Confirmation Curriculum - Lutheran House of Study

The Lutheran House of Study has developed a free online Lutheran Confirmation Course to assist congregations and members in preparing for people to be confirmed as members of their Lutheran congregation

The curriculum covers:

• Luther's Small Catechism
• The Bible and key bible lessons

The resources available include:

• interactive digital lessons (modules)
• custom-made videos
• quizzes
• drag/drop tasks
• discussion questions
• scripture passages
• prayers. 

To discover more about the Lutheran Confirmation Course visit 

https://lutherhouseofstudy.org/confirmation/

Confirmation Program: Confirm not conform

Confirm not conform is a confirmation program that celebrates questions and choices.  It provides a safe place for people to explore the breadth of the Christian tradition, to ask questions and express their doubts, and to discover what they truly believe.

The Lutheran version of the program covers:
SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO CONFIRM NOT CONFORM
Introduces the premises of the Confirm not Conform program and establishes group expectations.
SESSION 2: WHERE DO YOU STAND: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO WHOM
Explores where youth are starting from and what they currently believe.
SESSION 3: WHERE DO YOU STAND: MEET YOUR MENTOR
Establishes the mentor/youth relationship. Mentors attend this session.
SESSION 4: HERETICS R US
Discovers how heretics through the ages have shaped our faith today.
SESSION 5: SCRIPTURE: A MAD DASH THROUGH A GOOD BOOK
An overview of the Bible and how it is put together.
SESSION 6: TEACH US TO PRAY: THE LORD’S PRAYER
Closely examines several versions of the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a Prayer Lab where youth can
explore different ways to pray.
SESSION 7: TRADITION: THE NICENE CREED
Presents the history of the church up through the writing of the Nicene Creed. Youth are invited to
define the meanings of some basic concepts of faith.
SESSION 8: TRADITION: CHURCH HISTORY CONTINUED
Youth develop a creed through the Council of CnC. A brief presentation of the history of the
church through the 1700s.
SESSION 9: FAITH IN ACTION: PAIN TO POWER
Explores how God helps us transform the pain in our lives into the very power we need to
transform the world. Mentors attend this session.
SESSION 10: FAITH IN ACTION: HOW WE CAN HELP
Examines those things that can help others, those things that don’t, and why we help others at all.
SESSION 11: FAITH IN ACTION: THE ISSUE OF POWER
Focuses on the role that power plays in living out our call to be Christ’s body in the world.
SESSION 12: SCRIPTURE: THE BIBLE BY HEART
Youth learn to use a concordance to help them select a passage of Scripture to memorize. Mentors
attend this session.
SESSION 13: TRADITION: OUR NECK OF THE WOODS
An overview and exploration of the history and beliefs of the Lutheran Church.
SESSION 14: TEACH US TO PRAY: THE SACRAMENTS
Discusses the meaning of the sacraments in the Lutheran Church.
SESSION 15: TRADITION: THE CHURCH THROUGH THE YEAR
Explores the seasons of the church year and examines some of the materials used in worship.
© 2013 CnC
SESSION 16: TRADITION: THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
Discusses how all who are baptized are ministers in the church, and how the church sometimes
sends mixed messages about that.
SESSION 17: WORLD COUNCIL OF RELIGIONS
Explores the basic tenets of other major world religions.
SESSION 18: WHERE DO YOU STAND: THE POWER TO CHOOSE
Revisits the statements of faith youth looked at in Session 2 and explores how they have changed
over the course of the program. Mentors attend this session.
SESSION 19: FAITH IN ACTION: MAY WE PRESENT
Helps youth design a presentation for the church council about their service project. This session
is held the week before the group meets with the church council.
SESSION 20: WHERE DO YOU STAND: WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?
An evaluation of the program and brainstorming about youth’s ongoing ministry in the church and
the world.
For more infomation visit:  http://www.confirmnotconform.com/

Confirmation Lessons online

A number of congregations are offering their confirmation lessons online.  Check out:

King of Kings Omaha

Living Word Lutheran Church, Ashmore Gold Coast

If you are aware of other congregations offering their confirmation lessons online please email richardschwedes@gmail.com

Colaborate - Lutheran Confirmation program

Colaborate is hands-on investigative learning that leads to deep engagement with the Bible, church history, and Lutheran theology.

