Maurice A Fetty

...we often deceive ourselves. If Plato advised "know thyself"and if his teacher, Socrates, said the "unexamined life is not worth living," many of us are afraid really to examine ourselves too closely, or to come to know who we really are. -- from the chapter "Getting at the Truth" In this collection of sermons (including some in dialogue format) from Maurice A. Fetty, the reader will find stories that dig into the heart of the Pentecost texts. The gospel of Luke is explored in ways that make the lectionary texts relevant for the modern age to a minister's congregation each Sunday. In Adventuring Into the New Age, author Fetty delves into the season of Pentecost -- the birthday of the church, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the inauguration of a new age. These sermons will be helpful in many ways: - Eye-opening illustrations, as well as sermon starters - Group or individual study - Individual devotions Maurice A. Fetty is the retired, interim Senior Minister of First (Park) Congregational Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has also served as the Senior Minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset (UCC), Manhasset, New York (1988-2001) and the Mayflower Congregational Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan (1972-1988). He holds degrees from the Union Theological Seminary, New York; the Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana; the Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana; and the Minnesota Bible College, Minneapolis, Minnesota (now called Crossroads College). Fetty has authored 13 books and written for numerous magazines and newspapers. His CSS titles include How to Profit from the Prophets (1998), Sex, Love, and Marriage (1998), The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ (2001), Money and the Kingdom of God (2002), The Feasts of the Kingdom (2003), The Devilish Dialogues (2003), and other titles. Rev. Fetty has been actively involved in various community groups and served on boards and committees of denominational, professional, community, and ecumenical organizations. Fetty travels extensively and has led International Religious Heritage Tours to China, Israel, Greece, Turkey, and many other countries. He is married and has six children.

The New Testament epistles are a marvelous guidebook full of practical wisdom on living the Christian faith. Providing much more than just a glimpse of the specific issues facing the early church, the pastoral letters contain a multitude of timeless lessons for contemporary spiritual pilgrims who seek to grow in their daily walk with the Lord. In this extensive anthology of outstanding sermons based on the Second Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, five distinguished preachers from diverse denominations apply the epistles' nourishing teachings to today's complex challenges. With messages for every Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year, there's a wealth of creative ideas and illustrations helpful for preaching, teaching, and meditation. These biblically grounded sermons shine the light of Christ on our often confusing world and proclaim the richness of God's truth, offering readers comfort and hope while challenging them to a more intense faith relationship with the Almighty. This essential resource is useful for: - Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts - Preaching illustrations - Understanding scripture passages - Adult study and discussion groups - Personal devotions and Bible study Donald Charles Lacy recently retired after more than four decades serving United Methodist churches in Indiana. He is the author of ten books, as well as hundreds of smaller pieces, several of which appear in his recently published Collected Works (Providence House). Lacy's sermons have appeared in many outlets, including Great Preaching 2001, Keeping the Faith: Best Indiana Sermons (2003), and The Minister's Manual 2004. John T. Ball has served numerous United Methodist congregations throughout western Ohio. A graduate of Ohio State University and Boston University School of Theology, he has had articles published in Circuit Rider, Christian Ministry, and Emphasis. Ball is the author of Barefoot In The Palace (CSS). Maurice A. Fetty is the interim senior minister of Park Congregational Church (UCC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously pastored congregations in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Fetty is the author of numerous CSS titles, including The Feasts Of The Kingdom, The Devilish Dialogues, Money And The Kingdom Of God, and Sex, Love, And Marriage. Richard E. Gribble, CSC is an associate professor in the department of religious studies at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts. The author of more than a dozen books and over 175 articles, Father Gribble is the former rector/superior of Moreau Seminary at the University of Notre Dame. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served for five years on nuclear submarines before entering the priesthood. Gribble earned his Ph. D. from The Catholic University of America and has also earned degrees from the University of Southern California and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. Among Gribble's previous CSS publications is a three-volume series on The Parables Of Jesus. Lee Ann Dunlap is the pastor of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Zanesville, Ohio. She is a graduate of Mount Union College and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Conventional wisdom would tell us that money and religion are mutually exclusive entities. It's easy to understand why: there's the popular maxim about money being the "root of all evil," as well as Jesus' admonitions about our inability to serve both God and Mammon or how difficult it is for a rich man to enter heaven. But Maurice Fetty disagrees -- he notes that in Jesus' view, money and the kingdom of God are intertwined. In these pages, Fetty stresses the importance of our being good stewards of God's creation, and he points out that what we do with our money is indelibly linked with faithful living. When rightly done, Fetty concludes, the rich can be righteous, and the righteous can be rich Money And The Kingdom Of God is excellent for spiritual growth reading or as a source for stewardship sermons. Chapter titles include: - Are You A Taker Or A Giver? - Christianity As A Materialistic Religion - The Ten Percent Solution - Taxes To Caesar -- What To God? ... and many more Maurice A. Fetty recently retired after serving for 13 years as the senior minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset (United Church of Christ) in Manhasset, New York. He has also pastored congregations in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Now a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Fetty is the author of eight other books, including What's A Mother/Father To Do? and Sex, Love, And Marriage (CSS).

