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If you're looking for imaginative reflections that take you right to the heart of the scriptures, the newest edition of CSS' popular Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching series is the perfect resource for you.

These prayers for worship, sometimes called The Prayer of the Church or as Intercessions and Prayers of the People will be an integral part of Sunday worship in mainline churches. These prayers are based on the Revised Common Lectionary.

"Looking Into the Lectionary offers biblical commentary on the texts appointed by the Common Lectionary each week. In addition to the commentary six questions, one for each day of the week, invite readers into further study, additional resources, suggested spiritual practices or ways to connect the text to contemporary life. This book invites readers into a study of the Bible not only for the purposes of preaching and teaching, but also for the joy of being surprised by God's living Word that never returns to God empty or leaves readers unchanged"--

"The Christian life is a life of continuing conversion. Baptism may claim us as God's own beloved, but the children of God must grow up and mature. Jesus invites his followers to "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me (Matthew 11:29)." This is a life of ongoing transformation, not merely by our own effort, but by welcoming Christ's Spirit to make us more like him. In every sense, we are Christians who are still becoming Christians. If there was a governing theme for the sermons, that seems to be it. Discipleship is a steady journey through the summer, when most of these lectionary texts are scheduled to be heard. Each text, like each sermon, is episodic. They proceed a step at a time. Yet each is an invitation to follow after Christ and to grow in grace. He is the one who revises our agenda, beckoning us repeatedly, "Come, follow me." So I offer these meditations on scripture as a resource for your spiritual journey.. It's my privilege to share what I have heard the Risen Christ whisper to me through study and prayer, in the grand hope that we might grow in faith, hope, and love. My thanks are offered to the saints of First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, PA, among whom I have served for many years. And I dedicate this volume to a great friend who has been my traveling companion for over three decades"--

"OTHERS Sermons we should be Preaching to Ourselves Cycle A Sermons for Proper 18 -29 Based on the Gospel Texts Proper 18 (23) Matthew 18:15-20 Template for Reconciliation Proper 19 (24) Matthew 18:21-35 The Subject if Forgiveness Proper 20 (25) Matthew 20:1-16 When Payday Comes Proper 21 (26) Matthew 21:23-32 Polite Disobedience Proper 22 (27) Matthew 21:33-46 Speaking of Us Proper 23 (28) Matthew 22:1-14 Welcome to the Party! Proper 24 (29) Matthew 22:15-22 Trick Questions Proper 25 (30) Matthew 22:34-40 & 28:16-20 A Tale of Two Churches Proper 26 (31) Matthew 23:1-12 (Don't) Follow Me! All Saints Day Matthew 5:1-12 Giving Back Proper 27 (32) Matthew 25:1-13 Burning the Midnight Oil Proper 28 (33) Matthew 25:14-30 Investment Choices Reign of Christ - Proper 29 (34) Matthew 25:31-46 Going and Doing Thanksgiving Day Luke 17:11-19 The Ten-Percenters"--

The season of Lent prepares us to be disciples by leading us in a disciplined spiritual life. The season of Easter and the message of the Resurrection inform us as to the meaning of Christianity. The season of Eastertide guides us in the daily living of a Christian life. Ron Love's latest book, What, Then, Would You Be? Second Lesson Sermons for Lent and Easter, Cycle A covers the seasons of Lent, Easter, and Eastertide, actually tracing what it means to be a Christian. This series of sermons is based on the Lectionary readings from the Epistles. The Epistles stand as the most informative biblical passages on being a Christian. The first sermon asks the question "What, then, would you be?" with the remaining sermons wrestling with the answer. Dr. Ronald H. Love has a cosmopolitan work experience having been employed in the church, education, public service, and business. This has exposed him to multiple facets of the human condition, fostering sensitivity and awareness. In his quest for knowledge he has acquired six degrees which include: Bachelor of Arts, Slippery Rock State College; Master of Arts, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Master of Library and Information Science, University of Pittsburgh; Master of Education, Duquesne University; Master of Divinity, Wesley Theological Seminary and Doctor of Ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Dr. Love was called to be a theologian from a career as a Virginia State Trooper. This transition has been the litmus test for all his theological writings, for it made him mindful that biblical interpretation and theological positions must parallel what people experience in daily living. Therefore, his guide is that his theology must be able to dwell on the streets of Page County, where he was assigned as a state trooper, for this is where people live; this is reality. If a theological treatise that he composes cannot live on the streets of Page County then the theology is misguided, for the streets are real. Dr. Love has written for CSS Publishing in Charting the Course, Emphasis, and The Immediate Word.

