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Christmas Grace And Other Cycle A Sermons For Advent Christmas And Epiphany
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Book Synopsis Christmas Grace and Other Cycle A Sermons for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany by : Timothy J. Smith
Download or read book Christmas Grace and Other Cycle A Sermons for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany written by Timothy J. Smith and published by CSS Publishing Company. This book was released on 2010 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Christmas Grace" "Second Reading Sermons on Advent/Christmas/Epiphany" Timothy J. Smith In each of Sunday's assigned lectionary readings -- the First, Second, and Gospel lessons -- we are invited to view the glorious narrative of scripture through three different, yet harmonious, perspectives. In the second lesson, we become witnesses to the growth and development of the early church as described in the epistles of Paul and the other apostles. As the early Christians take their first steps in their faith, we too learn how to travel on our own journey with Christ. "Christmas Grace" kicks off the lectionary year in the celebrations of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Smith journeys through the New Testament lessons, offering fresh insight for the twenty-first-century church as they celebrate this time of new beginnings. This collection of sermons is a valuable resource for: Sermon starters and illuminating illustrations Gaining a new homiletical perspective to the lectionary Offering a newer, deeper understanding and appreciation of Scripture Using as a starter for adult Bible study groups or personal devotions This insightful collection of sermons includes: Wake Up Call The Gift that Matters! Divided We Fall ... and many more! Timothy J. Smith is the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Millersville, Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Millersville University (B.A. History/American History) and United Theological Seminary (M.Div.). He has also pastored three other UMC churches in Pennsylvania. He is married with two children, and his interests also include photography.
Download or read book Grace and Peace written by Dean Feldmeyer and published by CSS Publishing Company. This book was released on 2016-09 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Easter may be the highest holy day in the life of the church but in American culture that honor goes to Christmas. Christians often find themselves trying to straddle the divide between Christmas as "Christ Mass" and Christmas as a family gathering and a retail extravaganza. In Grace and Peace, Dean Feldmeyer's latest collection of sermons for Cycle A, the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany are celebrated by acknowledging the secular, cultural parts of the season and, at the same time, they are first and foremost celebrations of God's incarnation in the living Christ. Sermon titles included Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! (Matthew 24:36-44) Less Fear; More Fruit (Matthew 3:1-12) Preparing the Way (Matthew 11:2-11) The New Moses (Matthew 1:18-25) Jesus Incognito (Matthew 25:31-46) Dean Feldmeyer is the author of five novels, two non-fiction books, three plays and over one hundred published articles, short stories, essays and poems. He is also one of the contributing writers for The Immediate Word, a component of CSS's SermonSuite. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Theater, Dean also holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio and has studied classical philosophy at the post graduate level at The University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University. For the past thirty-five years he has been an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. He is currently the pastor of The Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio. He and his wife, Jean (a registered nurse) live in Wilmington and have two adult children.
Book Synopsis Humming Till the Music Returns by : Wayne Brouwer
Download or read book Humming Till the Music Returns written by Wayne Brouwer and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 1999 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One 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) Wayne Brouwer is a graduate of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, and has done graduate study at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Christ Seminary - Seminex, St. Louis, Missouri; and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, where he is working toward his Ph.D. He has served as President of the CRC Publications Board and Vice President of the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Prior to his present position as senior pastor of Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, Brouwer was Assistant Professor of Theology at Redeemer Christian College in Ancaster, Ontario. He also has taught at the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria in Mkar, Nigeria. He has published many books and over 100 articles, devotionals, and sermons.
Book Synopsis Praying for a Whole New World by : William G. Carter
Download or read book Praying for a Whole New World written by William G. Carter and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A 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 seventeen 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! Senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, William G. Carter has received national recognition for his preaching and writing, with sermons and articles appearing in Journal for Preachers, Presbyterian Survey, Preaching, Lectionary Homiletics, The Christian Ministry, and Best Sermons 7. In 1999, he was selected to preach on The Protestant Hour, an international radio ministry that reaches over two million listeners each week. He frequently leads workshops for pastors on homiletical themes and practices. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Carter serves on the seminary's board of trustees. Reverend Carter is also a highly regarded jazz pianist who has studied and performed with such noted artists as Phil Woods and Bob Brookmeyer. He has traveled widely presenting contemporary worship services and frequently weaves his music into his ministry.
