Sermons
Showing 76–150 of 163 results
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Dont Forget The Child
$13.95Add to cartAlex Gondola says that in our modern culture we sometimes “experience Christmas at its worst: overcommercialized, expensive, exhausting, nearly devoid of spiritual significance.” In this collection of twenty cogent and inspiring sermons for Advent and Christmas, he reminds us of the key to putting the season in its proper perspective — “Don’t forget the child!” For it is only when we are drawn nearer to the child of Bethlehem, celebrating the simple beauties of the stable, that we can escape from the rush of the season into the divine light of saving grace heralded by the birth of God’s Son. This volume is an exceptional source of inspiration for sermon preparation, but it’s also excellent for personal devotions exploring the meaning of Advent and Christmas. It’s a great Christmas gift!
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Curious Commercials
$14.95Add to cartCurious Commercials approaches the Christmas event from a different perspective. Daniel Weitner doesn’t treat the nativity as a kind of warm and fuzzy feeling of longing for universal peace that envelops the earth around the end of the year or as a sign pointing to something greater in our lives. In trenchant messages that are liberally sprinkled with contemporary illustrations, he reminds us that to know what Christmas is all about, we don’t have to look outside Bethlehem…beyond the manger…or past the baby Jesus. Instead we should focus on the birth of Jesus the Redeemer – it is the wonderful event!
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Craddock Stories
$23.99Add to cart“Those who have heard Craddock preach know that the stories he weaves are a “secret weapon” of his preaching. Now Mike Graves and Richard Ward have complied Craddock Stories, a collection of more than 200 stories that Craddock tells, based on his own life and ministry. Even those who don’t follow Craddock’s preaching model will thoroughly enjoy the winsome and insightful stories in this collection.”
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Its News To Me Messages Of Hope For Those Who Havent Heard Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartAll too often, many people find traditional worship dull and the sermons they hear impractical for living in today’s world. Yet Linda McCoy is convinced that the message of God’s unconditional love is the most vital word for life anyone can receive — especially those who have never heard or truly experienced it. Her inspiring sermons share that message of hope with modern Americans by bridging the gap between the sacred and the secular. As the fruit of her non-traditional ministry directed toward those who have never been part of a church or who have been “turned off” or “disenfranchised” by the established church, McCoy’s short, to-the-point messages effectively and relevantly communicate the good news to anyone who is searching for an experience of the Divine. Readers of these sermons will be connected to a deep sense of purpose and enriched by God’s amazing love and grace.
Sermon titles include:
* Prepare For Arrival — Matthew 3:1-12
* The Power Of A Dream — Matthew 2:13-23
* Positive Identification — John 1:29-42
* Building Bridges — Matthew 5:21-37
* It’s A Mystery — Matthew 17:1-9 -
Acting On The Absurd Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartPacked full of stories about the human condition, this book of insightful sermons based largely on texts from Pauls’s letter to the Romans will be invaluable to preachers, teachers, and laypersons. Readers will serendipitously find marvelous results when one acts in faith on the “absurd” notion that God loves us unconditionally. These messages from an outstanding preacher demonstrate that when we follow the example of Paul and faithfully try to become what God created us to be, wonderful things begin to happen!
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Access To High Hope Cycle A
$15.95Add to cartHarry Huxhold’s excellent sermons build on the epistle texts from the lectionary to express and explain the meaning of the Lord’s passion and resurrection. His messages interpret the events of Jesus’ life in the light of God’s revelation to us through the scriptures. By sharpening our focus on the access we have to hope through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he helps readers find the true significance in the events of his earthly life. Harry Huxhold currently serves as pastoral associate at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Carmel Indiana.
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Holy E Mail Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartMany modern Christians yearn for a deeper spiritual life, a relevant relationship with a God who still matters and who thinks we still matter. However, Dallas Brauninger tells us, we are not good at listening and talking with God. What we are good at is hurling questions at the Almighty — and Brauninger says that questions are what we are all about if we are to continue to grow spiritually. And so is confession. We doubt. We fear. We stretch to the limits of our patience. We wonder if tenacity will prevail or if we will sink. We have moments of bliss and ponder anew the mystery of God. We wonder and grieve about the world.
Brauninger believes that question and confession are two forms of our prayer — and for many of us, these conversations with God are as brief and instant as an e-mail. In Holy E-Mail, she inventively casts fourteen sermons based on Cycle A lectionary epistle texts in the form of extended e-mail messages to God. It’s as if congregations and pastors were privy to someone’s private ponderings that reflect our own spiritual roaming.
This volume is not only a creative resource for preachers; it’s also directed to the everyday person in the pew. Crafted to help hearers connect with God and each other, these sermons address universal queries of the human soul. By uniting sermon with prayer, they’re excellent for use as readings for personal meditation.
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Tears Of Sadness Tears Of Gladness Cycle A
$13.95Add to cartAlbert Butzer believes that “sermons should speak to the real and immediate lives of the listeners and be grounded in the everyday events of their lives.” This collection of sermons for Lent and Easter based on gospel texts definitely achieved that goal: Butzer’s messages consistently and creatively deliver a ringing proclamation of the good news. They are outstanding examples of the homiletical art that bring together several elements of the classic sermon: biblical text, theological tradition, life of the world, life and experience of a particular congregation, and faith and experience of the preacher.
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Lets Get Committed Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartPeople seem dazzled by the world’s glitter of false grandeur and pay little to no attention to the majesty of God. The sparkle of glitter the world offers does nothing but litter the ocean floor of the spirit. A saint’s job is to pay close attention to the security of God’s grandeur — magnitude, creation, mercy, hope, happiness, joy, peace, and life. With God as our ship we can stay afloat for eternity. (from All Saints’ Sunday sermon, “Called To Be Saints”)
Derl Keefer explores the timeless and life-changing truths of the Bible in ten powerful and effective messages based on First Lesson passages from the Revised Common Lectionary. While particularly useful to pastors gleaning ideas for their own preaching, these sermons offer an abundant dose of spiritual power to all who read and digest them.
