Download or read book Lectionary Preaching Workbook written by Russell F. Anderson and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 1995 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bigger, stronger, better! Russell Anderson has taken the most original and successful lectionary resource in history and improved on it. He has kept all of the traditional features that have made it a classic, such as: overviews of each liturgical season, commentaries compatible with the Revised Common and Roman Catholic lectionaries (plus Lutheran and Episcopal lections for those gradually converting to the Revised Common Lectionary), an introduction to the featured Gospel narrator (Matthew, in Cycle A), theological reflections for exploring the relationships between the texts, and wide margins for note-taking. Instead of stopping there, though, he has added: a 7" x 10" one-size-fits-all format, a suggested sermon title for each week, a Sermon Angle that briefly explicates the theological theme for the day (sometimes providing two or three of them), and illustrative stories in each chapter. Contained are crisp, tightly written lectionary helps that zero in on the critical themes of the texts, augmented with illustrative materials. The Prayer of the Day suggestions summarize and apply the themes in helpful language. The Reverend Dr. Dennis Anderson President, Trinity Lutheran Seminary Pastor Anderson's ability to relate eternal truths in the language of our 20th century society will enable those informed by his writings to communicate the TRUTH in a way that will gain attention and guide the living of life. The Reverend Dr. Reuben T. Swanson Former Bishop, Nebraska Synod, Lutheran Church in America Former Secretary, Evangelical Church in America Russell F. Anderson is pastor at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his master of divinity degree from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and his doctor of ministry degree from McCormick Theological School in Chicago. He has published his own worship and homiletical resources under the banner "Worship Windows." He is married and the father of two grown daughters.

Download or read book Lectionary Preaching Workbook written by John R. Brokhoff and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 1993 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lectionary Preaching Workbook written by Jerry L. Schmalenberger and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a fresh, timely reflection every week on assigned scripture passages can be one of a pastor's most daunting tasks. But when time or inspiration is flagging and you need the jump-start of creative ideas, the latest edition of the classic CSS resource Lectionary Preaching Workbook is just what the doctor ordered! Prominent pastor, former seminary president, and prolific author Jerry Schmalenberger draws upon the experiences of a lifetime in the ministry to help readers effectively share God's word with crisply written insights. He's created an outstanding set of practical aids to help preachers with their weekly sermons. Each chapter includes: - a listing of the applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts; - a theme for the day's service; - commentary on the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel lessons; - suggestions on preaching possibilities; - an outline of possible sermon moves; and - additional illustrations to flesh out the message. Recently retired as the president of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, Jerry L. Schmalenberger served some of the largest Lutheran congregations in the United States during 29 years as a parish pastor. A graduate of Wittenberg University and Hamma School of Theology in Springfield, Ohio (where he received his D.Min. degree), Schmalenberger was awarded an honorary D.Div. degree by Wittenberg. Schmalenberger, who continues to teach parish ministry at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, has also taught speech and communication at Urbana College and Wittenberg University. As a Global Mission Volunteer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he now preaches and teaches throughout the world, appearing in such varied locations as Germany, Jamaica, Argentina, Uruguay, Suriname, Liberia, Indonesia, and China. His most recent teaching stint was at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong.

Download or read book The Revised Common Lectionary written by Consultation On Common Texts and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2010-10-01 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic and authoritative volume contains the complete three-year listing of the Revised Common Lectionary (Years A, B, and C) to guide preaching and Scripture reading on the Lord’s Day. Abingdon Press. Also included are an introduction explaining the nature and uses of lectionaries and a brief history of the Consultation on Common Texts.