Feasts and festivals are a central part of many cultures, and for Christians there is no more important "meal" than Holy Communion, in which we commemorate our liberation through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Yet there are many other occasions in the Bible where Jesus taught his friends and disciples as he ate and drank. In The Feasts Of The Kingdom, Maurice Fetty examines a wide variety of sacred meals in scripture, ranging from the Lord's supper to banquets in the parables. He connects these occasions to our mealtimes today, where we can develop a sense of community and Christian fellowship that is emblematic of the spiritual feast at the heart of the church's worship. With 26 messages included for all seasons of the church year, this volume is an especially valuable source of preaching ideas. But most of all, Fetty's insights provide sustenance for the soul Chapter titles include: - Faith and Fast-Food Religion (John 6:67-68) - The Hunger Pangs of Success (Philippians 2:5-7) - Breakfast on the Beach (John 21:9, 12) - The Ultimate Wedding Reception (Revelation 19:9) - Table Manners in a Hungry World (Luke 16:20-21) ... and many more Maurice A. Fetty recently retired after serving for thirteen years as the senior minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset (United Church of Christ) in Manhasset, New York. He has also pastored congregations in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Currently the interim Senior Minister of Park Congregational Church (UCC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Fetty is the author of numerous CSS titles, including The Devilish Dialogues, Money And The Kingdom Of God, and Sex, Love, And Marriage.

In this intriguing set of "no holds barred" verbal exchanges, advocates for the Lord and the Devil discuss six of Jesus' parables in a point/counterpoint framework. Clearly delineated opposing points of view shed new light on these familiar stories, and the fascinating format is guaranteed to keep you reading to see how the arguments will develop. The stark contrast of the Devil's enticements with the Lord's redeeming message provides a stimulating vehicle for seriously confronting basic issues of faith, while reaffirming the good news of God's ultimate victory. The Devilish Dialogues is not only an absorbing resource for personal spiritual growth; it's also a model for captivating presentations in sanctuary, classroom, and retreat settings, and is especially well-suited for weekly Lenten programming. Parables discussed are: - The Prodigal Son(Luke 15:11-32) - The Great Feast(Luke 14:15-24) - The Ten Virgins(Matthew 25:1-13) - The Unprofitable Servant(Matthew 25:14-30) - The Parable Of The Sower(Mark 4:1-20) - The Wicked Husbandsmen(Mark 12:1-12) A noted preacher and teacher, Arthur A. Rouner Jr., founded The Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation in 1993 following 40 years of pastoral ministry. During his long tenure at Colonial Church of Edina, Minnesota, Rouner was honored as "Best Minister in the Twin Cities" and one of the "Ten Most Influential Ministers in the Twin Cities" by Minneapolis-St. Paul magazine, one of the "100 Most Influential People of Minnesota" by Law and Politics magazine, and "Clergyman of the Year" by Religious Heritage of America. In his current role as president of The Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation, Dr. Rouner conducts healing retreats in Rwanda, Burundi, and Kenya, with religious leaders in India, and with church leaders of American Indian reservations. Maurice A. Fetty recently retired as the senior minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset (United Church of Christ) in Manhasset, New York. He has also pastored congregations in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Currently the interim Senior Minister of Park Congregational Church (UCC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Fetty is the author of numerous CSS titles, including The Feasts Of The Kingdom, Money And The Kingdom Of God, and Sex, Love, And Marriage.