Book Synopsis A God for this World by : Maurice A. Fetty
Download or read book A God for this World written by Maurice A. Fetty and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 1999 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With his usual flair and fascinating anecdotes, Fetty presents 16 Gospel-based sermons for the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons. Unforgettable in their power and witness, these messages hold the listener's attention from beginning to end.
Book Synopsis Long Time Coming! by : Stephen M. Crotts
Download or read book Long Time Coming! written by Stephen M. Crotts and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 fourteen sermons based on Old Testament lectionary texts examine how God foretold in Isaiah's prophetic ministry that he would save and redeem humankind. Book jacket.
Book Synopsis Defining Moments by : William L. Self
Download or read book Defining Moments written by William L. Self and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 1999 with total page 121 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 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. William L. Self has a national reputation as a gifted preacher, pastor, author, lecturer, motivational speaker for corporate America, and innovator in church growth. He achieved considerable acclaim during his 26-year pastorate at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. His leadership and substantial influence have brought Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, a burgeoning suburb north of Atlanta, to the vanguard of fast-growing congregations. Dr. Self is a graduate of Stetson University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D.), and Candler School of Theology (S.T.D.). He has received honorary degrees from Stetson University, Mercer University, and Han Yang University in Seoul, Korea. The McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University has established the William L. Self Preaching Lectureship in his honor.
Book Synopsis Holy E-mail by : Dallas A. Brauninger
Download or read book Holy E-mail written by Dallas A. Brauninger and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many 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. Brauninger takes the reader on a spiritual journey from the beginning of Advent through the Transfiguration of our Lord.... This book offers much food for thought as you prepare sermons... not only will your mind be stretched, your soul will be inspired as you read. (from the Introduction) Clarence M. "Clip" Higgins Former Conference Minister, Nebraska and Ohio Conferences United Church of Christ Dallas Brauninger writes with the discernment of a saint and the ear of a poet.... These sermons are a joy to read. They are a joy because they are crafted by one who is a master with language. They are a joy because they track life carefully. They are a joy because they expose deep recesses of the soul that light seldom reaches. They are a joy because they prompt each of us to reflect on our own faith pilgrimage. Most of all, they are a joy because they affirm God who offers joy not just to some, but to all. Dr. George S. Worcester Conference Minister, Nebraska Conference United Church of Christ To me the hallmark of a good sermon has always been the new pathways of thought and insight which it opens up for me long after hearing or reading it. These are GOOD sermons. Rachel S. Scott Bemidji, Minnesota Dallas A. Brauninger, a cum laude graduate of Albion College, received her Master of Divinity degree and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. A full-time writer, she has served churches in Colorado and Nebraska. She and her husband, both ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ, live in Friend, Nebraska.
Book Synopsis You Have Mail from God! by : Harold C. Warlick
Download or read book You Have Mail from God! written by Harold C. Warlick and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bridging the sometimes disparate worlds of prophecy and gospel, Hal Warlick's sermons on texts from the Revised Common Lectionary provide illustrations and themes that will enable preachers and lay leaders to clearly communicate the Christian message. His work is anchored in sound scholarship, yet is written in a flowing, easy-to-understand narrative style that readers will immediately connect with. Most of Warlick's seventeen messages are based on passages from the letters of Paul, and Warlick finds these epistles to be as relevant today as when they were originally written. And since Paul's letters came from someone who daily faced the challenges of running a newly created organization, Warlick believes that they are a valuable resource for modern-day Christians trying to maintain a community of faith in an interconnected and spiritually struggling world. By helping readers to visualize old truths in fresh and exciting ways, this volume makes the sometimes overlooked Second Lesson texts a meaningful resource for the season. The author of thirteen books as well as over thirty articles and sermons in religious journals and publications, Harold C. Warlick Jr. is Professor of Religion and Minister to the University at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. Dr. Warlick has served as both Director of Ministerial Studies and Lecturer in Applied Theology at Harvard Divinity School, and has pastored churches in South Carolina, Texas, and North Carolina. He holds degrees from Furman University (B.A.), Harvard University (S.T.B.), and Vanderbilt University (D.Div.).
