William B. Coker Knihy

The Scandal of Christmas provides readings for an unforgettable Advent. Amid all the familiar trappings of the Christmas season―the decorations, the carols, the food, the gifts, the holiday movies― it is easy to miss the fact that the story of the incarnation of Christ is one of the most unlikely, inconceivable, and scandalous things God has done. An elderly priest and his wife as the parents of the forerunner of the Messiah? An unmarried teenage girl as the mother of our Lord? A poor man from a backwater town as Jesus' earthly father? The Creator of the universe as a helpless human baby? Unbelievable. Ludicrous. Borderline blasphemous. And yet, God did choose ordinary, unimpressive people to play starring roles in one of the greatest miracles of all the Incarnation. This Advent season, set aside your preconceived notions of the way God works―to discover anew the incredible, world-changing story of God with us.Meditate on four figures of the Zechariah, the faithful man God remembered; Joseph, the ordinary man in the shadows; Mary, the peasant girl behind the Creed; and Jesus, the irreverent Word made flesh. You may find that the God who delights in undermining our expectations also delights in exceeding them at every turn. In addition to their stories you'll be captivated by simple, yet profound, illustrations by modern-day artists.

Let the Church Be the Participate in God’s Miracle is a collection of eleven messages Bill Coker preached at World Gospel Church, Terre Haute, Indiana, and repeated at other churches. He proclaims the church as one of God’s greatest miracles because it involves people and has endured and thrived for over 2000 years. It is within the church that God’s people learn about Him and how to love and serve each other.This book is mainly directed to church members and attendees, but the pastoral staff would benefit greatly from its biblical teaching. Bill uses Scripture passages from the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. The first message emphasizes Christ as the central focus of the church. Three chapters focus on the church as the body of Christ, while another group highlights three secrets of a dynamic praying, proclaiming, and pentecostal (being filled with power from the Holy Spirit). Another chapter teaches about unity, the church’s priority. In the closing sermon, Bill presents a building plan for the church without walls.