ABF Teaching Course on DVD (w/ a hard copy & Course on CD)

ABF Teaching Course on DVD (w/ a hard copy & Course on CD)

Price: $170

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ABF Teaching Course on DVD (6 Sessions taught LIVE)

ABF Teaching Course on DVD (6 Sessions taught LIVE)

Price: $130

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ABF Teaching Course on CD (customize & reproduce)

ABF Teaching Course on CD (customize & reproduce)

Price: $100

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ABF Teaching Course (hard copy)

ABF Teaching Course (hard copy)

Price: $30

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“Vocational Victory: Lessons from God’s Manual”

Principles for the employed and unemployed. Why do you work? What does God say about work? Are you engaged in “work” or a “vocation”? Five essential questions for the employed. If without a job, are you “gainfully unemployed”? Lessons from biblical characters facing unemployment. Who is in your personal Human Resource Department?

For more of Brent’s seminar topics please visit the Seminars page.

Chains that Bind

Consider the scene from the classic, “Christmas Carol” and poor Marley, bound in chains, definitely not a happy camper. We’re frightened by his predicament; our heart goes out to his condition – such a pathetic creature. But also consider poor Scrooge. Scrooge was aghast at Marley’s chains but Marley was burdened by Scrooge’s “chains”. Scrooge’s reply to Marley’s comments about Scrooge’s chains should haunt us. Did you hear Scrooge’s words: “I see no chains”. Is it possible that Marley’s portrayed chained status and Scrooge’s hidden chained status are no different than ours? Is it possible that we walked into this worship center burdened with chains, chains that bind? Part of the spiritual warfare we all engage in is found in the desire of our enemy, as Galatians 2:4 states, “to bring us into bondage”. Paul reminds believers in Romans 8:15, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery”. What might these chains look like? Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. For more of Brent’s sermons visit the Preaching page.

Freedom in Christ

It is the best breed of dogs by far-The Labrador Retriever! For the Amatos, first there was Snickers, a chocolate lab who raised the Amato kids and now, Duke, the majestic lab who is my son’s “child” and my wife’s “grand-dog”. As one writer puts it, “As American as apple pie, the Lab is a rambunctious, loving creature…beloved for their endless enthusiasm…” Labs teach us a little about freedom. You see, Duke was born to run free, in the fields of life, or at least in the ordained “dog parks” in the Chicagoland area, without collar, leash or any restraints. Jason has taught Duke well and one of Jason’s commands when they are together out in a field or dog park (a command which I’m sure is Duke’s favorite) is the word “Free”, at the sound of which Duke is permitted to run on ahead or to wherever; free, because his Master released him for that delight. “Duke’s Delight” It’s a picture of Christian freedom. What about you-Are you truly free? Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. For more of Brent’s sermons visit the Preaching page.

Sing to the King

It’s my favorite Psalm because it is concise truth that always drives me back to the basics. It answers two very fundamental questions: “What should I do every day no matter what?” and “Why I should do it?” Singing is not what I do best or well at all, but I am called to do it! “And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”(Psalm 40:3) What about your “song”? I have some questions for you. Will you learn or remember the “song” God has given you? Will you sing the “song”? Will you sing the “song” joyfully? Will the “song” cause you to…praise God in a new way? know God in a new way? fear God in a new way? trust God in a new way? What should I do every day? “Come before Him…enter His gates.” “Worship Him” Why should I do it? Because of who God is and because of who we are in relationship to God. Come sing to the King with me! Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. For more of Brent’s sermons visit the Preaching page.

TEACHER TRAINING

Teaching should be like a good meal, prepared and served excellently. There needs to be passion for the meal. Meals need to be planned, prepared, and presented well. The teacher training material provides the following sections which can be presented in comprehensive training or stand-alone sections;

    Passion for the Meal
    Planning the Meal
    Preparing the Meal
    Presenting the Meal
    The Culinary School

Teacher Training Course Materials Teacher Training Course (hard copy) Teacher Training Course on CD (customizable & reproductive) Teacher Training Course on DVD (6 session taught live) Teacher Training Course on DVD (with hard copy & course on CD)

In addition to the Teacher Training course, Brent has been approved by the Association of Christian Schools International to offer course work leading to Continuing Education for ACSI Certification in the areas of Educational and Biblical Studies.

Brent has developed and presented the following topics;
Click the title to purchase CD.

    “The Ten Truths for Terrific Teachers”
If adult class teachers were asked what is the single most important truth of teaching, what would it be? Maybe there’s a truth or two for you to learn. Come enhance your teaching ministry by comparing notes with other teachers.

    “Building a Strong Mid-Sized Group Teaching Ministry”
“If our church has a strong adult teaching ministry, it is because…..” How would you fill in the blank? Come check out your church’s ministry against six “non-negotiable” components of an effective program. If a church has a strong adult teaching ministry, it is because the church…

    1. Understands the spiritual gift of teaching and facilitates its proper exercise.
    2. Effectively identifies and recruits teachers.
    3. Is committed to mentoring and replicating teachers
    4. Effectively evaluates teachers
    5. Has a curriculum policy
    6. Has a teacher training course

    The Spiritual Gift of Teaching
Brent presents principles around the following concepts;
    1. Challenges for the church
    2. What are spiritual gifts?
    3. What are the purposes of spiritual gifts?
    4. What is the spiritual gift of teaching?
    5. How is the spiritual gift of teaching to be exercised?
    6. Is teaching one of your spiritual gifts?

    Identifying and Recruiting Teachers
If it was “The Perfect Church/Organization”, there would be no need for more teachers.” But since such is not the case, what are you to do? There is hope! Are there some clues for identifying these saints, crucial to the ministry. The answer is yes! Are there some methods for effectively recruiting those who you’ve identified? Again, the answer is yes!