Sermon titles include:
* Where Are We Without God? — Exodus 33:12-23
* Leaving A Legacy — Deuteronomy 34:1-12
* Reformation To Transformation — Jeremiah 31:31-34
* God’s New Shepherd — Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 -
Living On One Days Rations Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartIn eleven thought-provoking sermons based upon texts from Genesis and Exodus, Douglas Bailey highlights events from the lives of Jacob, his son Joseph, and Moses. But these messages are more than simple biblical exegesis – drawing on insights from scholarly research, Bailey demonstrates that the spiritual struggles and faith of Jacob, Joseph, and Moses are very pertinent to vital issues we face in our lives today. For example, Jacob’s “growing pains” make us wonder “What prizes are worth working for?” and “Why does God pick a fight with us and challenge us to a wrestling match?” Similarly, the story of Joseph leads us to ask why genuine forgiveness is truly painful. And sermons reviewing major episodes in the life of Moses raise such questions as “Can we really trust God to come through when the chips are down?” and “Can an affluent society ever accept God’s limited offer of one day’s blessings – one day at a time?” Bailey mines the texts for answers to these timely questions, proving that the ancient texts are still very relevant.
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Formed By A Dream Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartKristen Borsgard Wee tells us that the scriptures are “endlessly fascinating, constantly surprising, and an unparalleled adventure in God’s interaction with people.” The same might be said of these first-rate sermons based mainly on texts from the Book of Genesis. Readers will discover that Wee has an uncanny ability to place them right in the heart of the lections – experiencing what the biblical characters did while at the same time revealing what God is trying to say to us that can transform our lives. By challenging basic assumptions and raising interesting questions, Wee is able to unveil some of the truths about God and human nature that are embedded in these sacred texts. These messages offer to readers, in the words of Anne Lamott, “a path and a little light to see by.”
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Restoring The Future Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartDrawing upon thoughtfully mined biblical insights and his alert attention to contemporary culture, Rob Elder has crafted sermons that not only disclose some unexpected angles of vision on Lent and Easter, but also serve as models for preaching on neglected and overlooked texts. These are not the usual texts and these are not the expected words for the seasons of Lent and Easter, but it is sometimes what we do not expect to see and hear that delights us most. Robert J. Elder is currently the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Salem, Oregon.
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Long Time Coming Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartIt is not God’s plan to take us by surprise. Throughout scripture there is the rolling thunder of the Deity’s voice resounds: “I’m going to do it! Get ready! Pay close attention! Here comes what I promised!” We call such predictions “prophecy,” history written before it happens. And about nothing is God more prophetic, more predictive, than Jesus Christ. (from the Foreword)
In Long Time Coming! Stephen Crotts proclaims the richness of Jesus’ birth. Noting that the Lord always tells us ahead of time what he is about to do, his 14 sermons based on Old Testament lectionary texts examine how God foretold in Isaiah’s prophetic ministry that he would save and redeem mankind.
Sermon titles include:
* Still Small Voice — Isaiah 11:1-10
* When A Halo Slips — Jeremiah 31:7-14
* What Does Your God Say About People Like Me? — Isaiah 42:1-9
* Let Sleeping Dogmas Awake! — Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -
Glory Of It All
$11.95Add to cartBring Jesus’ message and ministry to life with this set of inspiring and thought-provoking sermons. Donald Lacy offers a treasure trove of creative homiletic ideas and practical, scripture-based wisdom in these messages based on these Gospel texts. In The Glory of it All!, Lacy weaves together insightful illustrations with keen insight into contemporary life. These sermons passionately proclaim the Good News and powerfully remind us of God’s limitless love. Each riveting message is certain to enlighten the mind and warm the heart.This essential resource is useful for: * Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts * Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters* Understanding scripture passages* Bible study and discussion groups* Personal devotions and inspirational reading
Some of the captivating sermons in this collection are:
The Hard Sell
Testing Time
No Intimidation
More Time
The Two Prodigals
Holy Extravagance
History Hangs In The Balance
A Frightening Friday -
Topsy Turvy Living In The Biblical World Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartThe world of the Bible is quite different from our own. According to Thomas Renquist, it’s a topsy-turvy world where guests become hosts, where masters are turned into servants, where hoarders are transformed into givers, where peace-making is experienced as piece-making. And, says Renquist, the biblical world changes us because we begin to look at our own world in a different way … seeing things from God’s point of view.
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Living Vertically Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartThrough fascinating anecdotes and stories drawn from his experience as a campus minister, John Brittain applies the Gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary to contemporary life. His powerful and insightful messages proclaim the good news in everyday situations — they’ll hold listeners’ attention from beginning to end.
Titles include:
And Now The News — Luke 13:1-9
A Tale Of Two Crosses — Luke 22:14-23:56
Believing Is Seeing — John 20:19-31
How Can They Do That? — John 14:23-29
Christo-centric Or Ego-centric? — John 17:20-26
… and more! -
Praying For A Whole New World Cycle C
$14.95Add to cartA history professor told me that the earliest Protestants in America discouraged the celebration of Christmas. “It’s too much fun,” the Puritans reasoned, “and the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires our utmost seriousness.” (from the Introduction)
At a time of year which is often as stressful and exhausting as it is exhilarating, William Carter reminds us that while holiday celebrations will fade into winter gloom, Jesus Christ, the Light that casts no shadow, remains at the center of our faith and lives. This collection of 17 sermons based on the Revised Common Lectionary is for readers who wish to take the Gospel seriously during a season when commercialism and social activities can be overwhelming.
Carter’s messages provide a wonderful interplay between the biblical text and illustrations drawn from contemporary life. He brings the sensibilities of an accomplished jazz musician to the lectionary readings, creating new melodies that arise from the established material — some in counterpoint to the scripture, others elaborating upon the original tune. The sermons of this outstanding preacher are inspiring reading for both clergy and laypeople!
