A Sermon Of Christs Miracles

The stories of Jesus' miracles are challenging to modern sensibilities -- with today's scientific and technological knowledge, we have become somewhat jaded, finding it difficult to be really amazed by anything we encounter. And the miracle stories are so familiar that we rarely mustering any sense of wonder about them, especially if we look for logical explanations. But Jeff Wedge maintains that in order to understand the miracles of the Bible, we must recapture this sense of wonder, for underlying them is the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world in which we live. Packed with valuable idea starters and rich material for sermon development, A Bucket Full Of Miracles provides a detailed exploration of the nine miracle stories in Cycle A. Each chapter includes the biblical text along with an examination of the words, the people, and the action of the lesson, as well as several illustrations and possible preaching approaches. But this book is much more than just a sermon preparation resource -- it's also stimulating reading for anyone who wants greater insight into these marvelous stories of God's power at work.

Graham Twelftree extensively examines the miracles of each Gospel narrative. He weighs their historical reliability and considers the question of miracles and the modern mind.

Most Christians know the stories of Jesus healing people and controlling nature, but many are less sure why Jesus did these things or how they relate to their lives today. Theologian, professor, and author Simon J. Kistemaker carefully examines each of Jesus's miracles. He lays out the cultural background, explains symbolism and Old Testament connections, and fleshes out the details of each story. Each chapter also includes a section focused on how the miracle relates to the life of the modern follower of Jesus. Kistemaker's scholarly attention to detail coupled with accessible explanations and application will make this book valuable to everyone from lay readers to pastors looking for sermon material.

The stories of Jesus' miracles can be challenging to modern sensibilities, conditioned as we are to believe that there must be a logical explanation for water being turned into wine or nets suddenly overflowing with fish. But John Wurster suggests that for contemporary preachers and their listeners, the most important question raised by these remarkable accounts is not "How did they happen?" but rather "What do they mean?" Ordinary Words, Extraordinary Deeds helps answer that question by exploring the theological significance of the nine miracle stories appearing in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. Each chapter includes the biblical text along with interpretive reflections that set the passage in its literary context and connect it to major themes of the gospel writer. There's also a section investigating a variety of preaching possibilities and offering brief thoughts about what these texts tell us about the sacraments, since (like the miracles) the sacraments make grace evident in ways we can touch and feel. Specifically geared for the busy pastor with limited time, this is an excellent volume packed with valuable idea starters and rich material for sermon development. But it's also stimulating reading for anyone who wants greater insight into these marvelous stories of God's power at work. Chapter titles include: - The Star (Matthew 2:1-12) - Wedding At Cana (John 2:1-11) - Jesus Transfigured (Luke 9:28-36) - The Lepers (Luke 17:11-19) ... and five more! John W. Wurster is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (B.A. summa cum laude), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (D.Min). Currently the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Findlay, Ohio, Wurster has previously served congregations in Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He is the author of What If What They Say Is True? (CSS), a collection of sermons on prophetic texts.

The nature miracle stories of Jesus--walking on the water or feeding thousands with a small amount of food, for example--are so spectacular that many find them a problem, whether historical, philosophical, or even theological. This is the first book to tackle this problem head on. Do the stories reflect events in the life of the historical Jesus, or are they myths or legends? Or, perhaps they grew out of parables or from more ordinary events into the incredible stories we now have. Or, again, perhaps this the wrong approach! A group of high-ranking biblical historians, philosophers, and theologians with very diverse views set out to provide possible answers. Contributors: - James Crossley - Eric Eve - Craig S. Keener - Michael Levine - Timothy J. McGrew - Scot McKnight - Graham H. Twelftree - Ruben Zimmermann