Book: Honest Evangelism

Honest Evangelism - how to talk about Jesus even when it's tough by Rico Tice and Carl Laferton.

Hostility and hunger that's the response to the message of Jesus.

The first is painful, the second is wonderful, and Rico Tice is honest about both.

Short, clear, realistic and humorous, this book will challenge you to be honest in your conversations about Jesus, help you to know how to talk about him, and thrill you that God can and will use ordinary people to change eternal destinies.

Chapters
Two halves of the story
Is it worth it?
Why we still won't evangelise!!
What must i remember
What will i say
Be yourself
Getting started (or restarted)
Two things to do
Useful reesources

Review by the Gospel Coalition 

Book: It's Sunday but Monday is coming

It's Sunday but Monday is coming (finding faith for the rest of the week) by Bill Bohline.

For millions of churchgoers, Sunday is a zone unto itself. It is a time to go to a specialized building, to stand, to sit, to pray, to read a bit of Scripture, to give money, to listen, hopefully to encounter God in some way … and then to go out to lunch. Soon comes Monday, and then Tuesday and the other workdays—a very different kind of world. Memories of Sunday quickly fade. The God who was proclaimed in church as almighty, gracious, and nurturing seems not to be near at all. Or at least we don’t see him at work. This is a book that erases that disconnect. It is about welcoming God to show up in the middle of life’s trials and stresses and hardships and questions. It is about letting the gospel transform us, not just inform us. It is about finding a faith that is real and personal, seven days a week.

What others are saying about It's Sunday but Monday is coming....

What an unusual book. Humor. Tragedy. Theology. Reality. But most of all, hope. Some people wonder if Christian faith really works. Here is the resounding answer of “Yes!”

DR. LEITH ANDERSON, president  National Association of Evangelicals

Bill Bohline’s stories provide hope for anyone who simply wants to live a more fulfilling life. I was inspired both at a personal and professional level.

DR. LISA L. SNYDER, superintendent  

Lakeville (Minn.) Area Public Schools

I LOVE this book! Why? Because it’s about life, the one thing none of us asked to get into and have to die to get out of. Bill points us to life so rich and powerful that it triumphs everything.

REGGIE MCNEAL, national speaker and author

Bill is a very gifted communicator who has the ability to tell a story that makes Scripture real, applies to my life, makes me laugh and makes me cry. In this book, Bill’s gift shines, and Jesus is lifted up. 

KRISTI GRANER, director 

Dare to Believe Ministries

As the daily grind and unexpected circumstances begin to overshadow our Sunday devotions, this book sheds light on how to find God’s love. 

JOEL MANBY, president and CEO 

Herschend Family Entertainment (theme parks)

Bill Bohline masterfully weaves humor and Scripture to remind us of a personal God who yearns to be involved with our lives. A fun read … but also a real boost to spiritual growth!

SUSIE SHELLENBERGER Speaker; founding editor of Brio magazine

Pastor Bill’s powerful, faith-filled stories of God at work challenge us all to expect God’s impact and to wait upon the Lord seven days a week, not just on Sunday…. Humorous, captivating, emotionally gripping. 

JUDGE DAVID KNUTSON 

Dakota County, Minn.

This book quickly awakens our minds, touches our hearts, shows us courage in the face of fears, and brings light to the darkest path. 

PAT MOE, pastor for care ministries 

Hosanna! Lutheran Church

Great humor (often at Bill’s own expense) combine here with unflinching straight talk about the best and toughest parts of life. Throughout the book, we get constant, compelling stories of God’s transformation. 

JOHN CROSBY, senior pastor 

Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, Minn.

Pastor Bill’s unique writing style will keep you reading (and laughing!), but his message will keep you hungry for more. You’ll discover the same God you worship for an hour on Sunday showing up in the details of your Monday.

MARY J. NELSON, author of Grace for Each Hour

 

Book: The quest for holiness

The quest for holiness, originally written in 1928 by Adolf Koberele is not merely for theologians but for all who desire a sound, scriptural setting forth of the truths and the implications for each individual embodied in the steps of justification and sanctification.
For simplicity, clarity, and completeness on this subject, this book is unsurpassed.
It is written not merely with ink but with the lifeblood of the true believer striving daily for greater holiness and God-pleasing perfection.