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Presence In The Promise Cycle C
$15.95Add to cartIf we want to know how God will treat the Christian Church, we must look at how God treated the ancient people of Israel. That’s the premise of Harry Huxhold’s 17 messages based on First Lesson texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, which demonstrate that the word and sacrament of Christian worship are as fresh as the promises of hope, providence, salvation, grace, and steadfast love that God first shared with humanity millennia ago.
Titles include:
Days Of Promise — Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Child Of Promise — Isaiah 9:2-7
The Promise Of Baptism — Isaiah 43:1-7
The Fruit Of Forgiveness — Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Keeping The Glow On — Exodus 34:29-35
… and more! -
Humming Till The Music Returns Cycle B
$17.95Add to cartOne day God will stand again as solo conductor on the podium of the universe, and lead in the crashing finale of the symphony of Life. But until then, we who are left in this world with the buzzing and blaring of many competing and changing “top 40” hits need to keep humming the tune that Jesus taught. (from the Introduction)
The scripture lessons for these seasons combine themes of waiting in expectation and displaying the effects of eternity within the context of time. Though the dulling ache of sin and corruption pushes the song of creation out of tune, Jesus intervenes with a melody of grace, and the church keeps the music alive in witness and testimony while longing for the chorus of eternity to shout hallelujah once again. Wayne Brouwer’s messages ring loud and true in the ears of those who hear these sermons.
Sermon titles include:
I Can’t Wait — 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Tilting The Balance Of Power — Romans 16:25-27
Anti-Venom Serum — Galatians 4:4-7
Finding the Right Superlatives — Ephesians 1:3-14
Beyond Personal Preferences — 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
… and more! -
Wearing The Wind Cycle B
$12.95Add to cartStephen Crotts tells us that “nothing is spared the Spirit’s influence. He shapes our friendships, our marriages, our love for our enemies, our heritage, sexual passion, wisdom, even our femininity and self-esteem.” One of the nation’s most eloquent preachers pulls contemporary wisdom from these ancient texts with sermons such as “How To Affair-Proof Your Marriage,” “How To Treat Your Enemies,” and “Godly Sexual Passion For An X-Rated World.” Preachers will find much food for thought in these ten sermons based on Cycle B Old Testament texts.
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From This Day Foward Cycle B
$12.95Add to cartGod is into relationships, and he restores them by grace and love. Paul Kummer picks up the covenant/marriage/renewal themes in these scriptural texts and creatively develops them into inspiring messages of love and hope.
Sermon titles include:
Forsaking All Others — Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
A New Name — Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Our Jealous Husband – Exodus 20:1-17
Something Old, Something New — Jeremiah 31:31-34
Shameless Passion — Isaiah 50:4-9a
… and more! -
Defining Moments Cycle B
$14.95Add to cartThe Old Testament readings in the lectionary are often neglected during the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons in favor of the more direct and easier-to-preach New Testament passages. William Self brings his creative imagination to these scriptural passages and gives them new life for the preacher.
The sermons of this veteran preacher are written with the pew in mind. They are for people who hurt, for people who wait, for people who face defining moments, and for churches that struggle to proclaim the Gospel. Amply illustrated from life and literature, these sermons can be read for inspiration by lay persons and clergy alike.
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Call Of Wild Geese
$24.95Add to cartThe brief, unforgettable homilies in this second collection of monastic homilies speak of the human realities and are no less applicable to persons in the parish than they are to monks. A profound devotion to Christ underlies them all. Some are startling; all are challenging and marked by spontaneity and exquisite imagery. Preached after more than nine years in solitude, these short sermons reflect a mature experience with a unique mix of wry humor and utter seriousness.
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Ashes To Ascension Cycle B
$12.95Add to cartThese sermons lift up the themes of suffering, reconciliation, and the unmerited goodness of God extended to all through Jesus Christ. Stroman never loses sight of the kerygma in his tightly packed messages. He addresses a world where hatred and violence prevail with the message of divine love, which has enriched souls and kindled faith throughout the centuries.
Titles include:
Beginning The Journey To Calvary — 2 Corinthians 5:20b
Once And For All — 1 Peter 3:18a
Promises — Promises — Romans 4:21
The Right Person For The Job — Hebrews 5:5-10
Life – And Then Some — 1 John 5:9-13
… and more! -
No Grazing For Sacred Cows
$18.95Add to cartThe provocative ponderings and questions of a modern-day prophet will change how you look at life. These vignettes are a launching pad for a sermon, a group discussion, or personal reflection and growth.
When you read this book you will change — you will examine who you are, what you’ve become, how you look at life, and how you relate to your wife or husband, your children, your community, and your work.
“Through a lifelong commitment to the classroom and a careful examination of the institutions of our times, Dr. Francisco reaches through the disillusionment spread across American culture for the past forty years to consider values … and restores a reasoned foundation upon which we can build anew.
“Dr. Francisco’s style is easy, almost casual, but the questions he poses will keep you on the edge of your chair … this book is a must-read.”
Clyde O. Rogers
Executive Director (retired)
Duluth Bethel Society -
Crisis Preaching : Personal And Public
$23.99Add to cartIt’s 6:30 Sunday morning and you’re feeling good about today’s sermon . . . until you learn a tornado has ravaged two neighborhoods overnight, leaving a quarter of your congregation homeless. With little preparation time, how do you revise your message to offer desperately needed encouragement? Jeter, a professor of homiletics, offers six practical strategies for effective “crisis preaching.”
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Coming Home
$12.95Add to cartAfter many years of preaching from the first three chapters of Luke and the first two chapters of Matthew, Frank Ramirez decided to preach about something a little different around Christmastime. What evolved was this series of seven messages for the Sundays beginning with Advent and ending with Epiphany.
Why a sermon series based on the Old Testament book of Haggai? Ramirez writes, “I’ve always been fascinated by the lesser known books of the Old Testament, partly because I’m afraid of being embarrassed in heaven if I don’t recognize some of these people!”
