Designed for use by pastors who preach on lectionary texts, this set of model sermons focuses primarily on lections from the gospel of Matthew, the gospel appointed for use during Cycle A. Texts on which Dr. Bass' messages are based include: The preaching of John the Baptist; the Matthew cycle of stories describing Jesus' birth, including the flight into Egypt and the coming of the wise men; the beginning of Jesus' public ministry; several texts from the Sermon on the Mount; and the Transfiguration story.

George M. Bass is the Alvin N. Rogness Professor of Pastoral Theology and Ministry, Homiletics, at Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota. He has studied at Susquehanna University, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Temple University, the University of Edinburgh, the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and Cambridge University.