For Christians, one of our earliest lessons--and greatest gifts--is learning how to pray. And yet many of us believe our prayer lives fall short. In When God Is Silent, John Koessler reassures us that this has nothing to do with motivation or method. Our problems are relational, and recognizing this is the first step to having a better prayer life. Prayer is a conversation that moves primarily in one direction: from the believer who prays to t...
How do we discern righteousness when vice is accepted as virtue?Not long ago, most people would agree that the seven deadly sins are in fact deadly. But ask them today, and you'll hear a different answer. Today, "anger" is an admirable emotion, "lust" an expression of love, and "greed" the unassailable right to "get what's yours." The seven deadly sins are now seven dangerous virtues--how are Christians supposed to know what's good, true, and ...
The present is more than a place where the past comes to rest. It is more than a staging ground for the future. The present is where God shows up.Our lives take place in the present, but often our minds are racing toward the future or overwhelmed by the past. We want to change the past and control the future, but usually all we really do is exhaust ourselves in the here and now. Writing especially with leaders in mind, Dr. John Koessler teache...
An interactive, multimedia CD-ROM demonstrating how to develop and deliver an expository sermon based on Haddon Robinson's Biblical Preaching and Bryan Chapell's Christ-Centered Preaching.
Jesus disappoints, but He never fails us.We all bring false expectations with us to parts of life, even to Jesus. When Jesus doesn't deliver, we are disappointed. Koessler explains how these difficult experiences can be the best thing for us despite how much they hurt. He shows how disappointment takes our wrong expectations and sets them straight. And this is surprising grace--all the pain and frustration can bring us closer to Jesus.
This essential book is both a stern reminder of the sacredness of the "job" of being a preacher, as well as a how-to that reveals the key to speaking powerfully on God's behalf. Folly, Grace, and Power is a must-read for pastors, seminarians, and lay leaders charged with the task of preaching God's word.
Whether in our careers, churches, schools or families, busyness is the norm, and anything less makes us feel unproductive and anxious. John Koessler understands that rest is not automatic or easy to attain. With honest, biblical reflections on trends in our culture and churches, he presents a unique perspective on how pursuing rest leads us to the heart of God.
I can't tell you how many times I have preached and afterward promised God I would never embarrass Him like that again." Joseph M. Stowell. Unnatural. Supernatural. A gift. Hard work. Exhilarating. Terrifying. These words only begin to describe the challenge and reward each pastor experiences. So what can assist today's pastors in such an endeavor? "The Moody Handbook of Preaching, " With contributors like Michael Easley, Joseph Stowell, and G...
In "True Discipleship" and its companion guide, Koessler provides a straightforward presentation of the characteristics Jesus laid out for His disciples. As the author offers teaching on the practice of discipleship and the responsibility of being a disciple, readers can be stretched in their thinking and encouraged in their journeys.
In "True Discipleship" and its companion guide, Koessler provides a straightforward presentation of the characteristics Jesus laid out for His disciples. As the author offers teaching on the practice of discipleship and the responsibility of being a disciple, readers can be stretched in their thinking and encouraged in their journeys.
