Craft of Preaching

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Do we really? Do we actually want to see Jesus? Or do we pretend, feign interest, when in fact, seeing Jesus just …

“Definition of safe space: a place (as on a college campus) intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening …

John 3:16. Not an easy verse to ignore or pass over when it comes to preaching. And sometimes, Dear Working Preachers, we simply can’t. Often our …

My first job in college was as a DJ at the local country music station in Athens, Ohio. I had no idea what I was doing. Just managing the soundboard and …

Dear Working Preachers,

Something different this week. I preached on this text a few weeks ago at a continuing education event in Colorado talking about …

I recently returned from a weekend in a large Presbyterian church in Michigan, where I was asked to speak about the faith dimensions of creation care and …

“He said this openly.” No wonder Peter responded as he did. Rebuke seems appropriate when you are hearing something you don’t want to …

As someone who is formerly homeless, formerly incarcerated, and in long-term recovery I often find “Lenten disciplines” to be a funny deal. …

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, always the first Sunday of Lent, is an unnervingly muted event in Mark. Unlike Matthew and Luke, where we hear …

When I was a young boy, I accidentally memorized the books of the New Testament. I say “accidentally” because I had not intended to, and I did …

Yes, Jesus. It is good to be here. Isn’t this just the right summary of the Transfiguration? Indeed, how good it is to be here and yet how good it …

I find the central task of preaching and mothering to be the same -- to share God’s love. As a preacher I hope the words I preach inspire the hearers …

I’ve had a persistent problem with this passage. First blush was always suspicion and resentment. I mean, after all, Simon’s mother-in-law is …

“They kept on asking each other, what is this? A new teaching?”

There’s the rub of the Gospel and why the Gospel was put to death.

Working Preacher’s Lenten Series this year focuses on the “I AM” statements in the Gospel of John for the sake of intentional reflection …