So what is Colaborate
Problem-Based Learning helps students answer the question, "So what?"
Problem-based learning allows students to discover for themselves the ways the doctrines, traditions, and beliefs of their faith are relevant to their lives. This style of learning compels them to search out meaningful answers that will be integral in their faith formation.

The Colaborate Lutheran Student Bible brings the story of God to life for teenagers.
Featuring interactive graphics, interesting facts, and insightful commentary, this NRSV Bible is designed to bring the story of God to life for students. As an essential component of the Colaborate curriculum, the Bible adds value to your conversation with highlighted key verses, additional questions and activities. It’s smart, it’s fun, and it’s a Bible your students will hang on to for years to come.

Colaborate changes the way students think about faith.
Rather than faith being handed over as an established set of facts to be learned and mastered, it’s presented as a path of growth and discovery. This promotes a rich, meaningful experience that will stay with students long after they complete their confirmation classes.

Hands-on projects create a strong connection to the content.
Students will expand and deepen their understanding of concepts through projects that range from handbook-based questions and activities, to group art projects, to games and off-site explorations.

Colaborate was created by theologians, practitioners, and artists who know the Bible, Lutheran doctrine, and young people.
This team worked together to combine theological depth with provocative questions, surprising insights, and punchy graphics that will spark conversation and capture the imagination of your students.

Flexible curriculum lets leaders decide the order of the lessons and the focus of the content.
Want three weeks on Genesis? There’s plenty to work with. Want to skip Adiaphora for now and jump ahead to the Small Catechism? Go ahead.

Colaborate is easy to lead.
Not only is the accompanying Leader Guide clear and intuitive, the Problem-Based Learning perspective means leaders don’t have to be experts. Instead, they become mentors, facilitators, and co-learners. They are encouraged to share their own questions and discoveries as they guide students through the session.

Sample Video 

Visit Colaborate 

Book: My Communion Book

My Communion Book by Diana Murrie  Revised by Pastor Richard Haar in 2014 is a child's guide to Holy Communion
My Communion Book will help children gain a better understanding of Holy Communion.
This all-age resource for children and families is primarily aimed at 6 to 10 year olds.
It can be used initially as a sharing book and teaching resource, adult and child reading together, but children may use it at times on their own. Taking the child through the service, the book explains key words and asks questions that relate directly to the child, helping them to engage with the service of Holy Communion in a fun, interesting and meaningful way. An excellent resource to introduce first communion to a child.
Cost $8 or $7 for 10 or more copies

A First Communion Companion guide to assist pastors and families in talking to their children. 

Available from Australian Church Resources 

Confirmation class online using Google hangout

One of the struggles many congregations face...whether it be in the city or in rural locations...is getting confirmation class together...
Too much on...too much travel....parents too busy
Some have opted for the do it with family approach...fill out a book...but rarely meet together
Others are using technology to help them
Recently some pastors shared with me that they are using Google hangout (a free service and don't we Lutherans love anything that is free)...where all the confirmation students and the pastor meet online at a set time....
Sure there maybe limitations but if you are struggling in getting your confirmees together it maybe worth exploring....
Go to google hangouts at http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/ to discover how this works 

Texts for Confirmation

Looking for texts to use for confirmation certificates....
visit

http://www.oslc.com/templates/cusoslc/details.asp?id=29361&PID=343813

http://www.cph.org/pdf/Helps/913075_Bible-Verses-NIV.pdf

New Confirmation from Sparkhouse (ELCA): ReForm

Sparkhouse has developed a new confirmation program.....
Here's what they say about it....

We wanted to create something that was engaging for teenagers, but not cheesy. (We love cheese…on crackers, not so much in our churches.) We know that youth today are fully capable of grappling with issues of faith and theology, so we wanted our curriculum to give them room for a good wrestling match. And, of course, we want to help youth leaders any way we can. That’s why we developed a curriculum that lets you lead an interactive confirmation class without a ton of extra work on your end. (You’re welcome!)

