Designed to empower preachers as they lead their congregations to connect their lives to Scripture, Connections features a broad set of interpretive tools that provide commentary and worship aids on the Revised Common Lectionary. For each worship day within the three-year lectionary cycle, the commentaries in Connections link the individual lection reading with Scripture as a whole as well as to the larger world. In addition, Connections places each Psalm reading in conversation with the other lections for the day to highlight the themes of the liturgical season. Finally, sidebars offer additional connections to Scripture for each Sunday or worship day. This nine-volume series is a practical, constructive, and valuable resource for preachers who seek to help congregations connect more closely with Scripture.

Designed to empower preachers as they lead their congregations to connect their lives to Scripture, Connections features a broad set of interpretive tools that provide commentary and worship aids on the Revised Common Lectionary. For each worship day within the three-year lectionary cycle, the commentaries in Connections link the individual lection reading with Scripture as a whole as well as to the larger world. In addition, Connections places each Psalm reading in conversation with the other lections for the day to highlight the themes of the liturgical season. Finally, sidebars offer additional connections to Scripture for each Sunday or worship day. This nine-volume series is a practical, constructive, and valuable resource for preachers who seek to help congregations connect more closely with Scripture.

This is a newly revised edition of one of the standard introductory preaching textbooks on the market today. Beginning with a solid theological basis, veteran preacher and best-selling author Thomas G. Long offers a practical, step-by-step guide to writing a sermon. Long centers his approach around the biblical concept of witness. To be a preacher, Long posits, is to be a witness to God's work in the worldone who sees before speaking, one whose task is to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about what is seen." This updated edition freshens up language and anecdotes, contains an extensive new analysis of the use of multimedia and its impact on preaching, and adds a completely new chapter on plagiarism in preaching. Included for the first time are four complete sermons, with Long's commentary and analysis. The sermons were written and originally preached by Barbara Brown Taylor, Cleophus J. LaRue. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, and Edmund Steimle. With this third edition, The Witness of Preaching reaffirms itself as the essential resource for seminary students as well as new and experienced preachers.

A straightforward treatment of the only existential issue that matters from the Christian perspective. In What Happens When We Die? Tom Long provides information about the promises and convictions of the Christian gospel concerning death and life after death. He surveys in simple terms the major themes surrounding death, dying, and hope for an afterlife.

Thomas G. Long, one of America's most trusted and thoughtful pulpit voices, provides a much needed theological and cultural critique of today's Christian funeral. Long begins by describing how the Christian funeral developed historically, theologically, and liturgically and then discusses recent cultural trends in funeral practices, including the rise in number of cremations and memorial services. He describes the basic pattern for a funeral service, details options in funeral planning, identifies characteristics of a "good funeral," and provides thoughtful guidance for preaching at a funeral.

But Long also notes a disturbing trend toward funeral services that seem theologically right and pastorally caring but actually depart from the primary aims of the Christian funeral. Long argues that the proper Christian funeral should be constructed around the metaphor of the deceased as a saint traveling on a baptismal journey toward God, accompanied by the community of faith on "the last mile of the way." He cautions that the cultural conditions for maintaining this view are under stress and a new, less theological and less satisfying metaphor that focuses on the mourner has begun to erode the Christian view. He contrasts the ancient grand community drama with today's trend toward body-less memorial services that focus primarily on the living and grief management, arguing that this is a loss for the church and calling for the church to reclaim the classic metaphor.

The world is slowly emerging from the worst global emergency in a century, and the myriad struggles of the contemporary moment-division, isolation, illness, and uncertainty-make living our faith a challenge. For Christians, a number of questions have gained new urgency: Where do we find hope when it seems in such short supply? Where are the signs of God's peace in this divided world? Where do we find a deeper sense of joy? Thomas G. Long and Donyelle C. McCray remind us that these are the questions of Advent in their new daily devotional, A Surprising God. Mindful of the stresses of life today in a world torn apart by conflict, marked by political division, and in the midst of a global health crisis, these devotions for Advent and Christmas invite readers to honest reflection on the challenges of being people of faith in this moment. Long and McCray explore what it means to wait for our salvation, to be open to the surprising thing that God is about to do, and to find hope in God's choice of the small and the insignificant.

