A Preacher S Tale

Many clergy receive little training in the arts of preaching and it is assumed that they will learn by gaining experience. The renowned American preacher Herbert O’Driscoll suggests that congregations do not want to be given a map showing them how to get to the coast, they want to be drenched in the spray. Narrative preaching is a means of achieving such immediacy. By dramatic story-telling, it invites listeners into enter the text imaginatively and enables them to experience sermons as transformative events. This book aims to provide not just a theoretical introduction, but a resource that uses sermons in the narrative style to reflect on how to prepare and construct them and how to deliver them effectively in the context of worship.

A Preachers Tales is a book about preachers who are unusual, sometimes eccentric people. Buchanan is one of them. In fact, a little bit of him is to be found in many, if not most of them. Buchanan is tolerant of all of them, and a few of them he even loves, or likes because they are so much like him. The prime redeeming feature in all of them is humor. Some of the things the preachers do and say are downright funny, but mostly the humor is subtle and only crops up after the reader has read and thought and reflected on what happened and what was told. Its not all humorous. Preaching is a serious business. The Preacher deals with a profound issue. He is holding Gods Hand with one hand and a mans hand with the other. What the preacher says and does may determine the course of human events because in some measure it reflects or communicates the mind and the saving grace of God. Behold here the Preacher Man at work and at play.

Entitled-felt Panther makes his home on Grandpa’s farm and intrude in the lives of Grandpa and his grandson, Monty. After committing a series of wicked acts against Monty, Panther finds himself in a life-threating situation until he is rescued by Grandpa and Monty. No longer feeling entitled, Panther is grateful to have them in his life. The Preacher’s Tales describes the storytelling experience through the eyes of eight-year-old Monty. A touching story, the book will keep young readers and adults alike entertained to the end. The generosity of a grandfather and grandson transforms crafty Panther into a caring friend.

Many clergy receive little training in the arts of preaching and it is assumed that they will learn by gaining experience. The renowned American preacher Herbert O’Driscoll suggests that congregations do not want to be given a map showing them how to get to the coast, they want to be drenched in the spray. Narrative preaching is a means of achieving such immediacy. By dramatic story-telling, it invites listeners into enter the text imaginatively and enables them to experience sermons as transformative events. This book aims to provide not just a theoretical introduction, but a resource that uses sermons in the narrative style to reflect on how to prepare and construct them and how to deliver them effectively in the context of worship.

Follow God's process for growth and find hope in life's darkest moments with Bishop T.D. Jakes's uplifting stories and advice from his own faith journey. In this insightful book, #1 New York Times bestselling author T.D. Jakes wrestles with age-old questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Where is God in all the injustice? Bishop Jakes tells crushing personal stories from his own journey -- the painful experience of learning his young teenage daughter was pregnant, the agony of watching his mother succumb to Alzheimer's, and the shock and helplessness he felt when his son had a heart attack. Bishop Jakes wants to show you how God uses difficult, crushing experiences to prepare you for unexpected blessings. If you are faithful through suffering, you will be surprised by God's joy, comforted by His peace, and fulfilled with His purpose. Crushing will inspire you to have hope, even in your most difficult moments. If you trust in God and lean on Him during setbacks, He will lead you through.

One of the central tasks of pastoral ministry is preaching the Word of God. Yet those who are called to ministry may feel unprepared, unable, or unwilling to step into this role. Moreover, the discipline of homiletics sometimes gets lost amid the exegetical questions, theological debates, and denominational disputes that overwhelm our attention. In this brief introduction to preaching, Matthew Kim helps to prepare those called to preach the Word. A seasoned preacher himself, Kim provides proven insight and guidance about the importance and history of preaching, the characteristics of faithful preaching, and the personal habits of a faithful preacher. With his help, both those training for ministry and those new to the pastoral task will be encouraged as they undertake their calling.

"...an indispensible resource for homilists"-- Cover back.