Chapters

1. Man’s Attempts to Sanctify Himself in God’s Sight 
2. God’s Judgment on Man’s Self-Sanctification
3. Man’s Justification Before God Through the Word of Forgiveness
4. Sanctification as the Work of God in the Life of the Justified Sinner 
5. Sanctification as the Answer of the Justified Sinner 
6. The Significance of Sanctification in the Preservation or Loss of the State of Faith
7. The Relationship of Justification and Sanctification

About the author
Adolf Köberle was Professor of Systematic Theology in Basel.  He was head of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Seminary 1922-1926.   Köberle primarily wrote about Christian holiness as being motivated by the love of Christ and gratitude to God (rather than being motivated by obligation or fear).

Reader's guide is available here

Book: Finding Tom Sawyer (ministry to boys)

Searching for Tom Sawyer offers parents and church leaders a compelling vision and practical principles for how, together, they can change the storyline of boys dropping off the church scene by forging boys into heroic men.

Contents
1.   Lost in the 21st Century
2.   Why do boys do that?
3.   A motivating affirmation for life
4.   A compelling vision for life
5.   An empowering strategy for life
6.   Speaking boy
7.   Building a boy friendly church


Reviews
"More than 70% of the young men who are raised in church abandon it during their teens and twenties . . . Tim Wright examines the problem and offers real solutions to one of the greatest challenges facing the church today" -David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church The Story of Boys-Lost in the Twenty-first Century:
70% of all Ds and Fs go to boys 85% of stimulant-addressing medications prescribed in the world are prescribed to US boys Boys are falling behind girls in virtually every area of life
70 -90% of boys will leave the church in their teens and early twenties

"No one who cares for boys, and equally no one who cares for kids and families should miss Searching for Tom Sawyer" -Leonard Sweet, professor at Drew University and George Fox University

"Tim Wright's diagnosis of why most of our congregations struggle to connect with guys is eye-opening and stunning . . . As the father of three boys, I wish I'd had this book years ago. As the pastor of a congregation, I'm glad I have it now" -Pastor Jeff Marian, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minnesota

Lutheran suicide prevention ministry

Lutheran suicide prevention ministry was formed to:

• Increase suicide prevention awareness within Lutheran churches/faith-based communities in order to reduce stigma and shame.
• Educate congregations and church leaders on appropriate actions to take to prevent suicide and to recover from a suicide death.
• Make suicide prevention and recovery important ongoing efforts of congregations with an emphasis on local faith-based communities, church leaders, support groups and educational and advocacy programs.
• Give voice to those who have lost family members or loved ones to suicide, as well as those who have acted on suicidal ideation.
• Build suicide prevention collaboration among Lutheran, full communion partners, and other faith-based communities.

There are a considerable number of resources for both the clergy and laity.
visit http://www.lutheransuicideprevention.org/index.php for more information.

app: Share your faith

Share your faith app

Share your faith app is an app for iphones/ipads/androids that helps you share with Christ with others.

It contains key messages supported by pictures, keywords, bible texts and links to further information.

Share your faith app promo

Share your faith overview

for more information visit http://shareyourfaithapp.com/

Book: Sunday schooling our kids out of church by Tim Wright

In his provocative new book, Sunday Schooling Our Kids Out of Church: The True Story of How One Congregation Dropped Sunday School to Save its Soul, author Tim Wright (Searching for Tom Sawyer) suggests that one of the main reasons for the growing number of religious “nones” is that we have been Sunday Schooling our kids out of church for the last 60 years. Using research, his experience on the staff of a Seeker Church for 22 years, and the experience of his new congregation, Tim looks at the unintended consequences of segmenting our kids out of worship into age-graded Sunday school and youth programs, and how we can reclaim our kids for the sake of Christ. While highly practical and filled with insights and ideas on how to move kids back into worship and on how to build a multi-generational congregation, this book is not first and foremost a “how to” book. It is, as Tim writes: A story book. A vision book. A prayer book. A gut-check book.