Book Synopsis God's New Possibility by : James L. Killen
Download or read book God's New Possibility written by James L. Killen and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We live in a God-invaded world. This simple truth is easy to forget when we peer wide-eyed into a world filled with chaos, terror, and war. But when we embrace the kingdom of God as an ever-present reality, one filled with new possibilities rooted in the good news of Christ, we become molders and shapers of human history. "God's New Possibility" offers a bold invitation to believe and proclaim that God is indeed at work, calling us to participate in His plan of transforming the world. "God's New Possibility" reflects upon the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, unpacking the truths of a divine hope ushered into the world through the infant Christ. In seventeen sermons, James L. Killen Jr. reminds us that we serve a living and breathing God, one who became visible through Jesus and remains tangible through His Church. This is the evidence of a heavenly kingdom manifested through God's all-consuming presence and redemptive call -- a kingdom that offers a "new possibility here for us in each present moment of our lives." The rich narratives of holy love found within the pages of Killen's sermons remain emphatic: God's love is not waiting for us at the borders of heaven; rather, He has already unleashed his redeeming love upon His world, and it is a love that calls all who proclaim His son as Lord and Savior to take an active role in spreading the good news of salvation. James L. (Jim) Killen Jr. is a retired pastor of the United Methodist Church. After a 45-year career, Jim extended his ministry into retirement through prison ministry, interim ministries, teaching, and writing. Jim taught classes in preaching and in Biblical Studies in pastor's schools. He has written several books, including three published by CSS. He is a past contributor to The Immediate Word and other parts of the CSS Publishing online pastor's resource SermonSuite (sermonsuite.com. He holds degrees from the University of Houston (B.S. History and Philosophy) and Perkin's School of Theology at S.M.U. (B.D., D.Min.).
Book Synopsis Hope Beneath the Surface by : Paul E. Robinson
Download or read book Hope Beneath the Surface written by Paul E. Robinson and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On 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 Hosea, 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 York The gripping illustrations in this book are worth the price alone. Paul Robinson has served churches in Basel, Switzerland, and throughout the state of New York. He holds degrees from Lycoming College and Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington DC. He is currently the pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island, New York.
Book Synopsis The Presence in the Promise by : Harry N. Huxhold
Download or read book The Presence in the Promise written by Harry N. Huxhold and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If 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 seventeen 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! Harry N. Huxhold holds an M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary (St. Louis), an M.Th. degree from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, Minnesota), and a D.Min. degree (summa cum laude) from Christian Theological Seminary (Indianapolis). The author of fifteen books of devotional and sermonic materials and over fifty articles in theological journals and religious periodicals, Huxhold currently serves on the pastoral staff at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana.