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When God Says Let Me Alone Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartA man who has delivered sermons on every continent, Dr. William Augustus Jones is a superlative preacher and has been cited as “The Dean of New York’s Great Preachers” by the New York Daily News.
The son and grandson of Baptist ministers, Dr. Jones graduated from the University of Kentucky and Crozer Theological Seminary, and earned a doctoral degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He has done special studies at the University of Lagos (Nigeria) and the University of Ghana at Legon. He has served as pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York since September 1962 and led his congregation in the construction of a Neo-Gothic edifice completed in October 1967. Bethany conducts a multi-faceted program with a full-time staff of 27 persons. Included in the outreach ministries is a national radio and television ministry.
Among the many honors he has received is the New York Urban League’s prestigious Frederick Douglass Award. He holds honorary doctorates from Benedict College, Simmons University, Shaw University, and Campbell University. He received an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from his alma mater, the University of Kentucky. Recently he was awarded the Doctor of Literature Degree by Evangelical Reformed School of Theology, Toledo. Ohio.
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Cross Resurrection And Ascension Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartThis book of sermons moves from the desert of Ash Wednesday to the cross of Calvary on Good Friday, to the empty tomb on Easter, and finally to Jesus’ return to the Father. Richard Gribble’s preaching style is vibrant and relevant to the person in the pew. The deeply spiritual content is punctuated by poignant story illustrations that illustrate the scriptural text and enlighten the listener.
Preachers will find this book inspiring for their own sermons, while lay readers will discover rich insights to the Bible for their personal study and devotions.
Contents include:
Ash Wednesday: The Journey To Freedom Begins
First Sunday In Lent: Greed Leads To Destruction
Fourth Sunday In Lent: Looking To The Heart
Maundy Thursday: Carrying On The Tradition
Easter Sunday: Our Need To Talk With The Son
Seventh Sunday Of Easter: The Community Of Life
Ascension Sunday: Completing The Master’s Work
… and others. -
Between Gloom And Glory Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartBetween Gloom And Glory is an example of Old Testament preaching at its most powerful and effective. Each of the 15 sermons contains heart-rending illustrations and each sermon builds to a climax of meaning and emotion.
Titles include:
A Baby Isn’t Quite What We Expected Isaiah 2:1-5
What Do You Want For Christmas — Isaiah 35:1-10
Rejoice! — Isaiah 9:2-7
Whispered Preaching — Isaiah 42:1-9
What Does God Want From Us — Micah 6:1-8
Getting It Right For All The Wrong Reasons — Isaiah 58:3-9a
When Conviction And Culture Collide — Deuteronomy 30:15-20
On Turning On The Lights In The Church Building — Exodus 24:12-18 -
Key To Life
$12.95Add to cart11 Chapters
Additional Info
I am a child of God. You are a child of God. That’s what “”Our Father”” means. No one is an orphan. We have a Father: He is powerful; He is eternal; He is loving; He is close by; He knows our thoughts; He knows our needs; He can handle any situation, and He will. (from Chapter One)The eleven chapters of this book provide a resource of new insights into the prayer Jesus taught to His disciples. It could be used for a sermon series, for private devotions, or for small study groups.
Chapter titles include:
Who’s In Charge
God Provides Day By Day
Can I Ever Be Forgiven?
Am I A Forgiving Person?
Standing Strong In Time Of Testing
The Ultimate Dimension -
Chain Of Command Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartThese messages based on the Gospel of Luke are presented in a variety of styles:
First person monologues
Short tales to prove a point
Traditional three-point manuscript
A style unique to the author
The focus is always on the scriptural passage and Wales always attempts to provide a strong exposition of its meaning.Sermon titles include:
So Much To Say, So Little Time — John 16:12-15
The Chain Of Command — Luke 7:1-10
The Other Resurrection — Luke 7:11-17
Simply Simon — Luke 7:36–8:3
The Demons Within — Luke 8:26-39
Ya Can’t Make Me — Luke 9:51-62
Were We Surprised! — Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Who Was That Masked Man? — Luke 10:25-37 -
All Stirred Up Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartRichard Patt’s sermons enable the reader/listener to perceive new truths in old stories. As one reads them, it might be tempting to challenge Patt’s observations, to argue against him, to debate his approach … but one is never bored. Only “stirred up” at times.
Sermon titles, based on the Gospel of Luke, include:
It’s Okay To Stir Up God — Luke 11:1-13
The Fear Of Taking The Plunge — Luke 12:32-40
Sabotaging The Sabbath — Luke 13:10-17
The Crux Of Being A Christian — Luke 14:25-33
Nobody Owes You Anything — Luke 17:5-10
… and more! -
Good News Among The Rubble Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartOrmond looks at scripture in a new way and uncovers extraordinary inspiration through his penetrating insights. There is a surprise for the reader/listener in each sermon/chapter as the author explores the Bible passages.
Sermon titles include:
An Extremely Odd Couple — Luke 18:1-8
When Self-Esteem Gets Out Of Hand — Luke 18:9-14
Topsy-Turvy Christianity — Luke 6:20-31
One Bride For Seven Brothers — Luke 20:27-38
Good News Among The Rubble — Luke 21:5-19 -
In The Carpenters Workshop 1
$13.95Add to cartAs a seminary student Jerry Eckert listened to his seminary professor, Dr. W.J.A. Power, encourage his students to realize how much of scripture is story. “Let that reality enter your preaching,” he instructed them.
Jerry Eckert became a master storyteller and began writing church members’ voices into his story sermons. The result of this involvement on the part of the congregation became a source of joy and fascination to both young and old at “sermon time.”
Have you tried preaching story sermons? If you are interested in learning more ways in which this preaching style can be used, this book will become the most useful resource in your library.
