Author Description

In this latest collection of Cycle A gospel sermons for Pentecost (last third), Albert Butzer shows that we Christians live our lives with one leg in the ancient and sacred world of the Bible and the other leg in our modern, scientific world. The job of the preacher is to make holy sense of the intersection of these two worlds. It is a great honor and a sacred responsibility to do this, as well as a weekly lesson in humility. Preaching is risky business. And good preachers quake every time they step into the preaching moment. Al Butzer understands this privilege, this power, this promise of preaching, he has been at it a long time, and his quaking is as fresh today as it was 35 years ago. His sermons crawl inside our lives, because his life is much like ours. He does not pontificate; he persuades. He does not prescribe; he wonders. He does not scold; he inspires. Through story and metaphor and creative twists of theology, he widens the lens of our lives and helps us see in new ways. Susan Andrews Moderator of the 215th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA These sermons do precisely what the author intends: They help the reader live at the intersection of holy scripture and daily life. They never stray from that complex and often ambiguous intersection where all faithful people must live. Read these sermons to hear a word of God's wide grace proclaimed with courage and deep faith in the living God who is still at work in our lives. Al Butzer is a seasoned preacher whose gifts are displayed in this collection. Roy Howard Book Editor for The Presbyterian Outlook Sermon titles included: All Are Invited, But... (Matthew 22:1-14) Stamped With God's Own Image (Matthew 22:15-22) The Rule of Love (Matthew 22:34-46) The Word Above All Earthly Powers (John 8:31-3