Some months ago, I received a message asking if I would consider writing a chapter for an upcoming book for preachers. It was one of those emails that is both an honor and extremely humbling at the same time. After some thought and prayer, I agreed, and I am so thankful I did. The finished product is now available, and, having gotten to read it already, I commend this resource to you. The book is called Fit for the Pulpit, and the basic idea behind this volume is that it provides some “ministering for the minister.” Chris McCurley, who preaches for the Oldham Land Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas selected…

Written by Matt Keller, this is a very encouraging volume that preachers will want to get and use for outline ideas. The premise of Keller’s book is to take 9 Biblical men and women who used common excuses, but who were transformed to do wonderful things. Using people like Esther, Moses, Paul, and others, the book points out how these individuals are not so different from us, though they lived in very different cultures. One negative thing about the book is that Keller continually comes back to his own story of starting a church in Florida. The story is interesting, but it permeates every chapter, and the book can sound…

Subtitled How to Get 4 Generations Working Together in the 12 Places They Come Apart, this is a business and leadership book that has great application in various areas. As a preacher, I read the book and kept thinking of applications in the church that would be helpful for us all to understand. The overall premise of Haydn Shaw’s book is that there are four generations in most work-places (and, now, 5 in the home), but those generations see many basic things very differently. For example, older generations value meetings, while younger generations would rather just get an email with the information so they do not have to stop working to…

Recently, I preached a sermon on the home. It was a simple sermon that tried to give the basics of how to raise children, but I spoke very little about parenting. Instead, the goal was to provide the larger view of what God has in mind for our homes, and by providing that larger picture, children will naturally receive what the Lord has in mind for them. The sermon was well-received and I had some other thoughts I wanted to include, and some things I wish I had said more clearly. So, I have converted all that into a short eBook that we are pleased to announce is now available.…

What a delightful read! Two authors, Gregory L. Jantz and Michael Gurian, combine to write this very insightful volume about being a parent to boys. The two authors both come from a religious background, but bring different areas of expertise, as one knows brain science and the other is a “pastor.” The work blends their two worlds and provides great helpful material for those of us who are trying to raise boys. Obviously, each boy is an individual and not every word on every page will apply to every boy. The authors readily admit that, but also point out that research indicates that about 80% of boys fit the “usual”…

This fairly short book is a helpful read for couples who are struggling in the area of finances. The idea behind this book is somewhat similar (as the title implies) to Gary Chapman’s famous The 5 Love Languages, but the two books are not overlapping in their content. Scott and Bethany Palmer share information through this book that speaks to how people view money. For example, some are naturally savers, while others are naturally spenders. While most of us know that, the book goes much deeper, showing that some personality traits we might not think of (being spontaneous, for example) are exemplified in how money is handled, and often lead to…

Our most popular-selling book from our publishing company, 24:15 Publications, is a book designed for teenagers, but that Christians of all ages seem to be enjoying. It comes from the Old Testament book of Hosea and is called The “I” in Sin. This 13-chapter book takes word pictures found in the book of Hosea that are used to describe sin and makes application of each one in an easy-to-read format. The goal of the book is simply to open our eyes to what sin really is and what it does to us. That is a message that is needed by everyone. This weekend, we are pleased to announce that the book…

We are thrilled to let you know that our latest book is now available from our publishing company, 24:15 Publications. The book is entitled Consider Jesus! and it is a study of the book of Hebrews. It is the second volume of our “Commenotionals” series, which contains commentaries that are on a devotional level (or, as we like to say, “commentaries for the rest of us”). This study of Hebrews follows the release of The Epistle of Joy, which discussed Philippians. In my Wednesday night class, I have been teaching Hebrews and writing this book parallel to my teaching. Each week, I would grow more and more excited, as the wonderful message…