Two preachers look at the practical issues of getting to the heart of the biblical text, controlling content so you say what you mean to say, and delivering sermons in a way that keeps people awake.

According to the Reformers, preaching is the word of God. As the word of God, preaching is a foundation for the church. It is also vital for the personal growth of a Christian. But Christians are poorly equipped to understand how preaching is the word of God. Some Christians look for preaching that closely reproduces the text in the Bible. Other Christians look for preaching that creates maximal emotional and existential impact. And there is a lot of name-calling with Christians accusing preachers of "not preaching the word." But what type of preaching is the word of God? The purpose of this book is to equip Christians to understand how preaching can be God speaking. It accomplishes this with a survey of the problem in the history of the church, a detailed overview of key biblical texts, and finally the application of the contemporary philosophical tool of speech act theory.

Though written thousands of years ago, the book of Deuteronomy is unmatched in its relevance for the affluent Western church of today. Moses' words were meant to equip God's people for living godly lives in a prosperous, pluralistic world. The cultural changes now taking place in our own social setting make the parallel between Israel and the church—and what Deuteronomy has to say—both pertinent and instructive. This New Studies in Biblical Theology volume offers a significant study of Deuteronomy that recovers this Scripture's vibrant message for the contemporary Christian community. Showing the major contribution that Deuteronomy makes to our understanding of the Bible as a whole, J. Gary Millar explores Deuteronomy's ethical teaching in the light of its most important theological themes: covenant, journey, law, the nations and human nature. His perceptive analysis reveals the power with which Deuteronomy calls God's covenant people, from ancient Israelites to modern-day Christians, to hear God's voice and do his will. Whether read for its critical study of Scripture or for its practical insights into living faithfully today, this book will be a valuable resource for school, church and home. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

This book examines what Lutheran theology adds to the whole field of youth ministry that isn't found elsewhere. It begins with an introduction to Eutychus, who is a paradigm of adolescent development.

Most Christians already know that they should be telling their friends about Jesus. But they have been poorly equipped with methods that are no longer effective in today's post-Christian world. As a result, many people become frustrated, blame themselves, and simply give up. Evangelism in a Skeptical World is a textbook on evangelism that is ideal for the church or the classroom to equip Christians with the principles and skills they need to tell the unbelievable news about Jesus to friends in a skeptical world. Many of the older principles and methods of evangelism in the twentieth century no longer work effectively today. In a post-Christian, post-churched, post-reached world we need new methods to communicate the timeless message of the gospel in culturally relevant ways. Dr. Chan combines the theological and biblical insights of classic evangelistic training with the latest insights from missiology on contextualization, cultural hermeneutics, and storytelling. Every chapter is illustrated with real-world examples drawn from over fifteen years of evangelistic ministry. These are methods that really work - with university students, urban workers, and high school students - getting past the defensive posture that people have toward Christianity so they can seriously consider the claims of Jesus Christ. Field-tested and filled with unique, fresh, and creative insights, this book will equip you to share the gospel in today's world and help as many people as possible hear the good news about Jesus.

Through the eyes of a modern medical missionary, who observes and notes everything from Christ's bedside manner to his diagnostic expertise, readers can understand Jesus in ways they have never considered Him before. Readers can experience the tension, risks, and awesome wonder of what God accomplishes in the midst of brokenness and seemingly impossible circumstances.

US Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black, PhD. Senate Chaplains Office, S-332, The Capitol, Washington, DC, 20510. He wrote: I look forward to devouring your final chapters, for I have been greatly blessed by what you had previously written. . . I believe this will be a significant contribution to the homiletical literature, combining scholarship and practicality as it is rarely seen, helping to fill a void. Dr. Derek J. Morris. Director, Hope Channel, and former editor of Ministry Magazine, published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and read by clergy of all faiths. He responded, This is the best work I have read by an Adventist author on preaching. Its EXCELLENT! Pastor Adrian Craig. Australian church leader and internationally acclaimed preacher. He said, Here are a few preliminary comments about your excellent book on preaching. In 321 pages, you have packed full a comprehensive and detailed volume on the art of preaching. One has to read and pause and absorb. Your terse verse, one-liners, and the illustrations are readily saleable. Mummies dancing, the description of the horse as it relates to the pace of preaching, the Ravi illustration on page 99, and your repeated use of scripture to illustrate points shouts volumes of your commitment to the Word.