Articles

In his book The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, Roland Bainton includes a priceless story from the early days of Zwingli's ministry in Zurich. The year was 1519, and Zwingli's ministry in the city had rec...

For most of Christian history, preaching and pastoral care would not be spoken of with a plural verb. Preaching and pastoral care were seen and practiced as a singular experience. The earliest formulations of p...

Evangelistic proclamation has for centuries assumed a major role in the communication of the church. But the contemporary moment has witnessed an attenuation of the evangelistic thrust in many pulpits. Some eve...

On a sunny March morning near Canada's capital city I sauntered along a deserted railway line enjoying the journey immensely. I watched tree sparrows picking weed seeds, melt water trickling towards the river, ...

Sermon writing and preaching have become for me, and perhaps other ministers, something more than just another function of church life. It has become, in fact, a whole process of self-examination, spiritual gro...

Come on, preacher, preach.Don't coddle me, don't just stroke me beyond credibility, don't insult me by thinking I'm stupid. Don't try to pass off as the message from on high cheap, unprepared remarks. Don't jus...

The coming of the Christmas season is a reminder of the glory of being a preacher of the gospel.Those who stand in the Christian pulpit to proclaim the Word are part of a rich heritage that leads back to a Gali...

When you stand to preach, what happens? Are all your parishioners docile receivers waiting with open hearts? Is all resistance melted? Does all indifference and hostility evaporate when the congregation enters ...

Our newly acquired daughter-in-law had not been raised in a Christian home. She joined in Sunday worship with a vigor and interest that thrilled us. Each Sunday after and during dinner she questioned us about t...