Whether you pick up this book as relaxed devotional reading or are searching for a last-minute sermon illustration, you'll be delighted with the imaginative and inspirational stories in the newest installment in CSS' popular Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit series. David Leininger takes you right to the heart of the scriptures with a rich variety of captivating material illustrating Cycle A lectionary texts. His thought-provoking reflections are certain to enrich your spiritual life -- and point out the myriad ways in which God is at work in our daily lives. This volume is sure to become a favorite resource for pastors and laypersons alike. Some of the intriguing chapters are: - The Quintessential Evangelist - What Boggles Your Mind? - Who Woulda Thunk It? - The Blame Game - Under the Rainbow - How Not To Be the Father of the Year - The Bush Is Still Burning - Leaping Lepers David E. Leininger is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Warren, Pennsylvania. He has also served congregations in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Prior to entering the ministry, Leininger worked for almost 20 years in radio and television. Leininger's sermons have appeared in the Best Sermons 4 anthology (Harper-Collins), and he has been a contributor to the online services StoryShare and The Immediate Word (www.sermonsuite.com). He is the author of A Color-Blind Church (CSS), an intriguing account of the attempted merger of two congregations -- one black, one white -- in a small community following the reunion of the northern and southern streams of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1983. Leininger is a graduate of Edison State University, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, and Erskine Theological Seminary.

Jesus considered stories to be an essential teaching tool -- his preaching was filled with stories, and he used parables because he knew that people could relate to them. So if you're looking for a well-told, imaginative, and inspirational story that will take you right to the heart of the scriptures, the newest edition of CSS' popular Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit series is just the resource you need. Gregory Tolle draws on his gift of storytelling to illustrate Cycle A lectionary texts with thought-provoking, modern parables. This book is not only great for memorable preaching illustrations and "sermon starters" -- it's also a wonderful source for uplifting devotional reading. Greg Tolle offers contemporary and insightful illustrations -- as fresh as the morning's newspaper -- to bring the biblical message to life. Used to supplement lectionary sermons or to spark spiritual and homiletic creativity, Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit will enhance every minister's library. I highly recommend this book to anyone who endeavors to preach relevant sermons that people will remember for a long time to come. William G. Grice III Pastor, First Congregational Church (UCC) Des Plaines, Illinois These stories remind us that God's grace is always in our midst, working through both the common and everyday and through the profound and extraordinary encounters of our lives. The gospel is a profoundly personal encounter with God's grace, and the gospel shines through in these pages. Rev. Tolle's reflections are a testimony to the love of Christ in our midst, even in those experiences when we might least expect to find it. Mark Y. A. Davies Dean, Wimberly School of Religion and Graduate Theological Center Oklahoma City University Grounded in real human experience, Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit is insightful reading that helps bring the biblical witness to light week after week. It's a wonderful devotional guide for thoughtful Christians of any persuasion, even the occasional preacher who happens to be in a "homiletic drought." William E. LaBarr Senior Pastor, Lake Cities United Methodist Church Lake Dallas, Texas Gregory L. Tolle is the senior minister at First United Methodist Church in Heavener, Oklahoma. A graduate of Oklahoma City University (B.A. in Religion) and Texas Christian University (M.Div.), Tolle has had numerous articles published in Group magazine. He also serves as the Youth Coordinator for the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Everyone remembers and enjoys a good story -- and heartfelt stories touch us in ways nothing else can. Jesus used stories or parables to emphasize his points and lead his listeners to look at themselves and examine their motivations. This collection of stories illustrating biblical passages from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary will touch your soul. Berg speaks to the person in the pew with accounts drawn from conversations with people, observations of everyday life, and a vast arena of literature.

Everyone remembers and enjoys a good story -- and heartfelt stories touch us in ways nothing else can. Jesus used stories or parables to allow his listeners to look at themselves and examine their motivations.This collection of stories illustrates biblical truths from the Revised Common Lectionary. It uses this powerful medium to communicate timeless truths.

Fifty-three gripping stories amplify and illustrate each Sunday's lectionary scriptural texts. Use this collection to hold listeners' attention and help them understand the biblical text or for inspirational reading.