So what exactly is re:form confirmation? In three simple words, it’s a way for teens to:
•Encounter.
•Engage.
•Respond.

In more words, that are slightly less simple: re:form is a curriculum comprised of three main components:

•Two DVDs with 40 hilarious animated short films that allow kids to encounter concepts from the historic Christian faith. These videos are designed not only to make kids think, but also to make them laugh. (Yes, we encourage laughter…especially in confirmation class!) You can watch some of our preview videos for re:form confirmation here. Be warned: you might laugh, too.
•The Anti-Workbook, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s not a fill-in-the-blank, there’s-only-one-answer kind of workbook. In fact, it’s the opposite of that. It’s a place where kids can do activities that get them interacting with each other, and it’s a kind of journal to help them explore tough theological questions in creative ways. Whether they’re drawing, cutting and pasting, writing, or just thinking, the Anti-Workbook inspires kids to go a little deeper with their faith and theology.
•The Leader Guide, which will make you look like a superstar by providing the tools you need to help kids respond. You’ll help facilitate conversations—genuine conversations about what they think…not what you want them to think. Instead of giving them answers (which, let’s face it, a lot of us don’t really have nailed down anyway!), they’ll explore their faith and come to understand what they believe for themselves.
So there you have it. A brief (sort of) look at re:form confirmation.

For more information visit here

Confirmation Builder

CPH has introduced Confirmation Builder
A program that allows you to build and customise confirmation for your local congregation.

Overview
Confirmation Builder is a collection of resources for confirmation instructors that provides a framework for presenting students the basics of Christian doctrine.
Each of the 33 customizable lessons uses the Bible and Luther’s Small Catechism as the main texts, and includes background reading, devotional information, PowerPoint® presentations, discussion questions and activities that can be used as a basic curriculum, or to supplement your current course. Assessment tools are also included.
Confirmation Builder is a dynamic resource that will have additional resources added as they become available.Confirmation Builder is offered as an annual subscription. Pricing is based upon your congregation’s average weekly worship attendance.

Visit www.confirmationbuilder.com to discover how it works, pricing and the resources available

Lutheran Handbook the Second and better volume

After the success of volume 1 and the realization that there is far more to share about God's grace, scripture and other things Christian from the Lutheran perspective, Augsburg Fortress has released volume 2 of the Lutheran Handbook.
Here are the following chapters

Church Stuff
How to Identify the True Christian Church on Earth
Ten Key Leaders of the Early Christian Church
Ten Important Lutheran Events since the Reformation
The Lutheran Reformers' Five Most Dastardly Theological Opponents
The Most Outrageous Luther Quotes and What They Mean
Top Five Lutheran Myths and Why We Choose Not to Debunk Them
Five Important Reformers Other than Martin Luther
Luther's Germany, Including Key Cities of the Reformation
Ten Important Lutherans since the Reformation and What They Did
Five Great Lutheran Composers and What They Wrote
Five Famous Lutheran Artists and What They Made
Top Five Contributions by Women of the Church
Seven Important Lutheran Missionaries and Where They Went
A Brief History of the Lutheran Choral Tradition
How to Identify a Traditional Worship Devotee
How to Identify a Contemporary Worship Devotee
How to Usher
How to Acolyte
How to Be a Greeter
Five Common Worship Practices and Why Lutherans Do Them
How to Read the Scripture Lessons during Worship
How to Chant
How to Set the Communion Table
How to Assist during Communion Distribution
How to Deliver Communion to a Homebound Person
How to Deliver a Temple Talk/Make an Announcement during Worship
Important Institutions Every Lutheran Should Know About
The Lutheran Family Tree
A Brief History of the Lutheran Movement
Common Types of Lutheran Clergy Garb
Names for Lutheran Worship Furnishings, Ministers, Paraments, and Vestments
Lutheran Denominations in North America
Lutheran Colleges, Universities, and Seminaries in North America
ELCA Congregations in the United States
Glossary of Lutheran Worship Terms

