Books published by Kregel Publications,U.S.

A handbook to enable ministry leaders to help others through bereavementGrief is a difficult topic that ministry leaders deal with on a regular basis. Do they have confidence in helping those who are suffering the loss of a loved one? Do they feel equipped to meet the differing needs that occur in the life of a survivor? Can they lead someone through a process of grief reconciliation? Are they able to plan and implement a bereavement ministry in their church or parish? Here is a book that can help leaders in a practical way to minister to those who are grieving. In addition, they will discover essential tools to deal with grief's difficult questions.Drawing upon his thirty years of experience as a pastor and as a professional grief counselor, Dr. Michael provides a valuable resource for pastors and other grief leaders to use within their churches and organizations, and their surrounding communities. This work is a practical guide that will bring a greater understanding of the impact that loss has upon individuals and will provide competent counsel for ministering to them. In addition, it will equip the leader to implement a ministry of grief education and bereavement within a church or organization.

Sue Duffy is an award-winning writer for publications such as Moody Magazine, Sunday Digest, and The Christian Reader, and the author of the Red Returning trilogy, Mortal Wounds, and Fatal Loyalty. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association and the former editor of metropolitan and inspirational magazines. Sue and her husband, Mike, live in Columbia, South Carolina. Visit her at www.sueduffybooks.com.

"This is a novel idea and an inspired one. These charts will be invaluable to anyone studying the book of Revelation in detail." --Richard Bauckham Professor of New Testament Studies and Bishop Wardlaw Professor, University of St. Andrews Author of The Theology of the Book of Revelation "Wilson's Charts on the Book of Revelation synthesizes an enormous amount of material relevant to the study of the Revelation of John and makes it available in a clear, useful, and unusual format for students of the Bible." --David E. Aune Professor of New Testament, University of Notre Dame Author of the three-volume Revelation in the Word Biblical Commentary series "A useful tool for teachers and a helpful guide for students to many complex and disputed issues. . . . Teachers and students from a great variety of cultural and theological backgrounds will all find that this book enhances their access to and communication of the book of Revelation." --Adela Yarbro Collins Buckingham Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation, Yale Divinity School Author of The Apocalypse and Crisis & Catharsis: The Power of the Apocalypse "More than any book in the Bible, Revelation needs to be visualized to be understood. Charts on the Book of Revelation is a major step forward in doing just that. Every pastor and Bible teacher will benefit from using these charts in their study and as overheads when teaching and preaching through the book." --Grant R. Osborne Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Author of Revelation in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series "If you are looking for helpful maps and charts that are substantive and revealing in regard to the book of Revelation, look no further than Mark Wilson's excellent resources. I know of no better collection of materials that illuminates Revelation than these resources." --Ben Witherington III Professor of New Testament Interpretation Asbury Theological Seminary Author of Revelation in the New Cambridge Bible Commentary series "Charts on the Book of Revelation is a useful supplement to courses on the Book of Revelation in both the church and the academy. Wilson's charts cover a range of historical, literary, rhetorical, and interpretive issues that will guide the careful student in making more viable interpretations of this difficult yet enriching book. An excellent resource to use with today's visual learners as they approach this highly visual book for study. --Robert Walter Wall The Paul T. Walls Professor of Biblical and Wesleyan Studies Chair, Department of Christian Scriptures Seattle Pacific University Author of Revelation in the New International Biblical Commentary series "This is an enormously helpful book, bringing together in visual form extensive comparative data both from and about Revelation. Not to be confused with prophecy charts of a bygone era, here we find charts on everything from various views of authorship and date to extensive list of scriptural allusions and verbal parallels, from John's use of symbols and numbers to all references to angels and demons--and much else--79 in all. Each is carefully annotated with the source of the information. While the parallels are not always convincing, they always provide an interesting place to start and will save the reader much time in collecting data." --David L. Barr Brage Golding Distinguished Professor, Wright State University Editor, Reading the Book of Revelation

Organized in an accessible FAQ format, 40 Questions About the End Times tackles common questions about the final period before Christ's second coming. In his clear, balanced style, Eckhard Schnabel cuts through the confusion and hype to offer meaningful answers through analysis of the relevant biblical texts as well as theological and practical conclusions. Questions include: Who are the 144,000 in Revelation 7? Will the Church disappear in a rapture to heaven? Does national Israel have a special destiny? What will happen to believers on the day of judgment?

