Energion Publications

Pre-Order: Release is scheduled for September 1, 2010

Subtitle: Recollections of a Journey

Finding My Way in Christianity: Recollections of a Journey is a story of dealing with the differences within the Christian community that is both personal and theologically reflective. With a diverse cross-cultural background, exceptional theological education, and fascinating personal experience, author Dr. Herold Weiss is uniquely qualified to write about this topic.

This notable book outlines the author’s experiences starting in Montevideo, Uruguay and moving through various educational experiences and teaching positions. It is no accident that the chapter titles reflect geographical locations, as the journey through space provides an illuminating metaphor for the faith journey that accompanies it.

Some of the people you meet in this book will make you angry. Others will make you thankful to be a Christian. Some will evoke your sympathy even as you seek to understand why they acted as they did. All of them will help give you some insight into what goes into a successful journey of faith. You can read Finding My Way in Christianity either as an interesting story or as theological reflection. The author’s experiences will resonate with many of us who have experienced the divisions within the Christian community and dealt with those who would silence dissent. Dr. Weiss’ story comes primarily within one denomination, but it follows outlines that will be familiar to many.

If you find yourself on a journey of faith, you owe it to yourself to read Finding My Way in Christianity.

Soup Kitchen for the Soul combines testimony with a challenging scriptural foundation and follows it with specific guidance on how you can get out of your church and make a difference in your community. Each chapter builds on a Bible story and the author’s personal experience, and ends with thought questions, and then action questions. References include specific ways in which you can take action on what you have been studying in the book.

This book is suitable for personal or small group study, or could be used effectively by an entire church to transform their ministry.

In the introduction Crosby says: “Upon entering Seminary, I was required to serve in the community and begrudgingly accepted my assignment, choosing to serve in a soup kitchen. While serving in the soup kitchen, God revealed himself to me in a profound and miraculous way. It was in restudying the scriptures with this new heart knowledge of God that allowed me to see a message of a mission for His people that we lack a connection with today. I began asking, ‘What if … What if I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand the whole mission God has planned for us? What exactly are we supposed to be doing? Where in the Bible can we find directives on our missions for God? What if I wrote a book about radically new old ways of doing the gospel?’”

Soup Kitchen for the Soul is that book.

Along Bible Paths: Summer Devotions grew out of the daily devotional e-mail list that Jody Neufeld began in 1999 to encourage others to begin their day with the Lord. Many continue to enjoy these thoughts in their e-mail every weekday morning, or via the Jody’s Devotionals blog. This book is a collection organized for the summer. We hope many more will enjoy these in printed form.

Jody Neufeld, now in a “new season” of her life as she is retired from nursing and is working in publishing full-time in partnership with her husband, Henry. “I’m not sure God agrees with the concept of retirement. He seems to be more about ‘seasons’ and giving us opportunities to serve in His Kingdom all the days of our lives.” She is the author of Daily Devotions of Ordinary People-Extraordinary God and

Grief: Finding the Candle of Light. Jody and Henry have three children: Janet and her husband, Chris Lister, who are in ministry in Ft. Worth,Texas, twin brother, John Webb, a former MLB pitcher, lives with his family in Phoenix, AZ, and James Webb, who loved to lead praise and worship and his work in marching band, is now home with Jesus after battling cancer for five years. They also have five grandchildren: Alex, Anna, Jaxon, Jamie, and Ashton.

Owner of Energion Publications, Henry Neufeld is also the editor of the Participatory Study Series. He can be followed on deepbiblestudy.net, henrysthreads.com, and jevlir.com. Henry has BA and MA degrees in Biblical Languages, and uses his skills in Biblical studies to help lay people learn to better understand the Bible . He is also the author of What’s in a Version?,When People Speak for God, and eight other books. He and Jody live near Pensacola, Florida.

ISBN10: 1-893729-83-4

ISBN13: 978-1-893729-83-4

Pages: 164

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The Character of Our Discontent grew out of the author’s conviction that pastors do not preach enough about the Old Testament. The result is 19 chapters, each of which represents a sermon on an Old Testament character. These sermons are lively, fast paced, and practical yet are rooted in sound scholarship and are examples of the homiletical art.

Christians who would like to learn how the Old Testament can enlighten and guide their Christian walk, and pastors who would like to learn how to preach more effectively from the Old Testament will both find these sermons an invaluable aid.