Everyday Stuff
How to Receive God's Grace Daily
How to Proclaim the Gospel to Someone Who Needs to Hear It
The Top Three Uses of the Law
How to Heap Grace on Your Enemies' Heads Like Hot Coals
How to Tell the Difference between Cheap Grace and Regular Grace
How to Repent
How to Identify a "Neighbor" and What This Means for Lutherans
How to Adopt an Evangelistic Lifestyle without Alienating People
How to Tithe Seven Complicated Lutheran Theological Terms in Latin and What They Mean in Plain English
How to Tell the Difference between a "Vocation" and a "Vacation"
How to Tell the Difference between Justice and Charity
How to Tell the Difference between Theology of the Cross and Theology of Glory
How to Tell the Difference between the Kingdom on the Left and the Kingdom on the Right
How to Tell if Your Will Is in Bondage and What to Do about It
How to Tell the Difference between a Lutheran Pietist and a Lutheran Confessionalist
How to Tell the Difference between Original Sin and Everyday Sin
How to Tell the Difference between a Sinner and a Saint
How to Tell the Difference between a Lutheran Conservative and a Lutheran Liberal
The Five Most Common Heresies Well-Intentioned Lutherans Commit
How to Show the World You're a Lutheran without Being Flashy or Boring
How to Handle Yourself When You Get Angry at God
How to Invite a Friend or Neighbor to Church without Terrifying Them
How to Memorize Luther's Small Catechism Bible Stuff

A Brief History of the Bible
How to Choose a Bible Translation That's Right for You
How to Read the Entire Bible in One Year
How to Start a Bible Study Group
The Five Grossest Bible Diseases
Top Five Scary Monsters in the Bible
Top Seven Dastardly Bible Deeds
Top Seven Acts of Human Kindness in the Bible
Top Five Sibling Rivalries in the Bible
Top 10 Angel Sightings in the Bible
Five of the Most Common Images for God in the Bible
Top Five "Other Gods" in the Old Testament and Who Believed in Them
How to Identify an Angel
The Five Most Unpopular Old Testament Prophets
Five Inspiring Women in the Bible
Top Five Misconceptions about the Book of Revelation
How to Tell When the Apocalypse Is Imminent
How to Locate the "Canon within the Canon"
How to Listen to Scripture as it is Read Aloud and Get Something Out of It
Seven Important Bible Teachings Every Lutheran Should Know
Ten common occupations in Bible Times
The Top 10 Prayers Uttered in the Bible
The Top 10 Curses Uttered In The Bible
A Brief History of God's Covenant with the People
How to Read Key Types of Bible Literature:
A Psalm
A Prophetic Message
A Parable
A Letter
A Narrative Account
A Proverb
How to Interpret "Controversial" Bible Passages and Remain Lutheran
Notes & Stuff

Book: When choice matters

Why are we recommending an ethics book?

What has it to do with mission?

Well many people are looking for answers about life, how to live???

Many ethics books simply tell us what to do!!!

This book written by the Lutheran pastor and academic Dr Mark Worthing, focusses not so much on the issues but rather helps us explore and understand the framework and foundation for making decisions as Christians.

It is an easy to read book, ideal for small groups, people wanting to explore decision making as a Christian and desiring to find a gracious God in the midst of difficult decisions.

Chapters include:
What is ethics
What is Christian ethics?
Major ethical systems
Ethics of Jesus
Role of the bible in Christian ethics
Ethics and the Christian community
Law and Gospel
Christian Liberty
Sin
Sanctification and Good works
Christianity and culture
Ethics of Vocation and work
Money Money Money
Marriage and sexuality
Decision making and the will of God
Resources for Christian decision making
coping with controversy

plus bonus material

Book(s): The Lutheran Handbooks

The Lutheran Handbook
These books are not constitutions or by laws but easy to read books abou God and living the Christian life

The essential field guide for all things Lutheran. For anyone hiking the trails of life's adventures and challenges — will want to pack this handy illustrated field guide to Lutheran theology and culture. This enjoyable, easy-to-read, reliable, all-in-one collection helps you understand the essential information about our theology, culture and Lutheran way of life. Organized by Church Stuff, Everyday Stuff and Bible Stuff with how-to's like "How to Forgive Someone" and lists like "The Top-10 Bible Villains." Encapsulates essential principles of the Christian life, making many of the complexities of our religious tradition accessible for contemporary seekers.

What the publisher says: "This is a fun book that affirms that Lutherans can (and must!) continue to laugh at themselves! It takes God very seriously but helps the reader to 'lighten-up!' It reminds me of the quote, 'Laughter is another way of crossing ourselves!' From the picture of Luther on the cover (is this his confirmation photo?) to the final pages of 'tongue in check' humor, these pages are a great mix of what life is all about — hurts and hoorays, Good Fridays and Easters, life and death, praying and playing!

What others say:
R Stout an amazon customer: You have no idea how excited I've been about this book. It's a thing of pure beauty. It is history, geography, sociology, practicality, theology, and -- perhaps most importantly -- great oozing masses of offbeat humor. It is hands-down the best single piece of popular religious writing and armchair theology that I've seen. Funny, intelligent, down-to-earth, comically illustrated, and irreverent. It's everything you need to see what good, orthodox, traditional Christianity is all about. (And it's a good tool for defense against extremist nutjobs!) It's set up in the same format as the ever-famous Worst Case Scenario guides. From chapters on camparative religion, a family tree of Christian denominations, and anatomical drawings of a proper Crucifixion, to a history of the Church, Medieval life, and good orthodox Christian theology, this book is perfect for people who know nothing of religion, perfect for Christians of any stripe, and perfect for life-long Lutherans.
My home parish bought 100 of them and sold out immediately. My work parish just ordered 25 and we've already pre-sold several. Did I mention there's a section on HOW TO AVOID BEING BURNED AT THE STAKE? Also tips on what to request if you can't avoid being burned at the stake. I kid you not. Another list includes ways to cast the Devil out from your presence. #6 is "break wind," and is noted as one of Luther's favorites. Also included:
How to Stay Alert During a Boring Church Service
Five Grossest Bible Stories
Five Weirdest Old Testament Laws
How to Perform a Crucifixion
How to Reform the Church History's
Six Most Notorious Heretics
Three Most Rebellious Things Jesus Did
Five Funniest Stories in the Bible
I've highlighted the humor, but this handbook is no satire. It is a serious, joyous, and thoroughly Christian document meant to educate, entertain, and deepen one's relationship with God and Christ's Church. It also includes guides on how to appreciate liturgy, how to deepen your experience of a worship service, how to find famous stories in the Bible, how to understand miracles, how to approach Scripture, how to live as a Christian in your everyday life... Honestly, this book is simply priceless. By all means, buy it, and pick a few copies up for your friends and loved ones.



The Lutheran Handbook on Marriage
In this book you will find:

The Lutheran Model for Marriage and Its Biblical Forerunners
The Five Stages of the Luther/von Bora Marriage
Katharina von Bora's Herring Barrel Escape from the Convent
Five Noteworthy Things Martin Luther Said about Marriage
Portrait of Martin and Katie
Five Faithful Couples in the Bible
Five Unfaithful Couples in the Bible
The Five Most Interesting Things Paul Said about Marriage
The Three Most Interesting Things the Song of Solomon Says Dating & Courtship
Ten Rules for the First Date
The Top Ten Attributes to Look for in a Spouse
How to Probe for Your Prospective Spouse's True Religious Views
The Five Most Effective Ways to Pop the Question The Wedding
Anatomy of a Lutheran Wedding
How to Plan a Lutheran Wedding
How to Select Your Maid of Honor or Best Man
How to Make Mutually Satisfactory Decisions about the Wedding
The Five Most Overused Wedding Bible Readings
Five Fresh Bible Wedding Readings
The Five Most Overused Wedding Hymns
Five Fresh Wedding Hymns
How to Light the Unity Candle without Setting the Bride's Hair on Fire
How to Respond When the Groomsman or Bridesmaid Faints
Five Common Wedding Ceremony Emergencies and How to Handle Them The First Year
How to Train Your Spouse
How to Merge Household Possessions
How to Merge Household Finances
How to Share a Car
How to Maintain Your Own Friendships
The Five Most Important Things to Remember When Choosing Your First Home
How to Decorate a Lutheran Home
How to Choose a Church Home Together
How to Establish a Routine of Daily Devotions
How to Keep Christ at the Center of a Marriage
How to Negotiate Where You Go for the Holidays
How to Prevent In-Law Encroachment
How to Prepare for an In-Law Visit
How to Respond to an In-Law's Nosy Question
Seven Common Moments in Which You Should Think before You Speak
How to Identify an Ill Spouse
Four Biblical Passages to Quote When You Call Your Spouse by an Old Flame's Name
How to Make Your Marriage a Springboard for Ministry
How to Use Your Spiritual Gifts in Your Marriage
How to Forge a Strong Second Marriage
How to Parent Your Spouse's Children Early Years
How to Manage a Household Calendar
How to Start and Maintain Your Own Holiday Traditions
How to Choose Your Child's Godparents
How to Get Your Family to Church on Sunday Morning
How to Pack a Diaper Bag for Worship
The Top Five Criteria for Evaluating the Church Nursery before Putting Your Kids in There
How to Handle Your Child's Non-Lutheran Friendships
How to Adopt a Child
How to Enjoy a Successful Marriage without Children Middle Years
How to Survive the Seven-Year Itch
How to Date Your Spouse and Keep Things Spicy
How to Balance Work, Home, and Church
How to Preserve Your Marriage through Your Kids' Adolescent Years
Ten Tips for Surviving the "Sandwich Generation" Years
How to Handle a Career Change
How to Recognize a Midlife Crisis
How to Maintain Your Marriage as You and Your Spouse Change Later Years
Ten Effective Ways to Dislodge Your Adult Children from Your Home
How to Survive after Your Kids Leave Home
How to Spoil Your Grandchildren Rotten
How to Grandparent Other Peoples' Kids
How to Survive Your Spouse?s Retirement
How to Retire without Ruining Your Marriage
Seven Rewarding Ways to Spend Time after Retirement
How to Support Your Spouse through a Serious Illness
How to Honor Your Spouse?s Memory
How to Plan Your Own Funeral
How to Leave a Legacy Money, Sex, & Other Fractious Issues
How to Navigate an Interdenominational or Interfaith Marriage
How to Get Your Spouse to Accompany You to Church
How to Plan Your Lutheran Vacation
How to Resolve Marital Conflict
Common Marriage "Stressors" and How to Manage Them as a Team
How to Talk to Your Spouse about Money
How to Write a Will (to Prevent a Posthumous Fight over Your Assets)
How to Write Living Wills Together
How to Plan for Retirement
How to Talk to Your Spouse about Sex
The Top Five Ways to Strengthen Marital Communication The Top Ten In-Law Issues and How to Deal with Them
How to Be Gracious to Your Spouse?s Friends Even When You Don't Really Like Them
How to Avoid Being Triangulated by the Kids
How to Decide Who Does What around the House
How to Share the TV Remote Control

The Lutheran Handbook for Pastors

This book contains:

