Equipped For Good Work

All scripture is inspired by God . . . so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Equipped for Every Good Work is a four-tool process that can help you discover and develop the spiritual gifts, spirituality types, interaction styles, and working preferences of each person in your congregation. Begun in 1988, the Profile of Congregational Leadership has been used in approximately two hundred different churches of seven denominations in settings of all shapes, sizes, locations, and racial-ethnic backgrounds. Equipped for Every Good Work is not intended as a tool to help congregations assign members to jobs on committees, boards, councils, or task forces. Instead, it is a process of discovery and discussion of the gifts, graces, and abilities of the leadership core of a local congregation. It shifts the attention off of what we do and on to who we are as called, gifted, and empowered people of God. Through self-exploration and discovery, each person can gain new insights about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and the entire congregation can grow as a faith-forming spiritual community. Leaders--A special website (equippedforeverygoodwork.wordpress.com) provides access to all the handouts, presentation materials, reference materials, and interpretive aids.

Joe H. Cothen has revised Equipped for Good Work with the help of his friend Jerry N. Barlow. Having lived the life of a pastor for more than forty years, Cothen brings firsthand experience to the discussion table with each of his topics. He addresses all aspects of building and working in a church, from its identity to its budget, and relations both with the staff and public. Along with his advice he offers support and encouragement for other members of the church, but he also reaches to the public with the messages of motivation behind the instruction. In this new edition, the advice has been updated to assist with new problems brought on by the twenty-first century. The challenges in his profession are different but the lessons remain the same. Expanded indexes and reading lists add to this practical handbook that has served pastors time and time again.

A practical handbook for today's pastors. Extensively updated to aid in meeting the increased demands and challenges of twenty-first-century ministry, this edition includes expanded indexes, reading lists, and technological suggestions. Covering everything from policy programming to organizational management, each invaluable chapter serves as a vital resource for ministers facing the challenges of pastoral work today.

A profound exploration of how to hold on to hope when our unchanging faith collides with a changing culture, from two respected Christian storytellers and thought leaders. “Offers neither spin control nor image maintenance for the evangelical tribe, but genuine hope.”—Russell Moore, president of ERLC As the pressures of health warnings, economic turmoil, and partisan politics continue to rise, the influence of gospel-focused Christians seems to be waning. In the public square and popular opinion, we are losing our voice right when it’s needed most for Christ’s glory and the common good. But there’s another story unfolding too—if you know where to look. In Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra counter these growing fears with a robust message of resolute hope for anyone hungry for good news. Join them in exploring profound stories of Christians who are quietly changing the world in the name of Jesus—from the wild world of digital media to the stories of ancient saints and unsung contemporary activists on the frontiers of justice and mercy. Discover how, in these dark times, the light of Jesus shines even brighter. You haven’t heard the whole story. And that’s good news.

Nazarene Commentary is a complete reference to the 29 books of the Christian Bible. These books have been presented in a new version called the 21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures . [Abbr. MHM] This special study of the New Testament includes 400,000 words, 13,000 footnotes, and 1,700 pages. This entire work was completed Sunday 31 December 2000, with the various editing though 2010.

A CBA BestsellerNow expanded to include an added chapter on prayer and discussion questions designed to help small groups make the journey together, The Life You've Always Wanted offers modern perspectives on the ancient path of the spiritual disciplines. But this is more than just a book about things we should do if we want to be good Christians. It's a road map toward true transformation, compelling because it starts not with ourselves but with the object of our journey - Jesus Christ.Includes Study GuideJohn Ortberg is a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. He has written for Christianity Today and is a frequent contributor to Leadership Journal.