Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching
Series III, Cycle B
Keith Hewitt

“The thing is, people have this incredible capacity for getting hung up on to what they don’t have, instead of being happy with what they do have. We seem to be wired that way—it’s part of the brokenness of the world, I think. In the time of Christ and even today, people are always coveting that which others have, instead of realizing how blessed they are for what they do have. Jesus endeavored to teach this lesson and many others to his disciples and followers, though it is definitely hard to remember his teachings amidst the struggles of everyday life. Because of this, Keith Hewitt has adapted Jesus’ journey through ministry in his own words, retelling conversations between Jesus, disciples and bystanders to make it feel like they are right there in the crowd, hearing words directly from the Messiah’s mouth.

Hewitt alternates these retellings with his own stories about a group of missionaries who are teaching the gospel to inhabitants of a Native American reserve, battling the racist and unfair treatment from those who have not yet accepted the differences of others. By doing so, readers can see clear parallels between the time of Jesus and the modern world, despite the fact that His words have been around for centuries. Hewitt’s unique style of storytelling encourages readers to pick up the Bible once more, and read it carefully, doing our best to live the lessons that Jesus taught, and is still teaching even today.

Stories include:

• “What Child is This?” (Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20)
• “The Gift” (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21)
• “Rich Man’s Privilege” (Mark 10:35-45)

Keith Hewitt has a wide variety of experiences. Prior to pastoring United Methodist congregations in Wisconsin, he was employed in various capacities at Underwriters Laboratories and several social service agencies. Hewitt holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay and completed Local Pastor Licensing School through the Illinois Great Rivers Conference at Illinois Wesleyan University. He continues his theological studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of three volumes of NaTiVity Dramas (CSS Publishing), Krasnodar Means Beautiful Gift (Kindle Direct Publishing) and has contributed to StoryShare, a component of the online resource SermonSuite (CSS Publishing). He is married to Rachel, an elementary teacher and is the father of Cameron Lucille Hewitt and Andrew Courtland Alexandrovich Hewitt.