Call Stuff
How to Know if You're Called to Be a Pastor
Luther's Call to Ministry
Seven Critical Pieces of Pastoral Advice Luther Gave
Luther's Five Biggest Pastoral Dilemmas and How He Handled Them
How to Avoid Becoming the Pastor You Swore You'd Never Be and Become the Pastor You Always Wanted to Be
How to Manage Your Relationship with the Bishop
Five Important Ways the Lutheran Confessions Define Pastoral Ministry
Seven Things Luther and the Reformers Said about Ministry
How to Know When It's Time to Find a New Call
Seven Things to Keep in Mind When You Interview For a New Call
What to Do When You Find Out You're the Wrong Person for the Call You're In
How to Retire from Ministry Gracefully Administrative Stuff
Five Tips on Hiring the Right Personnel to Make a Great Ministry Team
Thirty Subjects You Should Never Ask about in an Interview for New Staff
How to Empower Your Staff to Do Good Work
Five Things Senior Pastors Can Do to Endear Themselves to Their Staff
How to Run a Staff Meeting
How to Fire Someone When You Really Have to
How to Get the Best Out of the Church Administrative Assistant
How to Relate Effectively to a Senior Colleague
How to Relate Effectively to a Junior Colleague
Five Common Pitfalls Solo Pastors Fall into and How to Avoid Them
Ten Tips for Building Effective Pastoral Relationships in a Congregation
Four Unlikely Leaders in the Bible and What You Can Learn from Them
How to Release Your Congregation's Ability to Develop a Vision for Ministry
How to Delegate
How to Enable Your Congregation to Live as the Priesthood of all Believers
How to Participate in a Committee Meeting without Having to Be in Charge
How to Take Charge of a Committee Meeting When it Gets Off Track
How to Support and Empower Your Church Council without Becoming a Dictator or a Wallflower
How to Survive an Annual Meeting
Ten Things about Parish Ministry They Didn't Teach You in Seminary
How to Read a Congregational Financial Statement (and Why it's Important)
How to Manage Your Calendar
How to Carve Out Time for Sermon Preparation
How to Lead a Retreat Pastoral Stuff
How To Follow Jesus As Your Pastoral Model
How And When To Respond To A Request For Pastoral Care
How To Make An Effective Hospital Visit
How To Make An Effective Home Visit
How To Make An Effective Shut-in and Care-Facility Visit
Ten Things You Should Never Say to a Parishioner
How To Use The Grapevine To Support Your Ministry
How To Identify A Church Alligator
How To Avoid Getting Triangulated
How To Manage Habitual Office Drop-In Visitors So You Can Get Your Work Done
How To Remain Calm In A Crisis Situation
How To Mentally Prepare For A Funeral
Seven Preachers In The Bible and What Made Them Great
How To Preach A Prophetic Word Without Getting Fired
Three Clean Ice-Breaker Jokes For Use With Church Crowds
How To Preach A Stewardship Sermon Without Sounding Like You're Begging for a Raise
How To Create A Climate of Care, Love, and Openness In Your Congregation
How To Conduct Yourself at an Ecumenical Worship Service
How to Deal With Disgruntled Transfers From Other Churches
How To Drink Coffee
How To Accept Cookies and Other Goodies Without Gaining Weight
How To Listen To The Same Story For The 100th Time And Feign Interest
How To Respond When You Forget A Parishioner's Name
Five Ways To Handle The Tacky Gifts Parishioners Give You Worship Stuff
Ten Things You Should Never Say during Worship
How to Welcome Visitors
How to Ad-Lib a Prayer, Blessing, or Benediction
How to Use Your Family Members as Sermon Illustrations without Alienating Them or Boring the Congregation
How to Preach without Notes
How to Wing a Sermon When You Forget Your Notes at Home
How to Use Pronouns and Verbs in a Sermon
Eight Common Hand Gestures to Use with Your Sermon
Ten Uses for Old Sermon Manuscripts
How to Recover When You Lose Your Place or Forget...
How to Recruit Worship Assistants Discreetly When Someone Doesn't Show Up
How to Handle a Ringing Cell Phone during Worship
How to Handle Loudspeaker Feedback
How to Recover from an Open-Mike Gaffe
How to Respond to a Shrieking Child Incident
Five Common Wedding Faux Pas and How to Avoid Them
How to Survive an Anxious Wedding Party Personal Stuff
How to Recover from Christmas and Easter Overload
How to Stay Fit
How to Maintain Your Personal Devotional Life
How to Keep Up on Current Trends in Theology, Even When You're Busy
How to Maintain a Social Life as a Single Pastor
How to Keep Both Your Job and Your Family
Five Ways to Help Your Marriage Thrive Despite the Demands of the Job
How to Avoid Answering Personal Questions
How to Get Out of a Traffic Ticket
The Pros and Cons of Wearing a Clergy Shirt