Finally a tool to help Pastors shape applications that so many congregations have long desired. "Even the most seasoned homileticians balk at sermon application. Why? Because application requires preachers to toss a grenade-like "thus saith the Lord" into people's lives, and to do so repeatedly." -From the introduction Despite the concern many pastors feel when it comes to sermon application, most homiletics texts devote little more than a chapter, if that, to this vital topic. Daniel Overdorf has filled this glaring gap with "Applying the Sermon." This book equips preachers to develop sermon application that grows from the biblical text and addresses the needs of contemporary congregations. Each chapter includes snippets of interviews with five of today's most respected homileticians--Haddon Robinson, Will Willimon, Tom Long, Vic Pentz, and Bob Russell. A great addition to any pastoral library, and a valuable resource for Bible college and seminary courses, Overdorf's " Applying the Sermon" also includes an extensive bibliography and a sermon application worksheet to give pastors a chance to acquire hands-on experience with these techniques.
Written in a conversational style with profuse examples to illustrate all concepts, "Invitation to Biblical Preaching" takes the reader step-by-step through the entire process of preparing a biblical message, from studying a passage with skill and integrity to delivering a message with persuasion, accuracy, passion, and relevance. An experienced pastor and homiletics professor, Donald Sunukjian provides budding pastors with wise counsel that is sure to stay with them throughout their ministries.
Because he believed in the importance of preaching in our age, the author wrote this book “to be read by every Protestant desirous of deepening his acquaintance with the goal, power, and relevance of preaching; to permit him to profit as much as possible from this preaching; to help him, layman or preacher, become conscious of his own personal responsibility in the preaching as a means of grace and the content, relevance, and characteristics of good preaching.“
Clear communication of the relevance of the biblical text to contemporary culture is the responsibility of the pastor. Keith Willhite offers strategies for exegetically solid and culturally apt sermon preperation.
Be Equipped to Prepare and Deliver Engaging, Biblical, and Effective Topical Sermons Sooner or later, every preacher will come upon a situation where they need to preach a topical sermon. Yet few are taught to preach topically. Even preachers who are gifted in expositing the Scriptures may struggle to deliver a topical sermon that is engaging, culturally relevant, and true to the biblical text. Worse, many pastors worry these messages undermine confidence in the Bible or its authority, leading to a human-centered rather than a God-focused sermon. But that doesn't have to be the case. In Topical Preaching in a Complex World, Sam Chan and Malcolm Gill answer these objections and chart a path for how preachers can deliver faithful and effective topical messages. First, they address the biblical, theological, and cultural reasons pastors should add topical sermons to their preaching repertoire. Then, they introduce a straightforward, four-fold approach for preaching a topical message and answer important questions like these: How do you approach a topic with the proper interpretative lens? How can you speak to two or more audiences with the same sermon? What should you consider theologically, culturally, and pastorally in your preparation? How do you trace the topic back to Christ? How can you better connect with your audience? Best of all, they help readers craft a message that says something people truly need (and want) to hear! Filled with wit, humor, and wisdom from decades of preaching, this book will equip preachers, pastors, ministry leaders, and students to preach relevant, biblical, and engaging topical sermons. Author Sam Chan says, "Just over a decade ago, I was asked by an organization to speak at their end-of-year dinner. They wanted me to address the topic of being a Christian single, but I had no idea how to prepare and deliver a topical talk. When the night arrived, I preached an old three-point expository sermon and merely changed the ending to include some application on singleness. At best, I got some polite comments afterwards. At worst, people's looks indicated that my biblical talk had little relevance for them. They could not have been less fooled by my disingenuous workaround. I went home vowing never to repeat that poor performance. I felt like the unfaithful servant who had not adequately used what talents had been given to him. As a result, I have dedicated the last decade of my preaching ministry to overcoming and mastering the art of topical preaching. This book is a product of that journey.
Phillips Brooks said, Preaching is the communication of truth by man to men. It has in it two essential elements: truth and personality. This book challenges the preacher of the gospel to seek to develop his or her preaching skills while understanding the nature of the audience. It is not a textbook on preaching but a practical guide to effective preaching.
In Preaching and Preachers, the author states unapologetically his attitudes about his role in the church and explains his methodology, all the while addressing various problems and questions that have been put to him.
The goal of preaching is to let the powerful message of the Bible penetrate the lives of your congregation. A well-crafted sermon can help to bridge the gap between biblical context and contemporary application. In Excellent Preaching, Craig Bartholomew explains why we need to be acquainted with both the context of Scripture and the context in which we preach. Good contextualization is hard work, but Bartholomew shows that it can be done. Practical, accessible, and rooted in years of preaching experience, this short book helps preachers connect the message of the text to everyday life.
Where have all the prophets gone? And why do preachers seem to shy away from prophetic witness? Astute preacher Leonora Tisdale considers these vexing questions while providing guidance and encouragement to pastors who want to recommit themselves to the task of prophetic witness. With a keen sensitivity to pastoral contexts, Tisdale's work is full of helpful suggestions and examples to help pastors structure and preach prophetic sermons, considered by many to be one of the most difficult tasks pastors are called to undertake.