While Dr. Bevere specializes in the New Testament and theology, he believes that pastors (and academics as well) can preach and teach effectively outside their areas of specialty. Indeed, they must, and this teaching can enrich their own learning and the fields of study into which they venture.

The Character of Our Discontent is an adventure in preaching and it invites us into the adventure of living in relationship with God, an adventure that has similar characteristics whether we are learning about God’s call to Abraham or how a call to mission in Africa came to a contemporary English teacher nearing retirement.

Book of the Week: August 4-7, 2010

Geoffrey Lentz and Henry Neufeld, a pastor and a teacher team up in Learning and Living Scripture to present the Participatory Bible Study Method, an approach to Bible study that is rooted in the conviction that God can and will speak to us in scripture.

They bring together their different experiences and perspectives to present this method of study in a practical, usable way.

There are three key elements to this study:

1. The integration of prayer and study
2. Serious questioning and research that is nonetheless within reach of the non-scholar
3. Study in community with both witness and accountability through sharing

In this guide you will learn to integrate prayer and scripture reading while also being faithful to the historical meaning of the text and its use throughout history by the community of faith. This method is not just about study and learning facts; it’s about letting the God, who gave scripture, live in and through you, as you learn and share.

The Gospel of Saint Luke: A Participatory Study Guide is the newest installment to the successful Participatory Study Guide Series from Energion Publications. This series emphasizes individual and community involvement in the Bible story, inviting students to become part of God’s activity in the world by acting on and sharing what they learn.

Written by Geoffrey D. Lentz, associate pastor at First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, FL, this study guide gives the seeker historical insight and a fresh look into the Jesus Christ that Luke sought and recorded. Rev. Lentz brings his love of Church history and great thought-provoking questions into a user friendly layout that promotes lively discussions and deep-rooted growth in a group study.

Each lesson includes suggestions for prayer, exercises, thought questions, and basic background information on the passages studied. References to study Bibles and other useful resources are provided.

Useful for:

• Small group study
• Individual study
• Discussion and sharing

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Consider
Christianity
Series
Christianity and Secularism is the second volume in the Consider Christianity series, written by Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. It focuses on the evidences for the Christian faith and the conflict between Christianity and secularism. Hushbeck believes that there is good evidence on which to base a belief in Jesus and in the basic doctrines of Christianity. He also believes it is important for Christians to understand their faith and to be prepared to defend it. Chapter titles are The Secularization of Society, A Rose by any Other Name, Is That All There Is, Christianity, The Church, Who Do You Say I Am, Resurrection or Passover Plot, and Is Christianity Relevant. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, Christian education directors and youth leaders will not want to miss this book. (Note: This is a new, slightly corrected edition of ISBN 1-893729-30-3, and is compatible with that volume in terms of content and pagination. It may be used with the study guide to that volume, ISBN 1-893729-33-8.)

Evidence for the Bible is the first in the Consider Christianity series, written by Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. It discusses the evidence for the inspiration and reliability of the Bible, and deals with objections. It is clear and forceful, but also invites dialogue on this key issue of the Christian faith. Chapter titles are How Did We Get the Bible, The Bible and Modern Criticism, Archeology and the Bible, Science vs. Religion, Science and the Bible, Is the Bible Reliable, and The Word of God or the Speculations of Men. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, Christian education directors and youth leaders will not want to miss this book. (Note: This is a new, slightly corrected edition of ISBN 1-893729-29-X, and is compatible with that volume in terms of content and pagination. It may be used with the study guide to that volume, ISBN 1-893729-32-X.)

• Separated from someone you love: mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, child, friend, pet
• Separated from a career you love
• Separated from a home you love
• Separated from the life you thought would continue on the road you were traveling

Grief is the sorrow and suffering that must be walked THROUGH by everyone who has experienced a loss. The walk is characterized by:

• Alone-ness. No one can do it for you.
• Timelessness. There are no shortcuts and detours may occur.
• Darkness. Each path is unique to the person. There is only One who sees in the dark just as He does in the light (Psalm 139).

“God gives us simple directions as we walk through the valley of grief. As He told David in Psalm 23, it was His intention that we walk through the valley, not get stuck. Walking my own roads after the death of my son, my parents, and my first marriage, I can say now that each road was different; each one had some very difficult periods and yet God was faithful. It is my prayer as I write this book that others will also receive God’s healing, life-giving words.”

