Preaching the Story That Shapes Us

by Dan Boone

In our world, stories matter. Methods and systems are beneficial because they provide structure and help keep us on the right road; but the motivation and courage to keep walking the road, come from the stories we hear and see and experience-stories that inspire hope and bring us face-to-face with God.For ministers, the call to preach is a call into a story that forms and shapes us. It's about stumbling into revelation as life unwinds and scripture unfolds. It's about listening to God's voice and then sharing it with others. It's about recognizing that when people gather to hear a sermon, God speaks. And it's about understanding that when He speaks, He speaks through you.Preaching the Story That Shapes Us is more than a textbook on preaching. It's an empowering call for preachers to present a picture of the kingdom of God already at work among us, recognizing that the work of preaching is not just about arranging words―it's about people. With elegant prose and crafted reason, Dan Boone weaves together scripture, personal narrative, structure, and theological reflection to provide a satisfying, efficient guide to narrative preaching. From exploring the importance of biography to walking readers through creative processes that shape the sermon, Boone shows preachers how to awaken lives and share the stories of God that reveal who we are and lead us to who we will be.

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tyler Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent and very easy-to-read introduction to preaching. Boone could not have written this in a more accessible way, but I think that serves to make one of his major points about preaching, that it needs to be in the language of the congregation. I felt personally challenged by Boone's emphasis on the pastor/preacher's personal interaction with the text being an essential aspect of sermon preparation that should precede (and weave its way through) the pastor/preacher's academic study of the given Biblical passage. Overall, a very helpful book that I will reference going forward.

[Andrea Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

More great fodder for any student of the Word who is called to preach. It's easy to get into a rut or flounder from the beginning. Skills, examples and other tools all at hand within a reading style that is easy and familiar in tone.