative belief systems are false. Put simply, the aim of this book is to help you see for yourself and to explain to others how Christian belief and Christian practice can make life meaningful."If you want to know what it looks and feels like to be a Christian, read this book. If, as a Christian, you could use a little encouragement, look no further.”—The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC, author of How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith
Thrive Women's Bible Study Participant Workbook: Living Faithfully in Difficult Times
by Jennifer CowartWalking in Faith…even when times are tough.In Thrive, author and teacher Jen Cowart helps women develop the habits and attitudes necessary to thrive, whatever their circumstances. Leading readers through the Book of James, a letter written about enduring hardships, she lifts up six characteristics of mature Christians. From endurance and humility to controlling our words, Jen helps participants find the divine and the practical in living faithfully.Jen’s teaching has inspired thousands of women across the country. Her authenticity inspires others to open their hearts and minds. One reviewer wrote, “Her ‘realness’ and her vulnerability just work together to open your heart to dig deeper and deeper.”Through this study, women will find inspiration and tools around six traits:Endurance – Embracing obstacles as a means to maturity.Wisdom – Using a heavenly perspective on earthly issues.Action – Living a life where actions match faith.Control – Taming the tongue.Humility – Developing the attitude of Christ.Prayer – Exercising the power tool of the faith.Additional components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, are a Leader Guide and six video sessions, 8 to 13 minutes long (with closed captioning).
Faith over Fear: Abraham's Imperfect Journey
by Matt RawleNo journey is more imperfect than Abraham’s.In Faith over Fear, Matt Rawle invites you to discover the depth and complexity of faith through Abraham's inspiring yet imperfect story. This profoundly reflective book explores the twists and turns of Abraham's relationship with God, reminding us that faith isn’t about flawless trust—it’s about showing up, even when faced with doubt and uncertainty. Through vivid storytelling and rich spiritual insights, Faith over Fear helps you wrestle with faith as a dynamic, deeply human experience and learn to honor fear and trust in your spiritual walk. Whether navigating uncharted territory in life or seeking a renewed understanding of God’s promises, this book offers an uplifting reminder that grace is always ahead of us, calling us to move forward. Transform your perspective and reclaim your courage by stepping into this invitation to walk through life with faith that’s as messy as it is meaningful.
Night Owl Books (A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche #1)
by Seana KellyOrla is an owl shifter, so her bookstore Night Owl Books is only open from 8pm to 6am. She gets very few customers—other than a couple of insomniacs—and that's the way she likes it. Customers tend to interrupt her reading. All of that changes one night when a terrified woman runs into the bookstore, followed by two bear shifters, a werewolf, and a psychic wicche. Poor Orla's night is about to be far less quiet.
Yarn Mandalas For Beginners & Beyond: Woven wall hangings for mindul making
by Inga SavageDiscover how to make incredible woven yarn mandalas in a mindful, meditative way with this colorful guidebook.This is a practical book of instructions for woven mandalas, starting with very simple four-sided mandalas through to more complex designs, with an emphasis on how they can be a tool to aid wellbeing.Yarn mandalas are a wonderful way to create bright and beautiful woven wall art in a mindful, meditative way. The use of pattern and color can help to reduce stress and aid wellbeing at the same time as developing your creativity. Author Inga Savage, explains how to start your mandala journey with a simple four-sided version, as well as how to choose the right materials including dowels, yarn and other hardware.There are step-by-step instructions for seventeen wonderfully colorful yarn mandalas, ranging from some very simple, basic versions using just two dowels, right up to more complicated twelve-sided mandalas (using six dowels). All of the key techniques are accompanied with step-by-step instructions and photography so you can see how to prepare the dowels, marking them up and how to join them as well as what the best yarn to use is and how to ensure that your mandalas have the correct tension which allows the pattern and color to shine. This skill-building approach to weaving mandalas will help you to develop your skills by practicing the techniques on simple mandalas and building up to the more complex designs.The instructions include step-by-step tutorials for all the key patterns used in yarn mandalas including the daggers design, the square design, and how to add embroidery, tassels and other elements into the mandalas as your skills develop. The intricate layers and patterns of mandalas have been used to aid meditation and mindfulness for centuries and this collection explores how makers can tap into these benefits while creating beautiful woven mandala art, with the practice of intention, color therapy and visualization during the making process. This collection explores these ideas in the form of a practical guide to making woven yarn mandalas in a meaningful way to allow you to express your creativity via this mindful, relaxing craft. Inga highlights some “Mindful Moments” throughout the book where she draws on her experience in order to encourage you to get the most from the creative process and to be present in the moment while you are working with the mandalas. All you need to get started is yarn and some dowels and before you know it you will be creating beautiful woven wall art to adorn your home.
