Imagining the Gospels

Imagining the Gospels: Cycle B Sermons for Lent and Easter Based on the Gospel Texts is the latest from Rev. Timothy W. Ayers. As a pastor who writes his messages while also writing novels, children's books, and short dramas, Rev. Ayers found himself working hard to visually create the picture of what was hap­pening in the gospel accounts. Why? These were people lis­tening to Jesus. They would have had emotions about the topics. They would have had little things they recognized when Jesus spoke about lambs, shepherds, and vines. Much like our congregants, there would be nods of recognition toward experiences in their lives. His goal was to get the listener to imagine themselves, with their feelings, and their rea­sons for being in church, to better use their cognitive skills, inside the stories.

At other times, Ayers sought to take them on a week by week journey through the Easter season. He didn't assume they have a relationship with Christ. He didn't assume they are vibrant, serving members of the congregation. He only assumed that the listener is seeking something they do not have. He was attempting to take them one step further on a journey from week to week.

At times Rev. Ayers brings humor to the scene in order to lighten the mood of the listener. The body relaxes when we laugh and that helps us to hear the message. Imagining the Gospels hopefully will achieve this.

This book will make life easier for any busy pastor during the Lent and Easter season, by providing a sermon for each and every Sunday, when attendance is likely to be at its highest.

This book has several intended uses:

• Sermon ideas
• Inspirational reading
• Bible study with individuals or groups

Some Sermon Titles Include:

• Beginning The Lenten Journey (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21)
• Tearing The Sky To Get To You (Mark 1:9-15)
• Did I Say That Out Loud? (Mark 8:31-38, Mark 9:2-9)
• The Road To The Passover (John 2:13-22)
• A Nod Of Recognition (John 3:14-21)

Rev. Timothy W. Ayers recently pastored a small church in western New York. It was his first time working with a smaller body of Christians. After planting churches and working with several larger congregations, he felt the call to minister in a completely different setting. He learned a lot about the limitations of a small congregation. Tim merged two of his past literary mediums of short plays for contemporary churches and children's literature. He combined the styles of his short plays, Living Parables, written to illustrate the Sunday service messages (published by CSS Publishing), and his middle reader series, Spinechillers Mysteries. From these two loves came Five Little Christmas Dramas for Today's Kids. It is Ayers' desire that churches around the world can tell this marvelous story of the birth of our Savior through relevant, fun, and easy-to-produce holiday plays.