Download or read book Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series II written by Perry H. Biddle and published by CSS Publishing Company. This book was released on 1987 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lamb Special Gift Ed written by Christopher Moore and published by William Morrow. This book was released on 2007-10-23 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have read—and reread—Christopher Moore's irreverent, iconoclastic, and divinely funny tale of the early life of Jesus Christ as witnessed by his boyhood pal Levi bar Alphaeus (a.k.a. Biff). Now, in this special (check out the cool red ribbon marker, gilt-edged pages, and gold lettering) gift edition of Christopher Moore's bestselling Lamb, you, too, can find out what really happened between the manger and the Sermon on the Mount. And, in a new afterword written expressly for this edition, Christopher Moore addresses some of the most frequently asked questions he's received from readers since Lamb's initial publication, about the book and himself. Fresh, funny, poignant, and wise, this special gift edition of Lamb is cause for rejoicing among readers everywhere.

Download or read book Rhetoric Religion and the Civil Rights Movement 1954 1965 written by Davis W. Houck and published by Baylor University Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 1013 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: V.2: Building upon their critically acclaimed first volume, Davis W. Houck and David E. Dixon's new Rhetoric, Religion, and the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1965 is a recovery project of enormous proportions. Houck and Dixon have again combed church archives, government documents, university libraries, and private collections in pursuit of the civil rights movement's long-buried eloquence. Their new work presents fifty new speeches and sermons delivered by both famed leaders and little-known civil rights activists on national stages and in quiet shacks. The speeches carry novel insights into the ways in which individuals and communities utilized religious rhetoric to upset the racial status quo in divided America during the civil rights era. Houck and Dixon's work illustrates again how a movement so prominent in historical scholarship still has much to teach us. (Publisher).

Download or read book The Home Stretch written by Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier believes that our contemporary world desperately needs to hear the central message of the final chapters of Matthew's gospel. In this wonderful sermon series based on Cycle A lectionary gospel texts, Dreier deftly uses clear examples to shed light on the biblical text. Her focus is on Jesus' call to serve while at the same time keeping our vision on the promised fulfillment. Like Matthew's community, today's church also needs an active faith that is rooted not only in the here and now, but also the parousia. Readers will discover that Dreier's insight into these readings makes the scriptures understandable and relevant to modern Christians -- she has a flair for communicating the gospel to the everyday person in the pew. Pastor Mary Sue Dreier is a preacher who preaches up on her toes, not from her heels. She hits the biblical texts straight on, and it results in a hands-on experience with God. She preaches to all, and her words confront and inspire. Her parishioners know from her preaching what they are called to do. You will be convicted of your failures in your life of discipleship, but her declaration of God's grace enables her hearers to act in this world as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It has been a joy for me to follow Pastor Dreier's growth as a pastor and proclaimer of the gospel. She is a committed disciple of Jesus Christ and a gifted proclaimer of God's word. Glenn W. Nycklemoe Bishop, Southeastern Minnesota Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Pastor Mary Sue Dreier has a wonderful talent for taking a Bible passage we've all heard a hundred times and making it come alive through detailed personal stories. Her sermons help me understand what the Gospel means to me today and what I can do about it -- how God is calling me to a life of Christian servanthood. Kathleen Creager Rochester, Minnesota Along with her husband Gary, Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier is the co-pastor and mission developer of People of Hope, A Lutheran Church in Mission (ELCA) in Rochester, Minnesota. Active in their synod, the Dreiers have also served two other Minnesota congregations. Mary Sue is a graduate of Valparaiso University (B.A.) and Luther Seminary (M.Div.).

Download or read book Questions of Faith written by Marilyn Saure Breckenridge and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The lectionary passages from the Gospel of Matthew for the middle section of the Pentecost season raise many difficult questions of faith for modern Christians. In eleven eloquent and well-illustrated messages, Marilyn Saure Breckenridge examines these questions and searches for relevant answers. She notes that while these texts confront us with our human limitations, they also demonstrate how God's grace embraces us. Her ability to combine the scripture with contemporary applications makes these inspiring examples of the art of preaching at its finest. Sermon titles include: - What Is Priceless? (Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52) - Are You A Risk Taker? (Matthew 14:22-33) - Who Is Jesus To You? (Matthew 16:13-20) - Is Big Brother Watching You? (Matthew 18:15-20) - Why Doesn't God Do Something? (Matthew 21:33-46) Marilyn Saure Breckenridge is the senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Wadena, Minnesota. She has also served as assistant to the bishop of the ELCA's Saint Paul Area Synod, and as associate pastor at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis. Breckenridge had the honor of being the Minnesota Senate Chaplain for 1995 and 1996. She is a graduate of Augsburg College (B.A.), Hartford Seminary (M.A. in Christian Education), and Luther Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.). In 1994 Augsburg College named Breckenridge a Distinguished Alumna. She has also penned an Advent family activity book (Jesse Tree Devotions), two Bible studies on Philippians, and numerous articles for church magazines.

