Author: Administrador

William Barclay was one of the most effective communicators of the Gospel in the 20th Century. A classics and Greek scholar, he wrote about the New Testament with amazing clarity. While he was a theological liberal his work is used by persons of various theological positions.Barclay’s prolific writings began as a serendipity. The person writing … Continue reading “William Barclay, Remarkable Communicator”

As winter fades and spring begins to bloom, I’ve been thinking about:The Kentucky Derby is finally getting religion. As this issue goes to press, the favored horse is named “Pulpit.” Perhaps this could be the beginning of a trend. Future contenders may carry names like “Seeker Sensitive,” “Inductive,” or “Three-Points-end-a Poem.”Another positive sign is that … Continue reading “Random Thoughts”

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2)Who among us, as a preacher, has not given extra thought to Paul’s inspired words to his son in the gospel, Timothy? Perhaps your own “Paul” inscribed these words on the flyleaf of … Continue reading “Restoring Our Passion for Excellence in Preaching”

When it comes to preaching, the book of Proverbs has fallen on hard times. The thicket of individual proverbs that are located in chapters 10-29 have been marginalized in homiletic circles for a number of reasons. For one, the individual proverbs are perceived as having no context. The sayings, according to customary scholarly consent, are … Continue reading “A New Proposal for Preaching from Proverbs”

The process of fermentation in wine-making is a helpful image in understanding what is happening in church and culture in the United States at the turn of the millennia. Ripe, succulent grapes are picked from the vine. They are crushed. The juice is put into a cask where it ferments. The grape juice changes into … Continue reading “Preaching in a Culture in Ferment”

Seeing a group of American preachers trying to decipher the London “tube” (subway) system, and helping a pastor translate “prawn” from the restaurant menu (we call them shrimp) were just two of the reminders that Americans and British are two peoples divided by a common language.The International Congress on Preaching was held this spring at … Continue reading “Crossing Borders with the Cross”

Key to the Index:J/A July-August 1996S/O September-October 1996N/D November-December 1996J/F January-February 1997M/A March-April 1997M/J May-June 1997Author Index Abbott, H. Mark. When Idols Are Worshipped. (Sermon). S/O-96-38.Allen, Ronald J. and Richard W. Jensen. Preaching in a Culture in Ferment. (Feature). M/J-97-12.Anderson, Leith. When God Wills Something Different. (Sermon). J/A-96-24.Arthurs, Jeffrey. Performing the Story. (Feature). M/A-97-30.Aycock, Don … Continue reading “The 1996-97 Index of Preaching Volume 12 – July-August 1996 through May-June 1997”

I innocently wandered into our family room where a dynamic force had taken command. In seconds, that two-foot square brown box captured my attention and reeled me in like a light-weight paper clip to a high powered magnet. In willing submission, I abandoned my previous agenda and slid into a comfortable chair to stare at … Continue reading ““Life Illustrated” Stories Offer Added Focus to Sermons”

The comment has been made, “Most preachers are like the peace and mercy of God. Like the peace of God, they are completely beyond your understanding and like the mercy of God, you are scared to death they are going to continue forever.”Ask non-Christians how they feel about preaching and you may receive an answer … Continue reading “How Do You Capture the Attention of Non-Christians?”

Stephen Olford has had an illustrious career as an evangelist, pastor, preacher, and encourager of preachers. He is noted for his pastorates at Duke Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Surrey, England and Calvary Baptist Church in New York City. Currently he directs the Stephen F. Olford Center for Biblical Preaching in Memphis, Tennessee. Nearing the … Continue reading “Preaching the Word: An Interview with Stephen F. Olford”