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Threat Of Life
$24.00Add to cartThese twenty-two sermons from a master interpreter demonstrate how ancient texts can speak to the whole gamut of human experience even now. Included in Walter Brueggemann’s purview are keen observations about the timeless issues of human life, both personal and social: the pain we face, often inflicted on each other; the use and abuse of power; the weakness and fragility of life; the redemptive power of faith; and much more.
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Fringe Front And Center Cycle B
$12.95Add to cartFor many years Professor Hoyer was editor and writer for Currents In Theology And Mission. In that publication he called the homiletical section “Preaching Helps.” But he explained that the emphasis was to be put on the second word. “It is more than a noun. It’s a verb,” he said. “Preaching does help! Preaching conveys both the wisdom and power of God.”
When sermons only talk about the gospel, they fail to utilize the power. They may be wise, but they don’t work the work of God. Medics who answer a 911 call do more than talk about CPR. They diagnose. Then they supply the breath of life. In these Gospel-based sermons Hoyer shows how to draw out the power of the word. His messages breathe life and hope into listening ears.
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Light In The Land Of Shadows Cycle B
$12.95Add to cartLight In The Land Of Shadows contains 16 sermons for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Transfiguration Sundays.
This book makes connections between Old Testament themes and contemporary issues. The preacher will find it exegetically sound yet filled with illustrations and insights. The lay person will find it comprehendible and useful for exploring ultimate issues within the context of meaningful Bible study.
(The) sermons are fleshed out in normal, everyday language, grammar and sentence structure — Yet the faithful preacher can take comfort in the fact that they are backed up by sound biblical exegesis. (from the Introduction)
Hal Warlick is a master at weaving a fascinating story or illustration into the sermon, dramatically portraying the scriptural message. This is Old Testament preaching at its best.
Sermon titles include:
Lighting A Fire In A Cold Room
All Dressed Up And Somewhere To Go
Any FAX From God Today?
Will We Enjoy Heaven?
Pain And Promise In The Hand Of God -
What Do You Say To A Burning Bush Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartMany who preach from the lectionary are drawn to the gospel for their sermon focus. Yet Steve Burt’s alluring treatment of these first lesson texts will stimulate the desire to proclaim the captivating tales drawn from these Old Testament lessons. In many ways it is easier for the contemporary hearer to identify with these Old Testament characters. They are less perfect, approachable, very human in their faith struggles and in many respects much like us.
Titles include:
* What Do You Do When Life Ain’t Fair? (Genesis 29:15-28)
* The Face of God (Genesis 32:22-31)
* Need Help Removing that Roadblock? (Exodus 14:19-31)
* But You Can’t Get Water Out of a Rock! (Exodus 17:1-7) -
Lift Up Your Heads
$12.95Add to cartAs the year 2000 draws closer the second coming of Christ will get more and more attention by Christians and non-Christians alike. If the past is any indication, speculative notions will be widespread, many of which will contribute to feelings of fear and anxiety at the prospect of an end to our world.
This book aims to help Christians evaluate the many conflicting ideas about the second coming by examining what the Bible actually says about it.
Important reading any time of year, these four chapters especially lend themselves to an Advent bible study for adult classes. Study questions for each chapter are provided at the back of the book.
Pastors will also find it a helpful sermon resource for Advent preaching.
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Whispering The Lyrics Cycle A
$14.95Add to cartBased on texts from the Revised Common and Catholic lectionaries, Thomas Long provides inspirational messages to motivate and help preachers through their most difficult preaching time of the year, the seasons of Lent and Easter.
The road to Easter takes us through the most sacred stretch of the Gospel story, and the narratives simply overwhelm us … Congregations who blithely assume that their pastor eagerly relishes the chance to preach the passion and resurrection of Jesus are, for the most part, mistaken. To be sure the pews are more crowded as Easter approaches, the choirs are well-rehearsed and in full voice, and an electric charge courses through the sanctuary, but the preacher stands there with the obligation to proclaim the truths of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and it seems, at one and the same time, to be a set of claims too little to go on in a secular and cynical age and a range of mysteries too profound to speak. (from author’s foreword)
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God In Flesh Made Manifest Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartThe old saw, that the preacher’s task is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, proclaims a profound theological truth. For when we are afflicted, that is when God comforts us. If we are comfortable, God must first penetrate our false security. Only then can the news of the Messiah’s coming strike our ears as a word of comfort. From sermon for the second Sunday in Advent.
Mark Radecke has the ability to do both — comfort and afflict — through his provocative treatment of the lectionary texts for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and the Transfiguration. His illustrations are often electrifying in their capturing of the Gospel kerygma.
Sermon titles include:
Come, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come!
Would We Rather Be Comfortable Or Comforted
Holy Love And Herod’s Love
Light In Darkness, Speech From Silence
Jesus’ Counter-cultural Sermon
Don’t Sweat The Numbers
Main Features And Coming Attractions -
Empowered By The Light
$13.95Add to cartEach of the 17 sermon topics in this book consists of a charge or a command. We might even call them messianic imperatives. Since Christ has come, will come and is coming, how shall we live? The messages are eminently practical, but they do not constitute a self-help book. On the contrary, the call to be alert, to enlarge our horizons, to live together in harmony, to judge others charitably simply cannot be done in our human strength. The focus centers always on the Son. In a word, we are Empowered By The Light. (from the author’s introduction)
Sermon titles include:
Learn To Wait Creatively — James 5:7-10
Follow The Man With The Plan — Ephesians 1:3-14
Be Charitable In Your Judgment — 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 -
Hope Beneath The Surface Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartOn these pages one encounters the moving image of the holy God with Isaiah in the temple, the powerful call to justice through the thundering voice of Amos, the depth of despair in the heart of Jeremiah and the struggle for faithfulness in the prophetic work of Hosca, Elijah and others.
Underlying every page is the presence of Jesus of Nazareth, who is constantly uppermost as each sermon unfolds. Robinson’s writing. Like his preaching, reveals a person who is in close touch with the common ventures of life, More significantly he is in touch with the common people of the working, playing and suffering worlds. And he is in touch with the verities of the Christian faith.