Download or read book What If What They Say Is True written by John W. Wurster and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since much of the prophetic literature of the Old Testament is distant and difficult, preachers often neglect it in favor of more direct and easy-to-preach New Testament passages. But John Wurster maintains that for those willing to look a little more closely, these texts from the Revised Common Lectionary offer interesting and rich homiletical possibilities. His sermons listen to those ancient preachers and produce a fresh harvest of meaning for our time. They are full of penetrating insights that will be useful for sermon preparation or for study groups working on these often overlooked texts. These thoughtful sermons on the great prophetic texts bring the message of the prophets home to our own time. John Wurster is faithful to the biblical word, unflinching in his critique of our culture, and unceasing in his proclamation of the true word of hope. Thomas G. Long F.L. Patton Professor of Preaching and Worship Princeton Theological Seminary John Wurster's sermons give new and surprisingly fresh life to the ancient and sometimes jagged words of the Old Testament prophets. Wurster is true to the biblical texts and to the lived realities of everyday life. These are well-honed sermons about large issues -- life and death, God and grace, conflicts and questions, love and faithfulness, heaven and earth. Read them, meditate on them, and let God touch your soul. Dennis T. Olson Associate Professor of Old Testament Princeton Theological Seminary John W. Wurster is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (summa cum laude) and Princeton Theological Seminary. Currently the associate pastor of Market Street Presbyterian Church in Lima, Ohio, Wurster is also a D.Min. candidate at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has previously served congregations in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Download or read book Don t Forget This written by Robert R. Kopp and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a time when many mainline churches are experiencing ecclesiastical and theological anarchy, Robert Kopp explores the timeless and life-changing truths of the gospel in 11 powerful and effective messages based on Second Lesson passages from the Revised Common Lectionary. Book jacket.

Download or read book na written by and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Distinctively Different written by Gary L. Carver and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Be like me! While many parents and leaders are understandably hesitant to utter such words, they are vitally needed today in a world where positive role models are often few and far between. Yet in these Cycle A epistle texts, the Apostle Paul is not bashful about challenging Christians to follow his example and live distinctively different lives -- lives that reflect the image of the risen Christ. Gary Carver shares that vision, and these outstanding messages lay out for readers the belief that we can grow every day to be more like Jesus. Gary Carver preaches at a way station on an ancient pilgrim road, offering comfort and hope to the weary traveler.... In these compelling sermons, Gary preaches to the mixed band of pilgrims jostling our way along toward the goal of spiritual discovery, and he speaks to our fears and doubts, our longings and our need, and most of all to our hunger to be closer to one whose presence forms the end of our restless trek.... Read these wonderful sermons and enjoy them. But, more important, read these sermons and take courage as you move faithfully along the pilgrim way. (from the Foreword) Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology, Emory University Someone has said that preaching is presenting the gospel through human personality. In this collection of well-crafted lectionary sermons, Gary Carver has ably presented the gospel -- his personality is evident in the richness of examples and illustrations. June McEwen Chair, Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs Washington DC Distinctively Different is a very contemporary collection of spirited and spiritual reflections. In a quiet dialogue with Gary Carver, you are invited to revive your theological commitments, reflect on difficult questions, and renew your faith perspective. Share these motivational and innovative thoughts with your Bible study or your prayer group. Claudia Highbaugh Chaplain Harvard Divinity School Preaching effectively to the same people week after week is one of the great challenges in Christian ministry. Gary Carver shows how it is done: biblical exposition, effective illustration, and relevant application. The power of these messages is that intellectual integrity is matched with passion. Daniel Vestal Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Atlanta, Georgia You simply must read Gary Carver's book! If you want to meet Paul in the street and not just in the sanctuary, read this book. If you want to see that Paul's insights are more contemporary than this morning's newspaper, read this book. If you want your spirit refreshed and your soul uplifted, read this book. Give yourself a break today, read this book! Buckner Fanning Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church San Antonio, Texas Gary L. Carver is pastor of First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has also served as pastor of churches in Alabama and Indiana. Carver is a graduate of Samford University (B.A.) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.), and has done additional graduate study at Candler School of Theology and Harvard Divinity School. He has been widely published in a variety of church and clergy publications, and is the author of Acting on the Absurd and Out From the Ordinary (CSS).

