Sustaining Preachers and Preaching: A Practical Guide

Introduction\Acknowledgements\Part One: Preachers and Preaching\Chapter 1: The Debate About Preaching: a Challenge for all the Churches\Chapter 2: Steps Towards Sustainable, Effective Preaching \Part Two: Working Dynamics and Relationships\ Introduction\Chapter 3: Private and Public Vocational Life Cycle of a Preacher\Chapter 4: The Preaching Circle\Chapter 5: Preachers and the Nature of Congregations\Part Three: Making a Sermon\Introduction\Chapter 6: Pressures on Preachers Today\Chapter 7: Using the Bible in Preaching\Chapter 8: Constructing a Sermon\Part Four: Sustaining Developmental Support Cultures, Services and Networks\Introduction\Chapter 9: Sustaining Personal and Interpersonal Support\Chapter 10: Facilitating Local Developmental Programmes and Interpersonal Support\Chapter 11: An Ongoing Local Development Programme\Part Five: Sustaining Preachers in a Fast-Changing World\Chapter 12: For Such a Time as This: Continuity and Change in Preaching\Chapter 13: The Renewal of Preaching\Appendix I: Commitment, Challenge & Faith\Appendix II: What Jesus Wanted Most for his Church\ Index

Preaching may be a more counter-cultural activity than earlier generations found it; but it's all the more important to do it well and imaginatively. Here, in an attractive and accessible blend of theology and reflection on patterns of learning, we have a guide to the main issues that will be welcome to those in all denominations who are working to find effective ways - to borrow John Wesley's phrase - of 'offering Christ' to the people.
This is a page turner - sweeping us along with its energy, uncovering one layer after another, introducing us to one facet of truth after another. Yet it also stands as a work of reference, a text book, a vade mecum. Two seasoned preachers have laid bare their art and we can all feel inspired, encouraged, goaded, challenged by t heir work.
'The book does go someway to replace the writing of Philips Brooks - and not before time!'
'Its [the book's] style is didactic and authoritative... there is much here to learn and much that could apply to less conventional settings that those envisaged by the authors.'
The book... will be useful for those who teach preachers and those responsible for providing refresher courses.