At the literal center of every Bible is the book of Psalms.Just as the heart is the symbolic center of human emotion, the psalms containsome of the most emotional passages in all of scripture, from the heights ofjubilant praise to the depths of despair and mourning. All of us, to somedegree, can relate to the psalms. A Psalm for Every Sigh is a collection ofobservations and musings on specific psalms. Each psalm relates to variousaspects of the human experience, from the peace and tranquility of Psalm 23, orthe penitence and confession of Psalm 32, to our awe and wonder at beholdingGod's creation in Psalm 8. A Psalm for Every Sigh relates theemotions portrayed in each selected psalm to the emotions we experience in ourworld today. This is a valuable addition to any personal or group Bible study. While much of the world is different today than in the timeof David and the other psalm writers, the joy, the pain, the anguish, and theexultation are still the same. That is why the psalms still carry such apowerful impact thousands of years after they were written.

One of the enduring legacies of the Revised Common Lectionary is its ability to draw different parts of scripture together to form a coherent narrative, drawing congregations from around the world into the life-changing message of faith in Jesus Christ. Each element of the lectionary brings its own point of view into this message, giving us insights into its origins, the impact on its original hearers, as well as its relevance for our lives today. In the gospel message, we see the drama of Jesus' life and ministry and are challenged to join in it.
"A Fine Gospel for Preaching" covers the last third of the Pentecost season, bringing the church year to a close. In examining these passages from the life and teachings of Jesus, Crotts reminds us not just of their importance to their original hearers, but also of their continued relevance almost 2,000 years later. These scriptures are timeless, and Crotts demonstrates how we can apply the lessons of these words to our twenty-first-century lifestyle.
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 sermon collection includes:
The Dangers of Being Religious
Teach Your Dollars to Make More Sense
The End of Worry
... and many more
Stephen M. Crotts is the director of the Carolina Study Center, a campus ministry based in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, area. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Crotts is a popular speaker and a frequent contributor to Christian magazines. Among his many CSS publications are"And Still the Hour Shines," "The Beautiful Attitudes," "Long Time Coming "and"Heroes of the Faith Speak." Crotts received his education at Furman University (B.A.) and Emory University (M.Div.).

Are you tired of going with the flow of the rest of the world? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and be counter-cultural, perhaps even revolutionary? While this may seem to be a tall order to many of us, the blueprints for personal and cultural change have been with us for centuries in the words of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Considered by many to be the most powerful message ever recorded, the Sermon on the Mount flies in the face of much of what our society esteems. In a world that thrives on stress, irreverence, and greed, Jesus describes a life of spiritual contentment, deep piety, and abundant generosity. And Still the Hour Shines... journeys through the Sermon on the Mount, examining everything from the Beatitudes to its teachings on prayer and giving. As Stephen Crotts unearths the simple yet profound messages in this passage, holding these principles up against our current societal standards, he calls us to embark on a different journey, living as examples of hope and goodness for the rest of the world to see. This resource is ideal not just for personal study but also for sermon inspiration and small group study. And Still the Hour Shines... calls us to shine as beacons of light, guiding a world in darkness to its savior. Stephen M. Crotts is the director of the Carolina Study Center, a campus ministry based in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, area. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Crotts is a popular speaker and a frequent contributor to Christian magazines. Among his many CSS publications are A Psalm for Every Sigh, The Beautiful Attitudes, Long Time Coming! and Heroes Of The Faith Speak. Crotts received his education at Furman University (B.A.) and Emory University (M.Div.). He may be contacted by email at [email protected].

Filled with insight, imagination and inspiration, this anthology provides a treasure trove of spiritual guidance to help you meet the demanding call of proclaiming the Good News to today's materialistic world. Based on Cycle A Gospel texts for the entire church year, these powerful messages by five distinguished preachers from a variety of denominations and ministry settings portray the abundant transforming power of God's Word in our lives.

Learn the fascinating stories of seven historical and biblical personages in this wide-ranging collection of first-person monologue sermons from the pen of popular CSS author Stephen Crotts. Perfect for presentation from the pulpit, these delightfully creative pieces are excellent for varying routine preaching fare or covering pastoral vacations. And the concise biographical portraits also make informative programming for men's, women's, or youth groups, as well as inspiring devotional reading. Characters profiled include:
William Bradford
Christopher Columbus
Martin Luther
St. Patrick
St. Nicholas
Paul
The tenth leper (from the parable in Luke 17:11-19)

"It is not God's plan to take us by surprise. Throughout scripture there is the rolling thunder of the Deity's voice resounds: "I'm going to do it Get ready Pay close attention Here comes what I promised " We call such predictions "prophecy," history written before it happens. And about nothing is God more prophetic, more predictive, than Jesus Christ. "(from the Foreword)
In" Long Time Coming "Stephen Crotts proclaims the richness of Jesus' birth. Noting that the Lord always tells us ahead of time what he is about to do, his fourteen sermons based on Old Testament lectionary texts examine how God foretold in Isaiah's prophetic ministry that he would save and redeem humankind.
Sermon titles include:
- Still Small Voice -- Isaiah 11:1-10
- When A Halo Slips -- Jeremiah 31:7-14
- What Does Your God Say About People Like Me? -- Isaiah 42:1-9
- Let Sleeping Dogmas Awake -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Stephen M. Crotts, a North Carolina native, was educated at Furman University (B.A.) and Emory University (M.Div.). He recently left the senior pastorate of the 1,500-member Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, to become the director of the Carolina Study Center, a campus ministry in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Crotts is a popular speaker and a frequent contributor to Christian magazines. This is his seventeenth book.

Stephen Crotts tells us that "nothing is spared the Spirit's influence. He shapes our friendships, our marriages, our love for our enemies, our heritage, sexual passion, wisdom, even our femininity and self-esteem". One of the nation's most eloquent preachers pulls contemporary wisdom from these ancient texts in ten sermons that provide much food for thought.

How recently have you shared with your congregation and its children the story of the "Christian" Saint Nicholas? This book offers you the opportunity to tell the story in a visual way by dressing the part of the Bishop of Myra, Turkey.
"Saint Nicholas Speaks" enables you to tell the story from your pulpit in an informal format with children or to groups outside the church. The monologue is also appropriate for parents and grandparents to read to young children during Advent.
The book offers instructions on how to make Saint Nicholas' costume and a brief description of Christmas traditions in eight countries around the world.
Stephen M. Crotts is pastor of Christ Church, Burlington, North Carolina. He was educated at Furman and Emory Universities, the University of London, and the L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland. This is his third book published by CSS.