Preaching is a very personal process: a minister or speaker prepares his or her own sermon and presents it to the congregation. Sermons draw upon the Bible as a central source, and the source provides a basis of faith for the believing community. The preaching event is also personal for the individual members of the congregation, who receive the preacher's words, based on a biblical text, in their own unique way. In the synthesis of Biblical text, sermon, and listener response, many testimoniesare present. Preaching and the Personal is a collection of papers that have been presented at the Society of Biblical Literature. These papers encourage and nurture dialogue among scholars who share an interest in the unique theological problems inherent to the relationship between biblical interpretation and proclamation. Preaching and the Personal opens a stimulating dialogue in the field.

Preaching is a personal event: a minister or speaker prepares his or her sermon and presents it to the congregation. Preaching, however, also includes the Bible as a central source; this source comes from and provides a basis for the believing community. The preaching event is also personal for the members of the congregation, who are not simply recipients of the preacher's words based on a biblical text. The congregation is involved personally in that each individual interprets the words and the text. What is said in the text, in the sermon, and the listener's response represent parts of each one's testimony. Testimony runs throughout preaching, the Bible, and the congregation. It is in this interchange of preacher, text, and listener that not just one testimony develops but many testimonies are present.

Preaching Magazine's 2015 Book of the Year If you are a pastor, you know the importance of preaching. You have spent time learning and refining the art of preaching because it is vital to the life of God's people—including the preacher. But you probably also find it challenging. On Preaching is a masterful resource that will refresh your soul and revitalize your preaching ministry. Drawing upon Scripture and years of preaching experience, H. B. Charles offers a practical resource for pastors, seminarians, church planters, and Bible teachers that is full of energy and wonderfully enjoyable. He gives tips like, "Avoid indecent exposure—get your wife's permission before using your family in the message" and "Illustrate! A good illustration is like a window on a house. It helps your listeners see in or out." Written in a very clear and concise manner, this resource is formatted into 30 short chapters that can easily be read as a devotional. On Preaching will encourage seasoned preachers to dig deeper into the basics as they pause and reflect on the effectiveness of their ministry. It will also serve as a spring board for those who are just beginning a preaching ministry.

More and more pulpits are occupied by motivational speakers rather than preachers. Church congregations are not being given a comprehensive, biblical understanding of the faith. Drawing on his own experience as a pastor in Zambia, Conrad Mbewe tackles issues such as the content of pastoral preaching, how pastoral preaching relates to church life, finding the time to prepare pastoral sermons, and dealing with discouragement. Throughout the book, it is clear that the author’s conviction is to see preachers grow strong churches, to build a people for God.

For twenty years Preaching magazine has observed, encouraged, and reported on the state of Christian proclamation. Among the most important and popular features of the publication are the personal interviews with outstanding preachers and influencers of preaching. Preaching with Power combines the best of the most recent interviews to build a resource that imparts valuable insight from many gifted communicators. Editor Michael Duduit has skillfully combined interviews with such luminaries as Bryan Chapell, T. D. Jakes, Haddon Robinson, Rick Warren, and more. Each tells his own story in his own words, speaking about his passion to preach God's truth. Better than any volume currently available, this collection captures the rich diversity and power of preaching in America.

From one pastor to another... No one is ever fully prepared for the ministry. For pastors just starting out, those needing a little rebalancing, or those growing tired in the trenches, a short guide to the basics is a welcome relief. In On Pastoring, H. B. Charles gives 30 instructive reflections on the pastor’s heart, leadership, and public ministry, covering topics like: Cultivating personal godliness Prioritizing your family Guarding your ministry effectiveness Planning, preparing, and preaching sermons Balancing pastoral roles and duties Being a pastor means wearing many hats, weathering lots of pressure, and bearing great responsibility. Let H. B. Charles be a trusted advisor as you do the serious work of shepherding a flock of God.