Conversational Preaching

In Conversational Preaching, we are given an in-depth investigation into how humans communicate and how understanding interpersonal communications skills can be of considerable value for those called to preach God’s word. “Dr. Sowards has made rather elegant use of the model of interpersonal communication as a device to explore preaching and communicating with congregants.” – Dr. Dalton Kehoe, Senior Scholar, Communication Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada “Sowards’ book advances the idea of conversational preaching beyond the merely metaphorical by applying practical insights from Interpersonal Communications Theory to the act of sermon crafting.” – The Rev. Dr. Micah Jackson, Ph.D., Bishop John Elbridge Hines Associate Professor of Preaching and Director of Comprehensive Wellness, Seminary of the Southwest, in Austin, Texas This book is for preachers and students of preaching who want to become better preachers and communicators. I have explored the theories of interpersonal communication and shown how preachers can benefit from such knowledge. I described the concept of noise as an impediment to communications and explored the topic with regard to politics, beliefs about the poor, past religious experiences and having an underdeveloped faith. I examined the concept of feedback and how effective feedback can be fodder for future sermons. I developed a model for conversational preaching using interpersonal communications theory and state that the ultimate goal of any sermon would be to facilitate a conversation with the hearers of a sermon and God.

In Conversational Rhetoric, Jane Donawerth traces the historical development of rhetorical theory by women for women, studying the moments when women produced theory about the arts of communication in alternative genres-humanist treatises and dialogues, defenses of women's preaching, conduct books, and elocution handbooks.

A bright new resource for working preachers. Packed with preaching wisdom from twenty-seven outstanding American preachers from various religious and ethnic backgrounds.

What is to be the church’s response to the immigrant? Most immigrants in American society are seeking a better life. They are among the most vulnerable, possessing little and at the mercy of those they work for in the communities where they live. The essays in this book address issues for churches to consider as they seek to better understand how to respond to immigration. The book examines biblical, ethical, theological, and homiletical areas of the topic and includes contributions from experienced pastors, theologians, legal experts, and activists. With contributions from: Sarah Ellen Eads Adkins Claudio Carvalhaes Jason W. Crosby Miguel A. De La Torre Rebecca Hensley Robert Hoch Melanie A. Howard Maha Kolko Gerald C. Liu Joy Moore Heidi Neumark Owen K. Ross Lis Valle Michael Waters

In 1928, when Riverside Church (NYC) pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick asked the question in Harpers Magazine, “What’s the Matter with Preaching Today?” he did not know that one response to that question had just entered the world in Humboldt, Tennessee. Fred B. Craddock revolutionized preaching theory and practice by flipping pulpit logic from deductive to inductive—often called the preaching-as-storytelling revolution—and in so doing brought renewed interest and impact to the practice of preaching, effectively rescuing it from an often tedious and moralizing fate. With Fred, preaching was anything but boring. Rather, it was an exciting and enlightening ride that led to the renewal of faith. To honor Craddock’s legacy, Mike Graves and André Resner invited ten leading voices in homiletics to identify something that is right about preaching today. In addition, they issued a call to a wide variety of people to contribute stories about Fred’s impact on their lives and ministries. Twenty-seven remembrances of Fred are included here throughout the book. If you appreciate effective and engaging preaching—as either a preacher or listener—the essays and remembrances here will speak to you and provide encouragement about preaching’s present and future. With contributions from: Ronald J. Allen Barbara K. Lundblad Alyce McKenzie Debra J. Mumford Luke Powery Andre Resner Richard Ward Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm Paul Scott Wilson

How can we proclaim justice for God's Creation in the face of global warming? How does fracking fit with "the earth and its fullness are the Lord's?" Creation-Crisis Preaching works with the premise that all of Creation, including humankind, needs to hear the Good News of Jesus' resurrection in this age in which humanity is "crucifying" Creation. Informed by years of experience as an environmental activist and minister, Leah Schade equips preachers to interpret the Bible through a "green" lens, become rooted in environmental theology, and learn how to understand their preaching context in terms of the particular political, cultural, and biotic setting of their congregation. Creation-Crisis Preaching provides both theoretical grounding and practical tips for preachers to create environmental sermons that are relevant, courageous, creative, pastoral, and inspiring.

With this helpful guide, preachers can find new and powerful resources for preaching in Johannine language and thought, as well as its use of narrative and discourse. It combines the practical with proposals for understanding the Gospel and 1 John.

John McClure'sPreaching Wordshighlights the most important ideas in homiletics and preaching, offering short explanations of these ideas, what scholars of preaching are saying about them, and how they can help in today's preaching. Topics range from elements of the sermon (introduction, body, and conclusion) to aspects of delivery, types of preaching in different Christian traditions, and theories of preaching.