Harold L. Senkbeil – författare

When It Comes to Spreading the Gospel, Relevance Is Irrelevant· A thoroughly biblical approach to social witness and the transformation of souls· Reminds us that while we have a part to play in evangelism, it is God who Gives the increaseSome fight to recover Christian culture; others abandon any hope of transforming culture. Both mindsets are at odds with the early church. The apostles weren't seeking to convert cultures but people, because God's word cultivates its own culture--the culture of the word. When the word is sown, the culture is grown. Our mission remains the same today: a stubborn commitment to proclaim God's word.In The Culture of God's Word, Harold L. Senkbeil and Lucas V. Woodford reclaim the biblical approach to transformation and social witness. By returning to the apostles' own example in the book of Acts, we are reminded of the power of the gospel. God's word embraces broken hearts and broken lives and transforms them in Christ Jesus. The church is born of God's word and grows by God's word. The pursuit of relevance has failed. The culture wars distract from the mission. But God's word cultivates a faith that endures in a chaotic world. "Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." --1 Corinthians 3:7

Whether high church, low church, or somewhere in between, every church has a liturgy--a structure that guides the order of service, influences the way we worship, and reflects our relationship with God. The questions we must ask ourselves are· Is our worship something we do for God or a testament of what God has done for us?· Do the words we say, hear, and sing emphasize the work of Christ?· Does our order of service help us receive the gifts that Jesus desires to give?In Worship and Liturgy, Paul J. Grime helps ministry leaders answer those questions in order to faithfully lead their churches to worship in spirit and truth. Covering the vital topics of preaching, prayer, the lectionary, the sacraments, and more, Grime helps you center your services around Christ, who desires to meet with his people and give us what we need. Whether you are starting from scratch with a new church plant or hoping to revitalize and recenter the worship in a long-standing congregation, this resource will help you recognize liturgy not as merely an order of service but more significantly as the unique and life-giving work of Christ, who laid down his life for the benefit of the whole world.

2020 Christianity Today Book Award Winner for Church/Pastoral Leadership2019 TGC Ministry Book of the Year Winner2020 ECPA Christian Book Award Winner for Ministry ResourcesDrawing on a lifetime of pastoral experience, The Care of Souls is a beautifully written treasury of proven wisdom which pastors will find themselves turning to again and again.Harold Senkbeil helps remind pastors of the essential calling of the ministry: preaching and living out the Word of God while orienting others in the same direction. And he offers practical and fruitful advice--born out of his five decades as a pastor--that will benefit both new pastors and those with years in the pulpit.In a time when many churches have lost sight of the real purpose of the church, The Care of Souls invites a new generation of pastors to form the godly habits and practical wisdom needed to minister to the hearts and souls of those committed to their care.

2021 Christianity Today Beautiful Orthodoxy Award of MeritLord, do you not care if we perish?That's what the frightened disciples shouted to Jesus as he slept in the stern of a storm-tossed boat. In the midst of suffering and uncertainty, we're all prone to think that God has forgotten us, he doesn't care, or he's powerless to do anything.In Christ and Calamity, Harold L. Senkbeil speaks pastorally to our suffering and uncertainty. Senkbeil shows God's constant and faithful grace to us. With Paul he encourages us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess 5:16-18).Calamities come in many different sizes, and God addresses them all in his word and by his Spirit. Even when we don't see or feel it, God is always faithful."If I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me" (Ps 139:9-10).The disciples' faith in the midst of the storm may have been weak, but Jesus was mighty to save. And he will save you, too. No matter how small your faith, you can count on him to hear your anguished cry and to answer.

2021 Christianity Today Beautiful Orthodoxy Award of MeritLord, do you not care if we perish?That's what the frightened disciples shouted to Jesus as he slept in the stern of a storm-tossed boat. In the midst of suffering and uncertainty, we're all prone to think that God has forgotten us, he doesn't care, or he's powerless to do anything.In Christ and Calamity, Harold L. Senkbeil speaks pastorally to our suffering and uncertainty. Senkbeil shows God's constant and faithful grace to us. With Paul he encourages us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess 5:16-18).Calamities come in many different sizes, and God addresses them all in his word and by his Spirit. Even when we don't see or feel it, God is always faithful."If I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me" (Ps 139:9-10).The disciples' faith in the midst of the storm may have been weak, but Jesus was mighty to save. And he will save you, too. No matter how small your faith, you can count on him to hear your anguished cry and to answer.

Death will strike your congregation. Are you ready? Are they?Death has become a four-letter word. Whereas in previous generations, the practice of memento mori ("remember death") was embedded in family life, people today have found ways to distance themselves from death. As Western culture becomes increasingly more secular, the Christian understanding of death and the funeral appear more and more strange.Fear of death affects us all, and so pastors have significant hurdles to overcome. What Christians need today is a renewed vision of the traditional Christian funeral liturgy. In Funerals, Tim Perry recovers the rich theology inherent to the Christian funeral: communion with the saints in death, peace in forgiveness, hope in the resurrection, and joy in life eternal. Perry guides pastors through the practice of funerals, from planning the service to preaching the eulogy, and offers wisdom for the hard cases.Perry's Funerals will help pastors disciple their people to see through the valley of the shadow of death and into the hope beyond.