Thomas G. Long's insightful commentary on the Pastoral Epistles argues that these often-neglected letters are urgently important for readers today. Some of the issues faced by New Testament churches are ours as well: the lure and peril of "spirituality" for Christians, the character of authentic worship, the qualities needed for sound leadership, and the relationship between family life and the church. Long's interpretations of these books consider contemporary exegetical and theological outlooks and are presented through his seasoned homiletical and pastoral perspectives. Pastors will be strengthened by Long's view that the Pastoral Epistles can refresh our memory about what really counts in the Christian community and how important trustworthy leaders are.

Description: Preaching has fallen on hard times with many questioning its relevance and even its validity as a New Testament practice. This symposium of specially commissioned essays draws together an international team of thirteen scholars and pastors to address the importance of textual preaching in the history and life of the early church, the historic church, and the contemporary church. Contributions include essays on Old Testament preaching, preaching in Hebrews, gender-sensitive preaching, preaching in the theology of Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and in Eastern Orthodoxy. It also includes essays on a range of homiletical challenges that textual preaching raises for the contemporary preacher, including genre, preaching without notes, inhabiting the text, and preaching without platitudes. A final reflection by Dave Hansen on the state of textual preaching rounds out the collection. The preaching of the gospel stands at the heart of Christian praxis. These essays make a vital contribution to the recovery of the importance of preaching, focused on the text of Scripture. Written with an eye to the pastor and practitioner as well as those in the pews and in the classroom, this is a book that should appeal to a wide range of readers.

Hebrews is a sermon from the early Christian church that addresses a real, urgent, and still relevant pastoral problem: a struggling congregation that may not keep the faith. Thomas Long shows how Hebrews exhorts the church to face its challenges and hold true, even into the twenty-first century. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry.

Description: Historically, people who have risen to the occasion to speak of faith for their generation have been keenly aware of their own limitations-whether Moses, who was ""slow of speech,"" or Isaiah, who was concerned that he spoke with ""unclean lips."" The question both Moses and Isaiah seem to be asking is, who am I to speak for God? And we wonder in turn, was it they who spoke, or God who spoke through them? These biblical images carry the weight of the question raised by the essays in this volume. How is preaching both the work of God and yet also a function of the individual's own person and identity? How is the preacher to conceive the identity he or she assumes when proclaiming the Word of God? Some of the leading educators in homiletics today propose a variety of possible preaching identities in this volume: preacher as messenger of hope, as lover, as God's mystery steward, as ridiculous person, as fisher, as host and guest, as one ""out of one's mind,"" and as one entrusted. The result is an open-ended invitation for readers to identify their own preaching identity either in concert with one of the images presented here or of their own making, appropriately contextualized to their own ministry and theology Endorsements: ""Take a turn with all eight of the homileticians in this volume and they will inspire and invigorate your preaching. Whether it is 'messenger of hope, ' 'lover, ' 'fisher, ' 'ridiculous person, ' or any of the other marvelous tropes and images they offer, these essays will challenge you to explore anew the holy necessity and human absurdity of preaching."" --Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm Bethany Theological Seminary ""The language we use shapes our perception of God, the world, and how we live. The language that preachers use to describe themselves organizes what they try to do in the pulpit. This provocative book offers the preacher eight vibrant images for the preacher from a major voice in contemporary scholarship in preaching . . . Each image prompts the preacher to envision the sermon in a different yet faithful way. Preachers who are ready for a jump start into fresh ways of thinking about their vocation will want this beautifully edited book."" --Ronald J. Allen Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis ""Apart from all the technical questions raised today about hermeneutics and homiletics and their relationship to rhetoric and post-modern interpretation, these essays raise the most important question of all: Where is God in all our verbiage? Serious students of preaching, both beginners and practitioners with decades of experience, can benefit by reading and reflecting on the perspectives of these authors."" --Judith M. McDaniel Virginia Theological Seminary ""Reading the fine essays here is like opening a summerhouse after a long winter: light rushes in, memories are stirred, old things are loved anew, new celebrations are imagined. This book addresses a key question: In preaching, what is the human role and what is God's role? The answers here are marvelous in their range, challenging in their diversity, and rich in their depth. They open windows for fresh winds to blow."" --Paul Scott Wilson Emmanuel College, University of Toronto About the Contributor(s): Robert Stephen Reid is Professor of Communication and Director of the Master's Degree Program in Communication at the University of Dubuque, Iowa. He is the author of The Four Voices of Preaching.

