Table of Contents
Foreword Stanley Hauerwas xi
On Not Worrying about Sermon Illustrations xxii
Being a Creature Means You Eat: Genesis 1 1
Radical Trust: Genesis 22 6
What Does Moses Do?: Exodus 3:1-15 12
Essay: Witnessing to God in the Midst of Life: Old Testament Preaching 17
The Manna Economy: Exodus 16 29
Beautifying Heaven: Exodus 28:1-4a, 15-23, 28-30, 36-38; John 1:1-18 34
Living Icons: Exodus 34:1-9, 28-35; Psalm 111; Ephesians 3:7-21 38
The Humility of Moses: Numbers 12 44
Perfect Love: Deuteronomy 6:4-13 49
Receiving the Gift of Rest: Joshua 1:1-18; Mark 2:1-22 54
"All That You Say, I Will Do": Book of Ruth 57
Gods House: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Mark 6:30-46; Hebrews 3:1-6 63
The View from Mount Elijah: 1 Kings 17:1-24; Mark 9:2-8 69
Holy Friendship: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; Mark 9:2-9; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 75
Blessing of the Animals: Job 12:7 80
Pray with Your Eyes Open: Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Mark 10:46-52 83
Essay: Holy Preaching: Ethical Interpretation and the Practical Imagination 89
Rock Bottom: Psalm 27 106
Shake This Tree: Psalm 34 111
Desiring God: Psalm 63 117
Tough Praise: Psalm 73 122
The Incongruity of Sin: Psalm 103 126
In Memory of Joseph Taban Lasuba: Psalm 116 130
Finding Strength in Praise: Psalm 145; Acts 2:1-13 133
Essay: Surprised by Wisdom: Preaching Proverbs 138
Mastering Sacrifice: Proverbs 3:11-26; 1 Corinthians 1:10-31 153
Face to Face: Proverbs 27:19 158
Wisdom and Her Works: Proverbs 31:10-31; Matthew 11:16-19, 28-30 161
After the Rain: Song of Songs 2:10-12 169
Essay: "Here I Am": Preaching Isaiah as a Book of Vocation 172
I Saw God: Isaiah 6 190
In Memory of John H. Davis Sr.: Isaiah 42:1-9 195
The Healing of Our Flesh: Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 5:13-6 198
Swallowing Fire: Jeremiah 1:4-9 204
Healing for Sin-Sick Hearts: Jeremiah 4 and 31; Colossians 1:11-20 209
Learning to Lament: Jeremiah 14 215
Building Hope: Lamentations 1:12 and 3:1-8, 16-24 221
Making a Marriage That Preaches: Hosea 2:16-20; Psalm 67; John 15:8-17; Philippians 2:1-11 227
The Good News of Judgment: Amos 5:18-24 230
The Compassion Architect: Jonah 3-4 236
Seasonal Tension: Zechariah 14:4-9; Luke 21:25-31 241
Essay: Preaching in Witness to the Triune God 245
Stargazers: Matthew 2:1-12 250
Faithful Mourning: Matthew 5:1-12 256
Offensive Faith: Mark 5:22-24, 35b-43 261
One More Squanderer: Luke 16:1-9; Acts 4:32-37 266
"Do You Have Anything Here to Eat?": Luke 24:36b-48 271
Pushing toward Glory: John 11:32-44 276
Learning to Believe: John 20:19-31 281
Divine Drama: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 287
The Secret of Community: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 290
Being Perfect: Philippians 3-4b-4:9 295
The Table of Creation: Colossians 1:15-29 301
Easter Exiles: Luke 24:13-35; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 14-23 306
Worship the Lamb: John 21:1-19; Revelation 5:11-14 310
Afterword Austin McIver Dennis 317
Acknowledgments 325
Index of Scripture References 327
