The Glory of Preaching: Participating in God's Transformation of the World
"All of us who preach want our sermons to make a difference. InThe Glory of PreachingDarrell Johnson turns those 'wants' into real hope. He believes the preaching of the Word of God changes the world because when we preach we are participating in God's own speaking. Here is a treasure book of insights in theology and communication. But most of all it is about preaching as 'standing in the mystery' of God speaking through us. Reading it makes me glad  I have preached, wishing that I had preached better and excited about preaching more! Read it and you will feel the same." (Leighton Ford, author of The Attentive Life)"Breathlessly passionate, carefully studied, humbly dependent, spiritually theological, eagerly convicted, thoughtfully practical, joyfully hopeful: these words describe Darrell Johnson, and they are among the infectious qualities ofThe Glory of Preaching.By all means, read this book and 'participate in God's transformation of the world.'" (Mark Labberton, Lloyd John Ogilvie Professor of Preaching, Fuller Theological Seminary)"Pastors get asked to do many things, but there is 'one thing needful'--preaching. Lest the 'one thing' get buried in the frenzy of multitasking, we need continual reaffirmation of the 'one thing' that as both glory and mystery anchors our vocation. Welcome Darrell Johnson as a serious and joyous preaching companion. All of us working pastors need a preacher like him in our life." (Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message, and Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia)"'Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?' asked the seventeenth-century poet George Herbert. Darrell Johnson takes up the question of how a human person can speak God's Word to a contemporary congregation, and he does it in a way that takes us beyond the art of preaching--into its heart. Darrell Johnson's thoughtful, articulate, pastoral voice is heard throughout the book, as he generously shares his own sermon-making experience and expertise with those who are learning to preach. But this book goes beyond being a textbook for preachers: it is a meditation on the mystery of God's self-disclosure. Darrell Johnson has written a book that is a refreshing gift to the church, challenging the reader to engage every sermon, whether as preacher or as listener, in a spirit of awe-filled thanksgiving to the One who continues to speak God's eternal Word through mortal speakers." (Maxine Hancock, Ph.D., professor of interdisciplinary studies and spiritual theology, Regent College, and author of Living on Less & Liking It More and Re-evaluating Your Commitments)"Preachers who wonder whether their preaching is worth the effort will find this book encouraging. Darrell Johnson believes that 'something always happens' when the Word of God is preached. Not only does he tell us what happens, but he tells us why. It is this biblical and theological grounding of the preacher's task that makes this book unique." (Kenton C. Anderson, professor of homiletics, ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University, www.preaching.org)