What Others are Saying about Sunday Schooling Our Kids Out of Church: 
In every movement that God leads, like the current Faith@Home movement, God calls and uses specific churches and individuals to help us see new things for us to consider. In this book you will be introduced to Pastor Tim Wright and Community of Grace Lutheran Church. Community of Grace has committed itself completely to intergenerational ministry. I have seen many churches “experiment” with intergenerational worship but what Pastor Tim is doing takes it to a whole different level. Intergenerational worship is not for every church, but if it’s something you are in any way considering, then you need to read this book. –Mark Holmen, Church+Home: The Proven Formula for Building Lifelong Faith. www.Faithathome.com 

If you love your kids you need to read this book. While the picture of church in culture continues to dim, Tim paints an image of a multi-generational church that dares to experiment with old forms in search of new expressions of the Body of Christ that relate to all ages. Tim's passion jumps off the page and his bold daring is the kind of creativity and innovation the church desperately needs. His examples, which make powerful use of compelling, common stories and metaphors, demonstrate that there is no need to segregate to engage. We can all worship in meaningful ways together. I invite you to follow his courageous leadership. –Len Wilson, church creative, blogger at lenwilson.us, and author, Think Like a Five Year Old: Reclaim Your Wonder and Create Great Things (Abingdon Press). 

Controversial pastor Tim Wright isn’t content to "do church like we’ve always done it.” After being in the ministry for 30+ years, he decided to take a step away from the current church trends and assess what works and what doesn’t. Rather, he assessed what God would have him do with the church and what He would not. Specifically, his new book Sunday Schooling Our Kids Out of Church: The True Story of How One Congregation Dropped Sunday School To Save its Soul tells how his church got rid of the institution that has been revered for decades: Sunday School. Did it work? What exactly is he up to? Why does he want children to – you know – actually be in church? Wright’s provocative stance has caused much conversation, hand-wringing, and prayer. But did getting rid of Sunday School help? His new book is not a glossy argument for getting rid of Sunday School nor a heavy handed treatise against the seeker movement. Rather, it’s a thoughtful telling of one church’s story. One church trying to faithfully tend to its congregants. Let the conversation begin!—Nancy French, Four time New York Times best selling author. https://twitter.com/nancyafrench 

Book: Developing a church planting culture in a confessional Lutheran setting

Developing a church planting culture in a confessional Lutheran setting by Matt Doebler....focuses those Christians who make up a church that sees themselves as confessional.   

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence that the Church is losing ground in America in terms of the number of people who are truly connected to it. "Building a Church-Planting Culture in a Confessional Lutheran Setting" takes a look at the extent of the problem and offers a solution through exponential church planting. It primarily addresses how confessional Lutheran churches, specifically Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) churches, have the privilege and the theology to plant churches exponentially. It is the author’s prayer that WELS churches would be motivated to plant churches exponentially through the ideas shared in this thesis. He also prays that such godly planting in the WELS will make significant gains in the number of Americans who are connected to Christ through His Church in America.

Chapters include:

1. The problem and the setting
2. Biblical Foundations
3. A literature review
4. The Research
5. Applications

Kids Book: Why do we call it Christmas?

Why do we call it Christmas...helps you and your family discover why we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th? and why we hang stockings and decorate trees? and how Santa Claus became such a big part of the holiday?
Many people who have purchased the book have been very pleased in the way that the book brooches the subject of Jesus and Santa in a theological but child friendly way.
From the creator of VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer along with his friends Buck Denver, Captain Peter, Sunday School Lady, and others...

Advent Program: Truth in the Tinsel

Truth in the tinsel is an interactive devotional experience....each day you will be lead through a passage of scripture, make a Christmas ornament that corresponds to the reading and engage in discussion with your family.

There are 3 resources available

The truth in the tinsel ebook, which is the main resource for families...
Click here to buy Truth in the tinsel ebook costs $7.99

The truth in the tinsel ornaments templates (for those who want a head start on making the ornaments)
Click here to buy Truth in the Tinsel ornaments costs $3.99

The truth in the tinsel church curriculum ideal for Youth club, Sunday school etc.
Click here for Truth in the tinsel church curriculum costs $49.99

Click here to visit ohAmanda.com.

