A Little Exercise for Young Theologians


Book Description

Zusammenfassung: This classic little book for new and experienced theologians alike offers wise counsel on the difficulties-- and vital importance-- of maintaining one's spiritual health in the course of academic theological study. Since the book's first appearance in English translation in 1962, thousands of beginning theological students have had the opportunity to eavesdrop, as it were, on the opening lecture of a theological seminar by one of the twentieth century's leading Christian thinkers, Helmut Thielicke. More experienced pastors and theologians have also returned to it again and again for the valuable insights that Thielicke brings to bear on their vocation. (Publisher)




Little Theologians


Book Description

Children don't just learn theology. They actively create it, playing with ideas and drawing together aspects of their own lives to form theological understanding. David Csinos offers a groundbreaking exploration of how cultural contexts intersect with the theological meaning-making of children.




A Little Book for New Preachers


Book Description

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. In this brief introduction to homiletics, seasoned preacher Matthew 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.




This Incomplete One


Book Description

A collection of sermons in which preachers deal with the deaths of children and young adults, this volume includes the words of Craig Barnes, Karl Barth, David L. Bartlett, Ronald P. Byars, John Claypool, William Sloan Coffin, Stephen T. Davis, J. Howard Edington, Jonathan Edwards, Laura Mendenhall, and more. (Ministry and Pastoral Resources)




Privilege the Text!


Book Description

Privilege the Text! spans the conceptual gap between biblical text and life application by providing a rigorous theological hermeneutic for preaching. Kuruvilla describes the theological entity that is the intermediary between ancient text and modern audience, and defines its crucial function in determining valid application. Based on this hermeneutic, he submits a new mode of reading Scripture for preaching: a Christiconic interpretation of the biblical text, a hermeneutically robust way to understand the depiction of the Second Person of the Trinity in Scripture. In addition, Kuruvilla’s work provides a substantive theology of spiritual formation through preaching: what it means to obey God, the Christian’s responsibility to undertake “faith-full” obedience to divine demand, and the incentives for such obedience—all integral to understanding the sermonic movement from text to application. Privilege the Text! promises to be useful not only for preachers, and students and teachers of homiletics, but for all who are interested in the exposition of Scripture that culminates in application for the glory of God.




A Cross-Shattered Church


Book Description

In this work, eminent theologian Stanley Hauerwas shows how the sermon is the best context for doing good theology. He writes, "I am convinced that the recovery of the sermon as the context for theological reflection is crucial if Christians are to negotiate the world in which we find ourselves." The book includes seventeen sermons preached by Hauerwas, which he considers his best theological work and hopes exemplify the work of theology. The sermons are divided into four sections: seeing, saying, living, and events. Titles range from Believing Is Seeing and Was It Fitting for Jesus to Die on a Cross? to Only Fear Can Drive Out Fear and To Be Made Human. Each sermon includes where and when it was preached and references relevant Scripture passages. EXCERPT I have increasingly come to the recognition that one of the most satisfying contexts for doing the work of theology is in sermons. That should not be surprising because throughout Christian history, at least until recently, the sermon was one of the primary places in which the work of theology was done. For the work of theology is first and foremost to exposit scripture. That modern theology has become less and less scriptural, that modern theology has often tried to appear as a form of philosophy, is but an indication of its alienation from its proper work. I am, therefore, making these sermons available because I think they are not only my best theological work, but because I hope they exemplify the work of theology.




Lewis on the Christian Life


Book Description

C. S. Lewis excelled at plumbing the depths of the human heart, both the good and the bad, the beautiful and the corrupt. From science fiction and fantasy to essays, letters, and works of apologetics, Lewis has offered a wealth of insight into how to live the Christian life. In this book, Rigney explores the center of Lewis's vision for the Christian life—the personal encounter between the human self and the living God. In prayer, in the church, in the imagination, in our natural loves, in our pleasures and our sorrows, God brings us into his presence so that we can become fully human: alive, free, and whole, transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.




Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Preaching


Book Description

From the beginning of the movement until now Pentecostalism has relied heavily upon its preachers-preachers both old and young, male and female, ordained and lay, educated and uneducated. Although preaching has been an important aspect of Pentecostal life and practice, few works have been written on Pentecostal preaching, and fewer still have been written from an academic standpoint. This volume, though not claiming to be comprehensive, begins to meet the need for scholarly reflection upon this important topic. In this multi-authored work, leading Pentecostal theologians come together to construct a contemporary model for the theology and practice of Pentecostal preaching. The writers take into account Pentecostalism's history, theology, ethos, diversity, and global expressions as they offer a distinctive theological vision for Pentecostal preaching. Chapters include the following: A Pentecostal Theology of the Call to Preach - Frank Macchia; Pentecostal Prophetic Preaching - Lee Roy Martin; The Ecclesial Dimension of Preaching - William Kay; The Spirit, Preaching, and the Approach of Jonathan Edwards - John Gordy; A New Testament Apologetic for Women Preachers - John Christopher Thomas; A Theological Apologetic for Women Preachers - Lisa Stephenson; African-American Women Preachers - Antoinette Alvarado; Latino Theology of Pentecostal Preaching - Angel Santiago-Vendrell; Transfiguring Preaching: Proclamation and Theosis - Chris E. W. Green; From Proclamation to Incarnation: Preaching, Worship, and Christoformation - Daniela C. Augustine; Bishop J.H. King and the Theology and Practice of Pentecostal Preaching - Tony Moon; Technology and Preaching - Leah Payne; A Critique of Emerging Homiletics - Rick Wadholm; and Pentecostal Homiletic: A Convergence of History, Theology, and Worship - Joseph Byrd. Written for pastors, students, and scholars, this work provides ample resources for anyone who wishes to examine the theology of Pentecostal preaching.




Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church (Foreword by Thomas R. Schreiner)


Book Description

Capitol Hill Baptist Church associate pastor Michael Lawrence contributes to the IXMarks series as he centers on the practical importance of biblical theology to ministry. He begins with an examination of a pastor's tools of the trade: exegesis and biblical and systematic theology. The book distinguishes between the power of narrative in biblical theology and the power of application in systematic theology, but also emphasizes the importance of their collaboration in ministry. Having laid the foundation for pastoral ministry, Lawrence uses the three tools to build a biblical theology, telling the entire story of the Bible from five different angles. He puts biblical theology to work in four areas: counseling, missions, caring for the poor, and church/state relations. Rich in application and practical insight, this book will equip pastors and church leaders to think, preach, and do ministry through the framework of biblical theology.




Folly, Grace, and Power


Book Description

When you stand before your congregation, what do you hope to accomplish when you preach the Word? If people have Bibles and the freedom to read and pray on their own—why do they need you? In short, what do you bring to the table? Author, pastor, and professor John Koessler answers those questions and many more. Why does one sermon have a powerful effect on the audience while another falls flat? Why should listeners heed what the preacher says? Is human language adequate for facilitating an encounter with God? What is the point of preaching a sermon? Folly, Grace, and Power is a must-read for pastors, seminarians, and lay leaders charged with the task of preaching God’s word. This essential book is both a stern reminder of the sacredness of the awesome “job” of being a preacher, as well as a how-to that reveals the key to speaking powerfully on God’s behalf.