Christ's sheep need shepherding. That's where you come in.With more than 60 years of ministry between them, Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford have come to understand that everything in ministry--even administration, leadership, and planning--revolves around the ancient tradition of the care of souls. Pastors are entrusted with the care of a flock by the Good Shepherd and are called to be faithful to this task. But pastoring seems to be getting more and more difficult.Based on a sound theological framework, Senkbeil and Woodford present a set of practical tools for church leadership and strategy. Calling on their vast experience, they encourage pastors to protect, guide, and feed their flock as Jesus would, bridging the eternal wisdom of the word of God with the everyday practicality of hands-on leadership. Originally published as Church Leadership & Strategy, this revision includes a new chapter and litany.

"Nathan Meador and Heath R. Curtis present a practical theology of stewardship focused on ministry in service of the Gospel. Guiding pastors away from the pitfalls of idolatry around money, they instead call stewards to embrace their identity in Christ and encourage their congregations to do the same. This fresh approach to stewardship reorients both individuals and congregations toward their true purpose as stewards who have been baptized into Christ"--

"Jesus Christ is the light that no darkness can overcome. Spiritual warfare isn't always obvious. It's normally not scary or spooky; it's usually rather mundane. Yet it's real and always miraculous. In Spiritual Warfare, Harold Ristau shows how faithful spiritual warfare isn't about secret methods and rituals. Rather, for the care of souls, pastors already have all they need in God's word. The Spirit's gifts equip Christians for whatever challenges await them in ministry-even fighting against the wiles of the devil. Spiritual Warfare helps pastors inform, prepare, and equip the saints for the battle. The good fight is fought in prayer and worship. As the church preaches the forgiveness of sins, the darkness is pierced with the light of Christ and those in bondage are freed"--

"Christ comes to, and through, his people Many consider pastoral visitation antiquated and impractical. People seem busier than ever, and technology appears to trivialize personal contact. As a result, personal visits are often reserved only for the gravest of situations. Tyler C. Arnold argues that pastoral visitation is essential to the pastoral role. In Scripture, God visits his people to show his personal interest and concern. This is seen most clearly in the incarnation. Christ's ministry is one of presence. But Jesus is not only an example of visitation ministry; he is the embodiment of it. And in visitation, pastors and laypeople continue Jesus's ministry by bringing Christ to the individual in their very place of need. Established in strong theological foundations and sensitive to contemporary concerns, Pastoral Visitation exhorts pastors to return to this classic method of individual soul-care"--

"Evangelism is the heart of pastoral care. In Evangelism: For the Care of Souls, Sean McGever reminds ministers that announcing-and reannouncing-the good news of Jesus is central to pastoral care. The crucified Jesus has been raised from the dead and is Lord of all. The gospel rightly belongs at the start of a Christian's life, but its role does not end there. It is the balm and cure of our hearts for all of life. And evangelists must not confuse the messenger with the message. We must all be evangelized and re-evangelized. Avoiding a simplistic, manipulative, or guilt-inducing message, Evangelism: For the Care of Souls presents a vision and strategy for ministers to evangelize in a way that is refreshing, biblical, and sustainable"--

The Lord's song sings faith into people's hearts.Music is central to the life of the church. In Church Music: For the Care of Souls, Phillip Magness helps the church to recover the primary instrument in worship: congregational voices. With voices raised, we sing praises to our God and King for his Son Jesus Christ. Singing calls for a special kind of leadership--not only on the part of musicians, but also among pastors and lay leaders. Together, leaders can help congregations find their voice and reclaim the power of music for the care of souls.

Moonbeam Children's Book Award 2024 Gold MedalistNorthern Lights Book Awards 2024 WinnerAmerican Book Fest 2024 FinalistMy God loves me and gives me life.His law protects the gifts he gives me.● Learn and love the Ten Commandments● See how Jesus fulfilled God's will● Pray the Commandments with a family prayerJoin FatCat as he learns the Ten Commandments--how God's children love. Each commandment has a reflection on its meaning and illustrations from Jesus' life. As you read each commandment, see how Jesus fulfilled God's will for us and showed us how to love God and others. With a list of Scripture references and a guided family prayer, this FatCat book helps all God's children memorize, understand, and love the Ten Commandments.We love God because he first loved us. Jesus shows us how God loves us. Because Jesus obeyed his Father, we have forgiveness and life--and many other good gifts. God's commandments protect us and his gifts for us. When we love and obey God, we treasure the good things he gives us.

Inviting others into God's good work· Learn how to empower laity in leadership· Understand a theology of leadership· Gain practical wisdom for your own contextThe church is ordered so that good can run wild. God appoints leaders to commission the laity in the church's ministry and mission. Pastors and ministry leaders serve and organize the church in such a way that people in their care can pursue their unique gifts.In Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls, Aaron Perry empowers pastors to empower laity in leadership. Perry helps leaders recognize the challenges and pursue the opportunities in sharing vision, inviting participation, delegating roles and responsibilities, and equipping people for sustained ministry. With theological structure and practical wisdom, Perry provides a foundational theology of the laity and specific actions for leaders to apply in their own context.

A Better Way to Choose and Train Your Next Pastor· Offers a new perspective on the qualifications for ministry· Practical help to identify a potential future pastor within the church· Advice for mentoring and trainingIn too many church cultures, potential pastors are identified primarily by their intelligence, giftedness, or willingness. Instead, Jared C. Wilson sees the Bible emphasizing the character, spiritual maturity, and Christlikeness of congregational leaders. These characteristics are best discerned and cultivated in the context of a local church. In Pastoral Mentoring: For the Care of Souls, Wilson argues that, while formal theological education plays an important role, the local church is uniquely equipped to train its shepherds. This book empowers pastors and church leaders to identify and mentor future ministers right where they are.