Scott M. Gibson

In 7 Lessons for New Pastors, leading author Matthew D. Kim gives seminarians and new pastors a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a pastor. Drawing on his own experience as a senior pastor and the wisdom of seasoned pastors, Kim seeks to prepare future ministers mentally, emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually for the first year so that it can be a solid foundation for a lifetime of effective ministry. Both new and experienced pastors will profit from reading this book. This second edition is revised and expanded, including questions for personal or group reflection and two bonus mini-lessons.

""Do as I say, not as I do."" It is not only parents who fail to model instructions for their children, but also teachers of preaching. Robert Lewis Dabney was a nineteenth-century Presbyterian theologian who taught theology and preaching at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia prior to and after the United States Civil War. He is remembered for his powers as a systematic theologian, his defense of southern Christianity, and his life-long racism. A formidable theologian and respected teacher of preachers, Dabney's Sacred Rhetoric (1870) poised him to influence a generation of young preachers to devote themselves to verse-by-verse expository preaching through books of the Bible. Yet Dabney failed, instead equipping his students to preach--and modeling for them--topical sermons preached on mere fragments of text, often without context. Empty Admiration traces Dabney's thought and action from his preaching theory to his classroom instruction to his personal practice, revealing a man at odds with himself, whose students--not unlike children--preached as Dabney preached, not as Dabney said.

""Do as I say, not as I do."" It is not only parents who fail to model instructions for their children, but also teachers of preaching. Robert Lewis Dabney was a nineteenth-century Presbyterian theologian who taught theology and preaching at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia prior to and after the United States Civil War. He is remembered for his powers as a systematic theologian, his defense of southern Christianity, and his life-long racism. A formidable theologian and respected teacher of preachers, Dabney's Sacred Rhetoric (1870) poised him to influence a generation of young preachers to devote themselves to verse-by-verse expository preaching through books of the Bible. Yet Dabney failed, instead equipping his students to preach--and modeling for them--topical sermons preached on mere fragments of text, often without context. Empty Admiration traces Dabney's thought and action from his preaching theory to his classroom instruction to his personal practice, revealing a man at odds with himself, whose students--not unlike children--preached as Dabney preached, not as Dabney said.

Preaching 2022 Book of the YearHaddon Robinson's widely used and influential text, Biblical Preaching, has influenced generations of students and preachers. In The Big Idea Companion for Preaching and Teaching, trusted leading evangelical homileticians, teachers of preaching, and experienced pastors demonstrate that Robinson's "big idea" approach to expository preaching still works in today's diverse cultures and fast-paced world.This accessible resource offers an insider's view on figuring out the big idea of each book of the Bible, helping preachers and teachers check their interpretation of particular biblical books and passages. The contributors offer tips on how to divide each book of the Bible into preaching and teaching passages, guidance on difficult passages and verses, cultural perspectives for faithful application, and suggested resources for interpreting, preaching, and teaching. Pastors, teachers, Bible study leaders, small groups, and college and seminary students and professors will find a wealth of valuable information in this resource.

In 7 Lessons for New Pastors, leading author Matthew D. Kim gives seminarians and new pastors a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a pastor. Drawing on his own experience as a senior pastor and the wisdom of seasoned pastors, Kim seeks to prepare future ministers mentally, emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually for the first year so that it can be a solid foundation for a lifetime of effective ministry. Both new and experienced pastors will profit from reading this book. This second edition is revised and expanded, including questions for personal or group reflection and two bonus mini-lessons.

How can a preacher best address suicide from the pulpit? Pastors face many challenges. Suicide in a congregation is amongst the most heart-rending and intimidating. However, the preacher has a unique capacity to engender gospel hope for preparing the congregation and comforting the bereaved. To do so, preachers need help understanding the challenges and opportunities presented by addressing suicide from the pulpit. In Preaching Hope in Darkness, two practitioners in fields that do not typically interact--homiletics (Scott M. Gibson) and psychology (Karen Mason)--work together to support the preacher in this difficult task. Gibson and Mason offer wise advice on a range of topics such as suicide prevention, post-crisis care, and funeral sermon preparation. With an appendix of sample sermons and a sample funeral liturgy, Preaching Hope in Darkness is an essential go-to guide for this difficult topic.

Scott Gibson and Matthew Kim, both experienced preachers and teachers, have brought together four preaching experts--Bryan Chapell, Kenneth Langley, Abraham Kuruvilla, and Paul Scott Wilson--to present and defend their approaches to homiletics. Reflecting current streams of thought in homiletics, the book offers a robust discussion of theological and hermeneutical approaches to preaching and encourages pastors and ministry students to learn about preaching from other theological traditions. It also includes discussion questions for direct application to one's preaching.

