Books published by Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S.

The role of the pastor as worship leader and preacher takes on additional significance when viewed in the context of evangelism. Building on the foundation laid in his earlier book The Pastor as Evangelist, Richard Stoll Armstrong provides practical, down-to-earth guidance for the minister who wants to participate more fully in the church's...

In her book Reaching for Rainbows, Ann Weems revealed a graceful style, a joyous approach to worship, and an uncommon understanding of human beings in their everyday settings and in their relationship to God. Now, the popular author offers a powerful and inspiring statement on what she considers her greatest inheritance--a sustaining faith. She...

Freedom, as understood by John Calvin, and as applied to the role of women in church and society, is the subject of this provocative book. Putting into perspective discussions about women in the church, particularly their ordination, Jane Dempsey Douglass looks not only at Calvin's Institutes but also at the work of humanists who were...

Holy Baptism and Services for the Renewal of Baptism is a liturgical resource that helps pastors perform Baptism services. It includes liturgical texts, music selections, and much more.The Presbyterian Supplemental Liturgical Resource (SLT) series includes liturgies that were used on a trial basis in preparation for the development of the Book...

John C. Purdy looks at familiar aspects of daily work in an unfamiliar way, that is, in relation to the parables of Jesus. In each of twelve chapters, Purdy examines one of the parables to see what it has to say about God's kingdom--its present demands and future rewards. Then, he shows what the parable means in the workplace. Finally, in a...

"Christian social concern requires not only that we ask what we should do in a broken world but also that we ask who we are to be." Bruce C. Birch pursues this idea to its roots in the Old Testament, challenging today's Christians to strengthen their faith by a deeper understanding of their biblical inheritance. He looks at the Old Testament...

Bringing together issues of religion and life, politics and personal identity, feminism and liberation theology, Dorothee Soelle presents a powerful critique of modern society, striking at dehumanizing elements that combine to oppress both women and men. Over the years, Soelle had challenged European and American readers with incisive...

Worship--the central task of the Christian community--is the focus of this thought-provoking book. William Willimon moves from theological understanding to the practical skills needed for preaching and worship leadership. He offers useful guidelines for conducting public prayer and for celebrating the Lord's Supper and Baptism. Focusing on...

Noted teacher and experienced counselor Andrew Lester challenges ministers to take up an often neglected task--caring for the children of the parish. It is the pastor's role, Lester says, to make spiritual sense out of the chaos of crisis. He looks to the ministry of Jesus as the model for faithful, effective ministry and illustrates how a...

From a minister, professor, and recognized leader in the field of evangelism comes a challenge to pastors to take a new look at their mission. Richard Stall Armstrong invites pastors to put on "evangelistic glasses" to perceive what it means to be a pastor-evangelist in terms of personal relationships and in light of the various factors that...

In situations involving confrontation, many Christians either explode and feel guilty or suppress their convictions and become depressed. Here, now, is a way to counteract these experiences--a how-to guide to assertiveness based on sound evangelical...

For those who are trying to grasp the complexities of the strife in the Middle East, this book addresses the religious, political, social, and economic problems there, as well as throughout the Arab world. Among the topics covered are the personality of Mohammed, movements within Islam, and current trends such as socialism and...

For the first time in complete form, the results of recent analyses of the Apocalypse are presented in a way that is easily understood by the beginning student and challenging to the scholar looking for a fresh approach. In a clear and vivid manner, Adela Yarbro Collins discusses the authorship of the book of Revelation, when it was written...

Seated in her nest of ashes, Cinderella embodies human misery. The essence of inner and outer nobility, she is the envy of her cruel stepmother and her ugly sisters. Using this familiar story, Ann and Barry Ulanov explore the psychological and theological aspects of envy and goodness. In their interpretation of the tale, they move back and...

The author of the popular resource, Creating Children's Sermons, continues his efforts to communicate the message of faith to the youngest members of the church. Believing that adult faith--or lack of faith--is directly linked to childhood experiences, Bucky Dann discusses the importance of reaching children with the word of God, and including...

The apostle Paul--antifeminist conformist, or social radical? Combining New Testament studies with folkloristic methods to search for the true identity of Paul, the author sheds new light on the apocryphal Acts of Paul and the Pastoral Epistles of the canonical New Testament.With this book, the legends surrounding the apostle have been rescued...

How can an omnipotent God allow suffering and violence to pervade the world? Arthur McGill approaches this disturbing question by examining the concept of power that is violent, destructive, and dominative, and the power of God that is creative, totally open, self-giving, and expansive. Through consideration of power, McGill provides...

Accepting the challenge to present an elusive and often abstract doctrine in a fresh and vital way, Aldair I. C. Heron traces the development of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament to modern times. Following a consideration of the Spirit as revealed in the Scriptures, he examines the patristic and medieval periods and the...

How are we to understand the Holy Spirit? In this enlightening presentation, Leonard Sweet examines the power, the divinity, the gifts, and the ecstasy of the Spirit. He tackles the question of speaking in tongues; the weaknesses and strengths of the charismatic movement; and the part that the Spirit plays in art, nature, history, and in other...

For many families, as children appraoch young adulthood an emotional rift appears between parents and their children. Sometimes the two generations can barely speak together without creating severe tension and antagonism. In this book, Sidney Craig seeks to help the parents of adolescents relate to their children and have a positive impact in...

Basing her discussion on the Bible and today's situation in society and theology, Letty Russell explores what it means to be human. She focuses particular attention on who we are in light of Jesus' own humanity, relationships between men and women, those who are treated as less than human, and how human liberation may be...

Valuable for both seminarians and practicing clergy, this basic work integrates theology and pastoral care in a practical and useful way. Citing actual experiences, with questions for personal reflection, this much-needed study brings about a new awareness of the ministry of pastoral...

In this challenging work, Gordon Kaufman asserts that the prime task of theology is the imaginative construction of the doctrine of God. Kaufman maintains that both the absoluteness of the divinity and our own necessity demand that we construct the doctrine of God critically and in a manner appropriate to our own time and place. In thorough...

A clear and thorough introduction to the best known of Jesus' teachings, this much-needed text examines what parables are, why Jesus taught in parables, and the purpose and place of parables in the Gospel narratives. Invaluable for the beginning seminary or college students and for church study groups, this enlightening work reveals the meaning...

Using everyday items such as balloons, flashlights, and bubble gum, Bucky Dann--a pastor popular with both children and adults--demonstrates in fifty-one simple lessons how children can begin to understand the teachings of Jesus, Bible truths, and even the meaning of atonement and...

Drawing upon a lifetime of counseling experience, Wayne Oates presents a sensitive and compassionate look at how to understand grief in our lives. Invaluable for persons coping with grief as well as for their family and friends, this uplifting book offers positive support and encouragement for overcoming grief and beginning to live fully...

This book grew out of years of reflections on real women's experiences. From them, Ann Ulanov states, "a common voice emerged speaking about each woman's struggle to receive all of herself. Each was trying to find and put together different parts of herself into a whole that was personal, alive, and real to herself and to others." This book...

Always full of joy and hope, Ann Weem's litanies and poems are ideal for individuals looking for devotional readings they can use privately or share with a group. They offer pastors fresh worship and sermon material covering such specific events as Christmas, weddings, Pentecost, and Communion. Also included are seven complete services of...

The good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the lost sheep--more than one third of all that Jesus taught is found in the form of parables. Now from J. Barrie Shepherd comes a fresh, positive approach to the best known and loved of Jesus' teachings.This unique collection of meditations offers morning and evening reflections for thirty-one days--each...