Sermons On The Second Readings

This superb collection of biblically sound sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary covers every Sunday and major celebration of the church year. Five outstanding preachers from diverse denominations combine imaginative insights into the New Testament epistle texts with fresh, inspiring illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart. By reliving the journey of Jesus through the prism of the early church's practical and moral concerns, these messages offer valuable lessons for Christian living in the modern world. This essential resource is useful for: * Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts * Preaching illustrations * Understanding scripture passages * Adult study and discussion groups * Personal devotions and Bible study Thoughtful, insightful, and sprinkled with good humor, these sermons from Rich Ferris will warm your heart and give you fresh ideas. Most importantly, they clearly communicate the good news of Christ! Brian Cowan Pastor, Barberton Evangelical Friends Church Barberton, Ohio William Carter's sermons are an eruption of ingenious images, powerful experiences, and inventive connections. The result of interplay between creativity and fidelity, they are a splash of wildflowers growing in rich and loamy soil. Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology, Emory University

The New Testament epistles are a marvelous guidebook full of practical wisdom on living the Christian faith. Providing much more than just a glimpse of the specific issues facing the early church, the pastoral letters contain a multitude of timeless lessons for contemporary spiritual pilgrims who seek to grow in their daily walk with the Lord. In this extensive anthology of outstanding sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers from diverse denominations apply the epistles' nourishing teachings to today's complex challenges. With messages for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, there's a wealth of creative ideas and illustrations helpful for preaching, teaching, and meditation. These biblically grounded sermons shine the light of Christ on our often confusing world and proclaim the richness of God's truth, offering readers comfort and hope while challenging them to a more intense faith relationship with the Almighty. This essential resource is useful for: - Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts - Preaching illustrations - Understanding scripture passages - Adult study and discussion groups - Personal devotions and Bible study Donald Charles Lacy recently retired after more than four decades serving United Methodist churches in Indiana. He is the author of ten books, as well as hundreds of smaller pieces, several of which appear in his recently published Collected Works (Providence House). Lacy's sermons have appeared in many outlets, including Great Preaching 2001, Keeping the Faith: Best Indiana Sermons (2003), and The Minister's Manual 2004. John T. Ball has served numerous United Methodist congregations throughout western Ohio. A graduate of Ohio State University and Boston University School of Theology, he has had articles published in Circuit Rider, Christian Ministry, and Emphasis. Ball is the author of Barefoot In The Palace (CSS). Maurice A. Fetty is the interim senior minister of Park Congregational Church (UCC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously pastored congregations in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Fetty is the author of numerous CSS titles, including The Feasts Of The Kingdom, The Devilish Dialogues, Money And The Kingdom Of God, and Sex, Love, And Marriage. Richard E. Gribble, CSC is an associate professor in the department of religious studies at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts. The author of more than a dozen books and over 175 articles, Father Gribble is the former rector/superior of Moreau Seminary at the University of Notre Dame. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served for five years on nuclear submarines before entering the priesthood. Gribble earned his Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America and has also earned degrees from the University of Southern California and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. Among Gribble's previous CSS publications is a three-volume series on The Parables Of Jesus. Lee Ann Dunlap is the pastor of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Zanesville, Ohio. She is a graduate of Mount Union College and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

The sermons in this anthology reaffirm the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ, and challenge readers to a deeper and more intense faith relationship with the almighty. The collection provides a complete set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the Second Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. Outstanding preachers from across the denominational spectrum draw on texts from the New Testament epistles to explore how the practical and moral concerns of the early church offer lessons for modern Christian living. Each biblically grounded message confronts real issues with Christ-honoring solutions that bring challenge, comfort, and conviction to those who look at life with the eyes of faith. This is an essential resource that's useful for: - Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts - Preaching illustrations - A clearer understanding of scripture passages - Adult study and discussion groups - Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday's readings Rarely is there such a wonderful blend of the pastoral heart and the scholarly intellect. Frederick Harm's sermons draw on a wide spectrum of literature, from Luther to Paul Harvey, from Seneca to Yogi Berra, from Epicurus to John Bunyan. Harm's illustrations, far from being contrived or trite, naturally illumine the truths of the scriptures. Permeating each sermon is the deep desire to share Christ and his love with the hearer. Pastors will find ample ideas and inspiration in these sermons as they seek to build their own message for the people of God. Stephen A. Gewecke Counselor, Circuit 5 New Jersey District, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