Download or read book A Hope that Does Not Disappoint written by Billy D. Strayhorn and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a world filled with disappointments, where many people have lost any sense of hope and purpose, Billy Strayhorn reminds readers that Jesus Christ is the hope that does not disappoint. And noting that hope and faith go hand in hand, his messages point the way toward a life filled with hope and possibilities through faith in God. Strayhorn's sermons explore second lesson passages from the Revised Common Lectionary (many drawn from Paul's letters) for Pentecost and the weeks immediately following. And Pentecost is an apt focus -- as the church's "birthday," it is the day that the hopes and dreams of Jesus' disciples and followers began to take shape. While pastors will find in these hope-filled pages a jumping-off place for their own sermons, anyone who wants a closer relationship with God will benefit from this inspiring and uplifting volume. Titles include: - Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered -- Acts 2:1-21 - A Hope That Does Not Disappoint -- Romans 5:1-5 - Born And Called -- Galatians 1:11-24 - Bear One Another's Burdens -- Galatians 6: (1-6) 7-16 - Get Your Transfer Here -- Colossians 1:1-14 ... and more! Billy D. Strayhorn is a graduate of Central Methodist College (Fayette, Missouri) and Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He has pastored many congregations in Texas and Missouri, and now serves at First United Methodist Church in Joshua, Texas. Strayhorn's sermons and sermon briefs have been featured in several outlets, including Dynamic Preaching and Preaching magazines as well as the Abingdon Preaching Annual.

Download or read book Acting on the Absurd written by Gary L. Carver and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Packed full of stories about the human condition, this book of insightful sermons based largely on texts from Paul'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! Gary Carver moves beyond those who find Paul's words to be complex and rigid. He gives to us examples in which Paul's timeless and deep theological concepts are used to address the struggles of contemporary Christians sensitively.... From teenage athletes to contacts in Alcoholics Anonymous to couples struggling with marriage and a host of other human experiences, Carver profoundly recalls experiences that illustrate Paul's insistence that one can experience a changed life in Christ. (from the Foreword) Harold C. Warlick Jr. Professor of Religion and Minister to the University High Point University With a scholarly understanding of the Pauline writings, Gary Carver uses his masterful skills as a storyteller to bring the biblical accounts to life. His treatment of each passage is brought to a climax with probing ethical insight and deeply moving personal application. Both laypersons and preachers will benefit greatly from a reading of these prophetic sermons laced with marvelous illustrations. Thomas H. Graves President, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond To experience the preaching of Gary Carver is to find oneself in a gallery of living illustrations, all pointing to Jesus Christ. No cookie-cutter preacher, this gifted communicator is endowed both with uncommon insight into the human predicament and God's absurdly fetching grace. Read this book and discover God's spirit calling you to a more meaningful, involved following of Jesus. Timothy L. Owings Pastor, First Baptist Church Augusta, Georgia Gary Carver has a vivid sense of the wonder God creates in everyday life, and he has a keen eye for the human condition.... His insight into the Bible and into the heart of its stories always finds the underlying story of hope, even in the most hopeless-looking of situations. His discoveries, then, make it seem quite natural and sensible to "act on the absurd." Dudley Rose Director of Field Education Harvard Divinity School Gary L. Carver is pastor of First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has also served as pastor of churches in Alabama and Indiana. Carver is a graduate of Samford University (B.A.) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.) and has done additional graduate study at Candler School of Theology and Harvard Divinity School. He has been widely published in a variety of church and clergy publications, and is the author of Distinctively Different and Out From the Ordinary (CSS).