"This book is an instant classic that deserves a wide readership." from the foreword by A. Andrew Das Professor, Religious Studies, Elmhurst College "Tom Schreiner condenses a career of scholarship into bite-sized chunks with clarity and care. Both the big picture and the detail come into sharp focus, making this an enormously valuable volume." Simon Gatherole Lecturer in New Testament Studies, Cambridge University "Thomas Schreiner's balance of scholarship and pastoral heart shines through brightly in this superb book on Christians and biblical law. . . . In concise explanations of the most difficult passages and issues, Tom provides perhaps the most helpful guide available." Michael J. Wilkins Distinguished Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University Some of the 40 questions about biblical law and Christianity addressed by Dr. Schreiner are: - What Does the Word Law Mean in the Scriptures] - Does the Old Testament Teach That Salvation Is by Works] - Does Paul Teach That the Old Testament Law Is Now Abolished] - Is the Sabbath Still Required for Christians] - Should Christians Tithe] Thomas R. Schreiner (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of many books, including The Law and Its Fulfillment: A Pauline Theology of Law. Benjamin L. Merkle (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of numerous journal articles and the book 40 Questions About Elders and Deacons.

Books in the John Phillips Commentary Series are designed to provide pastors, Sunday school teachers, and students of the Scripture with doctrinally sound interpretation that emphasizes the practical application of Bible truth. Working from the familiar King James Version, Dr. Phillips not only provides helpful commentary on the text, but also includes detailed outlines and numerous illustrations and quotations. Anyone wanting to explore the meaning of God's Word in greater depth--for personal spiritual growth or as a resource for preaching and teaching--will welcome the guidance and insights of this respected series.

Books in the John Phillips Commentary Series are designed to provide pastors, Sunday school teachers, and students of the Scripture with doctrinally sound interpretation that emphasizes the practical application of Bible truth. Working from the familiar King James Version, Dr. Phillips not only provides helpful commentary on the text, but also includes detailed outlines and numerous illustrations and quotations. Anyone wanting to explore the meaning of God's Word in greater depth--for personal spiritual growth or as a resource for preaching and teaching--will welcome the guidance and insights of this respected series.

Books in the John Phillips Commentary Series are designed to provide pastors, Sunday school teachers, and students of the Scripture with doctrinally sound interpretation that emphasizes the practical application of Bible truth. Working from the familiar King James Version, Dr. Phillips not only provides helpful commentary on the text, but also includes detailed outlines and numerous illustrations and quotations. Anyone wanting to explore the meaning of God's Word in greater depth--for personal spiritual growth or as a resource for preaching and teaching--will welcome the guidance and insights of this respected series.

Arranged in a Q & A format, this volume tackles the major questions that pastors, church leaders, and students ask about congregational church government, a topic of much interest in the church today. It provides readers with a clear analysis of key biblical passages, succinct answers (4-8 pages each), and discussion questions. The unique format of the book allows the reader to pick and choose what issues are most pertinent to their interests and needs.

Paul's letters have fascinated and challenged most every reader of the Bible. As a result, many general introductions and specific studies on Paul are available, but none are like Charts on the Life and Letters of Paul, which provides over 100 charts to explore the apostle's background, life and ministry, letters, and theology. The charts visually offer clarity on: Basic insights (e.g., "Autobiographical Information") Comparisons (e.g., "Parallels between Acts and Paul's Letters") Advanced tools for further study (e.g., "Key Words in Romans") Analysis (e.g., "The 'New Perspective' on Paul") Research (e.g., "Key Texts and Their Interpretations") Comments on the charts and discussions of significant theories-with leads for further exploration-are offered together with an extensive bibliography that includes references to past and current Pauline scholarship. Interested Bible readers as well as students of Paul's life, letters, and theology will find plenty of material to deepen their understanding. Teachers will find the charts to be a valuable teaching resource. This book is an excellent supplement to any general introduction or specific study on Paul.

The inaugural volume in the Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis series, Interpreting the Pauline Letters begins by exploring the components of narrative--setting, characterization, and plot--and then develops the foremost theological themes in each of the books traditionally ascribed to Paul. The method sets the task of exegesis within the literary context of first-century letters as well as the theological context of major themes present in Paul's letters. The book goes beyond exegesis to discuss strategies for communicating the central truthesof Paul's first-century messages to a twenty-first-century audience. Each chapter includes a list of helpful resources to the step of interpretation discussed. A glossary defining technical words and samples of moving from exegesis to proclamation make this guide practical and user-friendly. Designed as a handbook for seminary and graduate students, the book provides a go-to guide that will also serve seminary-trained pastors, upper-level college students, and well-motivated lay people. As readers work through this handbook, they will begin to see and interpret the narrative writings as Paul intended them to be understood.

This valuable reference tool for students and pastors explores the components of the narrative genre--setting, characterization, and plot--and then develops the major theological themes in each of the Old Testament historical books.