Disciples: Jesus With Us is a basic book on discipleship, with the emphasis on “basic.” It is for every pastor who has wondered just what he can give a new Christian, a new member, or someone who is struggling with the Christian walk that will help guide them through those first steps of discipleship. It is for every new believer who has wondered just what happened and what to do now. Rev. Riley Richardson speaks from the heart of a pastor and evangelist, providing basic guidance and explanations of what it means to be a Christian. Chapters discuss what it means to be saved, prayer, Bible study, finding a church home, stewardship, service, and some additional steps to take. There are questions and exercises provided for an individual or a small group. It includes a glossary, index, and scripture index, along with numerous recommendations for further study.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

The original edition of Identifying Your Gifts and Service is a program for whole church congregations, led by a teacher, to discover their gifts and place of service. It is not a typical scientific survey designed to discover what kind of personality you have, what you feel like doing, or even what your talents are. This Small Group Edition is designed for a group of people to study together. The lectures and study materials are provided in the various chapters. With the cooperation of your pastor and church leadership, you can identify your gifts and find your place of service in your church congregation. In going through this process you will be invited to shake off some of the walls and limitations you have placed on yourself and open yourself up to the full call that God has on your life. Discovering and using your Spiritual Gifts is an adventure!

Dr. Bob McKibben shares from his heart his understanding of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit within the local church. Combining his experience as pastor, study, and a commitment to sound Biblical principles, Bob provides a checklist for pastors and churches to use in ministry and worship as they encounter the wonderful presence of the Holy Spirit.

This is a pastoral rather than a theological work. Sure enough, it has theology in it. The focus, however, is on caring for the Body of Christ as it experiences the abundant grace of God and the magnificent gifts of the of the Holy Spirit.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

When someone claims they have a message from God, how do you decide whether to believe them? This question has been with people of faith at least since Abraham heard someone-God, as it turned out-telling him to leave home and go to a place he would be shown. Other people have left their homes thinking God was guiding them, and have ended up with nothing but trouble.

And what about books? When someone claims a book is inspired by God how do you determine whether they are right or wrong? Very often they will be telling you that your eternal destination depends on believing what they say, and yet others will say that their book is right. Is it possible to know?

Interpretations of those books can be equally difficult to judge. People with special interpretations of scripture often claim just as much authority as those who claim to be prophets. If you reject their interpretation, you are rejecting God himself. How do you make a wise decision?

Writer and Bible teacher Henry Neufeld wrestles with these questions in these pages. You may not like some of the answers, but you will be challenged as he calls us each to focus first on the conversation with God and then to each be responsible for learning God’s will for our individual lives.

What is the good news? If the gospel that Jesus taught is so good, why are Christians so bad? How can Christians relate to people of other faiths or of no faith at all?

Bible teacher Henry Neufeld wrestles with these issues in this book. This is not a book of theology. It is his personal testimony of what Jesus means in his life, and how one can be both a serious, committed Christian and a strong proponent of diversity and dialogue. In fact, he finds in the gospel not just permission to be tolerant, but a command to be open, honest, and clear in his convictions, and yet non-judgmental of the views of others.

Henry’s understanding of Christianity is built around the incarnation. If God can cross the gap between the infinite and the finite to experience life with us, surely we can cross the gap between ourselves and our fellow human beings. “You are never more God-like than when you open your heart’s door to another person. The more different they are, the more God-like that action is,” he says in describing how Christians should seek to build relationships.

This book provides the basics of Christian prayer for the non-specialist. Perry Dalton, retired pastor, and Henry Neufeld, Bible teacher and Biblical languages student combine their knowledge and practical experience to create this guide. Each chapter includes questions for thought and discussion and exercises to help you get personally involved in prayer. Ideal for group study and church based classes, clear and practical.

Suggestions for use:

• Read individually as an introduction to prayer
• Use with a small group or Sunday School class as a study. There are 11 sets of exercises with the first 11 chapters (chapter 12 is the conclusion).
• Use as a church-wide series to ignite prayer. Follow-up with establishing small prayer groups.

