Overview

"We in mainline churches are uneasy, maybe even scared. Why are our voices not heard? After all, we are the reasonable Christians, the updated Christians, the respectable ones who have dominated the cultural landscape since colonial times. This book presumes that trying to reverse the loss of our traditional status in society is both futile and beside the point. What's called for when we find ourselves in a state of crisis is to rediscover the big picture, the Christian hope projected on a large screen. This requires the courage to revisit the sources from which all Christian hope springs, rediscovering their life-giving power. That power rises from the counterintuitive affirmations of the gospel represented in Christ's incarnation; his healing the afflicted; his raising the dead; his vulnerability; his cross, resurrection, and ""universal restoration"" (Acts 3:21). Preaching and worship that embodies and lifts up the hard parts, the life-giving parts, is neither fundamentalist nor an exercise in nostalgia. It is rather evidence of confidence in the triune God who makes the unknowable known. The Good Shepherd promised: ""My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me"" (John 10:27). And when they do, they will."

Full Product Details

9781666747102

Table of Contents

Reviews

"DESIGNER: ALL ENDORSEMENTS ADDED TO FRONTMATTER: PLEASE SELECT ONES FOR THE BACK COVER ONLY; CONSULT JIM or EDITOR IF NEEDED. REMOVE THIS NOTE WHEN DONE ""In a time when the cold winds of skepticism and disenchantment blow hard, both outside the church and in it as well, Ron Byars has written a bold, encouraging, and hopeful book. He finds deeps wells of wisdom in the church's liturgy, and he allows that wisdom to summon the kind of preaching that is desperately needed in today's world--preaching that courageously announces the hope God alone can bring. Bravo!"" --Thomas G. Long, Candler School of Theology, emeritus ""The Reformers emphasized the preaching of the word to save the abuse of the sacrament. In this book, Ron Byars asks whether in our time, when words are cheap and so much preaching dissolves in therapeutic or moralistic reflections, the sacrament might not serve the church's proclamation. With the voice of a theologian and the heart of a preacher, Byars explores the church's eucharistic prayers to unfold the riches of the gospel."" --Edwin Chr. van Driel, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary ""By grounding preaching in Scripture and eucharistic theology, Byars achieves an integration among the chief elements of worship and orients the whole to 'things at the center.' Extended examples from actual sermons demonstrate how preaching can be theologically probing and also compelling to contemporary audiences."" --Ellen F. Davis, Duke Divinity School ""With wisdom and conviction, Byars addresses subjects too often divided--sermon and sacraments--as interdependent and mutually illuminating elements of the church's worship. He draws on a host of biblical, liturgical, historical, and theological sources to present a compelling vision for preaching and prayer in our contemporary context. To this great cloud of witnesses, Byars adds his own voice, informed by a lifetime of experience as a preacher, presider, pastor, professor, and person of prayer."" --David Gambrell, associate for worship, Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ""A compelling interdependence of word and sacrament is an aspirational goal for most Protestant worship. We need to hear voices from across the spectrum of Protestant traditions exploring what it could mean to practice this interdependence. Ron Byars takes up this challenge, exploring a dynamic variety of biblical, theological, and historical dimensions of liturgical renewal, challenging us to entrust our ministries to the enduring work of the Holy Spirit through the means of grace."" --John Witvliet, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship ""Ronald Byars has gifted us with an articulate and comprehensive presentation of the meaning of Christian eschatological faith, as not about me getting to heaven, but rather about God's promise of cosmic redemption, and as encountered in the word, proclaimed and preached, and the sacramental meal shared by the assembly."" --Gail Ramshaw, author of Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks ""Ron Byars has given us another gem with his dazzling combination of pastoral insight, cultural criticism, historical knowledge, and theological acumen. He shows how careful attention to the liturgy, particularly eucharistic prayers, can shape the lives of preachers and congregations. Years of ministry undergird these reflections. Byars' mature faith and love for his subject remain fresh. Pastors will enjoy his personal reflections on the pastoral life. This is a feast sustains the mind and heart."" -- Roy Howard, Academy of Artful Leadership"

DESIGNER: ALL ENDORSEMENTS ADDED TO FRONTMATTER: PLEASE SELECT ONES FOR THE BACK COVER ONLY; CONSULT JIM or EDITOR IF NEEDED. REMOVE THIS NOTE WHEN DONE In a time when the cold winds of skepticism and disenchantment blow hard, both outside the church and in it as well, Ron Byars has written a bold, encouraging, and hopeful book. He finds deeps wells of wisdom in the church's liturgy, and he allows that wisdom to summon the kind of preaching that is desperately needed in today's world--preaching that courageously announces the hope God alone can bring. Bravo! --Thomas G. Long, Candler School of Theology, emeritus The Reformers emphasized the preaching of the word to save the abuse of the sacrament. In this book, Ron Byars asks whether in our time, when words are cheap and so much preaching dissolves in therapeutic or moralistic reflections, the sacrament might not serve the church's proclamation. With the voice of a theologian and the heart of a preacher, Byars explores the church's eucharistic prayers to unfold the riches of the gospel. --Edwin Chr. van Driel, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary By grounding preaching in Scripture and eucharistic theology, Byars achieves an integration among the chief elements of worship and orients the whole to 'things at the center.' Extended examples from actual sermons demonstrate how preaching can be theologically probing and also compelling to contemporary audiences. --Ellen F. Davis, Duke Divinity School With wisdom and conviction, Byars addresses subjects too often divided--sermon and sacraments--as interdependent and mutually illuminating elements of the church's worship. He draws on a host of biblical, liturgical, historical, and theological sources to present a compelling vision for preaching and prayer in our contemporary context. To this great cloud of witnesses, Byars adds his own voice, informed by a lifetime of experience as a preacher, presider, pastor, professor, and person of prayer. --David Gambrell, associate for worship, Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) A compelling interdependence of word and sacrament is an aspirational goal for most Protestant worship. We need to hear voices from across the spectrum of Protestant traditions exploring what it could mean to practice this interdependence. Ron Byars takes up this challenge, exploring a dynamic variety of biblical, theological, and historical dimensions of liturgical renewal, challenging us to entrust our ministries to the enduring work of the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. --John Witvliet, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Ronald Byars has gifted us with an articulate and comprehensive presentation of the meaning of Christian eschatological faith, as not about me getting to heaven, but rather about God's promise of cosmic redemption, and as encountered in the word, proclaimed and preached, and the sacramental meal shared by the assembly. --Gail Ramshaw, author of Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks Ron Byars has given us another gem with his dazzling combination of pastoral insight, cultural criticism, historical knowledge, and theological acumen. He shows how careful attention to the liturgy, particularly eucharistic prayers, can shape the lives of preachers and congregations. Years of ministry undergird these reflections. Byars' mature faith and love for his subject remain fresh. Pastors will enjoy his personal reflections on the pastoral life. This is a feast sustains the mind and heart. -- Roy Howard, Academy of Artful Leadership

Author Information

Ronald P. Byars is professor emeritus of preaching and worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary, where he taught following many years in pastoral ministry in both Michigan and Kentucky. His books include Believer on Sunday, Atheist by Thursday (Cascade Books, 2019), Finding Our Balance (Cascade Books, 2015), and Come and See (Cascade Books, 2014).

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available