An accessible, full-color OT survey textbook focusing on the message of each bookWritten from an irenic, evangelical perspective, this Old Testament survey is designed to unpack what the biblical authors most intended to communicate in the Scripture that Jesus read. As the corresponding volume to the previously published What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About (Kregel Academic, 2008), it is well-suited for use in a college, seminary, or church context. Students of the Bible will find this full-color textbook accessible and engaging.What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About is gospel-centered, portraying the Old Testament as the foundation for a fulfillment found in the New Testament. Each chapter is written by an Old Testament scholar who is a skilled teacher at one of the finest evangelical schools across North America and specializes in the biblical book covered.Readers will find: - Introductory issues (who, when, where, why) condensed to one-page snapshots of essential information at the beginning of each chapter- The clarity of the biblical message enhanced through nearly two hundred high-resolution photographs, over eighty charts and tables, and twelve color maps- Very readable text, appropriate for broad audiences- A format simpler and intentionally shorter than many other surveys, making it a very manageable textbook for a single semester Old Testament survey course or a useful guide to accompany devotional reading of Scripture Interview with Jason DeRouchie: part 1 part 2

The reality of ministry is that pastors often struggle-they struggle with the week-to-week demands of ministry that sap the physical and spiritual energy needed for sermon preparation and presentation. The result is that many pastors feen "buned out" in their preaching. For some, the only cure is a move to a new church that hasn't yet heard the same messages. Pastor Bruce Mawhinney has been there, done that, and has a hopeful and helpful word for pastors. Staleness in ministry can be replaced with freshness and vitality. It is possible to move up to a higher level of effectiveness rather than just move on to a new location. The format of Preaching with Freshness is as distinctive as its title: a narrative story outlines the real-life difficulties of an ordinary pastor who discovers principles of preaching that revive his own enthusiasm and effectiveness in ministry. If the worst sin a preacher can commit is to bore people with the Bible, then Preaching with Freshness is every pastor's guidebook to a vital, engaging pulpit ministry. Bruce Mawhinney is senior pastor of New Covenant Fellowship in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He received his M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and his D. Min from Westminister Theological Seminary.

Robert B. Chisholm Jr. (ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is Department Chair and Professor of Old Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is a translator and the Senior Old Testament Editor of the NET Bible. Chisholm's other publications include Interpreting the Minor Prophets, Handbook on the Prophets, and A Workbook for Intermediate Hebrew.

"Jeffrey Arthurs offers us a great deal of help to take us away from turning out cookie cutter sermons and allowing us to preach God's Word with imagination and freshness." --Haddon W. Robinson Harold John Ockenga Professor of Preaching Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Author, Biblical Preaching "Variety--God is committed to it, and listeners need it. Prodded by these compelling observations, Arthurs tackles the variety in biblical literature--psalms, stories, parables, proverbs, epistles, and apocalyptic visions--and shows how to preach each one in a variety of ways. This is a clear and substantive book, written with wit and insight." --Donald Sunukjian Professor of Preaching, Talbot School of Theology Author, Invitation to Biblical Preaching "In this well-written book, Jeffrey Arthurs carefully and concisely instructs preachers to preach from various biblical genres with skill. His insights and suggestions will help any pastor to preach with variety." --Scott M. Gibson Haddon W. Robinson Professor of Preaching and Ministry Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Editor, Preaching the Old Testament "One of the great needs of preaching in our day is to let the biblical text speak with its own voice, rather than trying to stuff it into a predictable, pre digested package. Jeffrey Arthurs offers valuable and practical insights that will help any preacher better communicate biblical truth with freshness and faithfulness." --Michael Duduit Editor, Preaching magazine "Jeffrey Arthurs is a wordsmith, a message-smith, a master communicator. You will learn much from him." --Craig Brian Larson Editor, PreachingToday.com Preaching with Variety reveals how pastors can preach creatively by borrowing the dynamics of six genres or forms found in the Bible. Each chapter includes practical "Try this" suggestions and ends with a quick checklist for preachers to consider when preaching from each of the six genres. Readers will learn how to expand their repertoire of creative, interesting, and relevant sermons. Jeffrey D. Arthurs (Ph.D., Purdue University) is associate professor of preaching and communication and dean of the chapel at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is an avid preacher and active scholar.

Boyd Seevers (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an expert on ancient warfare and has participated in numerous archaeological excavations in Israel. He lived in Israel for eight years, during which time he was a visiting professor at Jerusalem University College. This experience gave Seevers great insight into world he describes in Warfare in the Old Testament. He is currently professor of Old Testament Studies at Northwestern College (MN), where he was named teacher of the year in 2006 and 2012.

