Dones espirituales

Living into the Answers

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:59:46 GMT

What do I do now?!

Face life's "forks in the road" and write your own future—fearlessly. Be guided to your own wisdom within the context of the always-present divine voice. Living into the Answers teaches a way to ask for and receive God's guidance as you approach an issue or choice.

"Large or small, the decisions of life point toward particular paths," write Isenhower and Todd. "Paying attention to the process of discerning God's desire for our life starts us on a journey that leads to abundant life. …It opens us to a larger number of life choices and to a more interactive relationship with God who calls us for future possibilities."

Discernment isn't magic. It isn't passive. Discernment isn't a complicated mystical practice. Rather, it's a process of listening and choosing based on the understanding that God is to be at the center of decision making. The authors explain how to live in a way that satisfies the yearning for a deeper connection with the spiritual.

There may not always be one "right" answer because there's no shortcut to knowing which job to take, house to buy or relationship to pursue. But we don't have to make these decisions alone. As people of faith, we know every aspect of our lives is important to God, who created us for a purpose.

Living into the Answers is an inspiring and practical personal workbook that

introduces tools and practices that invite God in as we consider priorities and alternatives
guides us to create prayerfully considered options
helps us live with the confidence that God will use our choices to invite us into a deeper and more fruitful relationship

With Isenhower and Todd as your guides, you'll learn how to make every decision an opportunity for living in God's presence more deeply.

For the Common Good

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:41:05 GMT

For the Common Good reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives each Christian one or more spiritual gifts to be used for the common good. It guides readers to discover their own particular gifts and learn to use their gifts to serve others.

Examining key passages in Paul's writings, author Christine Harman leads readers through a personal spiritual gift assessment. She names 20 distinct spiritual gifts—including discernment, compassion, and evangelism—and helps people explore scripture references on each one. After identifying their particular gifts, clergy and laypeople will learn how to apply them for the good of their church, community, and the world. This book is ideal for both group study and self-discovery. The book also includes suggestions for how to build a ministry team or assign people to committees based on the gifts of each individual.

This book is the text for a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course on spiritual gifts. It also can be used for a small-group study.

A Leader's Guide is available for this book.

For the Common Good

Wed, 18 May 2022 21:17:05 GMT

This PDF Leader's Guide is designed to be used with the participant's book, For the Common Good. It includes discussion guides and activities to help individuals discover their spiritual gifts, identify their abilities and skills, and find ways to use them for God’s glory. It also offers a model for implementing a system based on spiritual gifts to identify and call forth leaders in the congregation. The Leader's Guide offers plans for four 2½-hour sessions to fulfill the 10-hour requirement for an advanced Lay Servant Ministry course.

For the Common Good

Wed, 18 May 2022 14:56:57 GMT

This book is the text for a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course on spiritual gifts. It also can be used for a small-group study.

A Leader's Guide is available for this book.

Each One a Minister

Sat, 14 May 2022 02:34:58 GMT

Each One a Minister, a revised and enlarged edition of Carter's previous book by the same title, begins with a 6-session study of Ephesians. Carter engages the reader in discovering the meaning of church, ministry, and gifts — from the early church up to the present.

As a follow-up to the Bible study, readers and study groups look at ways in which God's gifts are practical as well as spiritual. Four ministry categories, closely connected to the congregational primary task (receive, relate, equip, send), are identified. Scripture readings, activities, and ways to implement specific ministries are suggested.

Designed to encourage individuals to discover God's call to ministry in their own lives, Each One a Minister leads toward practical ways of using gifts in ministries in our congregations and in our communities. An ideal resource for clergy, lay leaders, study groups, and others seeking to identify and use their gifts in meaningful ways.

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide is also available.

Each One a Minister

Sat, 14 May 2022 02:34:45 GMT

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide is also available.

Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts Workbook

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:52:07 GMT

Based on Charles Bryant's best-selling book, Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts, John I. Penn has developed a workbook that helps a leader guide participants through a six-week study of discovering their spiritual gifts. Designed as a companion resource for Bryant's book, this workbook offers a basic understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The workbook will explore the following topics:

the nature and scope of the gifts;
what the gifts are and what they are not;
the diversity of the gifts;
the methods for discovering your own grace-gifts.

This resource, appropriate for both individual and group use, offers support to persons who desire to examine the spiritual gifts.

Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts Workbook

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:51:55 GMT

the nature and scope of the gifts;
what the gifts are and what they are not;
the diversity of the gifts;
the methods for discovering your own grace-gifts.

This resource, appropriate for both individual and group use, offers support to persons who desire to examine the spiritual gifts.

Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:49:50 GMT

Your Spiritual Gifts Inventory Pack is available for use with small-group members.

