Overcoming Sermon Block


Book Description

When called on to preach, whether you are a pastor or lay preacher, do you sometimes find yourself blocked? "Writer's block is a common complaint from many authors. They reach a point sometimes when they simply cannot produce anything worth reading. Preachers often encounter this same kind of roadblock when they attempt to prepare sermons."- William Powell Tuck With this opening sentence, Dr Tuck brings his many years of experience as professor and pastor and freely gives some "nuts and bolts" of sermon preparation and "pots and pans" essential for effective preaching. This book is not about the philosophy or theology of preaching but about preparing for, writing, and preaching a sermon. While the reader may quickly find a solution to this week's sermon, Dr. Tuck also gives ideas and plans for long-term preparation to open a new pathway, moving sermons from a burden to a blessing for the writer as well as the intended listener. Anyone called to preach can benefit from reading this book.




Backstory Preaching


Book Description

Instead of being a dour task on the checklist, what if the process of homily prep renewed you? Instead of feeling insecure about your message, what if your skills made you confident to preach a consistently clear message of Good News, authentic to you, relevant to your listeners, holding their attention and inviting transformation? Backstory Preaching: Integrating Life, Spirituality, and Craft shows you how. By integrating your life and spirituality with the practical skills necessary for effective preaching, you can move beyond the boredom, stress, or insecurity of preaching so it is no longer you who preach but Christ who preaches in you. By connecting with God in the midst of your sermon prep, the Gospel will be spread deeper and further. God’s joy—and yours—will be made complete.




Tony Evans Speaks Out on Prayer


Book Description

The Christian life isn't very complicated; but we've made it so through our ignorance of principles central to the Christian walk. There are some basics with which people need to be equipped to live a more victorious Christian life. Tony Evans has heard the people's cry for these sometimes difficult principles to be made simple and explained clearly and succinctly. In his new Tony Evans Speaks Out . . . booklet series, Evans tackles four basic elements of Christianity with a clarity and simplicity characteristic of his popular style.




Overcoming Sermon Block


Book Description

When called on to preach, whether you are a pastor or lay preacher, do you sometimes find yourself blocked? "Writer's block is a common complaint from many authors. They reach a point sometimes when they simply cannot produce anything worth reading. Preachers often encounter this same kind of roadblock when they attempt to prepare sermons."- William Powell Tuck With this opening sentence, Dr Tuck brings his many years of experience as professor and pastor and freely gives some "nuts and bolts" of sermon preparation and "pots and pans" essential for effective preaching. This book is not about the philosophy or theology of preaching but about preparing for, writing, and preaching a sermon. While the reader may quickly find a solution to this week's sermon, Dr. Tuck also gives ideas and plans for long-term preparation to open a new pathway, moving sermons from a burden to a blessing for the writer as well as the intended listener. Anyone called to preach can benefit from reading this book.




The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear


Book Description

Lisa Cressman, founder of Backstory Preaching, offers preachers tools to craft difficult sermon messages that can be heard. The gospel changes lives, but to do that it must first be heard. For it to be heard, people have to trust they are "seen" and their concerns and fears are acknowledged. They have to feel their perspectives are real, valid, and respected. Preachers have a difficult message to preach, a message many will not want to hear: new life always emerges from death. Cressman shows preachers how to craft sermons with the right tone and how to have the courage to say what you're called to say. Part 1 of the book provides the preparatory work needed before crafting those difficult sermon messages. Here the focus is on how preachers prepare themselves, build relationships of mutual trust with listeners, and understand and appropriately use authority and leadership to proclaim the gospel. Part 2 focuses on the sermon itself with suggestions on what to say and how to say it. The preacher will find new tools and sharpen existing ones to preach difficult messages with empathy, compassion, and skill.