This sermon series for Lent/Easter is fast-paced and illustrated with stories and anecdotes that keep the attention of readers and listeners. With titles such as "The Challenge To Change," "The Challenge Of Tragedy," "The Challenge Of No-Fault Religion," and "The Challenge To Live Again," Fetty offers sermons that are certain to inspire personal growth and spiritual conviction. Not many of us have the opportunity to stand at the crossroads of history. Not many of us have the opportunity to stand at the threshold of a new era. Not many of us are able to witness the dawn of a new age. And only a few of us are destined to be a potential leader of a new advance in history. All of us have our destinies of course, but only a few of us have a destiny potentially able to change the world.... (from chapter 2) Maurice A. Fetty has been the Senior Minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset in Manhasset, New York, since 1988. His former pastorates were in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Minneapolis; East Harlem; and Brooklyn. Rev. Fetty holds the Master of Sacred Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, the Master of Arts Degree from Butler University, Indianapolis, and the Master of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis. He is the author of Putting Your Life On The Line, The Divine Advocacy, and Sex, Love, And Marriage, as well as numerous magazine and newspaper articles. He also serves as adjunct professor in theology at Molloy College in Rockville Center, New York.

Prophets have not done well in history -- at least not by ordinary standards: Elijah seemed to be the only one in Israel resisting Baalism. Amos was told to keep silent and go back where he came from. Jeremiah was scorned and imprisoned. John, the Baptist was beheaded, and... Jesus, the greatest of them all, was crucified. By ordinary standards the prophets have not done well because, as Jesus said, we ignore or kill the messengers of God. And yet it is the extraordinary standards of the prophets that intrigue us, inspire us, and stimulate our minds and consciences to God's ways and thoughts. Because of their extraordinary standards the prophets continue to shape us and history. In this challenging Advent-Christmas book, Maurice A. Fetty reminds us again how it is important to "profit from prophets." Maurice A. Fetty is Senior Minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset (United Church of Christ) in Manhasset, New York. He has also served churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Minneapolis; East Harlem; and Brooklyn. Fetty holds the Master of Sacred Theology Degree from Union Theological Seminary and the Master of Arts Degree from Christian Theological Seminary. In addition to numerous articles he has authored several books, including Putting Your Life On The Line; Sex, Love And Marriage; and The Divine Advocacy.

Many voices are calling for the church to offer words of support and counsel to individuals and families who are working to maintain a stable home life and marriage. The 20 chapters of this book are intended to help pastors and layleaders address these issues and to lead people toward a more mature understanding of the Christian faith with respect to love, marriage and family. The chapters will be useful to pastors who wish to present a sermon series on home and family. The book will be a helpful resource for couples and adult classes and study groups. Each chapter includes a prayer and questions for discussion and contemplation. Chapter titles include: Does God Think About Sex How To Love Men How To Love Women Intimate Partners How To Stay In Love ... and many more Maurice A. Fetty has been the Senior Minister of the Congregational Church of Manhasset in Manhasset, New York, since 1988. His former pastorates were in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Minneapolis; East Harlem in Manhattan; and Brooklyn. Rev. Petty holds the Master of Sacred Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York, the Master of Arts Degree from Butler University, Indianapolis, and the Master of Divinity Degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis. He is the author of Putting Your Life On The Line and The Divine Advocacy, as well as numerous magazine and newspaper articles. He also serves as Adjunct Professor in Theology at Molloy College In Rockville Center, New York. He is married to the Reverend Sara Petty.