Each chapter includes:
- a listing of the applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts;
- a theme for the day's service;
- commentary on the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel lessons;
- suggestions on preaching possibilities;
- an outline of possible sermon moves;
- a prayer for the day; and
- additional illustrations to flesh out the message.
The former president of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, Jerry L. Schmalenberger served some of the largest Lutheran congregations in the United States during 29 years as a parish pastor. He is a graduate of Wittenberg University and Hamma School of Theology in Springfield, Ohio (where he received his D.Min. degree), and received an honorary D.Div. degree from Wittenberg. He now preaches and teaches throughout the world as a Global Mission Volunteer for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, appearing in such varied locations as Germany, Jamaica, Argentina, Uruguay, Suriname, Liberia, Indonesia, and China. Schmalenberger also serves as Visiting Professor of Practical Theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong.