Preaching With Relevance In The Twenty First Century Church

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.

While growing churches dot our urban centers and country landscapes, church-goers and students today are actually less likely to maintain a Christian worldview than in the past. In fact, the majority of society does not even believe in objective truth. A minister out of touch with this culture is like an uninformed missionary trying to teach in a foreign country. To communicate God's Word effectively in the twenty-first century, teachers need to know how to connect with and confront an audience of postmodern listeners. In Preaching to a Postmodern World, Johnston shows pastors, seminary students, professors, lay teachers, and church leaders can reach the present age without selling out to it. The book discusses how to: • distinguish between modernism and postmodernism • understand postmodern worldviews • change the style of preaching without compromising the substance • take advantage of new opportunities provided by the cultural shift • show an inattentive society the relevance of God's truth The author's keen insights into contemporary pop and media culture also help equip speakers to address today's listeners with clarity and relevance.

Deep Faith Meets High Tech here in The Renewal of Preaching in the Twenty-first Century. A communications revolution is sweeping through the churches leaving some on fire and others burned out. This work shows what makes the difference for church leaders and communities who are using new media to advance Christian preaching. Join them by recovering the great tradition and expanding it through creative use encouraged by artists and filmmakers as well as preachers and professors. This work explores ways to maximize the promise of preaching and confront the perils leading to the renewal of church and society. Beginning with review of the situation today, we proceed step by step through the preparation and presentation of the sermon leading to transformation. The sermon in the local parish is seen as the microcosm of the macrocosm that is the communication of God's good news. "Rooted in a knowledge of and respect for traditional worship, David Randolph accurately assesses the difficulty facing mainline traditions in speaking to today's visual culture. But he doesn't stop there. He eloquently outlines a course of action that gives emphasis to the visual and, in particular, to the use of what he terms `new media.' Renewal of Preaching is a must read, not only as a text for those preparing for ministry, but also for long-time pastors seeking new ways of speaking to today's generation."---Joan Brix Carter Dean of College of Art and Design, Olivet University

Dr. Mason enlightens and encourages the reader of this inspirational book affirming expository preaching. In this book you will learn and apply principles for study, interpretation, application and presentation of the Scriptures. The book is relevant, useful, and interesting to read for all who enjoy and love preaching. Students of preaching will be enriched by the information contained in this book, and I recommend it for your library.- Dr. Glenn Mollette, PresidentNewburgh Theological SeminaryThis book will inform, inspire, and bring insight concerning the importance of expository preaching. I commend this book as timely, relevant, and beneficial for students of preaching for generations to come. I say get it, read it, and be blessed by it.- Dr. Paul Richardson, PastorChrist Worship CenterRichmond, VirginiaDr. Mason has successfully put forth an argument for the need of expository preaching in today's churches. He has proven from Scripture that expository preaching is essential to the spiritual health of the twenty-first century church. This book should be read by every pastor who desires to make an impact for the kingdom.- Tim Pearson, Senior PastorMt. Moriah Baptist ChurchMelvin, Alabama Ray A. Mason (PhD in Biblical Preaching, Newburgh Theological Seminary) is the pastor of Voice of Truth Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Mason has been in the ministry since 1986 and is known for his passion for sound biblical exposition. He is the author of Understanding Your Call into the Ministry: An Exhortation to Preachers in General and Pastors in Particular.

Trim new edition of a modern evangelical classic on preaching Internationally esteemed as an expository preacher and evangelical spokesman, John Stott edified thousands of Christian preachers and listeners during his lifetime. His writings, marked by a special clarity of expression, continue to speak to readers around the world. This book abridges and revises the text of Stott's Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today, first published in 1982, and updates it for our twenty-first-century context. Through Greg Scharf's abridging and updating work, John Stott's perspectives and insights on faithful, relevant preaching of the Word of God will benefit a new generation of preachers and preachers-to-be.

How do particular world situations impact preaching? How does a preacher use the gospel and Scripture to speak to those situations? This volume, in honor of homiletician David Buttrick, explores the complex and important relationships between world, gospel, and Scripture and their relevance for preaching theology.This book is for those seeking thoughtful and challenging new ways to approach the preaching task now and into the twenty-first century.

Reclaiming and proclaiming the Christian heritage- Fewer people today are familiar with the vital theological ideas from the Christian tradition. Preaching about the continuing relevance and richness of this heritage is one of the pastor's most important responsibilities in this age of relativities. Robert Hughes and Robert Kysar show how this situation has come about and offer imaginative and empowering suggestions for proclaiming Christianity's profoundest truths to a new generation. "Preaching Doctrine is a delightfully clear and helpful re-introduction to the theological art of preaching. Hughes and Kysar bring a rare mix of theological, practical, and biblical wisdom to bear on the weekly task of proclamation. Their reflections provide the working pastor with an easily digested compendium of homiletical theory for the postmodern era. I will use this book." -Richard Lischer Duke Divinity School "Hughes and Kysar show us how, with imagination and imaginal language, to re-mint traditional biblical and theological coinage for new purchasing power in human consciousness. And they do it with clarity and integrity." -Don Wardlaw McCormick Theological Seminary Robert Kysar is Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching and New Testament at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and an ordained ELCA pastor. He is a renowned Johannine scholar and author of John: The Maverick Gospel, A Beginner's Guide to the Books of the Bible, Called to Care: Biblical Images for Social Ministry, and The Fourth Evangelist and His Gospel. Robert G. Hughes is former President and St. John Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

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.