{"product_id":"meeting-god-at-the-mall-cycle-c-sermons-based-on-second-lessons-for-advent-christmas-and-epiphany-9780788029448","title":"Meeting God At The Mall: Cycle C Sermons Based on Second Lessons for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmericans are mired in idolatry. This is perhaps at no time more evident than during the Christmas season.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat idols do we worship? We often point out the consumerism that eclipses the meaning of the holiday, but as Mary Austin points out, there are others that might escape our notice. Perfectionism is the belief that if we can host the perfect holiday party or keep a perfect house, for example; these false gods, we often believe will offer us wholeness. Busyness, too, can give us a false sense of worth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese sermons use the words and actions of Paul to call out these false gods, to reveal our idolatry and its cause: our longing for the true source of peace. Once we have determined the cause of our love\/hate relationship with the Christmas season, we can begin to pursue the counter-cultural cure. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMeeting God at the Malting God at the Mall\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e shows us there is no obstacle too great to prevent us from finding our way back to the peace we can find only in our loving Savior.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSermons herein include: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Joy on an Elephant\" - The story of how Caroline Casey learned to rejoice in disability (Philippians 4:4-7)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Holy Spirt Brings Everyone to the Party\" - The story of a WWII soldier who delivered an enemy flag back to its home (Acts 8:14-17) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Nose Hairs and Disney\" - The story of an adopted girl who found belonging in her new family (1 Corinthians 12:12-31a)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary Austin\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e is Pastor and Head of Staff at Westminster Church of Detroit, her most recent position in more than two decades of professional ministry with a focus on bereavement. She holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Austin's previous work can be found in several blogs, and previous publications such as Call to Worship\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, a publication of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and Bereavement Magazine\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e. Austin is also a regular contributor for The Immediate Word\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, an online sermon site from CSS Publishing Company. She lives with her husband Carl Smith. They have one adult daughter, Lucy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mary Austin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e CSS Publishing Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/12\/2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 102\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.28lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.21d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780788029448\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CSS Publishing Company","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":40130287435891,"sku":"0788029444","price":24.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_9c1074c8-02b7-453f-a7fe-e08f07a72f58.jpg?v=1654089979","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/meeting-god-at-the-mall-cycle-c-sermons-based-on-second-lessons-for-advent-christmas-and-epiphany-9780788029448","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}