The sermon outlines presented here for the first, festive half of the church year come from a theologian who is ecumenically and internationally experienced in community work, diaconia, and church leadership, as well as academically qualified. They aim to contribute to a better and deeper understanding of the central sections of the New Testament. The author's sermons have sometimes elicited an enthusiastic response. In every reading of the Gospels, there is the message of a God who loves us, comes close to us in His incarnate Son, wants to share our lives with us, and draw us into His community. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the message of divine salvation from our human lostness. Whenever we open ourselves to this saving message and thus to its sender, God Himself, we can feel how our transient lives become bright, free, and full of joy. We then find our true home, the center and goal of our lives. For the mystery can also occur in our lives, that in trusting listening or reading of the divine message, we suddenly experience or deepen intimate communion with God Himself.