In this compelling and hard-hitting book, respected preacher and teacher Thomas Long identifies and responds to what he sees as the most substantive theological forces and challenges facing preaching today. The issues, he says, are fourfold: the decline in the quality of narrative preaching and the need for its reinvigoration; the tendency of preachers to ignore God's action and presence in our midst; the return of the church's old nemesis, gnosticism--albeit in a milder form--evidenced in today's new "spirituality"; and the absence of eschatology in the pulpit.

Long once again has his finger on the pulse of American preaching, demonstrated by his creative responses to these challenges. Whether he is calling for theologically smarter and more ethically discerning preaching, providing a method of interpretation that will allow pastors to recover the emphasis on God in our midst, or encouraging a kind of "interfaith dialogue" with gnosticism, he demonstrates why he has long been considered one of the most thoughtful and intelligent preachers in America today.

Preachings most able practitioners gather in this book to explore and explain the idea that preaching is a practice that can be taught and learned. Arguing that preaching is a living practice with a long tradition, an identifiable shape, and a broad set of norms and desired outcomes, these noted scholars propose that teachers initiate students into the larger practice of preaching, in ways somewhat like other students are initiated into the practice of medicine or law. The book concludes with designs for a basic preaching course and addresses the question of how preaching courses fit into the larger patterns of seminary curricula.

"Be like me "While many parents and leaders are understandably hesitant to utter such words, they are vitally needed today in a world where positive role models are often few and far between. Yet in these Cycle A epistle texts, the Apostle Paul is not bashful about challenging Christians to follow his example and live distinctively different lives -- lives that reflect the image of the risen Christ. Gary Carver shares that vision, and these outstanding messages lay out for readers the belief that we can grow every day to be more like Jesus.
"Gary Carver preaches at a way station on an ancient pilgrim road, offering comfort and hope to the weary traveler.... In these compelling sermons, Gary preaches to the mixed band of pilgrims jostling our way along toward the goal of spiritual discovery, and he speaks to our fears and doubts, our longings and our need, and most of all to our hunger to be closer to one whose presence forms the end of our restless trek.... Read these wonderful sermons and enjoy them. But, more important, read these sermons and take courage as you move faithfully along the pilgrim way." (from the Foreword)
Thomas G. Long
Bandy Professor of Preaching
Candler School of Theology, Emory University
"Someone has said that preaching is presenting the gospel through human personality. In this collection of well-crafted lectionary sermons, Gary Carver has ably presented the gospel -- his personality is evident in the richness of examples and illustrations."
June McEwen
Chair, Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs
Washington DC
"Distinctively Different is a very contemporary collection of spirited and spiritual reflections. In a quiet dialogue with Gary Carver, you are invited to revive your theological commitments, reflect on difficult questions, and renew your faith perspective. Share these motivational and innovative thoughts with your Bible study or your prayer group."
Claudia Highbaugh
Chaplain
Harvard Divinity School
"Preaching effectively to the same people week after week is one of the great challenges in Christian ministry. Gary Carver shows how it is done: biblical exposition, effective illustration, and relevant application. The power of these messages is that intellectual integrity is matched with passion."
Daniel Vestal
Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Atlanta, Georgia
"You simply must read Gary Carver's book If you want to meet Paul in the street and not just in the sanctuary, read this book. If you want to see that Paul's insights are more contemporary than this morning's newspaper, read this book. If you want your spirit refreshed and your soul uplifted, read this book. Give yourself a break today, read this book "
Buckner Fanning
Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church
San Antonio, Texas
Gary L. Carver is pastor of First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has also served as pastor of churches in Alabama and Indiana. Carver is a graduate of Samford University (B.A.) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.), and has done additional graduate study at Candler School of Theology and Harvard Divinity School. He has been widely published in a variety of church and clergy publications, and is the author of "Acting on the Absurd" and "Out From the Ordinary" (CSS).

This outstanding collection of sermons by one of the century's master preachers combines Will Ormond's distinctive style with commentary by noted scholar and former Academy of Homiletics president Lucy Rose. It's a classic text for students of preaching.