For those who are preparing sermons, or for those who enjoy thoughtful and inspiring preaching, I have come across two new resources for this Advent and Christmas season. The first is called Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018), edited by Joel Green, Thomas Long, Luke Powery, and Cynthia Rigby. This resource continues in the tradition of Feasting on the Word, and earlier lectionary-based resources, with up-to-date theological and homiletical reflections with fresh voices. I have found the ones that I have reviewed to be both scripturally insightful and homiletically helpful.
The second book is Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ, by Fleming Rutledge (Eerdmans, 2018). This is a collection of essays and sermons that Rev. Rutledge has preached in her inimitable style. She is determined to help us appreciate the importance of the apocalyptic dimension of Christ’s coming and our preparation for it. Her well-crafted, pastorally-oriented sermons will challenge, inspire, and always announce God’s Good News.