The Minister's Manual, 2004 Edition [Hardcover]

James W. Cox (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787967343 | ISBN-13: 978-0787967345 | Publication Date: July 25, 2003 | Edition: 2004

For nearly eighty years The Minister's Manual has been the single most comprehensive resource for preaching and worship available. Filled with completely new material for 2004, this nondenominational guide is the best source for sermons, prayers, insights, and inspiration for all— from pastors and lay leaders to Sunday school teachers and choir directors. The large format allows the book to lay flat, making it easy to use.
Turn to The Minister's Manual for

• Complete sermons for the entire year, featuring both topical and lectionary preaching and worship aids to expand Sunday services
• Thought-provoking quotations and questions on life and religion to add breadth to your messages
• A treasury of practical sermon applications and commentaries
• Children's sermons for engaging young minds and a wealth of topics to ponder during small group discussions
• Calendars to help you remember important historical, cultural, and religious anniversaries

  
  

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Since 1925, The Minister's Manual has been a resource for preaching and worship for lay leaders, choir directors, Sunday school teachers, and, of course, pastors. James W. Cox, editor since 1984 and senior professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, understands that "even the most original preachers ... have often needed the flame of someone else's thought to light their own candle." This exhaustive, nondenominational resource not only contains prayers for every occasion but also uses quotations, questions to prompt unbelievers, biblical benedictions, and blessings, along with messages ranging from communion services to children's sermons. Sermons for every Sunday of the year are also included, aimed not at constituting a yearlong worship program but at addressing topics specific to Sunday and seasons throughout the year. In this section, a lectionary message is followed by numerous illustrations, scripture references, sermon suggestions, congregational music selections, worship aids (call to worship, invocation), and an entire sermon to prompt individual thinking. Cox insists that this tool is not meant as a substitute for one's own study but merely serves as the starter fluid for the fire that will reflect one's own signature teaching. Quickly becoming known as the standard by which all other preaching annuals are measured, the 2001 edition's original material makes it a useful addition to even the busiest bookshelf. --Jill Heatherly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

?The Ministers Manual, 1998 Edition, is a marvelous resource for busy pastors. Whether in need of sermon starters or outlines for expositional or thematic sermons, or whether one is following the liturgical church calAndar, help can be found in this manual. The impressive list of contributors testifies to the quality of the offerings and suggests that this is a handbook to keep on hand.? —David S. Dockery, president, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee

?Once more James Cox comes to the rescue of harried pastors with this 1998 edition of The Ministers Manual. Whether with sermons on lectionary texts, or creative moments with the children, or music for worship, Cox and friAnds give a hearty boost to a preacher's and worship leader's imagination. Here are solid resources to nudge you on your own way.? —Don Wardlaw, director, ACTS D.Min. in Preaching Program, Chicago --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 2004 edition (July 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787967343
• ISBN-13: 978-0787967345
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,728,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful handbook for every preacher or teacher., January 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Minister's Manual (Hardcover)

This book contains a terific selection of complete sermon outlines plus illustrations. Any pastor, teacher, or music minister will find this this book helpful. Each sermon is complete with illustration, hymms and scripture readings. The sermons follow the revised lextionary. I highly recomend this book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The prayers are the best, May 16, 2001

By 

Alicia Alvarado (Chilhowie, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Minister's Manual (Hardcover)

As an elder who is called upon occassionally to conduct worship services, I have found this book to be very useful. The variations and thoughts in the prayers have helped me pray congregational prayers which reflect what is in my heart without being the same expressions as the last prayer. They also help to put into words what others may appreciate being said.

The sermons are what they propose to be...they are not theologically deep, are not denominational, and do not have many scriptural references other than the initial text. However, they provide excellent structure and outlines to which you can add, and make it your own. There are also helpful short anecdotes and stories to make interesting illustrations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Preacher's Helper Anywhere, January 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Minister's Manual (Hardcover)

As a lay preacher I have used a couple of different preacher's annuals for sermon inspiration and ideas, but this Minister's Manual by James Cox is by far the best one I've ever used. It has so much more than the others; in fact, I've been using it to plan entire worship services.

I like the topical sermons and the illustrations, and the organization is very easy to follow. I also like that James Cox's annual is hardcover rather than paperback, because it lays flat on my desk next to the computer. The other ones I've purchased are harder to use.

I highly recommend this preaching annual.