Advent Twelve Sermons

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Jesus is the embodiment of what God means for our world. The gospel writers who penned the first four books of the Christian scriptures have given us a variety of insights into who Jesus was and is, and why he matters for contemporary humankind. Every thoughtful person defines the world according to him- or her-self. This series of sermons aims to present 'the world according to Jesus.' It is hoped that clergy tasked with proclaiming the good news of Jesus, and who follow the three-year lectionary cycle of gospel texts, will find the cycle B gospel sermons of The World According to Jesus: Twelve Sermons for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany as useful starting points for creative preaching. This will easily lighten the load for any pastor on the go during the busy season of Advent, when the holidays are in full-swing. Uses for this book: Sermon ideas or sermon starters Inspirational reading Independent and group Bible study Some Sermon Titles Include: Stay Awake! (Mark 13:24-37) Don't Get Stuck! (Mark 1:1-8) Get Out of the Jungle! (John 1:6-8, 19-28) Jesus Matters (Luke 1:26-38) Don't Miss This (Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)) Michael L. Sherer is the author of twelve published titles, both fiction and ministry-related, including the CSS Publishing titles, A Treasure Hidden (1985) and Growing in Grace (1986), and has served as pastor of ELCA churches all over the state of Iowa, including Redeemer Lutheran Church (Washburn, Iowa), First Lutheran Church (Maquoketa, Iowa) and St. John Lutheran Church (Luana, Iowa). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and his Master of Divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He also did graduate study at Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, Ohio); the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa) and the Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa). Mike has served as editor for various publishers, including Augsburg Publishing House (Minneapolis, Minnesota), the Metro Lutheran Newspaper (Minneapolis, Minnesota), as well as CSS Publishing Company (Lima, Ohio). He also served as Communication Director for the Northwest Ohio Synod ELCA (Findlay, Ohio, ). Reverend Sherer is currently serving a four-year term as city council member in Waverly, Iowa. He is married and has two adult daughters.

If you are like many parish pastors, you find the Christmas season to be the most frustrating season of the church year -- so much to do, so much to celebrate, so much to say -- and so little time to prepare it all! That is why J. Ellsworth Kalas has prepared these twelve thoughtful sermons -- to help you present the meaningful and coherent messages you want your congregation to hear during this busiest of seasons. Within are sermons for every Cycle C gospel text during the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons from the Common, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic lectionaries, including: - The Signs of Summer - The Hinge of History - Songs of the Season - Return to the New - From Empty Nets to Full Lives - Awake to Glory Use these complete sermons as presented -- or as jumping-off points for your own meaningful messages. J. Ellsworth Kalas has for sixteen years served as senior minister of the Church of the Saviour (United Methodist) in Cleveland, Ohio.