Because modern culture explains the world through scientific rationalism, many in our pews are skeptical about miracles -- and those who do speak of miracles are often seen as purveyors of superstition and magical thinking. So what can the preacher do when discussing the resurrection and the other miracles recorded in scripture? Through a combination of rich biblical commentary and accounts of contemporary miracles, this book demonstrates that the answer is to tell stories of the mysterious, saving presence of God -- the realm in which Jesus did his miracle work. Sumwalt brings a storyteller's perspective to nine miracle passages from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary.

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, Sharing Visions is a valuable preaching resource. But even more, this is inspiring reading for personal devotion and spiritual growth.

* 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 stories in this book often offer a surprise ending, an ironic twist, or a reversal, just as in the parables of Jesus. Based on lectionary texts, this collection will assist the lectionary or the free-text preacher by powerfully communicating the message of the gospel to those in the pew.