Jesus was so marred and unbeautiful that those who were like him were drawn to him, and he changed their lives forever. There was something about the blemished visage and form of Jesus that compelled these people to identify with him. Carlyle Stewart suggests that the common depiction of Jesus as handsome and attractive is mistaken, and that first century Christians knew Jesus to be plain, even ugly. Yet our "marred but magnificent messiah" is the source of hope, power, physical healing, and spiritual renewal.

Stewart brings his keen intellect and perceptive eye for contemporary life to 17 messages based on Revised Common Lectionary readings from the Old Testament and the book of Acts. The sermons of this gifted preacher celebrate the sacrifices, suffering, and triumph of Christ that we commemorate during the seasons of Lent and Easter. Titles include:

• Not Your Leftovers But Your First Fruits -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11
• A Blood That Passes Over -- Exodus 12:1-4, 5-10, 11-14
• Blind Man's Bluff -- Acts 9:1-6(7-20)
• You Shall Receive Power -- Acts 1:1-11
• Twelve O'Clock Rock: When The Jailhouse Is Rocked -- Acts 16:16-34
  ... and more! A fourth-generation Methodist preacher, Carlyle Fielding Stewart III is a graduate of Wilberforce University (B.A.), the University of Chicago (M.A.), Chicago Theological Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.), and Northwestern University (Ph.D.). He is the pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield, Michigan, which has been consistently recognized for church growth and community outreach. Stewart has received numerous honors, including the prestigious Circuit Rider Award (1993) and the Harry A. Denman Award for Evangelism (1996) from the United Methodist Church. Dr. Stewart is also the author of numerous articles and ten books, including Joy Songs, Trumpet Blasts, and Hallelujah Shouts: Sermons In The African-American Preaching Tradition (CSS).