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BOOK REVIEW: “Practicing the Preaching Life” by David Ward

David B. Ward. Practicing the Preaching Life. Nashville: Abingdon Press, March 19 2019. 212 pages ISBN-10: 1501854941 At some point over the week of preparation a frantic breath of prayer springs forth, “God, let this be a good sermon.” The sun goes down, Sunday comes, the sermon is spoken, and the preacher quickly finds that […]

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Book Review: Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale by Frederick Buechner

Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale by Frederick Buechner Books on preaching can often focus on the mechanics of delivering an excellent sermon; and while learning the mechanics of delivery is a crucial task for preaching proficiency, part of what makes a sermon truly good is the perspective with which […]

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Recommended New Ministry Books

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Preaching Resource: Every Moment Holy

Preaching Resource: Every Moment Holy Find on Amazon Here Preaching is just one sub-category of pastoral speech. What we say outside the pulpit–when comforting a family after the loss of a loved one, praying for a patient about to undergo surgery, or meeting with a small group leader about the people they disciple–requires just as […]

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Quotations by and for Preachers

  Below are a few prompts for your thoughts. Please do not strip mine them for your sermon in coming weeks. These are meant for pondering, for personal reflection, for prayer, and for transformation of the preacher. Then, if they have lived within the well of your heart for some time, feel free to preach […]

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Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service

Each New Year methodist gatherings in Britain and eventually around the world celebrated a Covenant Renewal Service. It began in the 1750s with a desire by Charles and John Wesley to renew the commitment of the people under their care, and to give an alternative to the drunken parties of the New Year. It continued […]

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Fresh Brew: Book Recommendation – Preaching on Proverbs

Preaching on Proverbs – Amazon link

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So Many Good Preaching Sources, Where to Start?

Exegetical vs Homiletical Resources I once heard a craftsman who was working on a house job with only a tool or two in hand say, “I don’t use every tool every time. That’s why I have the big truck. It holds the ones I might use.” Preaching tools are just that, tools. Some you use […]

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Book Review: Ways of the World

From time to time we include book reviews of new preaching resources on Wesleyan Sermons. Scott Donahue, a Wesleyan Master of Divinity student at Princeton Theological Seminary, has offered the below review on a new work by Dr. Sally Brown and Dr. Luke Powery. I recently led a panel reviewing their work at the Academy […]

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Accompany Them with Singing – The Christian Funeral | Book Review

If you go looking for a good book on funeral services, you will look for a while. Eventually, you will end up with one good book in hand: Accompany Them with Singing. Most pastors I know would rather perform three funerals for well loved saints than one wedding full of family conflict and superficial pageantry. […]