Sermons use words. And though it may seem obvious that preachers should be careful and exacting in word choice, preachers often set aside this aspect of preaching in favor of exegesis, form, and sermonic focus, and make such language work a secondary task. In Finding Language and Imagery, Jennifer L. Lord asserts that, because language shapes faith, preachers must be disciplined to find fresh words for sermons and to make good choices about both their own words and those borrowed from others. By presenting key tools and terms, along with writing, exercises, Lord helps users develop both their understanding of language and their skills to capture the religious imagination of their listeners. Book jacket.

This recent classic by G.B. Caird explores a host of linguistic principles related to language usage and meaning and points to the way these principles ought to be applied to a reading of the English Bible.

Imagery: Current Cognitive Approaches focuses on cognitive approaches to the study of imagery. Topics range from the brief image or icon, which serves as the source of storage in short-term memory, to global behavior changes, including hallucinatory imagery under the influence of drugs and hypnotic states. The role of the image in verbal learning and the relationship of the image to both sensory and cognitive aspects of perception are also considered. Comprised of six chapters, this book begins with a discussion on the relationship between imagery and language and a review of some specific evidence pertaining to the psycholinguistic problems of meaning, comprehension, and the learning and retention of verbal material. Subsequent chapters deal with visual perception and the function of iconic storage; different theoretical views on the definition of image; and processing of the stimulus in imagery and perception. The book concludes by analyzing how vivid imagery, "hallucinations", and other alterations in visual perception are produced by LSD and also by suggestions given under hypnosis. This monograph will be of interest to graduate students, teachers, and researchers of cognitive psychology, as well as to clinical psychologists and psychiatrists.

Ruth Duck provides a much-needed how-to book for creating unique and creative worship resources, including prayers, hymns, and sermons. She presents methods and models for creating these new resources while remaining scripturally relevant and mindful of inclusive-language concerns. This is an invaluable guide for those involved in writing or evaluating worship services.

Finding Voice is a foundational book for elementary students and teachers that addresses close reading of complex text through understanding and practicing the elements of voice. The book is a collection of classroom lessons that cover the tools authors use to shape voice and meaning: diction, detail, imagery, figurative language, and tone. Every voice lesson includes a quotation selected from a wide range of engaging fiction and nonfiction text, two discussion questions, an exercise that encourages students to practice what they have learned, and discussion suggestions so that possible answers are at the teacher's fingertips. The lessons will help students understand the elements of voice in what they read and encourage them to try out the elements of voice in their own writing. The Finding Voice lessons are specifically designed for students in grades 3-6. These lessons provide focused examination and practice for a specific element of voice and take only 10-15 minutes of class time. The lessons of Finding Voice: Introductory Lessons to Teach Reading and Writing of Complex Text fit well with any literacy and language arts curriculum. As students work with each element of voice, they will improve their ability to critically analyze text. Students will also learn to apply the elements of voice to their own writing, creating a clear voice of their own.

Based on IRA and NCTE standards, these classroom-tested reading activities will benefit all students in Grades 6-12, including gifted, special education, and ELL students.

Images are frequently used in the Bible to describe God and his relationship with his chosen people. Without an accurate understanding of the images, we cannot comprehend the profound biblical revelations they communicate. Understanding these cultural vehicles of communication comes by learning the cultural background of those who created them. Timothy S. Laniak illuminates this background for readers “from the ground up” with his archaeological and anthropological explanations of the contexts the authors lived in. Suitable for students, pastors, and lay leaders, the Zondervan ebook Images of God and His People links these cultural characteristics with the images of God with corresponding images of his people found in the Old and New Testaments. This complementary approach reveals a rich relationship between God and the people he loves and calls into his service.