An encounter with God : "Choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) / Linda Lee -- Led by the spirit : "Making the right choice" (Joshua 24:14-15, 21-28) / Okitakoyi Lundula -- To the measure of Christ : "Trustworthy prophets" (1 Samuel 3:1-10) / Gregory Palmer -- The liberating word of God : "Beyond the cave crisis" (1 Kings 19:11-18) / Vance P. Ross -- Proclamation and embodiment : "If there should come a word" (2 Kings 22:11-13; 23:1-3) / Pamela Lightsey -- A conversation with the community : "The stewardship of leadership" (Isaiah 61:1-3) / Rodney T. Smothers -- The message in the message : "Stay in the race" (Jeremiah 12:1-6) / Telley Lynnette Gadson -- A means of grace : "Embracing who we are" (Matthew 5:13-20) / Tracy Smith Malone -- A timeless message of love : "What God tells us: imitate!" (Matthew 5:38-48) / Leo W. Curry -- The privilege of a divine gift : "Risk-takers" (Matthew 25:14-30) / Rose Booker-Jones -- A transactional relationship : "Walking upright, anyway!" (Luke 13:10-17) / Safiyah Fosua -- An intimate discourse on the holy : "Vitis vinea feder or Jesus wept; what about us?" (John 15:1-8) / Dorothy Watson-Tatem -- Continuing the work of Christ : "Make your dungeons shake" (Acts 16:25-34) / Robert O. Simpson -- A timely and relevant word : "The Church at its best" (Ephesians 4:1-16) / James E. Swanson, Sr. -- Conclusion : "Miles to go: still the same goal" (Philippians 3:12-21) / Gennifer Benjamin Brooks.