Sabbaticals: How-To Take a Break from Ministry Before Ministry Breaks You
Sabbaticals: How-To Take a Break from Ministry Before Ministry Breaks You

Author: Rusty McKie

Publisher: How-To

Published: 2018-09-18

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 9781732055261

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Are you tired and worn out from ministry? Isn't Jesus' burden supposed to be light? In the pressure-producing machine of our chaotic world, Jesus' words of rest don't often touch our lives. As ministry leaders, we know a lot about biblical rest, yet we don't often experience it. The ancient practice of sabbath provides ample wisdom on how to enter into rest in Christ. Sabbaticals is a guide showing us how to implement Sabbath principles into a sabbatical as well as into the ebb and flow of our entire lives. RUSTY McKIE serves as the lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has contributed articles for thegospelcoalition.com, AmICalled.com, and sojournnetwork.com. He has been married to Rachel for thirteen years, and they have two dearly loved children. Rusty loves working and resting alongside family and friends in his beautiful city, Chattanooga.

Clergy Renewal
Clergy Renewal

Author: Richard Bullock

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2000-04-01

Total Pages: 105

ISBN-13: 156699487X

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Planned time away from the parish for study, rest, and spiritual renewal can be beneficial-and often necessary-for any pastor, as well as for the congregation. In this thoroughly revised and expanded edition of Alban’s popular Sabbatical Planning for Clergy and Congregations, Bullock and Bruesehoff provide the definitive guide to putting together refreshing pastoral sabbaticals that can help keep ministry vital and growing for the long term

James, 1-2 Peter, and 1-3 John
James, 1-2 Peter, and 1-3 John

Author: David Olshine

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2014-10-28

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 0310516781

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What do small group leaders need? Good Bible studies that engage their kids. The purpose of this book in the Studies On the Go series is to provide small group leaders with creative and engaging Bible study questions they won’t have to rewrite. Students will be pushed, encouraged, and challenged, but the real goal is that they would be changed. David Olshine has designed James, 1-2 Peter, and 1-3 John for the busy youth worker who either lacks the time or the information to lead a quality Bible study. Without skimping on depth and substance, Olshine has constructed down to earth questions that get kids into the text and so they can hear God’s Word on a practical level. Each consecutive passage of Scripture sets a topic to help students think deeply, talk openly, and apply what they are learning to their lives.

The Pastor's Soul
The Pastor's Soul

Author: Brian Croft

Publisher: EP BOOKS

Published: 2018-07-16

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 9781783972388

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David Murray writes in the Foreword: 'The minister's soul is the soul of his ministry.' I can't remember where I first heard this saying, but I've never been able to forget it. And, having read this book, I never want to forget it. In these pages, Jim Savastio and Brian Croft establish the foundation of all faithful and fruitful ministry"€"the pastor's soul. But, although their main target is the epidemic of ministerial hyper-activity and the accompanying burnout, backsliding, and brokenness, they carefully avoid over-reacting and running to the opposite extremes of monkish withdrawal or lazy self-indulgence. Instead, you have a book that skillfully walks a balanced biblical path in both content and style. It balances self and others. Yes, the pastor is all about serving others, about sacrificing for the sake of others, about spending and being spent for others, and about pouring out themselves to fill others. But, as many pastors have discovered to their cost and pain, servants are finite, sacrifices eventually turn to ashes, non-stop spending leads to bankruptcy, and pouring out without ever filling up ends in drought. This book reminds us that caring for self is not selfish but necessary if we are to sustain a life of caring service to others. It's not a warrant for sloth or selfishness, but rather a call to self-care that will lead to better other-care.

Subversive Sabbath
Subversive Sabbath

Author: A. J. Swoboda

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2018-02-20

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 1493412906

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We live in a 24/7 culture of endless productivity, workaholism, distraction, burnout, and anxiety--a way of life to which we've sadly grown accustomed. This tired system of "life" ultimately destroys our souls, our bodies, our relationships, our society, and the rest of God's creation. The whole world grows exhausted because humanity has forgotten to enter into God's rest. This book pioneers a creative path to an alternative way of existing. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Subversive Sabbath offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping that leads to fuller and more joyful lives. A. J. Swoboda demonstrates that Sabbath is both a spiritual discipline and a form of social justice, connects Sabbath-keeping to local communities, and explains how God may actually do more when we do less. He shows that the biblical practice of Sabbath-keeping is God's plan for the restoration and healing of all creation. The book includes a foreword by Matthew Sleeth.