The New Testament epistles are much more than just a historical record of the early church -- they are also the heart and center of Christian proclamation, helping us to clearly understand how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is part of God's cosmic plan of salvation. In this outstanding anthology of sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers bring their insight to the pastoral letters and draw valuable lessons for the complex challenges posed by life in the 21st century. Each thought-provoking message is filled with compelling stories and illustrations, and offers a clear and authentic vision of Christian faith in the context of daily life. With material for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, this resource provides abundant seeds for preaching, teaching, and meditation, and will become a treasured addition to anyone's reference library. This essential resource is useful for: - Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts - Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters - Understanding scripture passages - Adult study and discussion groups - Personal devotions and Bible study John N. Brittain is Dean of the Chapel at Houghton College in Houghton, New York. A magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, Brittain has also earned degrees from Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio (M.Div.) and St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland (D.Min.). David O. Bales was a Presbyterian minister for 33 years. Recently retired as the pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Ontario, Oregon, he is also a freelance writer and editor for Stephen Ministries and Tebunah Ministries. Bales is a graduate of the University of Portland and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Steven E. Albertin is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church of Zionsville, Indiana. Albertin has received degrees from Concordia College (B.A.), Concordia Seminary in Exile, St. Louis (M.Div.), Christ Seminary - Seminex (S.T.M.), and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (D.Min.). Larry Lange and his wife, Julie Wrubbel-Lange, serve as the pastors of Grace Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lange is a graduate of Carthage College (B.A.), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (M.A. in English), the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (M.Div.), and the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (D.Min. in Preaching). Mary S. Lautensleger is the pastor of Stony Hill United Methodist Church in Albemarle, North Carolina. Lautensleger is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati (B.M., M.M), United Theological Seminary (M.A. in theological studies), and Trinity Lutheran Seminary (M.Div.), and she is a D.Min. candidate at Hood Theological Seminary.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1866.

Wherever you are in your walk with Christ, this anthology offers practical, scripture-based wisdom as well as delightfully serendipitous surprises on every page. Three outstanding preachers from diverse denominations provide a complete set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the Christian year based on the Second Reading from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Weaving together illustrations that enlighten the mind and warm the heart with fresh insight into New Testament epistle texts, these creative messages invite you to experience God's presence anew. Each biblically grounded sermon draws on a deep understanding of the human condition, reaffirming the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ and challenging you to a more intense faith relationship with the almighty. This is an essential resource that's useful for: - Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts - Preaching illustrations - A clearer understanding of scripture passages - Adult study and discussion groups - Personal devotions and Bible study on each Sunday's readings Dallas Brauninger has a way with words that makes one's heart sing and be open to learn and hear more. Gentle phrases leap out and make one think and wrestle with God and one's self. Margaret Slater Inclusive Ministry Coordinator, Local Church Ministries United Church of Christ Gary Carver's sermons are a delight to read. True to life, often humorous, and filled with insight, they mark points at which the gospel intersects with everyday experience, call us to renewed faith, and show us what it means to live gracefully. R. Alan Culpepper Dean and Professor of New Testament McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University

The New Testament epistles offer us a unique look at some of the struggles faced by the early church, and how those first-century Christians worked through some of the theological and pastoral issues that divided them. In this anthology of insightful sermons based on the second readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers explore the epistles and show that their lessons on life and faith still offer valuable guidance for today's complex challenges. This volume includes messages for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, and is filled with compelling stories and wisdom. It's a preaching, teaching, and meditation resource that will be a welcome addition to any library. This essential resource is useful for: Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters Understanding scripture passages Adult study and discussion groups Personal devotions and Bible study Some of the captivating sermons included in this collection are: Jesus - The Leader of Our Team Learning the Recipe for Life Show Me Your Credentials The iPod vs. the Larynx All in God's Time God's Chain Reaction Freedom Calling Killing What Is Already Dead Guarding the Treasure Living in Chains A New Resolve ...and many more