Book Synopsis The Days are Surely Coming by : Robert A. Hausman
Download or read book The Days are Surely Coming written by Robert A. Hausman and published by CSS Publishing Company. This book was released on 1994 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here are sermons, which I can say proudly are by my pastor, which bury into some of the lectionary's Old Testament texts. They get at them in the context of the message of the whole gospel. They address the issues we face with candor. They will stimulate your imagination and your faith, just as his preaching stimulates those of us in his congregation week by week. Paul Westermeyer Professor of Church Music Luther Seminary St. Paul, Minnesota In Bethlehem the rules are different. We get by giving. We win by losing. We live by dying. These are principles set forth by a God who comes to us, not under Herod's golden crown, but Jesus' thorny crown, not with legions of soldiers, but legions of angels, not in great Jerusalem, but in tiny Bethlehem. Let us begin our journey there. -- from the Advent 3 sermon Robert A. Hausman writes that once again in Advent, we tell Israel's story of hope against hope. We believe the promise of a shoot coming forth from a dead stump, of a king who executes justice. "In faith we are ready to be called by the name, 'The Lord is our righteousness.' We remember not only the promise, but also the fulfillment," says the author. The seventeen sermons in this book are based on the First Lesson texts primarily from Isaiah and Jeremiah. The sermons follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Robert A. Hausman, St. Paul, Minnesota, is pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. In addition to his parish ministry, he has been a campus pastor, a college and seminary professor, and a book editor. He holds a doctorate from the University of Chicago.
Book Synopsis When it is Dark Enough by : Charles H. Bayer
Download or read book When it is Dark Enough written by Charles H. Bayer and published by CSS Publishing Company. This book was released on 1994 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Sermons for the seasons of Advent, Christmas and the Epiphany by : George Robert Gleig
Download or read book Sermons for the seasons of Advent, Christmas and the Epiphany written by George Robert Gleig and published by . This book was released on 1844 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Focus on Jesus written by Derl G. Keefer and published by . This book was released on 2018-08-24 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every time Rev. Derl G. Keefer preaches a Christmas sermon, he asks himself the same question. Why did Jesus come to earth? It's the question that Jesus' earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, must have asked themselves over and over. They struggled to understand why, when he was 12 years old, he would leave their care to join the scholars of the temple. His answer served to refocus his own parents on who he really was."Did you not know," he asked them, "that I must be about my Father's business?" The 15 sermons contained in Focus on Jesus will provide four answers to the question of why he came by revealing the nature of the Father's business as described in the Gospel of Luke: Jesus came to be the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus came to be our Messiah. Jesus came to be our Savior. Jesus came to be the human face of God. This Advent season, utilize Keefer's clear, simple teaching style in Focus on Jesus to help those seeking Jesus understand who he is, and to reignite the passion that first brought members of your congregation into his arms. Rev. Derl Keefer pastored in the Church of the Nazarene for over 30 years. He currently serves as the Adult Development Ministries Coordinator for the Sunday School Ministries department at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center. He received his B.A. in Religion from Southern Nazarene University and his M.Div from Nazarene Theological Seminary. His other books include Let's Get Committed, Wedding Sermons and Marriage Ceremonies, and Open Doors.
Book Synopsis Previews of Coming Attractions by : Ronald J. Lavin
Download or read book Previews of Coming Attractions written by Ronald J. Lavin and published by CSS Publishing Company. This book was released on 1991 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These gospel-centered and grace-filled sermons are affirming of our lives. They are upbeat and positive, cleverly crafted, and written to be spoken and studied.Jerry L. Schmalenberger President, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary In the Old Testament the kingdom of God is a coming attraction with a serendipity beyond our wildest dreams. Foretaste of and readiness for that coming are twin themes of this book. Using Scriptures from nine Old Testament books, Ron Lavin offers 16 sermons to help people make choices about the present and the future. The messages follow the Common Lectionary. Sermon titles include: Preparing The Way -- Malachi 3:1-4 A Mother's Pride And Joy -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20 Anointed -- Isaiah 61:1-4 Dispelling Ministry Illusions -- Jeremiah 1:4-10 Ron Lavin is a popular speaker and prolific writer who served congregations in Indiana, Iowa, Arizona, and California. Membership in his Davenport, Iowa, parish increased by over 2,000, while more than 1,000 new members were baptized during his pastorate in Tucson, Arizona. Ron has written 28 books, including the CSS "Another Look" series: People Who Met Jesus, Abba, Stories to Remember, I Believe; Help My Unbelief, The Big Ten, and Saving Grace.
