Everyone loves a good story. Storytellers who excel at their craft have the ability to 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 a spiritual truth. By drawing his listeners into his story, he unlocked their minds and hearts to hear the truth he was trying to relate to them.
This compilation of stories for the entire church year taken from" "StoryShare follows in that same tradition." "StoryShare"," a part of SermonSuite.com, is written by various authors brought together to meditate on scriptures in the Revised Common Lectionary for Cycle C and create stories that flesh out these passages, allowing readers to see these words in a new way. These stories can be whimsical and light-hearted or poignant and reflective, even tragic. But they all strive to bring us to a deeper understanding of the scriptures and the God who inspired them. Some of the stories are even based on actual events experienced by the authors, events that influenced their perspective on Christianity.
Useful as sermon illustrations, stand alone sermons, teaching aides, personal devotions, or even just for entertaining reading, "Stories for Teaching and Preaching "will draw you into new worlds with vibrant and engaging images, deepening your relationship with God in the process.

Jesuswas a master storyteller. He could weave timeless, eternal truths into theseemingly simplest of stories. His tales not only disarmed his listeners, butthey also imparted powerful insights into the nature of God in familiar terms. Inthis same spirit, Scenes of Glory is a collection of story sermons that communicatethe truth of God's word through familiar images like a vacation drive, twofriends sitting under an apple tree, or football season. While each of thestories may take the reader into familiar territory, they may also offer a viewof the gospel in a rather unfamiliar and thought-provoking way. Completewith study questions at the end of each chapter, this resource is great forpersonal Bible study and devotion as well as group studies. It is also valuablefor pastors needing either sermon inspiration or simply an alternate view of aparticular biblical text. Ourlife is a series of stories. Scenes of Glory is an enriching additionto anyone's personal story. David O. Bales was a Presbyterian minister for 33 years. Recently retired as the pastorof Bethany Presbyterian Church in Ontario, Oregon, he is also a freelancewriter and editor for Stephen Ministries and Tebunah Ministries. His sermonsand articles have appeared in Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching GreatTexts, and Interpretation, and he is the author of GospelSubplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace (CSS). He is also a regularcontributor to the online service StoryShare (www.sermonsuite.com).Bales is a graduate of the University of Portland and San Francisco TheologicalSeminary.

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 gospel lesson, we return to the fountainhead, bringing the congregation back to where Christianity began. Like the first disciples, we walk with Jesus, hearing his words and witnessing his miracles as we journey to the Cross.
As part of the Sermons on the Gospel Readings, Series III, Cycle A series, "To the Cross and Beyond" takes us through Jesus' final days on earth as recounted in the Sundays of Lent and Easter. David O. Bales explores some of the gospel's best-known moments as Jesus journeys to Jerusalem and, ultimately, to the Cross and then the empty tomb.
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:
Looking Down on God
Putting the World Back Together
Jesus' Prayer: The Pause in the Battle
... and many more
David O. Bales was a Presbyterian minister for 33 years. Since retiring he has devoted his time to writing and to teaching, currently teaching Hellenistic Greek at College of Idaho, Caldwell. Previously he taught World Religions, Hebrew and Ethics. He has researched, written, and edited for Stephen Ministries. His stories, sermons, and articles have appeared in "Preaching," "Pulpit Digest," "Lectionary Homiletics," "Preaching Great Texts," "Emphasis" and "StoryShare." He is the author of "Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace," "Toward Easter and Beyond" and "Scenes of Glory: Subplots of God's Long Story." Bales is a graduate of the University of Portland and San Francisco Theological Seminary.

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

David Bales says that if Christians have become used to sermons being a string of assertions, explanations, or exhortations -- with a sprinkling of stories as illustrations -- then most sermons are not consistent with how the Bible communicates reality, since most of the Bible is stories.