The Faith of a Skeptic explores the diverse ways in which truth is perceived. Skepticism reminds us that the search for truth is not the same as the search for certainty. Firmly held beliefs can misguide us and impede our acceptance of new information. In Greek philosophy belief was a lower form of knowledge. The book has received praise from a wide audience.Mr. Lentz holds nothing back in sharing his spiritual and social odyssey, illuminating his philosophical insights with graphic portraits of family and friends.F. Gregory Campbell, President Emeritus, Carthage College.We who struggle by the minute with our place and purpose in life will recognize in Tom Lentz the honesty and authenticity of a fellow searcher. For me, these pages resonate with important Truths and speak of a life contemplatively lived. We desperately need the wisdom of such lives in these divided times.Kevin Crosby, Professor of Physics and Computer Science; Director - NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.The first chapter presents a thoughtful and rewarding exploration of the perils of absolutism or unquestioning acceptance in the search for Truth and the need for skepticism in its pursuit.Alexander J. Mezny, Illinois AttorneyTom Lentz has provides an insightful and challenging reflection bringing together scriptural references, ancient commentaries, modern voices and current events to frame a narrative that we should not ignore nor easily discount.David Berger, Ohio MayorThe Faith of a Skeptic is an excellent wakeup call about what is most important in life.Timothy T. Treasure, Principal, SIOR, Treasure and AssociatesThomas Lentz has had a variedcareer in business and the parish ministry. After co-founding a publishing company, he moved to the Virgin Islands where he was employed by the St. Thomas Daily News and established an aerial photography business. Returning to the United States he was CEO of an office products and design company in Ohio. He is chairman and North American division head of the Italian company, Global Display Solutions. He attended Carthage College in Wisconsin, and holds degrees from Wittenberg and Yale Universities.

Americans are mired in idolatry. This is perhaps at no time more evident than during the Christmas season.What idols do we worship? We often point out the consumerism that eclipses the meaning of the holiday, but as Mary Austin points out, there are others that might escape our notice. Perfectionism, that belief that if we can host the perfect holiday party or keep a perfect house, for example;thesefalse gods, we often believe will offer us wholeness. Busy-ness, too, can give us a false sense of worth.These sermons use the words and actions of Paul to call out these false gods, to reveal our idolatry and its cause: our longing for the true source of peace. Once we have determined the cause of our love/hate relationship with the Christmas season, we can begin to pursue the counter-cultural cure. Meeting God at the Mallting God at the Mall shows us there is no obstacle too great to prevent us from finding our way back to the peace we can find only in our loving Savior.Sermons herein include: "Joy on an Elephant" - The story of how Caroline Casey learned to rejoice in disability (Philippians 4:4-7) "The Holy Spirt Brings Everyone to the Party" - The story of a WWII soldier who delivered an enemy flag back to its home (Acts 8:14-17) "Nose Hairs and Disney" - The story of an adopted girl who found belonging in her new family (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)Mary Austin is Pastor and Head of Staff at Westminster Church of Detroit, her most recent position in more than two decades of professional ministry with a focus on bereavement. She holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Austin's previous work can be found in several blogs, and previous publications such asCall to Worship, a publication of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and Bereavement Magazine. Austin is also a regular contributor for The Immediate Word, an online sermon site from CSS Publishing Company. She lives with her husband Carl Smith. They have one adult daughter, Lucy.

