Outreach 2023 Resource of the Year (Leadership) We live in angry times. No matter where we go, what we watch, or how we communicate, our culture is rife with division and polarization. Unfortunately, Christians appear to be caught up in the same animosity as the culture at large. While our faith calls us to Christian unity, the hard fact remains: our churches are tragically divided across class, ethnic, gender, and political lines. As these social chasms grow--both inside and outside the church--the role of the preacher becomes paramount. This book issues a prophetic call to pastors to use the influence of their pulpits to promote reconciliation and unity in their churches and communities. Two scholar-practitioners who are experts in homiletics and reconciliation present a practical, seven-step model that empowers faithful leaders to bring healing and peace to their fractured churches and world. The book includes questions for reflection, salient illustrations, and an accountability covenant. It also includes useful appendixes on preaching themes, preaching texts, and sample sermons from three leading preachers: Ralph Douglas West, Rich Villodas, and Sandra Maria Van Opstal.
Outreach 2023 Resource of the Year (Leadership) We live in angry times. No matter where we go, what we watch, or how we communicate, our culture is rife with division and polarization. Unfortunately, Christians appear to be caught up in the same animosity as the culture at large. While our faith calls us to Christian unity, the hard fact remains: our churches are tragically divided across class, ethnic, gender, and political lines. As these social chasms grow--both inside and outside the church--the role of the preacher becomes paramount. This book issues a prophetic call to pastors to use the influence of their pulpits to promote reconciliation and unity in their churches and communities. Two scholar-practitioners who are experts in homiletics and reconciliation present a practical, seven-step model that empowers faithful leaders to bring healing and peace to their fractured churches and world. The book includes questions for reflection, salient illustrations, and an accountability covenant. It also includes useful appendixes on preaching themes, preaching texts, and sample sermons from three leading preachers: Ralph Douglas West, Rich Villodas, and Sandra Maria Van Opstal.
Contents
Introduction
1. The Theological Step: The Sins of Pride and Prejudice
2. The Contextual Step: America's Past and Present Reality
3. The Personal Step: Facing Our Sin and Acknowledging Our
Prejudices
4. The Positional Step: We Are Heralds, Not Heart-Changers
5. The Methodological Step: A Homiletic for Reconciliation and
Unity
6. The Practical Step: Pre-Sermon, Mid-Sermon, and Post-Sermon
Practices
7. The Categorical Step: Biblical Themes and Texts
Conclusion
Appendix A: Reflections on Critical Race Theory
Appendix B: Sample Homiletical Integrity Covenant
Appendix C: Essential and Nonessential Doctrines, and Gospel
Implications
Appendix D: Sample Multichurch Prayer and Unity Service
Appendix E: Ministries Pursuing Reconciliation and Unity
Appendix F: Further Reading
Appendix G: Sample Sermons
On Classism by Paul A. Hoffman
On Ethnocentrism by Ralph Douglas West
On Political Division by Rich Villodas
On Reconciliation by Sandra María Van Opstal
On Sexism by Paul A. Hoffman
On Unity by Matthew D. Kim
Index
Matthew D. Kim (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is professor
of preaching and pastoral leadership, holder of the George W.
Truett Endowed Chair of Preaching and Evangelism, and director of
the PhD in preaching program at Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor
University, in Waco, Texas. He is a past president of the
Evangelical Homiletics Society and has over twenty years of
preaching and teaching experience. Kim has written or edited many
books, including Preaching to People in Pain (winner of a
Christianity Today 2022 Book Award) and Preaching with Cultural
Intelligence (the 2018 Preaching magazine Book of the Year).
Paul A. Hoffman (PhD, University of Manchester) is senior
pastor of Evangelical Friends Church of Newport, Rhode Island. He
serves on the Oversight Board for the Evangelical Friends
Church-Eastern Region, is an adjunct professor at Barclay College,
and is the author of Reconciling Places: How to Bridge the Chasms
in Our Communities.
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