Craft of Preaching

We preachers are intercalators. Maybe at some point in time, we learned to be so from Mark. This is Mark’s specialty, of course -- inserting one story …

Using an imagination notebook when studying the scriptures can be an effective tool in preaching, especially because the preacher will be able to interpret …

Transitions matter.

“On that day” -- on what day, exactly? Inquiring minds want to know, Mark.

Well, on the same day, as it turns out, that …

Several weeks of Gospel texts this summer read John 6, beginning with the story of Jesus’ feeding the multitudes with five barley loaves and two fish. …

“The earth produces on its own.” Thank God, literally.

Every once in a while Jesus gives us a break -- a break from the demands of bringing …

When a new friend learns I’m an only child, they often assume my life is free from complications. I am an only child who made myself and the house …

Two brief stories illustrate the difficulty of preaching about sin and forgiveness these days:

First, I had the honor of bringing communion to a wonderful, …

“Out of his mind.” That seems about right when it comes to perceptions of what we believe, whom we follow, and how we live as Christians. Accusations …

This past week was the 26^th Festival of Homiletics in Washington, D.C., “Preaching and Politics.” An appropriate place and theme for times such …

Confession time -- I am not a systematic theologian. So when it comes to saying something about the Trinity, the theological hairs on the back of my head …

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?” - Luke 7:44a

I am a Korean-American and have served in predominately …

Pentecost Sunday. A rather troubling misnomer, after all. Because even though we know in theory that the Spirit was never meant to be contained to one Sunday …

Graduate Recognition Sunday.

Just the mention is enough to give you THE SHIVERS,^[1] isn’t it?

Not for every church, and not for every grad. It’s …

Back in February, I was the presenter at a woman’s retreat, my fourth year in a row with a group of women from this particular church. The retreat …

Maybe we should pay for the high school trumpet player’s music lessons so we can keep the trumpet sounding for the great fifty days of Easter. I learned …