Preaching While the Church Is Under Reconstruction: The Visionary Role of Preachers in a Fragmented World

Rating:
Summary: A parable for fresh preaching
Review: Thomas Troeger is an amazing writer, capturing the heart and imagination of preachers seeking new vitality in proclaiming the Gospel. He starts his extended analogy with a parable of a collapsing dome, decorated with ancient mosaics. The piece of the roof that crashes to the church floor had contained an image representing God the Creator. From there, he discusses this "God-shaped hole" not only in the roof of a building, but also the ones in the individual believer and in the church in a time of massive change.

Troeger is not some off-the-wall change agent, or a pessimist about the state of the church. He is a man profoundly rooted in salvation history. He brings across the stage of our 21st century consciousness the challenges faced by the Church throughout its past. From the confidence of God's work to prosper (and not just to preserve) the Church in prior times of upheaval he speaks of hope to be found and preached in the current societal, scientific, and technological challenges facing us in the early third millenium.

This is definitely not a how-to book on constructing a sermon. It is rather a captivating extended parable designed to free the heart, soul, and mind of those who are charged with speaking the word of God to the men and women who come into the worship time needing hope and strength.

Rating:
Summary: A parable for fresh preaching
Review: Thomas Troeger is an amazing writer, capturing the heart and imagination of preachers seeking new vitality in proclaiming the Gospel. He starts his extended analogy with a parable of a collapsing dome, decorated with ancient mosaics. The piece of the roof that crashes to the church floor had contained an image representing God the Creator. From there, he discusses this "God-shaped hole" not only in the roof of a building, but also the ones in the individual believer and in the church in a time of massive change.

Troeger is not some off-the-wall change agent, or a pessimist about the state of the church. He is a man profoundly rooted in salvation history. He brings across the stage of our 21st century consciousness the challenges faced by the Church throughout its past. From the confidence of God's work to prosper (and not just to preserve) the Church in prior times of upheaval he speaks of hope to be found and preached in the current societal, scientific, and technological challenges facing us in the early third millenium.

This is definitely not a how-to book on constructing a sermon. It is rather a captivating extended parable designed to free the heart, soul, and mind of those who are charged with speaking the word of God to the men and women who come into the worship time needing hope and strength.