Folly, Grace, and Power: The Mysterious Act of Preaching
Overview
When you stand before your congregation, what do you hope to accomplish when you preach the Word? If people have Bibles and the freedom to read and pray on their own—why do they need you? In short, what do you bring to the table?
Author, pastor, and professor John Koessler answers those questions and many more. Why does one sermon have a powerful effect on the audience while another falls flat? Why should listeners heed what the preacher says? Is human language adequate for facilitating an encounter with God? What is the point of preaching a sermon? Folly, Grace, and Power is a must-read for pastors, seminarians, and lay leaders charged with the task of preaching God’s word. This essential book is both a stern reminder of the sacredness of the awesome “job” of being a preacher, as well as a how-to that reveals the key to speaking powerfully on God’s behalf.
- Foreword by Dr. Bryan Chapell
- Theological reflection
Top Highlights
“Fosdick’s approach seems particularly vulnerable to this, assuming as it does that the chief purpose of every sermon is to solve the audience’s problems. God is interested in our problems, but preaching does not always solve them. Indeed, it is entirely possible that some preaching, if it is true to Scripture, may actually create problems.” (Page 23)
“Preaching is folly, but it is an intentional folly. Preaching is folly, but it is a folly that saves. We continue to preach because God has bound himself to the preached message and has promised to use it as an instrument of grace and power. The God who spoke the world into being uses our words to bend the world to his will. This is our conviction, despite the fear and trembling we feel when we stand before God’s people to declare his Word. Our aim is not merely to instruct, much less to entertain. We are waiting on the lightning and thunder. Our aim is to raise the dead.” (Page 30)
“In the sermon, the preacher makes God’s written word incarnate by speaking the biblical author’s words into the contemporary context.” (Page 49)
“The fundamental theological assumption of preaching is that the preacher speaks for God.” (Page 75)
“Often both groups—the redeemed and those who are not yet believers—are part of the same audience. The same gospel applies to both. When we preach the gospel to those who are lost, we hold out the hope of Christ to them and call them to the obedience of faith. When we preach the gospel to those who already believe, we hold before them the Bible’s vision of reality and call them to act accordingly.” (Page 116)
John Koessler has written an inspiring and responsible theological reflection on the proclamation of the Word. This book is full of meaty insights. Preaching is an exercise not just in communication but also in incarnation. Indeed, Koessler challenges us with the inspiring and sobering truth that to preach is to prepare others for eternity.
—Chris Brauns, pastor, The Red Brick Church
Whether you are a seasoned preacher or just getting started, if you care about being an effective preacher, this book is a must-read for you.
—Joseph M. Stowell, president, Cornerstone University
- Title: Folly, Grace, and Power: The Mysterious Act of Preaching
- Author: John Koessler
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Print Publication Date: 2011
- Logos Release Date: 2012
- Pages: 160
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Preaching
- ISBNs: 9780310497097, 9780310325611, 0310497094, 0310325617
- Resource ID: LLS:FLLYGRCPOWER
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:00:01Z