Reverend Vernon Bigler
Buffalo, New YorkThe gripping illustrations in this book are worth the price alone.
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Wrinkled Wrappings
$12.95Add to cartWrinkled Wrappings is a series of pulpit messages for Advent and Christmas carved from the pen and emanating from the heart of a distinguished preacher whose messages inspire hope in the hearts of believers. Brokhoff is especially skilled at relating biblical stories to modern life. The flowing style of these sermons is peppered with gripping illustrations that catch us where we are and carry us along as he shines the light of God’s Word into our lives.
Sermons are based on texts from Mark, Luke, John, and Isaiah.
Sermon titles include:
You’re Going To Have A Baby
Good News For Bad Times
God With A Human Face
Happy Next Year? -
Invitations To The Light Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartThe fascination of story telling is felt in these eleven sermons for the Pentecost season. Vibrantly illustrated, they powerfully communicate the good news of God’s love. Wolkenhauer writes, “The use of story in preaching can be a memorable way to proclaim the Gospel. In these sermons I have sought a variety of examples for the use of story in sermons.
Included here are sermons for the final third of the Season after Pentecost, Christ the King Sunday, All Saints’ Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Reformation Sunday.
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Good News For The Hard Of Hearing Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartJesus spoke to people whose “hearts have grown dull, and their ears hard of hearing” — like today’s churchgoers who think they know what the preacher is going to say before the sermon begins. These sermons use parable and paradox, narrative and humor, imagination and solid biblical scholarship to tell the good news people don’t expect to hear.
I hear best what I want to hear and I shut out the things I don’t want to hear. I hear, “Great sermon, Pastor!” better than I hear, “I notice your hair is getting thinner” … I have no problem at all hearing the good news that I am forgiven. I have a really hard time hearing a parable that tells me I will suffer the tortures of the damned until I forgive. These sermons have been influenced by preachers who have gotten through to me despite my spiritual hearing impairment. Craddock, Buechner and Lowry … David Buttrick … Harry Emerson Fosdick … (from author’s preface)
Sermons in this book are based on lections for the middle third of the Season after Pentecost.
Sermon titles include:
Prayer and Compassion Fatigue — Matthew 14:13-21
Love Without Limits — Matthew 15:10-28
Good News: Life Is Not Fair — Matthew 20:1-16
Why Do We Ignore Warning Signs? — Matthew 21:33-46 -
Veiled Glimpses Of Gods Glory
$12.95Add to cartThis volume makes clear why Robert Grilley has won awards and wide acclaim for his preaching. These messages bring the reality of God to contemporary life.
He listens as we sometimes speak of how difficult it is to find God and how we receive only veiled glimpses of His glory. These sermons allow us to discover that the Almighty is actually trying to find us … as the love of One searching for absent sheep, crying aloud through the night in a familiar voice and reaching down steep ravines with his shepherd’s crook. It is the love of One waiting wistfully at the gate where the road winds in from a far country, tenderly whispering a name through choked tears and hoping that some day the silhouette of a long lost child will again appear on the horizon. -
Tenders Of The Sacred Fire Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartThese sermons are based on First Lesson lectionary texts for the first third of the Season after Pentecost, Cycle A.
[Bob Cueni’s] preaching meets the unspoken criteria most pew residents bring to a church sanctuary: 1) biblically rooted, 2) easy to understand, 3) tells me something about myself that I feel God wants me to know, and 4) encourages me to believe that I can apply this truth to my life…. His communication style evokes the highest praise pulpit residents can give their peers: “That will preach!”
Herb Miller Lubbock, TexasSermon titles include:
The Risky Business Of Faith — Genesis 12:1-9
When Life Doesn’t Go According To Plan — Genesis 21:8-21
Don’t Sell Your Inheritance For Cabbage Soup — Genesis 25:19-34 -
Jesus Epilogue To The Sermon On The Mount
$12.95Add to cartCharles Link takes the unique approach that the Lord’s Prayer is a further interpretation of Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount, summarizing the major themes of his teachings and providing a means for “signing on” to their morally demanding and culture countering ethics.
Designed with two six-chapter sections, its frequent references to the Lord’s Prayer make this book a useful companion to the Lord’s Prayer sermon series, A New Hearing Of An Old Prayer, by Thomas C. Short (CSS Publishing Co. 1995). In the first half of the book Link explores the realm of God. In the second half he outlines our role in that realm. Readers will particularly enjoy the author’s questions and group participation suggestions to stimulate their learning and growth. This book will give the Lord’s Prayer new meaning.
Chapter titles include:
Jesus As Teacher Of The Realm Of God
Trusting Our Parent-God
Forgiven Forgivers
An “Amen” People -
Spurgeons Sermons On The Cross Of Christ
$17.99Add to cart1. The Crown Of Thorns
2. Christ Made A Curse For Us
3. Christ Made A Sin
4. Christ Lifted Up
5. Christ Crucified
6. Christ Crucified
7. Christ Set Forth As A Propitiation
8. The Bitterness Of The Cross
9. Up From The Country And Pressed Into Service
10. Unparalleled Suffering
11. Christ’s Connection With Sinners
12. Christopathy
13. Cries From The Cross P. 155Additional Info
In this volume Kregel Publications has brought together a new collection of Spurgeon’s sermons on the Cross and its meaning, signifigance, and power in the life of the believer. These sermons represent Spurgeon at his best-expounding the Word of God with passion and evangelistic appeal. Pastors will find ample “seed thoughts” to help in their own sermon preparation, and Christian readers will appreciate the biblical insight and practical application of Spurgeon’s sermons. -
Ripe Life : Sermons On The Fruit Of The Spirit
$20.99Add to cartThese sermons on “the fruit of the Spirit” are developed out of Galatians 5: 22-23. This theme is often selected by pastors who preach because it is an excellent vehicle into understanding the characteristics of personal integrity at home and on the job.
