Ashes at the Coffeeshop, Resurrection at the Bus Stop

Lent can be one of the more difficult church seasons to go through, but if God is right there alongside us the whole time, there is nothing to worry about. Mary Austin assures us that God is with us everywhere that we go this Lenten season, and that Jesus is closer to us than ever, even in this time of his fast approaching death and betrayal. However, this does not stop Jesus from being selfless, as he continues to do God’s work and form stronger bonds with his disciples. In the same way that we do not want to be alone during this Lenten season, Austin encourages her audience to also be there for Jesus, letting him know that he is loved: “This week, as we come into Holy Week, let us see Jesus as he is, and keep him company in this journey of suffering. And may he go with us, in every place where we feel abandoned, lost, fearful, doubting…so we know that we are never alone” (“Never Really Alone”).

Austin continues in the idea of emphasizing that nobody is alone during this Lenten season, not even the disciples of Jesus like you and me. Although we may have our doubts, our fears, our lack of faith throughout our lives, Jesus does not turn away from us. “Jesus sees all of this in his friends, as he sees it in us, and what does he do? He comes closer” (“Feet and Hearts”).

Sermon titles include:

Fifth Sunday in Lent: “Seeing What We Don’t Want to See” (John 12:20-33) Second Sunday of Easter: “Growing into Our Scars” (John 20:19-31) Seventh Sunday of Easter: “Gifts You Can’t Return” (John 17:6-19) Eighteen sermons based on the Gospel lessons from the Revised Common Lectionary (Cycle B) for the seasons of Lent and Easter are included in this single volume. The reader will find these messages inspiring, thought-provoking and comforting. The content of this book will be useful for personal devotions, for a study groups and for sermon preparation.