Why Pastors Quit
Why Pastors Quit

Author: Bo Lane

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2014-03-25

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13: 9781497410893

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My journey as a pastor had quite a few ups and downs. Although there were many aspects of serving in full-time ministry that I loved, there were more things that happened along the way that made a negative impact on both myself and my family. After I resigned from the pastorate, it took several years of forgiving and getting plugged in to a healthy church before I really began to heal from the hurt. Whether you've spent your entire career as a pastor or if you have recently thrown in the towel, Why Pastors Quit is an easy-to-read book that will encourage you and make you ask the question: What can I do to help change the statistics?

Transforming
Transforming

Author: Austen Hartke

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press

Published: 2018-04-07

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 1611648521

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In 2014, Time magazine announced that America had reached the transgender tipping point, suggesting that transgender issues would become the next civil rights frontier. Years later, many peopleeven many LGBTQ alliesstill lack understanding of gender identity and the transgender experience. Into this void, Austen Hartke offers a biblically based, educational, and affirming resource to shed light and wisdom on this modern gender landscape. Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians provides access into an underrepresented and misunderstood community and will change the way readers think about transgender people, faith, and the future of Christianity. By introducing transgender issues and language and providing stories of both biblical characters and real-life narratives from transgender Christians living today, Hartke helps readers visualize a more inclusive Christianity, equipping them with the confidence and tools to change both the church and the world.

100 Devotions for the Working Mom
100 Devotions for the Working Mom

Author: Zondervan,

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2023-03-14

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 031014082X

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Are you a working mom? You need a devotional that understands what you're experiencing and all the demands you face--at work and at home. Each devotional speaks to relevant topics such as raising children, self-care, empathy, sympathy, balance, hope, and rest. 100 Devotions for the Working Mom invites you on a journey that brings you peace and deepens your faith while speaking to relevant topics such as raising children, self-care, empathy, sympathy, balance, maintaining hope, and getting rest. Inside this beautiful devotional you'll find: 100 Bible-based devotions Colorfully-designed interiors A presentation page offering space to write a personal note for gifting Each day includes: A relevant Bible verse An inspirational devotion A personalized prayer Journaling lines to express your thoughts This 100-day devotional will remind working moms that they're loved by their friends, family and most importantly God. The devotional makes an encouraging gift for family, friends or yourself, perfect for Mother's Day, the holidays, or as a just because gift. Check out the other mom-inspired devotionals in the collection--100 Devotions for the Single Mom and 100 Devotions for the Stay-at-Home Mom.

Leading on Empty
Leading on Empty

Author: Wayne Cordeiro

Publisher: Bethany House

Published: 2010-04-01

Total Pages: 219

ISBN-13: 1441207422

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Wayne Cordeiro found himself paralyzed by burnout. He had been in ministry for 30 years, and 10 years after founding what is now the largest church in Hawaii, he found himself depleted. Wayne took a season out of his growing ministry to recharge and refocus on the truly important. He was able to get back in touch with his life, get back in proper balance, and re-energize his spirit through Christ in a way that propelled him forward to greater levels of service. Wayne first gave this message at a recent Willow Creek Leadership Summit, where it was the highest-rated presentation by those in attendance. Pulling no punches, Wayne talks about the walls leaders must break through and how to move on with integrity. Included are ways to care for oneself physically and emotionally as well as spiritually.

Sacred Pauses
Sacred Pauses

Author: April Yamasaki

Publisher: MennoMedia, Inc.

Published: 2013-02-01

Total Pages: 157

ISBN-13: 0836198263

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In a fast-paced world full of distractions, spiritual practice can help us become more centered-more in touch with ourselves and others, more in touch with the world around us, more in touch with God. Sacred Pauses is an introduction to this more centered way of life. The author, a pastor in British Columbia, begins with her own longing for personal renewal. What would it take to feel renewed every day? Instead of waiting for a vacation to smooth out the tensions of life, instead of waiting until the end of the week to shed our weariness, what if we could take time out every day? Live a renewed life every day? Be refreshed by God every day? Sacred Pauses offers simple ways for readers to do just that. Each chapter explores a different spiritual practice-from the classic disciplines of Scripture reading and prayer to other creative approaches such as paying attention, making music, and having fun. With plenty of stories from real life and ideas to try, this book is personal and practical. Its flexible format is appropriate for personal use or in a group, every day or any time. Free downloadable study guide available here.