Unpacking the Kingdom of Heaven (A)
The Kingdom of Heaven is not something that can be easily understood by human minds, so Jesus spent much of his ministry on Earth telling parables which indirectly communicate God’s unconditional love for his children and how God invites us to a new life through Jesus Christ. God invites all of us to be saved, to be loved, to know peace, mercy, and grace in our lives. To answer this invitation, we simply must open our hearts and accept these gifts of God.
Peter Smith uses Unpacking the Kingdom of Heaven to dive into these various parables and break down exactly how God wants us to act towards others, how we should love our neighbors as ourselves and be willing to forgive others as we have been forgiven by our Father in Heaven.
Just as we have been given grace through God, which we ultimately don’t deserve, we are called to give of ourselves to others, helping where we can and sharing the grace of God with the world around us to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Available in print and digital format
$9.95-$14.95
Who doesn’t love a good story? Storytellers who excel at their craft have the ability to draw readers or listeners into the worlds they create, using characters and situations to entertain and enlighten us. Jesus, the Master Storyteller, often spoke using parables — short stories that conveyed spiritual truths. By drawing his listeners into his stories, he unlocked their minds and hearts to hear the truth he was relating to them.
This compilation of stories for the entire church year, written by Peter Andrew Smith, follows in that same tradition. The stories within CSS Publishing’s latest Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching, Series II, Cycle A are inspired by the source gospel passages and serve to highlight and illustrate the gospel Jesus taught through his words and life. They can serve as a companion when studying the scripture, as illustrations for sermons, and as devotional material for personal or group use. Smith offers thought-provoking contemplations on Cycle A lectionary passages that draw out the biblical theme by relating it to aspects of modern life we have all experienced.
Available in Print, EPUB, Mobi, and PDF format
$9.95-$14.95
“A good story of faith … allows us to better see ourselves and our relationships while offering to us an opportunity to consider and know God. We enter into the story and emerge a different person.” – Peter Andrew Smith
Restaurant workers closing up for the night do their duty to prepare the store for the morning crew, despite their impatience to leave. An elderly man finds hope and encouragement in a congregation where he never quite felt like he belonged.
These are the simple, quiet vignettes Smith offers in his third collection of stories.Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching: Series II, Cycle Bis inspired by the details Jesus draws from everyday life in the Gospel of Mark. Likewise, Smith delves into the ordinary to explore the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit alive from moment to moment today.
Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching is an accessible collection of stories ideal for inviting both experienced disciples and those young in the Christian faith alike to discover the Lord yet at work where and when we least expect Him.
Available in Print, EPUB, Mobi, and PDF format
$9.95-$14.95
Who doesn’t love a good story? Storytellers who excel at their craft have the ability to draw readers or listeners into the worlds they create, using characters and situations to entertain and enlighten us. Jesus, the Master Storyteller, often spoke using parables — short stories that conveyed spiritual truths. By drawing his listeners into his stories, he unlocked their minds and hearts to hear the truth he was relating to them.
This compilation of stories for the entire church year, written by Peter Andrew Smith, follows in that same tradition. The stories within CSS Publishing’s latest Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching are inspired by the source gospel passages and serve to highlight and illustrate the gospel Jesus taught through his words and life. They can serve as a companion when studying the scripture, as illustrations for sermons, and as devotional material for personal or group use. Smith offers thought-provoking contemplations on Cycle C lectionary passages that draw out the biblical theme by relating it to aspects of modern life we have all experienced.
Available in Print, EPUB, Mobi, and PDF format
$9.95-$14.95
Make your celebration of the Lord’s Supper flow together with music and other liturgical elements with this stimulating collection of communion prayers. Peter Andrew Smith incorporates imagery and themes from lectionary scripture texts, church seasons, and special pastoral occasions into these eloquent prayers, allowing you to design seamless worship experiences in which the Eucharist reflects and reinforces the focus of the entire service. There are 35 responsive settings of pre-communion prayers for a variety of times throughout the year, including church seasons, seasons of the year, confirmation, stewardship, and more, as well as seven brief post-communion prayers. This volume will be a cherished resource for any pastor or worship planner.
Available in Print and PDF format