30 strategies for powerful communication.

Beyond the what and how of preaching is the all-important why of preaching. Mike Fabarez contends persuasively that unless a sermon makes a difference in the lives of its hearers, the preacher and the congregation have missed the point. No matter how much information is communicated, unless application is central throughout the message, the sermon has failed to be biblical. In fifteen brief chapters, the author demonstrates how the goal of changing lives can permeate the planning, preparation, presentation, and pastoral follow-through of every sermon. And in the process, the preacher's life will be changed, too. Here is a book that is accessible, brief, highly practical, and ultimately life-changing. It includes: -a Prayer Guide for Preaching -a Sample Message Prep Prayer Team Schedule -a Preaching Evaluation form

Pastor, preacher, and New York Times bestselling author of The Prodigal Prophet Timothy Keller shares his wisdom on communicating the Christian faith from the pulpit as well as from the coffee shop. Most Christians—including pastors—struggle to talk about their faith in a way that applies the power of the Christian gospel to change people’s lives. Timothy Keller is known for his insightful, down-to-earth sermons and talks that help people understand themselves, encounter Jesus, and apply the Bible to their lives. In this accessible guide for pastors and laypeople alike, Keller helps readers learn to present the Christian message of grace in a more engaging, passionate, and compassionate way.

Deep down we know it: There has to be more than singing songs on Sunday morning, handing out tracts at work, or helping out at the soup kitchen. How do we integrate worship, evangelism, and justice into our lives as a whole, rather than compartmentalizing all three? Mike Pilavachi wants to see all three elements come together! With humorous prose and fascinating stories, he shows how the natural outflow of worship is telling people about Jesus, and compassionately helping them navigate the injustices of the world. We can't invite someone to church and ignore their physical needs; nor can we give out food at the local church pantry and disregard people's spiritual hunger. Says Pilavachi: "A life of passionate worship means feeding the hungry, standing up for those who suffer injustice . . . We must preach the gospel at all times, speaking and acting out God's love to a hurt and broken world."

When people felt obligated to attend worship, as in 1955, it didn't matter whether or not their religious needs were being met. But since our culture has shifted to giving people a choice, they are seeking something meaningful during worship; something which helps them to change their lives. In the church, we talk a lot about "changing people's lives" but we do not articulate what it is that the church has to offer to those seeking to do so. The author explores what happens during worship to provide a transformative experience and identifies which forms of worship are most conducive to this process. The focus here is on small groups, bible study, and forms of interaction between and among leaders and worshippers. For pastors and leaders discerning what forms of worship to experiment with in order to connect with seekers in their community and bring visitors back a second Sunday, this book offers easy to implement, practical ideas for church growth.

This is the English translation of the monumental study of the theology of the Apostle Paul by the Dutch theologian and Biblical scholar, Herman Ridderbos.

Inspiring Christians to see people as God sees them and make a difference As Christians, we want to make a difference in this world. We want to have an impact not only on our immediate family and community, but on wider social issues. We want to protect the vulnerable and engage with the issues that really matter. But how? This book shows us how wonderful, liberating and empowering it is to be made in God’s image. It will change how we see ourselves and other people. Some will feel the call to run for office... others will roll up their sleeves and join the good work of non-profit ministry... and others might simply find little ways to incorporate this vision of human dignity into their everyday lives, and change their community one word, one action, one person at a time. Dan Darling shows us that each one of us can be, and are called to be, part of this new movement-a human dignity revolution that our societies desperately need, and how we-you-are uniquely placed to join. This compelling book shows you how to join the dignity revolution.

“God has appointed preaching in worship as one great means of accomplishing his ultimate goal in the world.” —John Piper John Piper makes a compelling claim in these pages about the purpose of preaching: it is intended not merely as an explanation of the text but also as a means of awakening worship by being worship in and of itself. Christian preaching is a God-appointed miracle aiming to awaken the supernatural seeing, savoring, and showing of the glory of Christ. Distilling over forty years of experience in preaching and teaching, Piper shows preachers how and what to communicate from God’s Word, so that God’s purpose on earth will advance through Biblesaturated, Christ-exalting, God-centered preaching—in other words, expository exultation.

Examines Hebrews' exposition of Jesus' death, his self-offering in heaven at his ascension, and the link between them.

Seasoned pastor and educator James L. Shaddix presents a philosophical and theological argument for the practice of biblical exposition as the pastor’s primary approach to preaching ministry in the local church. Shaddix emphasizes listening for God’s voice in the sermon, God-centered vs. man-centered preaching, and/or preaching for real life-change.