How are we to respond when the violent storm of change rolls into our lives?Should we hide from the storm? Hide in the status quo?As this volume of sermons reminds us, that is not the way of the Christ.Followers of Jesus are called to believe that our greatest treasure ought not be found in the comfort of worldly life as we make it. The Lord calls us instead to step outside and face the coming storm, as he did.When we do, we face all manner of fears in a world that does not like its order challenged. Mockery when we follow God; poverty when we stop worshipping money; grief when we are vulnerable enough to love the oppressed.Shouting Joy to the Storm reminds us that, just as the Father partnered with the Son to bring him through the storm of Calvary, so he will bring us through our storms. We are not in this for a mere lifetime. We are in it for the long haul."They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid (Ezekiel 34:28, ESV)."Sermons include: Long View - The Long Haul(Luke 13:31-35) What Is Truth? (John 18:1-19, 42) Death Shall Be No More (John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6)Schuyler Rhodes is the pastor of Temple United Methodist Church in San Francisco, California. He previously pastored Washington Square United Methodist Church in New York City, and served as executive director and campus pastor for the Wesley Foundation, a broad-based campus ministry at the University of California (Berkeley). Rhodes' commitment to social justice and peace has taken him around the globe. Over the last decade, he has traveled to more than a dozen countries, serving as a delegate to several consultations of the World Council of Churches, as the secretary of the Social and International Affairs Committee of the World Methodist Council, and as the chair of the board of directors for Pastors for Peace and the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organizing. He has also been a consultant on Peace and Justice Ministries for the Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries, developing liturgical and training materials as well as representing the General Board at numerous national and international gatherings. A prolific writer, Rhodes is an honors graduate of Drew University Theological School (M.Div.) and the State University of New York at Potsdam (B.A.).

Storytellers who excel at their craft can draw readers or listeners into the worlds they create, using characters and situations to entertain and enlighten us. Jesus, the Master Storyteller, often spoke using parables -- short stories that conveyed spiritual truths. By drawing his listeners into his stories, he unlocked their minds and hearts to hear the truth he was relating to them.Asked about his style and direction when authoring this book, Keith Hewitt said, "I thought it would be interesting to look at the Biblical passages from a slightly different angle than we might normally see them. Some of the stories are set in the time and place of the passage, others are set in different periods, using different characters--but in all of them I try to humanize the events so that the reader can sense that they're happening to real people. I think this can help them to connect to the meaning of the story." Some of the stories can easily be adapted as vignettes or monologues, to be performed during worship. Depending upon the age of the students, other stories could be used in Sunday School as alternative texts to get students thinking about a particular passage in different ways.This book may be used for: Preaching illustrations Sermon starters Stand-alone sermons Teaching aids Inspirational devotional readingKeith Hewitt has a wide variety of experience. Prior to pastoring United Methodist congregations in Wisconsin, he was employed in various capacities at Underwriters Laboratories and several social service agencies.Hewitt holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay and completed Local Pastor Licensing School through the Illinois Great Rivers Conference at Illinois Wesleyan University. He continues his theological studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of three volumes of NaTiVity Dramas (CSS Publishing), Krasnodar Means Beautiful Gift (Kindle Direct Publishing) and has contributed to StoryShare, a component of the online resource SermonSuite (CSS Publishing). He is married to Rachel, an elementary teacher and is the father of Cameron Lucille Hewitt and Andrew Courtland Alexandrovich Hewitt.

It is often challenging to discuss with new believers - or even seasoned believers - the meatiest parts of Christian theology. You can't exactly answer these questions in the course of an elevator ride."What is the Holy Spirit? How does it work?""What does it mean for God to be in three persons?""Are demons really in the world? What are Christians supposed to do about demon possession?"Dave Zuchelli draws from the Gospels of Luke and John to give you tools to wrestle with these questions. Whether from the pulpit, in a small group or personal conversation, the sermons inWatch This!remind us to enter into discussion with humility. To sit with our guests at the last seat at the table.The Lord will meet you there.Sermons include: Show Us The Father(John 14:8-17, 25-27) I've Come To Bring Fire (Luke 12:49-56) Watch This! (Luke 14:1, 7-14) Dave Zuchelliwas a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 37 years. He is now an author, blogger and speaker. He earned his Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1985. Previous publications include The Last Wedding (2015) and Sermons for the Harried Preacher (2016). Dave rides a Harley Davidson (2003 Softail Deuce), roots for the Pittsburgh Pirates and describes himself as a "frustrated musician" who plays acoustic guitar and electronic keyboards. He and his wife Denise live in Virginia.