Overcomer


Book Description

A New York Times bestseller! Do you want to live a life of unstoppable strength, unmovable faith, and unbelievable power in the face of every challenge? Learn how to become an Overcomer—starting right now. We live in a time of deep uncertainty, and yet the Bible promises that we were created to enjoy lives of freedom, even in times when the world around us seems filled with darkness. You were not made to live in disappointment, disillusionment, and defeat, and God has given you the tools to live a life defined not by your trials, but by your victories. In Overcomer, beloved Bible teacher Dr. David Jeremiah offers his insights on one of the most quoted but least understood passages of the Bible: the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians to take up the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). With his signature depth, wisdom, and compassion, Dr. Jeremiah explores the powerful relevance of spiritual armor as a critical tool each day as we confront the specific challenges in our lives and of our time. Overcomer contains: Examples of how the people of God have overcome their enemies in the past Inspiring stories of victorious Christian living today Specific strategies you can practice armoring yourself in God’s strength In Christ, believers have everything necessary to live a victorious, overcoming life. If you’ve had enough of living in defeat, it’s time to find renewed strength and claim the promises of God’s Word to overcome life’s greatest threats.




A Positive Word for Christian Lamenting


Book Description

One of the most difficult tasks that may confront a pastor is the preaching of a funeral homily. What are the words that will provide comfort and encouragement to the family and friends of the deceased? What words will be faithful to the message of the gospel and the community of faith? William Powell Tuck, author of the practical guide to preaching, Overcoming Sermon Block and Holidays, Holy Days, and Special Days draws on his years of experience, training, and teaching to provide some examples of funeral homilies that can help young pastors to prepare for everything from joyful celebrations of a long life well lived to the memory of life tragically shortened. But this book is not just useful for pastors. Reading these homilies will provide you with insight into understand grief. Whether you are dealing with loss yourself, or looking for ways to help friends or family, you will find insights and encouragement in the homilies in this book.




Wounded by Truth - Healed by Love


Book Description

Speak. Don't speak. Proclaim your faith. A private faith. Be wise as serpents. Be innocent as doves. Yes, Jesus' teachings can often be seen as an excellent example of a paradox. Author David Cartwright shares his life long study of the gospels from elementary school through seminary and as a pastor. ... the question, "What would Jesus do?" goes back to a more basic one, "What did Jesus mean?" And that question further back to an even more basic one, "What did Jesus say?" What I can claim to have discerned from all this discussion is that it has made me dive deeper into my study of the New Testament, and at the same time gain a deeper appreciation for the variety and diversity of its authors. With that said, as primarily a "Sunday-in and Sunday-out" preacher, I have an ongoing commitment to the Canon as it has been preserved and transmitted to us. While there may be many different sounding teachings, there is finally only one Jesus who said them. - David Cartwright




Conversations with My Grandchildren About God, Religion, and Life


Book Description

Passing our faith from generation to generation is difficult. It has been this way from the time that Cain killed his brother, through Israel's call for a king because Samuel's sons were not like him, up to the present day when children reject their parents' faith. Prolific author (37 books and counting ) William Powell Tuck wants to "tell to the next generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, his might, and the wonderful things he has done" (Psalm 78:4). In this book, he does so by answering serious questions from his grandchildren, many of whom are college age. He's not afraid to address the controversial questions with them, including current issues of politics, climate change, and human sexuality. But all of these questions are addressed from a foundation of informed Christian faith, honed through years of preaching, teaching and writing. At the same time, he addresses questions from the younger grandchildren in simpler terms. With an accessible, question and answer layout, the reader can find direction in addressing these topics during their own family discussions, or in teaching them in small groups, Sunday School, or even from the pulpit. Every generation can benefit from this book, but those who teach will find it especially helpful. Shouldn't that be every Christian?




Which Voice Will You Follow:


Book Description

Even when it comes to our faith, voices seem to come from many directions, urging us to follow them. How do we decide what is real and what is false? Christian voices are mixed with fundamental certainty to agnostic Christianity, biblical literalism and inerrancy to prosperity gospel, the only true church to come as you are and leave as you came invitations, narrow-minded beliefs to anything goes philosophy, or an eternal quest for the truth with an openness to a growing faith. - William P. Tuck Prolific writer, William P. Tuck, brings his insight from years as pastor and mentor. He pulls no punches and seems to look the leader right in eye with his candor and desire to bring each person closer to the real deal, Jesus Christ. This book is a comprehensive presentation of how to live the Christian life faithfully with an effective witness to the world around us. How God speaks, the temptations that distract us, praying, hearing God answer in various ways, are all part of Tuck's sharing. Jesus called us to be Light and Salt. What voice will you follow to be Jesus' Light?