This book identifies, defines, and discusses 32 spiritual gifts including giving, healing, hospitality, service, evangelism, and music.

Bryant encourages you to discover the particular gifts the Holy Spirit has given you and challenges you to use these gifts to build up the body of Christ. The book includes a "Grace Gifts Inventory" to help you identify and apply the spiritual gifts in your life.

Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:49:38 GMT

Your Spiritual Gifts Inventory Pack is available for use with small-group members.

This book identifies, defines, and discusses 32 spiritual gifts including giving, healing, hospitality, service, evangelism, and music.

The Mystic in You

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:35:43 GMT

What is a mystic? Bruce Epperly defines mystics as people who see holiness in everyday life. We can be mystics without leaving our families, disengaging from daily responsibilities, becoming a priest, or joining a monastic order. Epperly shows how we can experience the living God in the midst of daily life and never again take everyday events for granted.

Bruce Epperly introduces readers to 12 individuals or groups of mystics through the ages: St. Francis of Assisi, the desert mothers and fathers, Benedict of Nursia, the Celtic mystics, Hildegard of Bingen, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Brother Lawrence, the Baal Shem Tov, Howard Thurman, Etty Hillesum, Rumi, and Julian of Norwich.

Each chapter describes each mystic's life, spiritual experiences and worldview, and provides spiritual exercises to help us experience the mystic firsthand. Through his conversational, down-to-earth approach, Epperly inspires us to realize that we can encounter God wherever we are, whatever we are doing.

The Mystic in You

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:35:28 GMT

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Participant's Workbook

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:21:34 GMT

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide is also available.

This 6-week experiential study (7 weeks, including the introductory session) helps individuals and small groups explore spiritual gifts using selected passages from the Bible.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Participant's Workbook

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:21:23 GMT

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide is also available.

This 6-week experiential study (7 weeks, including the introductory session) helps individuals and small groups explore spiritual gifts using selected passages from the Bible.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:21:01 GMT

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Participant's Book is available for small group members.

This leader's guide includes a process and resources for an introductory meeting and 6 weekly meetings of either 45 or 90 minutes. The longer format includes group lectio divina (contemplation of and individual response to scripture) in each session.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:20:46 GMT

Understanding Spiritual Gifts Participant's Book is available for small group members.

Each One a Minister

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:44:59 GMT

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Leader's Guide is also available.

Exploring Spiritual Guidance, Participant's Book, Vol. 5

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:38:16 GMT

A revised Companions in Christ Leader's Guide, containing a "Getting Started Guide" and new plans for a closing retreat, is also available.

Exploring Spiritual Guidance: The Spirit of Christ presents an overview of the different ways to give and receive spiritual guidance — from a one-on-one relationship with a spiritual mentor to congregational or small-group accountablility. Learn how to grow together as a part of a Christian community and how small groups become settings for guided spiritual development. This book is the fifth segment of a five-volume study of the original 28-week Companions in Christ resource. The five-piece participant series is designed for groups that will take breaks between the other four volumes:

Embracing the Journey (spiritual formation)
Feeding on the Word (scripture)
Deepening Our Prayer (prayer)
Responding to Our Call (vocation)

OPTION: Groups that wish to experience an uninterrupted 28-week study of Companions in Christ should order Companions in Christ Participant's Book in 1 Volume.

Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:37:01 GMT

Your Spiritual Gifts Inventory Pack is available for use with small-group members.

This book identifies, defines, and discusses 32 spiritual gifts including giving, healing, hospitality, service, evangelism, and music.

Let the Children Give

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:33:04 GMT

Let the Children Give provides adults the resources to demonstrate and teach a stewardship lifestyle to kids.

Stewardship is more than a church committee assigned to raise money for the budget. Christians are expected to act as responsible caretakers of everything we've been given by God. All have abilities to accomplish this work, and the apostle Paul reminds us that everyone, including children, must work together. Each of us holds an important role in Christ's mission.

"With our abilities and talents, we can manage the earth," writes Halverson. "We can also manage our health, property, time and relationships. …We do not grow spiritually without giving, not just monetary giving but giving of all of our gifts. We were made in the image of God and entrusted with the care of the earth and all that's in it, from the ozone to the starving child."

Packed with creative, educational activities designed for multiple settings and for children of all ages, Halverson teaches the concept of being good stewards through:

Arts and crafts
Drama and storytelling
Writing and research
Games and puzzles
Music, reading activities, and more

As a special bonus feature, Halverson created a mini-retreat designed for parents and children together to learn about stewardship. She discusses congregational stewardship plans from a biblical and historical understanding, and offers ways to include children in those plans.

Children, their families and your whole congregation will be better equipped to accept the call and challenge to a more holistic stewardship through a study of this book. This is a great book for Christian education committees and stewardship committees!