"So what are we about as pastoral pray-ers? We are about bringing ourselves individually and as a faith community into right relationship with God..." What about aRevised Common Lectionarybased book of pastoral prayers for clergy and lay leaders that provides responsive prayers for each Sunday of the year, including propers? David gets asked this question often when people recognize him as the author of the three volumes ofPrayers to Share. So, acknowledging that the pastoral prayer is often overlooked and undervalued, and that clergy and lay leaders may be hard-pressed for time to compose a fresh pastoral prayer each week, he has put together a unique and comprehensive collection of prayers that can be adapted to present circumstances and used in a variety of settings. The prayers are responsive, written for one or two leaders and a congregational response. They all allow for the inclusion of local and worldwide current events, and individual and congregational concerns. David usually uses the weekly Gospel reading as the broad theme for the prayers and divides them into four easily identified sections: world suffering church ourselves The "how to use" section covers preparing to offer pastoral prayer, and offers 12 ways to "do" pastoral prayer, such as: two leader congregational response using people and objects to dramatize a theme using part of a hymn for a lead or a response using silence for effect Each week offers specific suggestions for two or three prayer formats. Other features include: Thematic Index Scripture Index Icons in the margin to enable quick identification of prayer sections and alternate suggestions Data CD with text files for Year A

David Sparks gives us the third volume of pastoral prayers in this three-book series based on the scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for Year C. Church leaders will find an entire year's worth of responsive pastoral prayers to help bring individuals and faith communities into right relationship with God. The prayers can be adapted to a variety of settings and circumstances and are divided into four easily identifiable sections: world, suffering, church, ourselves. Each week offers a main prayer along with several "other ways" of praying. The book also includes: * Data CD *How to Use section with a step-by-step guide to different prayer formats *Thematic index *Scripture index *Icons in the margin for quick reference

Just what is pastoral prayer all about? When we pray for others and ourselves, what are we attempting to do? As David Sparks explains, as pastoral pray-ers we are about bringing ourselves into right relationship with God, both as individuals and as a faith community. As pastoral pray-ers, we are about expressing our compassion for suffering humanity, and fulfilling God's intention of establishing God's realm on earth. Pastoral pray-ers are also about being involved in the answers to our prayers. There's no trying to persuade God to do what we ourselves could do with some energy and effort here! Sparks writes his prayers to awaken in us an awareness of where to put our energy and use our faith to bring about God's kingdom on earth. The paryers cover local and worldwide events, individual and congregational concerns. They are lectionary-based and responsive and can be easily adapted to particular circumstances and used in a variety of settings.

The third in the popular series from David Sparks. Based on the scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, this book offers church leaders an entire year's worth of responsive prayers for use in worship and other church group settings.

After nearly four decades of ministry, Andrew Wommack has discovered some important truths about prayer. His prayer life is much different than it was thirty years ago and the results have dramatically improved! You may be asking many of the same questions Andrew once did. Is prayer my Christian duty? Is prayer primarily about asking God to meet my needs and the needs of others? Is God's answer to my prayer based on the degree of my humility and sincerity? Is answered prayer a sovereign decision of God or do I have the ability to influence Him? Clear, scriptural answers to these questions and more could significantly change the way you pray. These principles may not be the only way to pray, but if you're not getting the results you desire, consider changing directions; maybe there is A Better Way to Pray.

We live in a visual culture. Today, people increasingly rely upon visuals to help them understand new and difficult concepts. The rise and stunning popularity of the Internet infographic has given us a new way in which to convey data, concepts and ideas. But the visual portrayal of truth is not a novel idea. Indeed, God himself used visuals to teach truth to his people. The tabernacle of the Old Testament was a visual representation of man's distance from God and God's condescension to his people. Each part of the tabernacle was meant to display something of man's treason against God and God's kind response. Likewise, the sacraments of the New Testament are visual representations of man's sin and God's response. Even the cross was both reality and a visual demonstration. As teachers and lovers of sound theology, Challies and Byers have a deep desire to convey the concepts and principles of systematic theology in a fresh, beautiful and informative way. In this book, they have made the deepest truths of the Bible accessible in a way that can be seen and understood by a visual generation.

This collection of responsive prayers is based on the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, as is perfect for clergy and lay leaders alike. Like every collection of prayers written by David Sparks, Responsive Prayers, Year A offers an entire year’s worth of responsive prayers that can be adapted to a variety of settings and circumstances. This collection includes full prayers for the Call to Worship, Opening Prayer, Words of Assurance, Offering Prayer, and Commissioning, as well as an outline for the Pastoral Prayer, for each Sunday of the lectionary year, plus Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Some Sundays include additional prayer options. Responsive Prayers Year A also includes a scripture index. Authorization to reproduce and freely adapt all the prayers in the collection for use in worship in the local congregation is included with the purchase of the book. Praise for volumes in the previous series. "An eminently useful collection of worship resources tailored for the lectionary year." – The United Church Observer "These are truly wholesome and appropriate responsive prayers that engage the pray-ers… [They are] composed with an eye to the contemporary religious climate and are truly “about us” and our beliefs as a worshipping body of Christ’s faithful." – review posted on Amazon.com