If you're looking for imaginative reflections that take you right to the heart of the scriptures, the newest edition of CSS' popular Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit series is the perfect resource for you. Timothy Merrill offers 65 thought-provoking contemplations on Cycle C lectionary passages that draw out the biblical theme by relating it to aspects of modern life we have all experienced. This book is not only great for preaching illustrations and "sermon starters" -- it's also a wonderful source for inspiring devotional reading. Timothy Merrill has an eye for the offbeat and amusing anecdote that can grab a congregation's attention and bring a particular passage of scripture to life. Using the parable-based preaching style pioneered by Jesus, he cracks open biblical truths through tales of popcorn forks, fake fire, lopsided clay, and lipstick pistols. Whether you are looking for a fresh approach to a particular piece of scripture or a provocative story to jump-start a sermon, take a few minutes to mine this volume. You're sure to strike gold. Henry Brinton Senior Writer, Homiletics Bored with the "lectionary trail"? Timothy Merrill's serendipitous musings on life in the new millennium transform the weekly Word into fresh, lived journeys. Sally Morgenthaler Columnist for Worship Leader and Rev. magazines Author of Worship Evangelism and The Uncharted Now Merrill's metaphorical nuggets are excellent as guides for worship planning, teaching, or even personal meditation. They also can actually make you stop and think a bit. Len Wilson Media ministry consultant Author of Digital Storytellers and The Wired Church Timothy Merrill understands the craft of preaching better than most preachers I know. We are all aware that the first sixty seconds of any sermon are the most important. This book will prove a vital aid and unique gift to any preacher who is serious about holding the congregation's attention and inviting a dynamic encounter with the word. Alan Kimber Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church Lodi, California Wow... where did Timothy Merrill get all this material? He clearly has searched far and wide -- and he manages to bring all these stories down to ground level, providing insight into the real issues facing those of us who inhabit the pews of churches. Merrill has a gift for bringing theological freight to events and occasions that most of us would pass right by, and I have found myself looking more carefully at the events of my own daily affairs as having theological implications, not to mention preaching implications. Richard C. Stern Associate Professor of Homiletics, St. Meinrad School of Theology Co-author of Savior on the Silver Screen Timothy F. Merrill is an ordained United Church of Christ minister and the Senior Editor of the preaching journal Homiletics. He has published numerous articles in the religious press and in academic journals such as Westminster Theological Journal and the Patrisca and Byzantine Review, and he is the author of Learning to Fall: A Guide for the Spiritually Clumsy (Chalice Press). A graduate of Iliff School of Theology, Merrill pursued doctoral studies at Princeton Theological Seminary in the history of Christianity, and he has served churches in Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon.

The next installment in the critically acclaimed lectionary series that focuses on women's stories. In this second volume of the three-volume Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, widely praised womanist bible scholar and priest Wil Gafney selects scripture readings that emphasize women's stories. Focusing especially on the Gospel of Mark, Year B of A Women's Lectionary features Gafney's fresh, inclusive, and thought-provoking translations of every reading, alongside commentary on each reading. Designed for liturgical use or scriptural study, this resource offers a new perspective on the Bible and the liturgical year. “Gafney's paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come." —National Catholic Reporter

* What if Moses had never told anyone about the burning bush? * What if Paul had kept quiet about his experience on the road to Damascus? * What if John had never written a word of what he saw during his exile on Patmos? The Bible is filled with mystical stories, yet modern culture is often uncomfortable with the concept of spiritual visions. Though a recent study showed that as many as 44% of Americans have had some sort of mystical experience, people are frequently hesitant to share holy moments that might seem strange to others. But John Sumwalt discovered that whenever a small group is gathered together and a vision story is told, two or three others will recount a similar episode. Almost everyone has either a personal vision story or knows of a friend's experience -- and if they know that its sacredness will be honored, most people want to tell their story. This remarkable collection shares 69 authentic, life-changing narratives that witness to the Lord's power and presence. Many of these intensely personal accounts have never been told before, and whether they concern visions, healing, or answers to prayer, they all demonstrate our spiritual thirst, as well as the indescribable joy, comfort, and peace that comes from encountering the divine. Each illustrates a scripture passage from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary -- so Vision Stories is an especially valuable resource for lectionary preaching. But even more, it's inspiring reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth. This wonderful collection of stories reminds us of a fact our world desperately needs to know -- that God is alive and well and ready to be at work in our daily lives. J. Ellsworth Kalas Author of New Testament Stories from the Back Side John Sumwalt has given us a treasury of God's meetings with the daily lives of people. Too often we think of God as hidden away in the stories of the Bible. Here we see God now encountering people in surprising ways of grace. May these stories encourage us to tell one another our stories of God's meetings with us as well. Dwight Judy Author of Quest for the Mystical Christ I am very impressed with Vision Stories as a resource for preaching, teaching, and spiritual formation reading. These stories help us to meet what may be the greatest spiritual need of our time -- to know and to share the experience of the reality of God and the spiritual realm in a materialistic world. Charles R. Gipson Author of The Three-Year Community for Spiritual Formation Through stories and scriptural comparisons, Sumwalt offers insight into the extraordinary spiritual experiences of ordinary people. Cheryl Kirking Author of Ripples of Joy A noted storyteller, John E. Sumwalt is the senior pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The author of CSS' acclaimed Lectionary Stories series, Sumwalt leads seminars and retreats on sharing and understanding visions.

