Seasons of Grace

'Seasons of Grace' is a fitting title for this collection of brief sermons. Readers will find within it homilies that, while sometimes challenging, are never merely moralistic and are always contemporary and encouraging - applications of grace to seasons of our lives as well as a tracing of gracious themes through seasons of the Christian year. James Kay gives us clearly structured pieces presented in a vigorous, colloquial style and marked by arresting turns of phrase. These sermons will stimulate the imaginations of preachers and enrich the devotional lives of parishioners.Marguerite Shuster, Fuller Theological SeminaryThese sermons are a preacher's delight. Not only do they reveal the integrity of a systematic theologian, the insight of a liturgical scholar, and the craft of a homiletics professor, but they are first and foremost pastoral proclamation. James Kay's sensitivity to text and context makes this real preaching to real congregations - authentic proclamations of the Word. There is no stained-glass language here, just the clear radiance of the Word shining into everyday lives, bringing the light, hope, and life of the gospel. Organized around the Christian year, these sermons will appeal to lectionary preachers as well as those who value the freedom of selecting their own texts on a weekly basis. Even more, they will be a wonderful devotional resource for pastor and parishioner alike.Fred R. Anderson, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, New YorkWith the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other, with the daily cries of God's children in one ear and the Word of God made flesh in the other, with the particular needs of parishioners on his heart and the mercy of a tender God in his head, James Kay proclaims the gospel with clarity, directness, and strength. This is no general proclamation but rather a word of healing and help that addresses real people's lives, a word that joins reader to congregation in one body of faith and hope and love.Cynthia A. Jarvis, Nassau Presbyterian Church, PrincetonJames F. Kay is assistant professor of homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. He is the author of 'Christus Praesens: A Reconsideration of Rudolf Bultmann's Christology'.