Against the Grain-Words for a Politically Incorrect Church: Gospel Sermons for Sundays After Pentecost (Last Third) Cycle B

I have always been troubled by a church that is too enamored of "the big business of religion" and too hungry for the world's applause and approval. The church is first of all called to be faithful to the gospel, to be a sign of God's coming gracious kingdom in this world, and only secondarily to be a successful and competent institution in this world. This book is driven by the fear that the church has too often forgotten the former and succumbed to the latter.
-- from the Preface

While thoroughly grounded in scripture and sound theology, Steven Albertin has a way of contemporizing the message of the gospel, making it easy to understand but not necessarily easy to fulfill. After reading or listening to one of these sermons, you'll be left with a very clear understanding of its central message, expressed with such carefully chosen and forceful words that it will not be easily forgotten. Chapter titles include:

• What's In It for Me (Mark 10:35-45)
• Baptism and Self-Esteem (Mark 12:28-34)
• Breaking the Taboo (Mark 12:38-44)
• Having the Last Word (John 18:33-37)
• No Freudian Slip (Matthew 6:25-33) Steven E. Albertin is currently pastor of Christ Lutheran Church of Zionsville, Indiana. He previously served parishes in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Albertin has received degrees from Concordia College (B.A.), Concordia Seminary in Exile, St. Louis (M.Div), Christ Seminary - Seminex (S.T.M.), and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (D.Min.).