Note: You can now preview this book as a free eBook.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Study and discussion questions desgined for small groups and Sunday School classes. This study guide will help you learn to understand your faith for yourself, and how to defend it. Designed to go with Christianity and Secularism, ISBN: 1-893729-52-4.

Study and discussion questions desgined for small groups and Sunday School classes. This study guide will help you learn to understand your faith for yourself, and how to defend it. Designed to go with Evidence for the Bible, ISBN: 1-893729-51-6.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

This book provides a process for discovering and activating spiritual gifts in your congregation. It is not a typical scientific survey designed to discover what kind of personality you have, what you feel like doing, or even what your talents are. Instead, it is a process designed to help a church congregation discover God’s gifts and leading in their lives. In going through this process you will be invited to shake off some of the walls and limitations you have placed on yourself and open yourself up to the full call that God has on your life. Discovering and using your Spiritual Gifts is an adventure!
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

This study guide to Revelation is designed for individual or small group studies. Its flexible lessons are ideal for Sunday School classes, small study or prayer groups and Wednesday evening studies. The guide is based on the participatory method, developed by author Henry Neufeld to help lay people learn to understand the Bible better.

Features:

Suggested uses:

• Personal study
• Sunday School classes

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Jody Neufeld shares from her heart “ordinary moments with an extraordinary God.” Upon her retirement from nursing and then beginning into ministry with her husband Henry, a Biblical teacher, Jody felt the Lord urging her to share a daily devotion with people she knew still in an outside workplace. “I know that when I was working in a hospital or a doctor’s office or in homes delivering hospice care, I wish someone had sent me an email devotion each morning that would give me a focus and a lesson for the day.” This ministry went from 12 people to hundreds and continues today. This weekly devotion book is made up of 52 devotions with questions or suggestions for discussion that will work well with small groups. Used in conjunction with the forthcoming Energion Publications book, When 3 to 8 Gather, this is an excellent way to ‘jump start’ a small group with diverse members or given an established group a new perspective.

How to use this book:

• Devotional study for prayer groups–economical for group purchase
• Occasional devotions for committee or social meetings

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

This study guide to the book of Hebrews is designed for individual or small group studies. Its 13 lessons are ideal for Sunday School classes, small study or prayer groups and Wednesday evening studies. The guide is based on the participatory method, developed by author Henry Neufeld to help lay people learn to understand the Bible better.

Features:

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Directed Paths will challenge your faith and your Determination to serve God while giving you new strength and encouragement. Each story reflects a Biblical principle or promise. Mrs. Neufeld openly shares her prayers and God’s answers.

We at Energion Publications offer this book to you in the hope that as God directs your paths you will hear and be open to His direction.

Use this book for:

• Encouraging stories to build your faith
• Devotions, with each story headed by a relevant scripture
• Sermon or lesson illustrations, for topics on missions, faith, or prayer

This book is for those who have serious questions about the meaning and relevance of the Hebrew scriptures, and strikes at the heart of Christian teaching and our understanding of God. With his characteristic insight, wisdom and enthusiasm, Dr. Thompson takes on some of the most difficult passages and finds in them the love and care of God, along with an understanding of the humanness of the authors of scripture.

The discussion includes such passages as Judges 19-21 and Psalm 137. You will come away from this book with a new appreciation for the whole Bible both as it stood in its own world, and as it can be applied today.

Special Offer: Slightly damaged copies of this title are available for $5.00.

Megabelt is a fictional account of the South and its preoccupations with modern Christianity told from the point of view of a boy named Gil growing up in what is otherwise known as the “Bible Belt.”

The readers will find themselves steeped in the world of Gil whose experiences and questions lead him to unravel some of the Bible Belt’s many dominant and passively adopted messages as well as its numerous types of characters.

Gil is the quintessential mind of most inhabitants of the Belt. He is you. He is I. While his experiences greatly reflect those of the author, his encounters will never go unidentified with by the reader.

Megabelt is a fabricated entity describing the world that exists between traditional Bible Belt culture and contemporary Bible Belt culture, the term explores the differences between as well as the ever-growing and ever-changing dynamics of the two.

Megabelt has no message, no moral proclamation or agenda. Its purpose is to highlight the truths of the Bible Belt culture and therefore perform a complete overhaul of its patrons’ thoughts and lifestyles for better or for worse. Any further sort of significance or meaning drawn from its pages is strictly subjective.