Although many books have been written about preaching and teaching, most of them are addressed to seminary-trained pastors. They're not aimed at the churches that don't use professionally schooled ministers. That's what is different about this book. The New Testament Christians had no seminaries, but raised up effective preachers and teachers. The Holy Spirit can use ordinary Christian men today to preach and teach just as He did back in the first century. Plain Speaking takes the reader through all of the steps of developing and delivering effective sermons and devotional messages. Some of the topics covered are: Choosing the right topic Building your sermon Where to find illustrations Organizing your material Preparing rousing introductions and conclusions Making eye contact with your listeners Controlling speaker's fright How to make your devotionals special Pet peeves of listeners Although packed with practice information, Plain Speaking is written in an easy-to-read, conversational style.

Plain Speaking

Reference

David Bercot

Words, Language & Grammar

Scroll Publishing Co.

When Christianity was young, the focus was on Jesus Christ and His kingdom, not theology. To be sure, there are foundational doctrines that Christians have always considered essential to the faith. But somehow the things considered essential have grown from a few sentences to a long list of theological tenets, many of which were unknown to the early Christians. In the beginning, Christians understood that the essence of Christianity was an obedient love-faith relationship with Jesus Christ. This was not just any relationship, but a relationship that produced genuine kingdom fruit. But then something happened: Theologians took over the church. Once they took over, the emphasis soon changed from godly fruit to orthodox theology. Christianity became Doctrianity. In this provocative work, Bercot argues that it is time to let Jesus speak through the pages of the Gospels without filtering His teachings through the denials and mental gymnastics of the theologians. It is time for the children of the kingdom to stand up for Jesus and the gospel He preached and for the theologians to sit down.

Will the Theologians Please Sit Down

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

The product of nine years of research, In God We Don t Trust challenges much of what most of us learned in school about the founding of America and the American Revolution. Bercot s well-documented findings will surprise many people. Here are just a few of the surprising facts the book reveals: 
 Tobacco saved Jamestown and became the economic basis for many of the Southern states. 
 Rum distilleries were one of the main industries of Puritan New England. 
 Puritan New England dominated the slave trafficking industry. 
 Contrary to what most history books present, the American colonists were the least heavily taxed people in the world. 
 During the War of Independence, the revolutionists imprisoned and persecuted the Mennonites, Amish, Brethren, Quakers, and other nonresistant Christians. 
 The Founding Fathers deliberately left any mention of God out of the U. S. Constitution. 
 Here is the compelling narrative of the founding of America told from a perspective that few people have ever heard. That perspective is the teachings of Jesus. 
 Our currency declares, In God We Trust. But did the American colonists truly trust in God in the founding of the United States? 
 For example, in the Scriptures, God clearly commands us: Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God. . . . Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due (Rom. 13:1 2,7). Yet, the American colonists to refused to pay their taxes, and they rebelled against their government. 
 The American colonists had many admirable traits, and they established a wonderful country. This is not an anti-American book. It is a pro-Jesus book. Bercot firmly believes that Jesus and His kingdom always have to have our ultimate allegiance. And in the pages of this book, Bercot demonstrates that the colonists repeatedly failed to do things God s way. This was true in their treatment of the Indians, in trafficking slaves, in building economies on tobacco and rum, in smuggling, and in refusing to pay their taxes. In short, the colonists lacked the faith to believe that if they did things God s way, everything would work out for the best.

In God We Don't Trust

History

Americas

Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." To be disciples of Jesus, we must deny ourselves, our families, and everything we own even our very lives. Following Jesus would seem to be one of the most challenging quests we can face. Yet, Jesus also tells us: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke you you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you fill find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." How can both of those teachings be true? First Christ requires us to deny everything, including our own lives. Then He tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. How can His yoke be easy if He requires us to deny everying and carry our cross? The answer is to be found among the secrets of the Kingdom Life. Every one of God's commandments was given to us because He loves us, not to add burdens to our lives. Abandoning ourselves to the Kingdom Life is not only a narrow way, but a joyous way as well. For Jesus yoke to be easy, we need more of Jesus, not less of Him. Secrets of the Kingdom Life was written to make the reader hungry for a deeper walk with Christ. Among other things, Bercot shows the reader how to have a powerful devotional time with God each day and then to remain in communion with God throughout the day. The reader who puts these teachings on prayer, Bible study, reflection, and obedience into action will draw closer to God than ever before. Bercot addresses issues of heart and spirit in a gracious yet convicting way and challenges the reader to make a decisive commitment to live a life totally surrendered to Christ. On reading this book, one minister remarked, "If God's people could put these truths to work, we would hear God speaking to us like never before. It would lead to an awakening, a powerful movement of God as in other days when the common people were smitten by the Word of God anew."

