Your search for lively illustrations to spice up your youth talks is over. Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks is here! Veteran youth worker and nationally known speaker Wayne Rice has carefully selected and crafted 100 of the best stories, parables, and anecdotes available anywhere. Rice has collected these illustrations form his own files and from files of some of youth ministry's best speakers -- Mike Yaconelli -- Tony Campolo -- Dewey Bertolini -- Chap Clark -- Les Christie -- Ray Johnst...

Anyone up for FizzerTag? Pucks and Pigskins? How about Missile Mania? You'll find something for any group -- regardless of age, ability, or skill -- in this revised volume of Play It! Inside are more than 150 of the hottest games from the original bestsellers Play It! And Play It Again! Inside you'll find outdoor and indoor games, games for small and large groups . . . relays . . . summer and winter games. . .water games. . .active and non-active games. These community-building games are s...

Your heart aches for your grandchildren, even if you don't get many chances to see them in person. You deeply want them to know how much God loves them, to grow in their relationship with him, and to make wise, God-honoring decisions. The good news is, just because you can't spend as much time with them as you'd like, that doesn't mean you can't have a huge impact on their lives!In Long-Distance Grandparenting you'll learn how to make the most of the opportunities you do h...

Rowdy, restless, silly, out of control, moody, vulgar, disrespectful, unpredictable -- this may be the junior high stereotype, writes youth ministry expert Wayne Rice. But early adolescents' enthusiasm, loyalty, energy, candidness, and willingness to learn -- these more than compensate for the well-publicized hazards of working with middle schoolers. In this edition of Junior High Ministry -- updated and expanded to reflect the realities of middle school ministry at the turn of the century...

A captivating, skillfully chosen illustration communicates more, is remembered longer, and has greater impact than thousands of words that offer abstract truth but tell no story. Jesus knew the value of story. He consistently sprinkled his talks with parables, stories, and illustrations to drive home the point He was making. In the best-selling tradition of Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks and More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks, comes a third volume of lively, effective illustrations,...

Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks -- Wayne Rice's original collection of stories, parables, and anecdotes -- was an instant bestseller. Youth workers clamored for more. And here they are! Wayne has assembled another 100 illustrations from his own files and from the files of youth ministry's best speakers -- Tony Campolo - Doug Fields - Laurie Polich - Miles McPherson Brennan Manning - Les Christie - Bill McNabb - Joel Lusz -- and many more! Here are all kinds of stories for all kinds of yo...

Does This Sound Familiar? “Hey, Gimme a Break!” “Aw… You Just Don’t Understand!” “Try to see it my way for once!” … the lines of every teenager through history, right? Not this time! The dirty little secret is that your parents were actually your age once. Believe it or not, they went through a lot of the same junk you’re going through now (including with their parents!) … and another dirty little secret is that some day you’ll be trying to make sense of your kids and their lives. Read Thi...

Influence Your Grandchildren's Faith, No Matter How Far Away They Are Just because you can't spend as much time with your grandchildren as you'd like, that doesn't mean you can't have a huge impact on their lives! In Long-Distance Grandparenting you'll learn how to make the most of the opportunities you do have to connect with your grandchildren. You will also learn - how to pray for your grandkids more effectively - ways to use technology to keep your relationship strong - great ideas for...

Picture this: it’s Saturday afternoon, and you’re putting the finishing touches on tomorrow’s sermon. You’ve been thinking, researching, and praying about this message all week, and thankfully, feel prepared. That is, except for one small detail—you aren’t sure how to begin.For more than 30 years, Tony Evans has been connecting with audiences around the world. Now his tools are available for you. Don’t leave your listeners to connect the dots. Let Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrati...

If you're like 70 percent of working adults, you're still looking for your sweet spot. You're struggling to find meaning in your work, use for your talents, and a purpose for your days.Maybe you have settled for this kind of ho-hum existence. Maybe you think it's all that's out there. It's not.New York Times best-selling author, Max Lucado, says that we've each been created for a purpose, and when we discover that purpose, our lives will be radically different. Whe...

Pop culture and psychobabble tell us to make ourselves the center of the universe in order to be happy. Churches have communicated the false idea that God exists to give us all that we selfishly want. In this book, Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's all about God. It is through this shift in thinking that we can truly live an unburdened, happy life.

Another devotional from the best-selling One Year line, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter is specifically designed to brighten your day with laughter and joy. Joy is a special type of happiness. Each one of us needs to and should create habits in our lives that encourage us to look on the bright side of our circumstances and see the goodness in what God has given us. This devotional is a daily joy break—something all of us need.