Embody by Karoline M. Lewis
In her book, Dr. Lewis analyzes various models of leadership and offers a metaphor of the Paraclete as a framework for leading with integrity.
Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide by Leah D. Schade
Dr. Schade’s book offers tools for bridging the red-blue divide and for addressing controversial issues of public concern while building up your parishioners’ faith.
Words That Heal: Preaching Hope to Wounded Souls by Joni Sancken
Preaching with empathy for wounded souls can help with healing. Dr. Sancken introduces the term “soul wounds” and defines it as experiencing loss, brokenness, unresolved pain, and grief. She acknowledges that healing from these wounds does not happen instantaneously and that we should allow the time for the complex process of healing to unfold.
The Overshadowed Preacher by Jerusha Matsen Neal
Dr. Neal talks about her exploration of what it means to be fully human as a preacher and as a pastor. Her book exposes the “shadows” – false understandings of who we are as preachers.
Practicing the Preaching Life by David B. Ward
Dr. Ward shifts the conversation from homiletical techniques to Christian practices, or contextual virtues, that give life to preachers and to their preaching.
Ingenuity: Preaching as an Outsider by Lisa L. Thompson
In the Must Reads interview, Dr. Thompson elaborates on the challenges that black women preachers face as outsiders in the pulpit.
Finders Weepers, Losers Keepers - Reflections on Matthew 16:24-28
“Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Something is lost. Something more important is found.
Inside Out: Reflections on Matthew 15:1-20
Clean hands aren’t enough. The heart must also be pure. The pure in heart are those who are spiritually pure rather than ritually or ceremonially clean. Most people get heart checkups and start watching what goes into their mouths. Jesus recommends that we check out our hearts and then start watching what comes out of them!
Feeding the Multitude: Reflections on Matthew 14:13-21
As we stand in the shoes of the disciples in Matthew’s account, we are to obey Jesus’ daring, ridiculous command. We are to offer our limited resources to him to bless and multiply, and take responsibility, not to hoard them for ourselves, but to distribute them to others.
Simplify the Message: Multiply the Impact by Talbot Alan Davis
Veteran preachers regularly become attached to their favorite/comfortable methodologies. Davis offers both novice and old hand preachers a new point of view by which they can create and analyze sermons. The book’s balance flows from the principal of one point and its attendant bottom line.
Weeds Among the Wheat: Reflections on Matthew 13:24-30
The presence of forgiveness in our lives is an important criterion on which our obedience will be judged when the time comes. We are not to roll judgmentally down the road of life, but we are to stop when necessary, to take stock of our own sins and to extend the same forgiveness we have received to others.
Let’s Hear Something We Haven’t Heard Before - Reflection on Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
When my now grown son Matt was a boy, I would read him Bible passages every night. Every now and then, when we would return to a familiar passage, he would say, “Let’s hear something we haven’t heard before.”
We’ve all heard the parable of the sower many, many times before. How to rekindle interest? Let’s try rebranding “The Parable of the Sower” and see if any new insights arise.