"Go against the grain."This is what Mark Ellingsen wants your church to hear in A Rebellious Faith. It isn't merely odd or contradictory in the eyes of the world to live a Christian life. It is offensive.To go against the grain - by discounting our accomplishments, carrying no shame in the light of grace, considering no one outside of God's love - is to sometimes make people who worship hard work, the quest for perfection and exceptionalism deeply uncomfortable.And that is a very good thing.Ellingsen begins with the irrevocable truth that the ashes we put on our living bodies at the beginning of the Lenten season represent the death we all deserve. From there, he leads your congregation through the brazenly offensive, un-American ideas presented in the New Testament.Confession does not shame and isolate us, it liberates us. Bearing the cross of our sin is not a burden, but a blessing in the knowledge the Lord has paid the ultimate price for our sin. The Resurrection does not make anyone exceptional. It unites us all whether or not we are ready to enter Heaven together.A Rebellious Faith reminds us thatthe war is already won, and we are to live as brave sinners whose Savior cannot be overcome.Sermons include: Lent 1: "A Protestant (and Catholic) Way to Confess" (Romans 10:8b-13) Good Friday: "Look What Happened on the Cross! God Burns Away All Our Pettiness" (Hebrews 10:16-25) Easter: "Easter Makes Us One!" (Acts 10:34-43) The Ascension of Our Lord: "The Triumph of God's Grace" (Ephesians 1:15-23) Mark Ellingsen, a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), has been a professor of Church History at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, since 1993. He graduated magna cum laude from Gettysburg College (Pennsylvania) and Yale University, from which he received three master's degrees in divinity, arts, and philosophy, as well as his Ph.D. He has authored eighteen books including Sin Bravely: A Joyful Alternative to a Purpose-Driven Life (Continuum) and The Integrity of Biblical Narrative (Wipf and Stock). He and his wife have three grown children. When he is not writing or teaching, Ellingsen enjoys discussing politics, sports, and playing guitar.

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.

Do you serve people who feel like underdogs?The story of Jesus' last days on Earth, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, provide some of the New Testament's most powerful inspiration for the "underdogs" among us.Richard A. Hasler draws from a deep well of modern-era stories to illustrate Jesus' words of comfort and hope to people who seemed foolish, destined to lose in life.Learn how Albert Schweitzer "wasted" his gifts to become a missionary to equatorial Africa; how Feodor Dostoevsky depended on the grace of God to create beautiful work out of a broken life; how one young believer ministered to a woman living with a family of Satanists in an unlikely place; and more.These 12 sermons included in The Last Days reminds us we have the strength to serve, persevere and trust in Jesus Christ, even when doing so looks foolish, because we follow the king of underdogs … until the last days and forevermore.Sermons include: The Joy of Being Found(Luke 15:1-10) Do You See Lazarus on Your Doorstep? (Luke 16:19-31) Are We Living in the Last Days? (Luke 21:5-19) Richard A. Hasler is a retired pastor for the Presbyterian Church (USA). He was educated at Houghton College in New York (B.A.), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), the University of Pennsylvania (American History), and the Hartford Seminary Foundation (Church History). In over fifty years of ordained ministry, Hasler pastored Presbyterian and UCC congregations in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and Ohio. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, with his wife. Together they have two grown children. His many hobbies include reading, walking, sports, and world traveling.

When members of the church experience loss, it can be difficult for pastors to discern how best to care for them. What can spiritual leaders expect in the grief process? What are we to do, to say, to journey with those who have experienced loss? What mistakes might we make that do more harm than good?In Navigating the River of Grief, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates shares the results of her important research into the grief process. Her concept of grief as a river is inspired by several biblical references to water, both its ability to threaten and give life. Bates uses case studies to present grief not as the neat linear progression of stages we'd like it to be; rather, it is a river that sweeps the bereaved along in unpredictable ways. Its choppy waters cause pain and its depths are menacing, but when we understand the flow of its currentas a spiritual journey we can better help the bereaved navigate toward new life.Navigating the River of Griefprovides pastors with invaluable resources when providing grief ministry: Evidence-based best practices for spiritual counseling Case studies to provide context Guidance on the use of specific scriptures Explorations of theological conflicts Together with the Bible itself, Navigating the River of Grief will inform your ministry with spiritual truth about those hours between the night of weeping and the joy the Lord brings in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Rev. Dr. Bonnie Batesis currently serving in the United Church of Christ as the Associate Minister for Congregational Vitality and Development in the Eastern Ohio and Western Reserve Associations of the Ohio Conference. Her 12 years as a local church pastor informs her current work. Bates' background, prior to her call to ordained ministry, involves extensive work in the management of non-profit organizations including the Girl Scouts and the Al Sigl Center. Her educational background includes a BA in Organization Management, a MA in Human Resource Development, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the creation of the model which is the basis for this book.