We want information; God wants a conversationWe want to know answers; God wants us to know HimIf Christianity is a relationship with God, how many of us would say we have a strong, meaningful connection with him? After all, it's widely accepted that the foundation of any good relationship is communication--and conversation with God often seems to be one-sided at best. We may long to hear his voice, but does God still talk with us today? Should we even expect him to?Sam Williamson gives us good news: God is always speaking--we've just never been taught how to recognize his voice amid the clamor. Williamson shares the secrets of finding God's voice everywhere--in Scripture, of course, but also in the checkout line, on the job, in a movie theater, and even in silence. He delves into what it really means to pray without ceasing, how we can brainstorm with God, how to discern God's voice from the rest, and how to hear God's voice for others--without letting your own feelings get in the way.With Williamson's characteristic candor and leavening humor, Hearing God in Conversation bridges the gap between solid biblical theology and practical application. By the end, your eyes and ears will be opened to the limitless ways in which God speaks, and your relationship with him will have a firm foundation. "I picked it up out of curiosity and I couldn't put it down."--Eugene Peterson

When the evening news reported a dead baby abandoned in a local dumpster, Linda Znachko's comfortable life changed. She was suddenly convicted--God was asking her to provide a dignified burial for this tiny lost child. Linda said yes. She had no idea where that first small yes would lead. Linda found herself in places she never dreamed she would be: at the graveside of the child of an abused mother; by the side of a mother fighting for her lost child; and at the funeral of a Texas stripper who died two days before her baptism but left a legacy of love behind. When Linda stepped out of her comfort zone and into these implausible places with people she was unlikely to otherwise encounter, she discovered the life she never knew she wanted--a life of saying yes to God whenever He asks. Today, Linda has a ministry that gives children a name in life, and dignity and honor in death. When she shares her stories of broken lives redeemed, other broken people respond, and so the ripple effects of that long-ago yes continue to spread, touching lives that yearn for healing, and underscoring the fact that every life matters to God.

The book of beginnings, Genesis is foundational to understanding the grand themes of Scripture: the world, man, sin, the nations. In this God-centered, scholarly commentary, John Phillips brings Genesis to life verse by verse as he addresses questions, explains Hebrew words, details background information, and references other passages of Scripture for fuller understanding. His writing has substance and style--appropriate for both the scholar and the layman. "This series has features that will make it a favorite of Bible students: detailed alliterative outline; notes about the authorship; straightforward interpretation of the text; practical application." --Bookstore Journal "John Phillips writes with enthusiasm and clarity, . . . cutting through the confusion and heretical dangers associated with Bible interpretation." --Moody Magazine "Well-outlined and illustrated. . . . Will hold the interest of lay readers and will provide Sunday School teachers and preachers much material." --John Kohlenberger III "In the style that has commended him to numbers of Bible-loving people, [Dr.] Phillips deals with . . . biblical exposition in a Christ-honoring, easily-read style." --The Baptist Bulletin John Phillips received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary. He served as assistant director of the Moody Correspondence School as well as director of the Emmaus Correspondence School, one of the world's largest Bible correspondence ministries. He also taught in the Moody Evening School and on the institute's radio network. Now retired, Dr. Phillips remains active in his writing and preaching. He and his wife, Betty, live in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

A valuable resource for pastors and students, second volume in the HOTE series begins by explaining the nature of Hebrew poetry and the purpose of the Psalms. Old Testament scholar Mark Futato next explores issues related to properly interpreting Israel's songbook, and concludes with a sample of moving from interpretation to proclamation. A glossary is included.

An award-winning translation and condensation of "Jewish Antiquities" and "The Jewish War." Includes black and white photos.

In the fall of 1515 a professor began to teach the book of Romans to his university students. As he painstakingly prepared his lectures, he gradually realized, and then embraced, the book's central theme--salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. That spark of truth ignited Martin Luther's own spiritual life and the fires of reformation that would follow. Luther's Commentary on Romans presents the very earliest developments of Luther's evangelical theology, which he described as "the theology of the Cross." This popular edition, translated by Theodore Mueller, organizes Luther's notes for modern readers, using explanatory subheadings and parenthetical comments to clarify the great Reformer's thoughts. Some views, which Luther later modified or discarded, have been omitted in order to avoid confusion with his later works. The result is a text that is concise, practical, and devotional. Martin Luther (1483-1546) left his comfortable upbringing to become a Roman Catholic monk and later a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony. His study and teaching of the Greek text of the New Testament represent the beginnings of modern textual study, and his widely disseminated writings sparked the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Other works by Luther include Commentary on Galatians and Commentary on First and Second Peter and Jude.

Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and . . . most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home. In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined. The miting--shunning--that will now be Leah's unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?