{"product_id":"of-seeds-and-the-people-of-god-preaching-as-parable-crucifixion-and-testimony-paperback","title":"Of Seeds and the People of God: Preaching as Parable, Crucifixion, and Testimony - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMichael P. Knowles\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003ePaul Scott Wilson\u003c\/b\u003e (Foreword by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePreachers mount the pulpit steps terribly burdened by the conviction that they are somehow responsible for the growth and spiritual well-being of their congregants. How, they ask themselves, can mere words communicate the reality of God, bring life to a congregation, or foster spiritual growth? This study argues that effective sermons function much like Jesus' parables--by bearing witness to divine power. Parables and preaching both testify to something beyond themselves: to a life-giving dynamic that far outstrips the force of words alone. Preachers are not go-betweens or gatekeepers for the kingdom of heaven: rather, they imitate Jesus by dying to themselves in the very act of proclamation, relying directly on God for their sermons to bear fruit. As well as offering a novel interpretation of Jesus' agricultural parables, Of Seeds and the People of God presents a Christ-shaped theology of preaching. Beyond exegesis or rhetoric alone, faithful proclamation is a question of spirituality, of preachers and listeners together yielding to God's gift of new life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMichael P. Knowles holds the George F. Hurlburt Chair of Preaching at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In addition to shorter studies in homiletics, pastoral theology, and biblical interpretation, his previous publications include \u003ci\u003eWe Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation\u003c\/i\u003e (2008) and \u003ci\u003eThe Unfolding Mystery of the Divine Name: The God of Sinai in Our Midst\u003c\/i\u003e (2012).\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.66 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 06, 2015\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52747006083379,"sku":"9781625648204","price":45.88,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/cW9SbFplZXdsazRDRWFpNXVUZmkwUT09.webp?v=1764215912","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/of-seeds-and-the-people-of-god-preaching-as-parable-crucifixion-and-testimony-paperback","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}