The Bible is filled with many familiar stories of mystical experiences -- Moses and the burning bush, Samuel in the temple, the angel's visit to Mary, and Paul's Damascus road experience are just a few examples -- and many modern Christians have equally powerful experiences of the Lord's life-changing power and presence. In this follow-up volume to Vision Stories, 84 contributors share their authentic, intensely personal accounts of encountering the divine, including visions, healing miracles, and answers to prayer. Each vignette manifests the indescribable joy, comfort, and peace we experience in God's presence. And because each personal story also illustrates a scripture passage from Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary, Sharing Visions is an especially valuable resource for lectionary preaching. But even more, it's inspiring reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth. Praise for Vision Stories and Sharing Visions: I am rejoicing as I read the testimonies in Sharing Visions and Vision Stories. What an inspiration! Richard B. Wilke Author of the Disciple Bible Study series Storytelling has long been a deep, rich resource for sharing our faith with one another. In Sharing Visions, John Sumwalt connects readers with the power of stories for recognizing and celebrating God's presence in the midst of our daily lives. Through reading and reflecting on these stories, readers are invited into God's ongoing story of creation, redemption, and empowerment. Carol F. Krau Director of Christian Formation and Spiritual Leadership General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church This dynamic, moving, and deeply authentic collection of true stories will carry readers on a powerful journey of healing and inspiration. Sharing Visions will appeal to Catholic and Protestant alike. Deacon Eddie Ensley Author of Visions: The Soul's Path To The Sacred At long last someone has demonstrated the courage to lift the veil of silence that so often covers the mystical experiences of ordinary people. By denying the reality of these experiences we have denied spiritual sustenance and growth to many. Vision Stories is a forerunner of the feast that is to come for all who earnestly seek to walk with God. Reuben P. Job Author of A Guide to Spiritual Discernment This wonderful collection of stories reminds us of a fact our world desperately needs to know -- that God is alive and well and ready to be at work in our daily lives. J. Ellsworth Kalas Author of New Testament Stories from the Back Side A noted storyteller, John E. Sumwalt is the pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The author of CSS' acclaimed Lectionary Stories series, Sumwalt leads seminars and retreats on sharing and understanding visions. He and his wife Jo Perry-Sumwalt also are the editors of the online service StoryShare.

The Bible is filled with stories of shining moments -- Moses' face shone as he came down from the mountain with the ten commandments; Jesus' face changed and his clothes became dazzling white in a transfiguration witnessed by the disciples; Paul was blinded by a light and heard the voice of Christ on the road to Damascus -- and many modern Christians have had equally life-changing experiences of the Lord's power and presence. In this third volume of the acclaimed Visions series, 60 contributors share their authentic, intensely personal accounts of holy experiences. Rosmarie Trapp of the Sound of Music family tells of a moment of assurance when "the Lord visited me in a bright, golden light" whose "golden glow brought peace to my soul." Ralph Milton, author of the historical novel Julian's Cell, describes a visitation by his late sister: "We were singing together as we often did as children ... I don't recall ever having a memory or dream as clear and powerful as that one, and it left me with a sense of joy and peace." Karen Steinke recounts the warmth she felt at the moment of her baptism: "I looked up to see the form of Jesus with an overpowering light surrounding him ..." Whether they relate transforming moments like visions, healings, or visitations by angels, joyous moments like being in the presence of a loved one who has died, or just the simple sense of God's presence while singing in church or sitting in a sunny meadow on a warm spring day, the vignettes in Shining Moments are a testament to the indescribable comfort and peace of an encounter with the divine. And because each story also illustrates a scripture passage, Shining Moments is a valuable preaching resource and an excellent catalyst for small group discussion. But even more, this book provides inspiring and heart-warming reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth. Praise for other volumes in the Visions series: This wonderful collection of stories reminds us of a fact our world desperately needs to know -- that God is alive and well and ready to be at work in our daily lives. J. Ellsworth Kalas Author of New Testament Stories from the Back Side A noted storyteller, John E. Sumwalt is the pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The author of CSS'Lectionary Stories series, Sumwalt leads seminars and retreats on sharing and understanding visions. He and his wife Jo Perry-Sumwalt also are the editors of the online service StoryShare.