How to Dress Like a Tudor
by Judith ArnoppThe perfect how-to guide for dressing like your favorite Tudor. Have you ever hankered to dress like a Tudor lord or lady, or perhaps you prefer the status of goodwife, or costermonger, or even a bawd? For beginner historical reenactors, the path to authenticity can be bewildering and sometimes intimidating. Judith Arnopp uses her own experience, both as a historian and a medieval/Tudor lady, to make your own journey a little easier. The author traces the transition of fashion from the relatively subtle styles popular at the court of Henry VII, through the carefully constructed royal grandeur of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I to the pinnacle of majesty and splendid iconography of Elizabeth I. In contrast to the magnificence of court come the ordinary folk who, subject to sumptuary laws and regulations, wore garments of a simpler cut and cloth – a strata of society that formed the back bone of Tudor England. This brief history of sixteenth century fashion examines clothing for both rich and poor, adult and child, and offers tips and tricks on how to begin to sew your first historically inspired garment, this book is aimed at helping the beginner learn How to Dress like a Tudor.
Real Sweet: More Than 80 Crave-Worthy Treats Made with Natural Sugars
by Shauna SeverAt last—a modern baking book packed with dozens of recipes for delectable treats using only natural, unrefined, readily available alternative sweeteners.Real Sweet offers every dessert lover the sweetness they crave in simple and delicious recipes using natural sugars that pack in subtly amazing flavors that elevate treats of every kind (and help us avoid overprocessed, one-dimensional white sugar).Here are simple lunchbox treats suitable for all ages; whimsical candies and confections created on the stovetop; bake sale classics like cookies and cakes; and fragrant, exotic spoonable puddings and flans. Cookbook author and blogger Shauna Sever helps you introduce healthy touches into treats using natural, unrefined, readily available alternative sweeteners—from coconut sugar, agave nectar, orange blossom honey, and pure maple syrup to smoky turbinado, brown-buttery panela, and jaggery.Written in Shauna’s fresh, modern, and charmingly funny style, Real Sweet lets every sweet tooth indulge without the guilt. Here are more than eighty sure-to-be-favorite recipes, including:All-Day Snacks and Lunchbox Treats: Baked Apple Cinnamon Doughnuts, Cracklin’ Maple Popcorn, Fake-Out Caramel DipBake Sales and Edible Gifts: Dark, Fudgy Muscovado Brownies and Maple Sugar Butter CookiesPicnics and Potlucks: Maple Chocolate Cake, Oregon Berry Cream Crumble, Spiced, Brûléed Maple Pumpkin PieCandies and Confections: Bonfire Toffee Pops and Sea Salt Caramels in the RawDinner Party Fancies: Honeyed Yogurt Cheesecake and Pistachio Sponge Cake with Honey and CitrusScoops and Spoonables: Butterscotch Pots de Crème and Vegan Toasted Coconut Chip Ice CreamWhether you’re entertaining, sharing a good meal with friends, contributing to the PTA, or looking for homemade holiday gifts, Real Sweet has the perfect treat for everyday and every occasion.