If your heart is on fire with God’s love, your preaching will help listeners encounter Christ and deepen their spiritual lives. And that should be the ultimate goal of a homily. Remembering Why We Preach is a retreat that will help you revive your creative energy and spiritual focus. Karla Bellinger—executive director of the Institute for Homiletics at the University of Dallas—and Fr. Michael Connors, CSC—director of the John S. Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics at the University of Notre Dame—lead you through an eight-part process of spiritual renewal and skill development that will nourish and enrich you and your preaching for years to come. Whether you are recently ordained or have been preaching for decades, you will explore the spiritual, pastoral, and communal aspects of preaching, which lies at the heart of the Church’s work of making disciples. This book can be used as a personal or group retreat or in preaching courses It includes: reading materials for personal reflection; questions for journaling or peer-group discussions; practical exercises to enhance skills such as listening to your people, storytelling, homily writing, and diversifying your speaking styles; and support materials such as an outlines for a peer-group meeting, a sample retreat format, and forms for homily feedback and goal setting. Links to additional resources are available in each chapter.

This is a short and to the point book on pastors and preaching. It is designed for the busy biovocational pastor who may not have the time nor desire to read a larger book on preaching. Much of the material in this book reflects the material in other books on preaching, but this book does contain some ideas that will not be found in any other book on preaching. This book suggests that a pastor who desires to see his people grow spiritually and in Biblical understanding would be well served to develop the practice of preaching through the books of the Bible. It points our some distinct advantages to the preacher and the congregation in this plan of preaching. The last section of the book contains some sermons that were prepared in the manner suggested by the author.

How can a preacher best address suicide from the pulpit? Pastors face many challenges. Suicide in a congregation is amongst the most heart-rending and intimidating. However, the preacher has a unique capacity to engender gospel hope for preparing the congregation and comforting the bereaved. To do so, preachers need help understanding the challenges and opportunities presented by addressing suicide from the pulpit. In Preaching Hope in Darkness, two practitioners in fields that do not typically interact--homiletics (Scott M. Gibson) and psychology (Karen Mason)--work together to support the preacher in this difficult task. Gibson and Mason offer wise advice on a range of topics such as suicide prevention, post-crisis care, and funeral sermon preparation. With an appendix of sample sermons and a sample funeral liturgy, Preaching Hope in Darkness is an essential go-to guide for this difficult topic.

We know of the preacher’s roles as both teacher and proclaimer, but Jeffrey Arthurs adds another assignment: the Lord’s remembrancer. With decades of preaching experience, he explains how to stir the memory of Christ-followers, fanning the flames of faith through vivid language, story, delivery, and ceremony. When knowledge fades and conviction cools, the church needs to be reminded of the great truths of the faith.

A Comprehensive Resource for Today’s Christian Communicators. This extensive encyclopedia is the most complete and practical work ever published on the art and craft of biblical preaching. Its 11 major sections contain nearly 200 articles, comprehensively covering topics on preaching and methodology, including: Sermon structure and “the big idea.” The art of introductions, transitions, and conclusions. Methods for sermon prep, from outlining to exercising. Approaches to different types of preaching: topical, expository, evangelistic, and more. Best practices for sermon delivery, speaking with authority, and using humor. Leveraging effective illustrations and stories. Understanding audience. and much more. Entries are characterized by intensely practical and vivid writing designed to help preachers deepen their understanding and sharpen their communication skills. The contributors include a virtual Who’s Who of preaching from a cross section of denominations and traditions, such as Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, Rick Warren, Warren Wiersbe, Alice Mathews, John Piper, Andy Stanley, and many others. Haddon Robinson and Craig Brian Larson—two of today’s most respected voices in preaching—provide editorial oversight. Includes audio CD with preaching technique examples from the book.

This book is a look into the lives of young children and what some must go through to help them. People must be held accountable for their actions and ultimately answer for their convictions.

I was seventy when I began Morning Glory, and now I am seventy-nine years old. I come from a family of fourteen children: seven boys and seven girls. The boys' name started with L and the girls with J. I was the tenth child, born in Council Bluffs, Iowa! I grew up in Lawndale, California, and presently live in Klamath Falls, Oregon. I am married to Jim and have a son, Dan, and a daughter, Jennifer. I also have three grandsons who are a gift from God in my old age. Teaching God's word is what I have loved to do since I was eighteen years old! I love being married, being a mom, and a grandma! God has rewarded me with sharing my memories of struggles and joys of a fleshly life, all the time aspiring to become the woman God wanted me to be. Morning Glory became an outlet to remember my past and became an instrument for my well-being in Jesus Christ. To God, I give the honor and the glory in all of heaven and in all the earth!

Preacher and teacher David Mosser offers practical and spiritual guidance for pastors struggling to manage and respond to changes in the economy, changes in their neighborhoods, changes in their denominations, changes in the congregation, changes in culture, and the life changes present in every parishioner's life. Wise words from authors such as Alyce McKenzie, David Buttrick, Joanna Adams, and Thomas Long all contribute to this most timely and helpful book.