Secrets of the Kingdom Life

Patrick of Ireland Young Reader s Edition Sixteen-year-old Patrick felt the cool tingle of the wet grass on his feet as he strolled through his father s farm on a late spring morning. As was typical for the west coast of Britain, dense fog enveloped the hills and farm buildings. As his sandal-covered feet sloshed through the moist green grass, Patrick squinted into the fog. For a minute he thought he saw ghostly bodies and faces. They seemed so real . . . but surely they couldn't be. Patrick froze. Suddenly, blood-curdling shrieks burst through the fog, followed by harsh blasts from battle horns. Figures materialized, brandishing swords and spears, heading straight for him. Patrick turned and ran as fast as he could toward his parents villa. Panic broke out everywhere. Women screamed. Dogs barked. Sheep bleated and ran in circles. Patrick darted toward the outer courtyard of the villa, his heart thudding. Patrick ended up in Ireland as a slave! But God later called him to be a missionary to these same Irish people. Would Patrick accept God s call to bring the Gospel to the very people who had kidnapped and enslaved him?

Patrick of Ireland - Young Readers' Edition of Let Me Die In Ireland

Shannon Latham

Scroll Publishing Company

Many museums around the world contain Renaissance paintings of biblical scenes. These paintings are beautiful and reflect exceptional artistic skill. However, all the biblical characters wear Renaissance clothing, not the clothing of biblical times. If the early Christians had seen these paintings, they would have been startled at the novel clothing on the people.\nModern commentaries are often like those Renaissance paintings. The commentators are skilled communicators, masters of their art. Their verbal illustrations are engaging, and their explanations of Scripture resonate with twenty-first century Christians. However, they clothe the teachings of Jesus and His apostles with ideas and viewpoints that were wholly foreign to the first century.\nThe Historic Faith Commentary on Matthew is designed to help readers see the Gospel of Matthew through the eyes of the Christians who lived in the early centuries after Christ. It brings the Scriptures to life—not by garbing the people of the first century in twenty-first century clothes—but by clothing them in ancient garments. As a result, the reader is certain to find new insights (really, ancient ones) from the Gospel of Matthew. Volume 1 covers Matthew chapters 1-13, which includes an in-depth discussion of the Sermon on the Mount. Edited by David Bercot.

Matthew Volume 1 Chapters 1-13 (The Historic Faith Commentary Series)

Scroll Publishing

The Historic Faith Commentary Series - Romans

Early Church History (Video Series) (The Spirit of Early Christianity)

AIM with Illumination Publishers

Should the cross be fused to the sword?
Should Christianity be allied to the state and fight in its wars?
 Is such a marriage even possible?
 On March 28, 2014, four noted speakers, authors, and thinkers debated these questions in Boston, Massachusetts. Professors Peter Kreeft and J. Daryl Charles argued in favor of the Just War theory, proposing that it is the church's responsibility to demonstrate love of neighbor and preserve justice by participating in war to defend the weak from the strong. Attorney David Bercot and former U.S. soldier Dean Taylor defended the opposite position that Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and the early church (pre-325 A.D.) all taught and held to a position of strict nonresistance, loving their enemies, beating their swords into ploughshares, and living crucified lives of selfless love and that Christians today should do likewise.
 The debate had strong live attendance and generated intense interest. This booklet contains a complete transcript of the debate. Read for yourself the arguments on both sides and weigh them against each other. A list of references for further reading, as well as a preface giving the background of the event, add to the book's value, and illustrations make it even more interesting to read or browse.

Should Christians Fight? A Debate

Peter Kreeft

Dean, Taylor

J. Daryl Charles

Sermon on the Mount Publishing

En la actuadlidad, la iglesia libra batallas en todos los frentes: avaricia e inmoralidad sexual, una tasa de matrimonios desdichados que va en aumento, addicción a las drogas y un apego cada vez mayor a las cosas del mundo. De hecho, parece que podríamos llegar a perder la batalla ante la invasión implacable del mundo. Sin embargo, es posible que las respuestas a nuestros problemas no se encuentren en el presente, sino en el pasado. Pues hubo un tiempo en que los cristianos puderon hacerle frente al mundo. En su libro, David W. Bercot nos lleva a un fascinante viaje en el tiempo, de vuelta al primer siglo. En un inspirador relato, nos muestra cuáles eran las creencias y prácticas de los cristianos hacia finales de la era de los apóstoles y cómo, con el tiempo, la iglesia perdió la Cristiandad de aquella época. Pere que hablen los primeros christianos no pretende ser un libor histórico. Por el contrario, da una mirada nueva y creative a los problemas que enfrenta la iglesia en la actualidad y ofrece la solución a dichos problemas. Es un llamdao a que retornemos a esa santidad sencilla, amor inquebrantable y paciencia infinita de aquellos primeros cristianos.

Que Hablen Los Primeros Cristianos (Spanish Edition)

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Books by David Bercot