Building on Haddon Robinson's philosophical approach to preaching, this book brings together accomplished evangelical preachers and teachers to help students and pastors understand the worlds--biblical, cultural, and personal--that influence and impact their preaching. The contributors explore the various inner and outer worlds in which a preacher functions with the goal of helping preachers sharpen their craft. Foreword by Bryan Chapell.

With easy access to sermons on the Internet, plus pressure to deliver the next sermon with little time to prepare, no wonder some pastors have resorted to plagiarizing other people’s sermons, passing them off as their own. This growing epidemic has received coverage in the Wall Street Journal, on National Public Radio, and elsewhere. Some pastors have been caught in the act and dismissed from their churches. Is this fair? Is this stealing? How can you recognize it? How can it be prevented? This book not only helps explain the problem, but it also explores the ethical implications and gives advice on how to avoid it or deal with it if the problem surfaces in your church. It includes study questions at the end of chapters and a concluding case study.

Many pastors find it easier to preach on the New Testament than the Old Testament, with its powerful and often shocking narrative, prophetic warnings and calls to holiness. For many preachers seeking to make the Bible relevant, it's far easier--and safer--to stay out of the woods and plow the well-worn fields of the newer canon. Preaching the Old Testament equips pastors to journey into the forest and find a passion and confidence for preaching on the Old Testament. This book helps them keep up on their Hebrew, understand the themes of the Old Testament, and unpack Jesus' foundational text to take their congregations to a deeper understanding of Christ himself.

The church in America is part of a changing culture, and today's preachers must be prepared to engage the unique issues of our postmodern age. Editor Scott M. Gibson has skillfully combined the works of many well-known preachers, including Haddon Robinson and Bryan Chapell, into one practical guide written for present and future church leaders. Including questions for reflection and suggestions for further reading, this helpful resource addresses important topics such as preaching to a postmodern audience, pluralism, and the intersection of preaching and psychology."Preaching to a Shifting Culture is a must-read for preachers. It intensified my passion to preach Scripture, it clarified for me some critical issues related to preaching, and it triggered some ideas and strategies I will biild into my preaching."--Steve Mathewson, author of The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative"A stimulating potpourri of evangelical insights for changing times."--Michael Quicke, Charles Koller Professor of Preaching and Communications, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary"Timely and relevant, this collection of essays thoughtfully explores the issues facing today's preacher and calls today's preacher to thoughtfully face the issues."--Patricia Batten, pastor, Village Baptist Church, Kennebunkport, Maine"Those who are called to proclaim the Word in a contemporary setting will benefit from the analysis and suggestions offered in this outstanding collection."--Michael Duduit, editor, Preaching magazine

Since 1980, Haddon Robinson has influenced generations of students and preachers through his widely used classic text, Biblical Preaching, in which he shows preachers how to communicate the Bible's big ideas with precision. But does Robinson's "big idea" approach to expository preaching still work in today's diverse cultures and fast-paced world? The Big Idea of Biblical Preaching, now in paperback, presents a strong defense of the ongoing relevance of this approach to expository preaching. An experienced and skilled group of contributors to this volume includes: Paul Borden, Scott M. Gibson, Duane Litfin, Terry Mattingly, John Reed, Bruce L. Shelley, Donald R. Sunukjian, Joseph M. Stowell III, Bruce K. Waltke, Scott Wenig, and Keith Willhite. This volume is written not only for the current generation of students but also for today's preachers, who will find in the pages of this book a powerful approach to expository preaching.

Making a Difference in Preaching offers a collection of Haddon Robinson's shorter writings on preaching, penned over a forty-year period. Now available in paperback, the book provides readers with a helpful understanding of Robinson's preaching theory, method, and practice. This collection, edited by Scott Gibson, illuminates the key differences between good preaching and poor preaching. Each chapter contains discussion/reflection questions and a list of books for further reading. The book is well-suited for pastors looking for refreshing insights into their preaching, as well as seminary students or lay speakers.

Sooner or later, every pastor will be called on to conduct special services. Baptisms, weddings, funerals, infant presentations, and evangelistic services, each in their own way, challenge pastors to find the right words to mark the occasion.Preaching for Special Services will help pastors prepare sermons for these special services. Each chapter explores a different occasion and offers the perspective, encouragement, and practical advice that pastors need as they plan their messages.Through this useful book, pastors will discover how Christ-centered special occasion preaching can make a difference in the lives of their listeners.