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In Others Words
$12.95Add to cartThis collection of 12 short stories tells the parables of Jesus again in other words.
The intent highlights the same point or moral carried by the scriptural version of the parable.
Merle G. Franke places each story in a 1990s setting with characters and situations familiar to all. Each parable has a contemporary title. Each has a scriptural reference for easy identification.
Four stories are based on parables from Matthew and eight from Luke. This collection is useful for sermon preparation, group Bible study or for reading enjoyment.
Parables include:
Impatient Planter — Matthew 13:1-23
The Contractor’s Choice — Matthew 20:1-16
Which Ones Were Lost? — Luke 15:1-10
Blind In One Eye … — Luke 16:19-31 -
Beginning Of Wisdom Cycle B
$12.95Add to cart“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” writes Sue Anne Steffey Morrow. “As we … deepen our understanding of wisdom’s ways, it is my hope that our knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures will be deepened, and our awe for the one God be magnified.”
The 10 sermons in this book are based on First Lesson texts primarily from 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and Proverbs. The sermons follow the Revised Common Lectionary.
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Power To Change Cycle B
$14.95Add to cart“Christians today need to hear more about the possibility that we don’t have to stay the way we are,” writes Durwood L. Buchheim. “God is not finished with us or with our world. So, Christians can live hopefully, expectantly and boldly. There is power to change. The Lent-Easter texts point in that direction.”
The 15 sermons in this book are based on First Lesson texts. Lenten season sermons are based on six Old Testament books. Except for Easter Sunday, Easter season sermons are based on The book of Acts. The sermons follow the Revised Common Lectionary.
Christianity is about caring and sharing … We are the people of God’s future. We are to be signs of hope to those around us. Under the power of God’s great grace, we can begin to live that way now. (from the Easter 2 sermon)
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Bumper Sticker Religion
$12.95Add to cartA few years ago I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said, “Let Our Kids Pray.” I had an immediate reaction…. I went to my car and got a pen and paper and wrote on the paper, “Who’s stopping them?” and put it under the windshield wiper. (from “Let Our Kids Pray”)
Carl B. Rife found sermon themes on bumper stickers. With the help of his congregation, he identified seven familiar themes and crafted sermons from them.
The sermons in this book are sometimes an elaboration, sometimes a correction, sometimes an argument, and sometimes a discussion of the particular sentiment found on the bumper sticker.
This book touches a number of basic Christian themes including:
Creation
Forgiveness
The second coming
God’s Word
Prayer
Grace
Discipleship -
Daring To Hope Cycle B
$12.95Add to cart“Faith, hope and love are the abiding attributes of the Christian life. Most of us proclaim faith and love consistently,” writes John P. Rossing. “But … we may be guilty of neglecting the third great gift God has given us. During the closing Sundays of the church year we have an opportunity to declare our hope boldly.”
The 10 sermons in this book are based on First Lesson texts primarily from Job and Ruth. The sermons follow the Revised Common Lectionary.
We experience the same doubts, the same nagging absences of God that Job did. But we have some advantages. We know that God came into the world to redeem suffering through the suffering of his Son His presence among us in word and sacrament probes that he is neither distant nor uncaring. (from the Proper 23 sermon)
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Spirits Tether Cycle B
$12.95Add to cart“One of the mysteries of life is how God’s spirit can take hold of us, and change us.” Writes Leonard H. Budd. “Think of this force in your life as the Spirit’s tether. In my mind, a tether is the image of the Counselor that Jesus promised. It is the experience of God’s spirit that has been part of my living: The Holy Spirit’s tether.”
The 14 sermons in this book are based on Gospel texts, primarily from Mark. Sermons follow the Revised Common, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic lectionaries.
Our confrontation with Jesus Christ opens to each of us the blessed opportunity of forgiveness, and in that unburdening, the opportunity for a new start in our relationship to God and to one another. (from the Proper 5 sermon)
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Aids To The Psalms Cycle A
$16.95Add to cartThe Psalms are wonderful sources of encouragement, enlightenment, and strength. This series explores the Psalms for Cycle A of the Common Lectionary using New Revised Standard Version of the Bible texts.
Each meditation is in three parts. First is the Psalm itself. Second is the alternate image, offering readers new insights to stimulate their vision of the Psalms. Third is the reflection section, offering a short analysis and comment on the passage.
“Aids to the Psalms” is appropriate for liturgical aids, sermon starters, personal and group meditation, and Christian education.
Among the Psalms of Cycle A are:
– Christmas Eve — O sing to the Lord a new song.
– Good Friday — My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
– Thanksgiving — Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.
– Ascension — Clap your hands, all you peoples.
This is part of a three-book set on exploring the message of the Psalms. -
Wrestlings Wonders And Wanderers
$12.95Add to cartGod always has been the Great Provider. He provides for us in the midst of our abundance. He provides for us in the midst of our agony, our time of temptation, our hour of despair. He celebrates with us when our jogs triumph over our tears. So when trials come, when agony appears, when temptation knocks, remember the words of Abraham “God will provide.” (from the sermon “The Agonizing Provider”)
The 10 sermons in this book are based on First Lesson texts, primarily from Genesis and Exodus. They follow the Common Lectionary.
“(These texts) are as relevant as today’s newspaper and markedly more hopeful and helpful. Their stories and images are overflowing with insights into human nature and the mysterious workings of God in our world,” writes Justin W. Tull. “The stories reflect a myriad of human struggles, the wonders of God’s presence and power and the adventuresome journey required of the people of God.”
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Grace Words From The Cross
$12.95Add to cart“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing.” –Luke 23:34
As in Luke 23:34, John R. Brokhoff offers “words of grace” in this series of sermons for Lent, Holy Week, or Good Friday. The messages are based on passages from Luke, John, and Matthew.
This book offers four options: as a series of six messages for Lent and one for Holy Week; a series of sermons for each day of Holy Week; a three-hour Good Friday service; for personal meditation and reflection.