    Mentoring and Replicating Teachers
Just like Apollos needed Priscilla and Aquila to enhance his ministry to the Jews of the early Church, the teachers in your church need someone to mentor them and be replicated. This is more “fellow traveling”, so check out that page on this website and apply it to your teachers.

    I’ve Got a Question for You
Of all the teaching techniques, what do you think is the most effective? What is a good way to determine if your students are learning from you and connecting with you? Do you know how many questions Jesus asked that are recorded in the Bible? Why do you think Jesus asked so many questions? What do questions communicate about the teacher? What do questions communicate to the students? What are good and bad questions?

    Seven Days in the Life of a Weekly Bible Lesson
When do you start preparing for your weekly Bible lesson? The night before you teach or right after you teach? Where do you prepare for your weekly Bible lesson? In your study or in your shower? How do you prepare for your weekly Bible lesson? Just enough or never enough? Come consider what might happen during those seven days.

    Creative Teaching
When was the last time you were bored with a teacher’s presentation of the Word of God? Notice I said “when” not “Have you ever been”. We all can recall that “worst student nightmare”. Should not the teaching be that of a “Master Teacher”? Should not the teaching of the Word of God be creative, like God the Father, the teacher of the nation Israel and choice saints, who “In the beginning…created…”? Should not the teaching of the Word of God be creative like Jesus, “the Word who became flesh”, the teacher of disciples, religious leaders and the multitude? Come learn “The Amato Dozen”, creative tools to be used for the glory of God in presenting a Bible Study.

    Teaching Wouldn’t be so Hard if it Wasn’t for the Students
You all have some or all of them in your group. At times, if you were honest about it, you would rather they not show up or even worse, you’d like to “nuke” them! But they are part of your group and God has called you to teach them, shepherd them, even love them! You know who they are. I call them the students brought to you by the letter “D”: “The Distracted”, “The Detour”, “The Dominator” and “The Destroyer”. Come learn general and specific strategies for dealing with each.

    How are Your Sheep?
How would you like to move beyond the strict definition of a “teacher” (“one who gives instruction and knowledge”) to the “pastor-teacher” referenced in the book of Ephesians (“a ‘shepherd’ nurturing a ‘flock’”)? What might happen if you moved beyond a “teacher-student” relationship to a “shepherd-sheep” relationship? What are you doing about the “straying and other challenging sheep” you are called to teach? What is a shepherd’s “classroom”? What is a shepherd’s “teaching time”? Do you hear your students? Isn’t that bleating?

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“I am excited to recommend to you the ministry of Brent Amato. I had the privilege of serving side-by-side with Brent for nine years at Medinah Baptist Church and he is by far the best teacher/communicator with whom I have ever served. His passion for God´s Word, along with his creativity and commitment to excellence sets him apart. He is truly a gift to the Church!”

Steve Lizzio
Director of ABF Resources.com and Pastor of Adult Ministries at Hope Church in Mason, Ohio

FELLOW-TRAVELING ^SM

“You want someone who ‘gets it’ and isn’t afraid to be honest. Someone who understands the challenges you’re facing and speaks with wisdom…a few steps ahead of you on the journey, but close enough to shine some light in your direction…someone to walk you through life’s experiences…guide you to answers and help you discover a new purpose and passion…” (Family Life Publishing, The Empty Nest). Brent has been doing this with men one-on-one for over 30 years. Since sometimes it has taken the form of discipling, mentoring or coaching or a combination of these, Brent has chosen to call the ministry “fellow-traveling”, modeled after Jesus’ fellow-traveling with two believers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Brent is available to teach these concepts to you, your small group, mid-size group, church or parachurch organization or preach on Fellow-Traveling^SM.

Brent presents this material in five one and a quarter hour sessions, covering all facets of the journey from inspiration as to why you should begin fellow-traveling to knowing when the journey is over.

Price: $100

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Listen to one fellow traveler about to embark on a journey with Brent…

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“It’s not until the formal call to full-time ministry with an actual start date that I felt overwhelmed and ill-equipped. Middle age and making a huge life change, I knew I would need someone in my corner during this adjustment; a coach, a mentor, an encourager to help guide me through what were certain to be some stress-filled days. I prayerfully approached Brent Amato to see if he would be willing to help me on this journey. I knew Brent to be a man of integrity, an excellent adult bible teacher, serious about his faith yet fun-loving, and most importantly, passionate about the ministry of mentoring men.

I did come to learn and understand just how passionate and committed he truly is. Brent had expectations, he had standards, he had rules, and he even had homework! And I am a better man, a better husband, a better dad, and a better servant to Jesus’ church for it.

Brent was genuine and open. He shared his life and in doing so, exposed some of his weaknesses, which allowed me to see more easily my own areas of weakness and he always gave me a plan to help overcome them. He was quick to encourage and never missed an opportunity to build me up. He prayed faithfully for me and my family, everyday. I know that because he told me and because I saw evidence of it. Brent listened. The guy is a lawyer and he let me do most of the talking! But he truly listened. And out of that listening came thoughtful instruction, careful correction, or simply just a knowing nod. Brent became a friend I knew I could trust. I also knew he cared. He took his role as coach and mentor very seriously. Before we began our journey, Brent asked me for my goals, my needs, and my dreams. Over the past year he has helped me prepare myself spiritually, mentally, and physically through spiritual discipline and practical biblical application to help me be better equipped to achieve my goals, meet my needs, and realize my dreams.

When we began this journey as fellow travelers, many things in front of me seemed like mountains, but when you are on the road with someone else, those mountains just don’t seem as big.”

Dean Scott
Medinah Baptist Church

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