Bible Reading plan: 30 ways in 30 days

30 ways in 30 days is a bible reading plan that encourages readers to live a life focussed on sharing the Gospel....the plan is accessible for people of all ages....
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/201-30-ways-in-30-days?id=201-30-ways-in-30-days

Service Order: Adult Baptism

The COMMAND TO BAPTIZE:

Jesus says: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything  have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.           Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

P:        The word of God tells us that we have all been born with sin, so we are sinners. For this reason God the Father sent Jesus to die on the cross, for all people.

When a person has been baptized and also believes in Jesus, God forgives that person’s sin. He takes him away from the devil. He makes him his friend. Then that person will live with God forever.

 

P:        Who presents this person for Baptism?

 

Witnesses: We do.

 

P:        Witnesses, since you present name  for holy baptism, continue to care for her/him. Set her a good example and remember her/him in your prayers. Encourage her/her to come to services in God’s house. Do you intend to do this? If so say “Yes, I do.”

Yes, We Do.

 

SIGN OF THE CROSS:

 

P:        I put the sign of the cross on your forehead and on your heart. From today you belong to Jesus.

 

Hear the Good News

 

Jesus says: I tell you the truth; no-one can see the kingdom of God without being born again; no-one can enter the kingdom of God without born through water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:3,5,6

 

P:        Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us.

 

LORD’S PRAYER:

 

Our Father in Heaven:

Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come,

Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread, 

Forgive us our sins as we forgive

those who sin against us. 

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.  Amen

 

P:        The Lord watch over you as you go out and come in,

now and forever.

 

Renunciation of the Devil

 

P: Do you renounce the devil?

 

            Yes, I renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways.

 

P:        Join with name in confessing the Christian faith

 

APOSTLES’ CREED:

                       

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilot, was crucified, dead and buried. 

He descended into hell. 

The third day he rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He will come the judge the living and the dead.

 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.  Amen.

 

P: Do you want to be baptized?

 

            Yes, I do.

 

P: would you like to tell us about it.

 

Testimony

 

BAPTISM:      name

 

PRAY FOR:              name

 

All-powerful God, the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we give you thanks. for freeing your sons and daughters from the power of sin

and for raising them up to a new life of grace.

Sustain them with your Holy Spirit:

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of counsel and might,

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,

the spirit of joy in your presence. Amen

Name  I ask you to affirmation of Baptism

 

Vow: I promise to live

In the grace and power of my baptism.

I promise to grow in Christ

And in the knowledge of His Word.

I promise to serve Him

With all that I am,

And all that I have.

I promise to remain steadfast in His church

until the end.

I promise all these things

Trusting God to help me

With His grace and strength. Amen.

CANDLE

CERTIFICATES and Faith Box

Developed by Rev Jim Bryan

Service Order: Prayer for seed, soil and water

Prayer for seed, soil and water has been developed by Rev Jim Bryan 

PRAYER FOR SEED, SOIL AND WATER

PRAYER FOR SEEDS:    (Hold seeds aloft)

P.:       We pray for the seed, a gift of God’s creation.

C.:       Creating God, you have given seed to the sower and bread to the people. Nourish, protect and bless the seeds which your people have sown in hope. By your loving and bountiful giving, may they bring forth their fruit in due season. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN:           564 We plough the fields and scatter v 1

PRAYER FOR SOIL:       (Hold soil aloft)

P.:       We pray for the soil, a gift of God’s creation.

C.:       Giver of life, we give you thanks that in the richness of

the soil nature awakens. We praise you for the smell of     freshly tilled earth, the beauty of a cleanly cut furrow, and a well-ploughed field. We ask that you help us to be good stewards of this land. In the name of the one who gives us new life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN:           564 We plough the fields and scatter v 2

PRAYER FOR WATER / RAIN:  (Hold water aloft)

P.:       We pray for the rain which waters the earth, a gift of God’s    creation.

C.:       Sustaining God, we receive the fruits of the earth from you. We give you thanks for the smell of the earth after rain, for its welcome cooling, and its vital hydration of the land. We ask that the rain come as often as it is needed, so that the crops may flourish and the coming harvest be bountiful indeed. Amen.

HYMN:           564 We plough the fields and scatter v 3