Themes are:
The first word — mercy.
The second word — promise.
The third word — concern.
The fourth word — fidelity.
The fifth word — need.
The sixth word — completion.
The seventh word — commitment.Scriptures are from, the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
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Called To Jerusalem Sent To The World Cycle A
$21.95Add to cartIn the broken places of our lives, when hope is lost and courage falters … in that moment God comes to those who will listen. Always he meets us in our desolation, offering us an alternative to our defeat. (from the sermon “A Chance To Live Again”
The 17 sermons in this book are based on First Lesson texts, from six Old Testament books and the book of Acts. They follow the Revised Common Lectionary.
“In a culture increasingly driven to receive more than it gives, self-sacrifice is less and less popular,” writes Theodore F. Schneider. “We want much, but we are willing to risk little…. We are called to join with God for good, taking the risks, carrying the cross.”
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Preparation And Manifestation Cycle A
$16.95Add to cartThere really is good new! God is still eager to save. Prepare yourself for his coming into your life. He is already present. It is all here; the secret to the good and happy life is already manifest and present. (from the sermon “We Must Be Blind!”)
The 21 sermons in this book are based on Gospel texts, primarily from Matthew and John. Sermons follow the Revised Common, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic lectionaries.
In his messages, Mark Ellingsen connects preparation through penitence and the new life given in baptism. “The gospel lessons assigned for the season provide excellent occasions to practice such liturgical proclamation,” writes Ellingsen. “Penitence and preparation happen in the presence of Christ and the new life he gives. Thus they are Gods work.”
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Times Up Cycle A
$12.95Add to cartLoving people and caring for them isn’t enough to change the way the world works overnight…. Our caring isn’t enough to change all “bad” into “good.” But it is all we are asked to do. And it is enough. (from the sermon “Enough”)
The 17 sermons in this book are based on Gospel texts from Matthew. Sermons follow the Revised Common, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic lectionaries.
“The church is the place of greatest hope in our society,” writes John Jamison. “What happens when God’s people gather together and hear God’s word can happen no place else! Lives are changed. They are made whole, unbroken and hopeful. That is, and must be our task.”
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Vine And The Branches
$12.95Add to cartI am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. — John 15:5
Schmalenberger takes Easter season texts from Mark, Luke and John and weaves them into eight sermons with applications for today’s Christian. Sermons cover Easter through Ascension Of Our Lord.
In the chapter for Easter 5, the author speaks of Christ as the vine. He states that the vine and the branches’ relationship teaches us something of what our relationship to Christ is like. Whenever we forget that Christ is the heart of everything, everything goes crooked. This is true of preaching, teaching; family life, vocation — everything.
Sermon titles include:
* When Thomas Doubted
* One Flock, One Shepherd
* Chosen For Good News
* A Prayer For Disciples -
Up And Down Mountain
$12.95Add to cart“Don’s sermons provide enlightenment for this neglected ministry of healing in congregations. This guide illumines areas of evil and suffering, prayer, isolation of illness, therapy of forgiveness, faith and the power of immortality and the risen Christ. It is a call to be healed and to heal.”
George W. Bashore, Resident Bishop
United Methodist Church
The Pittsburgh Area“I recommend this book to those who are ready to begin more intentional healing ministries, as well as to those who are looking for ways to be more effective in the church: God’s healing community.”
James K. Wagner
Director, Prayer And Healing Ministries
The Upper Room, Nashville, TennesseeUp And Down The Mountain is about healing. It includes seven sermons on healing, a chapter on how to begin a healing ministry, a suggested order of worship service with hymns and a valuable bibliography.
Foreword by J. Robert Nelson, director, Institute of Religion, Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas. -
Come And See Cycle C
$12.95Add to cartAs a Cycle C Lenten-based resource, Come And See provides many opportunities for congregations.
It offers a pre-Lenten Mission Fair, which may be held during the second Sunday of Epiphany. The Fair is an invitation to deeper discipleship during Lent.
It offers mid-week Lenten programs. These are playlets and inductive Bible studies. Each playlet has parts for three adults. Each Bible study follows Scriptures from Mark with helpful study questions. Playlets and Bible studies focus on evangelism worship, education, social concerns and stewardship.
It offers six sermons to be used for Ash Wednesday and the five Sundays of Lent.
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Prophets Pioneers And Possibilities
$12.95Add to cart“We have been called to travel lightly. We are on a journey of faith. None of us has arrived. We may remember a thrilling moment of decision when we first responded to the awakening of God’s love for us… We never know in advance where submission to the kingship of Christ will lead us.”
— from the sermon for Christ the King Sunday
Richard A. Hasler draws upon countless incidents from contemporary settings to bring the words of the Minor Prophets and 2 Samuel to contemporary Christian believers.
Using scriptures from nine texts on the Old Testament, this book provides as many sermons for use in the Common Lectionary.
Sermon titles include:
– The Dreamer Within You — Joel 2:23-30
– When God’s “No” Means “Yes” — Habakkuk 1:1-3; 2:1-10
– Leaping for Joy — Malachi 4:1-6
– No One Enters into the Kingdom… Save with Empty Hands — 2 Samuel 5:1-5 -
Blow The Silver Trumpets
$13.95Add to cart“Larry Powell breathes life into scripture with a preacher’s imagination, a poet’s turn of the phrase, and a writer’s craftsmanship. He gathers vibrant illustrations from everywhere… but most of all, as you ponder these pages, you will look at Jesus Christ. You will listen to him, meditate on his messages, watch him in action.”
— Bishop Richard B. Wilke
The United Methodist Church
The Arkansas Area
Here are eleven sermons from John and Luke offering close inspection of texts and providing many modern illustrations. This book offers sermons for use in the Common, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic lectionaries.
Sermon titles include:
Show Us the Holy Father (John 14:8-17, 25-27)
Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:19-23)
Just Speak the Word (Luke 7:1-10)
Fleshing Out the Word (Luke 10:1-12)