Download or read book A Call to Love written by Tom M. Garrison and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 2001-04 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some things can come only when the Spirit takes over and somehow we become what we never thought we could be, because the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. There are occasions when those sighs come to the surface and we know that God has taken our hearts to places we did not know could exist. -- from Proper 12 sermon, "Strength Out of Weakness" Through fascinating anecdotes and stories drawn from his wide-ranging ministerial experience, Tom Garrison applies epistle readings from the Revised Common Lectionary to contemporary life. His powerful and insightful messages proclaim the good news, trumpeting God's amazing and unconditional love for us while reciting countless examples of how we can reflect that love in our everyday lives. His illustrations have a folksy charm, and readers will discover that the sermons of this veteran preacher provide plenty of nourishing food for thought. Sermon titles include: * The Pain of Caring (Romans 9:1-5) * A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-8) * Who Am I to Judge Another? (Romans 14:1-12) * Living on the Edge (Philippians 1:21-30) Tom M. Garrison is the senior pastor of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He has also served as pastor of congregations in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nova Scotia (Canada). Garrison is a graduate of Alabama Christian College (B.A.), Southern Christian University (M.A. and M.Div.), and Columbia Theological Seminary (D.Min.). Additional graduate study has included independent preaching study with Fred Craddock. Garrison has taught ministry and homiletics at Southern Christian University (Montgomery, Alabama) and Atlantic School of Theology (Halifax, Nova Scotia).

Download or read book Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series VI Cycle C written by E. Carver McGriff and published by CSS Publishing. This book was released on 1998 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Preachers must understand the teaching techniques of parable and hyperbole, not to mention having a good background in systematic theology, in order to understand what the Bible's writers really meant.... But our responsibility is also to reduce the complexities of Bible study to such simplicities that our many listeners, ranging from busy young professional people to aging men and women of failing health to youngsters facing a variety of new temptations, can take away a saving word. (from the Preface) E. Carver McGriff provides the tools preachers need for their daunting task with some of the most timely and thought-provoking research on the lectionary texts ever made available. Included for each scriptural lesson in the lectionary are: - A listing of the applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts. - A description of the Psalm of the day. - A prayer for the day. - Commentary that is more than academic exegesis -- McGriff brings to the forefront those points in the lessons that relate most poignantly to our contemporary reality. - Suggested sermon titles for each of the three texts for each Sunday. - Themes and suggested directions for preaching on each text. - Several additional illustrations to enliven your preaching. Known in the Indianapolis community as a preacher with extraordinary gifts, it is no surprise at all that this work by Carver McGriff brings remarkable insights to those who look for integrity in their preaching. Carver looks at the texts with a freshness that is sure to stimulate the thought process.... Careful use of these suggestions will bring serendipities to preacher and congregation. George H. Tooze Senior Minister, First Baptist Church Indianapolis, Indiana One of America's premiere preachers, E. Carver McGriff returned home after earning two Purple Hearts during World War II to earn a degree in business administration from Butler University. Following a career as a salesman and business owner, McGriff entered Garrett Theological Seminary, where he was voted Best Preacher by the faculty and graduated with distinction. During his 26-year ministry at St. Luke's Methodist Church in Indianapolis, McGriff spearheaded his congregation's remarkable growth in membership from 900 to 4,400, with average Sunday attendance increasing from 300 to over 1,850. McGriff received an honorary degree from the University of Indianapolis and the Outstanding Alumnus award from Butler University and was voted the Distinguished Alumnus of the year by Christian Theological Seminary. McGriff was also honored in 1993 by the Governor of Indiana with the "Sagamore of the Wabash." His sermons have been distributed nationwide by the United Methodist Publishing House.