Pastors face a perennial challenge in deciding how to treat special days in the calendar. For days marked in the church year, the challenge is how to speak a fresh word about a familiar theme or story. For days marked in the civil calendar, the challenge is to discern within secular celebrations appropriate connections with the Christian gospel. In Preaching the Calendar, masterful preacher J. Ellsworth Kalas discusses the importance of embracing holidays and special days as occasions when sermons can enlarge and deepen spiritual yearnings. His words of wisdom demonstrate how this...
Pastors face a perennial challenge in deciding how to treat special days in the calendar. For days marked in the church year, the challenge is how ...
Author J. Ellsworth Kalas believes there is much we can learn about our own walk with God from the people in the Bible. In this inspiring book he gives us meditations about sixteen men from Scripture, some of them well known, others not even named. Each of them, he tells us, can teach us something about ourselves and our relationship with God, "not only through their wisdom but sometimes through their errors and obvious humanness."
Author J. Ellsworth Kalas believes there is much we can learn about our own walk with God from the people in the Bible. In this inspiring book he g...
While the Ten Commandments are known throughout the world, it's not often that we are offered a fresh take on them. Popular and beloved author J. Ellsworth Kalas approaches the Ten Commandments through the "back side"--through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new "lens," or the eyes of a minor character.
Kalas explores how these "prohibitive" laws actually are our dear friends, intended to make life richer and more fulfilling. He uses contemporary illustrations and personal experience to show how these timeless laws give us an appetite for divine excellence.
While the Ten Commandments are known throughout the world, it's not often that we are offered a fresh take on them. Popular and beloved author J. Ells...
Popular and beloved author J. Ellsworth Kalas presents new insight into the biblical story of Christmas. Kalas approaches the season through the "back side"--through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new "lens," or the eyes of a minor character.
Kalas's creative approach both clarifies basic teachings and introduces new possibilities of meaning, even for those who are most familiar with the Christmas story. Enriched with contemporary illustrations and personal experiences, this volume will provide new perspectives.
Popular and beloved author J. Ellsworth Kalas presents new insight into the biblical story of Christmas. Kalas approaches the season through the "back...
"I confess that I am an unreconstructed optimist. Not a naive one; I've lived too long for that, long enough to have experienced a resounding case for pessimism. I have vivid memories of the Great Depression, and I've lived through several wars and those international anomalies that we call police actions. I've watched what has seemed to me to be a rather steady decline in both public and private morals, and a growing confusion about ethics. And of course, I've watched the increasing prevalence of both evil and inanity (sometimes they're synonymous) in television and on the...
"I confess that I am an unreconstructed optimist. Not a naive one; I've lived too long for that, long enough to have experienced a resounding...
Where else would teens find courage and strength to live for God if not from theGospel of John? This book takes readers through the Book of John in 50 devotionswritten especially to speak to youth concerns. Each devotion is only two pages andcovers 10-30 verses, giving youth a great way to connect with Scripture. And youthleaders will find dozens of illustrations, questions for reflection, and programideas to beef up their ministry to youth.
Where else would teens find courage and strength to live for God if not from theGospel of John? This book takes readers through the Book of John in 50...
9 sessions. One of today's most exciting biblical writers, J. Ellsworth Kalas, explains nine of the parables Jesus used to present eternal truths. Scripture passages referenced are from the New Revised Standard Version. Parables covered include: -The House on the Rock (Matthew 7:24-27) -The Sower (Mark 4:1-20) -The Father and His Two Sons (Luke 15:11-32) -The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) -The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) -The Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8) -The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13) -The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14 -The Nobleman and the...
9 sessions. One of today's most exciting biblical writers, J. Ellsworth Kalas, explains nine of the parables Jesus used to present eternal truths. Scr...
The Planning Kit contains a DVD with twelve 10-minute sessions, plus "Meet J. Ellsworth Kalas"; one copy of the book Parables from the Back Side; and one copy of the video study Leader's Guide.
The Planning Kit contains a DVD with twelve 10-minute sessions, plus "Meet J. Ellsworth Kalas"; one copy of the book Parables from the Back Side; and ...
Careful biblical interpretation; insights into contemporary life; polished delivery; humorous anecdotes; these are the building blocks of preaching that genuinely reach people. Right? Wrong, says Ellsworth Kalas. We have all encountered preachers who seem to know all the fine points of exegesis and inflection, yet whose sermons leave us surprisingly unmoved, aware that we were in the presence of good speaking, but not great preaching.
The difference, Kalas reminds us, lies in that hard-to-describe, yet essential quality known as soul. Soul is the collection of those perspectives...
Careful biblical interpretation; insights into contemporary life; polished delivery; humorous anecdotes; these are the building blocks of preaching...
This Advent study has four sessions--one for each Sunday of Advent. Each session is related to the overall theme of the study, includes discussion/reflection questions.
This Advent study has four sessions--one for each Sunday of Advent. Each session is related to the overall theme of the study, includes discussion/ref...