One of the insights of people of faith is that God is active in history as he seeks to bring creation into conformity with his purpose. There have been those in every age who have discovered something of God's purpose and have attempted to pass it on. Sometimes, God's activity has been reported in supernatural terms, but fully as often, the activity of God is revealed in the faithful actions of human beings. For that reason, the Old and New Testaments are filled with the experiences of individuals who have discovered God's presence in their individual circumstances. David Rogne's So Great A Cloud of Witnesses will give readers an appreciation for the people of faith who are presented, and humbly recognize the cost borne by so many to deliver the faith to us. They are a great cloud of witnesses. They have played their part in relaying the faith to subsequent generations, and they are now filling the stands in the heavenly arena, eager to see how we continue the race. Witnesses have been chosen from varied backgrounds so that it may be seen that people from all walks of life are called to live faithfully and to witness to God's truth. The entire known story of some of these individuals, such as Joseph, the husband of Mary, may be just a few verses of Scripture. Some, such as the Wiseman and the Emmaus disciple, are not even named. Nevertheless, their witness is important. Rogne attempts to give life to the testimony of these less-well-known witnesses by giving them names and employing a little imagination. In every case, the subjects tell their stories as they might have experienced them. Chapters included in this book: The Supplanter: Jacob My House Will Serve the Lord: Joshua The Sword of the Lord: Gideon The Outsider: Ruth and Boaz The Sweet Singer of Israel: David This book may be used for: Group study Private devotionals Monologues Sermon series David G. Rogne served as senior minister at a number of United Methodist congregations in southern California for 39 years. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Rogne received his M.Div. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and his D.Min. degree from the Claremont School of Theology, where his doctoral project involved first-person preaching. Rogne currently writes, lectures, and preaches on special occasions and is a resident of South Carolina. He is also the author of All About the Kingdom, Telling It Like It Was, Let Me Tell You… (CSS), and also a collaborator on Sermons on the Gospel Readings, Series I, Cycle B.

Do church bulletin boards have to be dull and boring? Not if you have Creative Church Bulletin Boards in hand! The uplifting, thought-provoking theme messages presented in this practical how-to guide will both educate and entertain your entire congregation. Capturing the attention of media-jaded children - and adults - is much easier when the message of our faith is displayed in eye-catching splashes of color and design, rather than in faded construction paper or dry memos. Packed with unique design ideas that will spark your creativity, Creative Church Bulletin Boards offers plenty of specific advice on shopping for supplies and keeping expenses within a limited budget, as well as detailed directions for using a wide variety of non-conventional tools to mount interesting items. You'll learn how to put together attractive displays that reinforce Christian teachings on subjects such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, and caring. Material appropriate for both general use and specific seasons throughout the year is provided, with plenty of possible slogans or phrases for you to choose from. And to help you get started, each grouping includes a thorough discussion of one example along with a picture and explicit step-by-step instructions for assembling the board. Creative Church Bulletin Boards gives you everything you need to put a powerful but often overlooked evangelism tool to work in your church! This book is the launching point for rediscovering the importance of the time-honored, non-electron-based truth that bulletin boards can help us relate God's message in new ways. What hope and joy to enter the church building and find there a bulletin board catching the eye with beauty, humor, and creativity, warming the heart with a sign of God's love and connection. A creative bulletin board may not get people in the building, but it can help keep them coming once they are there. June Stitzinger-Clark Pastor, Christ United Methodist Church Lakewood, New Jersey Disaster Response Coordinator, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Rosalind M. Townley lives in Wenonah, New Jersey, where she is an active member of Wenonah United Methodist Church. She is a former schoolteacher and a graduate of Lycoming College. About the Author June Stitzinger-Clark Pastor, Christ United Methodist Church Lakewood, New Jersey Disaster Response Coordinator, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference Rosalind M. Townley lives in Wenonah, New Jersey, where she is an active member of Wenonah United Methodist Church. She is a former schoolteacher and a graduate of Lycoming College.

The 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. Thomas A. Renquist is a graduate of the University of Iowa (B.A.) and Yale University (M.Div.). He is currently pastor of Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Aurora, Colorado. The author of What Grace They Received(CSS), Renquist is one of 60 pastor/theologians selected by the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey, for three years of study and conversation concerning the church's current theological crisis.