Counting the Cost: Cycle C Sermons for Proper 13 Through Proper 22 Based on the Gospel Texts

Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, pursue mercy, and walk humbly before our God, yet in today's America, we often find ourselves pursuing justice for ourselves at the expense of caring for the needs of the world. When we truly stop to count the cost of following Jesus, however, we become wide-eyed to the words of Jesus that call us to care for the orphaned, the widowed, the oppressed, and the forgotten.

In his collection of Cycle C sermons for Proper 13 through Proper 22, George Reed, O.S.L., does not pretend to have easy solutions for a broken world; he does, however, know that when darkness is covered by the light of redemption, hindering ideologies begin to fade into a bold background of love. Throughout each sermon, Reed sketches out humanity's role in the kingdom, urging us to be representatives of God's love -- delegates who are willing to lay aside all differences for a common purpose. This, he believes, is how we will change hearts and lives, and whether Counting the Cost is used solely as a sermon resource or expanded for a small group or private devotional, Christ followers will be challenged by Reed's discussions on the life of Jesus -- and his reminders on our responsibility to reflect a holy and divine love. Sermon Titles Include:

• Who's The Fool (Luke 12:13-21)
• Joy As Our Hallmark (Luke 15:1-10)
• A Poor Banquet (Luke 14:1, 7-14) George Reed, O.S.L., has served as a minister in the United Methodist Church for over thirty years. He holds degrees from Wright State University and United Theological Seminary and has studied at the Institute of Formative Spirituality at Duquesne University. He is a contributor to "The Immediate Word," which is part of the online pastoral resource SermonSuite as well as the Sermons on the Gospel Readings series. Reed and his wife have three grown children.