Preaching that Matters: Reflective Practices for Transforming Sermons

by Lori Carrell

Publisher:

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

, 2013

Overview

Listeners do love their pastors and they agree with the sermon content they hear,’ Lori Carrell once explained to a group of pastors, ‘but most sermons don’t ask for change, and most listeners don’t experience spiritual growth as a result of the sermon.’ A participant responded: ‘Let’s get practical. I want my preaching to make a difference. What changes are worth making, and how do I make them?’ In Preaching that Matters, Lori Carrell shares answers to that question, drawing on the experiences of thousands of people—preachers and their listeners—whose effort she has studied over many years.

In each chapter of this book, she offers research revelations about high impact preaching that will encourage and challenge readers to continue to grow as preachers. She then links these principles with Reflective Practice Challenges (RPCs), exercises that honor the rich experiences of pastors while opening opportunities for self-analysis, spiritual introspection, conversation with a trusted other, or implementation of research-based preaching recommendations. The activities have been used by hundreds of other pastors, and each RPC has been carefully selected for its demonstrated contribution to the process of transforming sermon communication.

A selection of the RPCs are available as a downloadable file. E-mail [e-mail] for more information.

As a communication expert, Carrell approaches preaching from a ‘sermon communication’ paradigm. She begins with the task of identifying the spiritually transformative purpose of the sermon and then explores exegeting, organizing, deepening, and delivering the sermon, as well as listening to the listeners and planning for continued transformation. Her own goal is simple: to inspire and equip clergy to make changes that will enhance the transformative power of their preaching.

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Features

Resource material has been prepared by the authors, and is available through the publisher. In order to obtain this material, please contact [e-mail]. You will be asked to provide proof of purchase. For course adoptions, you will need to provide your course information.

For additional resources, go to https://rowman.com/Page/TextBooksMain.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1: Affirming That Preaching Matters
Chapter 2: Embracing a Sermon Communication Perspective
Chapter 3: Transforming, Not Informing
Chapter 4: Exegeting, Then Organizing
Chapter 5: Going Deeper, Not Wider
Chapter 6: Delivering, Not Decorating
Chapter 7: Loving Your Language
Chapter 8: Listening to Your Listeners
Chapter 9: Planning for Continued Transformation
Notes

Praise for Preaching that Matters

Dr. Carrell astutely reminds preachers that our assemblies expect an encounter with God. A spiritually transformative encounter, which God has called us to create by our words, is something this book can help us achieve with its wisdom and exercises.

It is one thing to challenge preachers to prepare and deliver sermons that not only inform but transform; it is another thing altogether to offer them a way to reach that goal. Lori Carrell invites preachers to engage in reflective practices and constructive activities to break bad preaching habits and develop an approach to preaching based on solid sermon communication research.

This book equips preachers to reflect critically on their current process of sermon preparation and to reenvision it from the inside out.

If preachers will devote themselves to reading, praying, and listening their way through this book, it will push the public preaching of the gospel in the direction it so desperately needs to go.

Lori Carrell is tenacious in her determination to help preachers get better at preaching the most important message on the planet. I unreservedly recommend Preaching that Matters to anyone who takes serious wanting to get better in their preaching.

Product Details

• Title : Preaching that Matters: Reflective Practices for Transforming Sermons
• Author: Carrell, Lori J.
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication Date: 2013
• ISBN: 9781566996082

About the Author

Lori J. Carrell is professor of communication and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Dr. Carrell's vision is to educate, inspire, and equip others to maximize the transformative power of the spoken word. Her research explores the impact of communication education for those who preach and teach. Host of the television show "Ask God!," Dr. Carrell has been awarded an Endowment for Excellence Professorship.