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Product Description

Becoming a Living Sermon

Beyond spoken words, what is it that really helps preachers get their message across? Seasoned pastor and preaching professor David Day explores the ways in which preachers may embody their messages—in their own person; in the words they use; through the use of objects, pictures, literature, and drama; and in the response of their audience.

An eloquent and compelling volume suitable for communicators from a broad range of Christian denominations, it offers a practical workbook of ideas that preachers can begin using in their very next sermon.

FEATURES
• Contains many helpful examples, case studies, excerpts from real addresses and two or three exercises in each chapter
• Great as a classroom supplementary textbook

“‘Books on preaching are full of good advice’ (writes Day). This book is bursting with good ideas and inspiration, but I would not call it advice. It is far too refreshing and amusing to be called advice. With a practical array of ‘shalts’ and ‘shalt nots,’ both the experienced preacher and the learner will be spurred to hone their art: not just that of delivering communication but of enabling transformation.

“When it comes to preaching, Day is keen to communicate propositions through pictures and theory through experience. Embodying the Word does not simply describe how to do it, it embodies the technique itself through countless examples and illustrations.”
—The Revd Dr Jo Bailey Wells, Associate Professor of the Practice of Ministry and Bible, Director of Anglican Studies, Duke Divinity School

Reviews

“This is not a book for armchair homileticians: it is a book for pulpit preachers. Indeed, it is to the passionate preacher as a recipe book to a hungry man —a mouth-watering call to action. Day's vision is like a pot-holer's torch, illuminating the vast, cavernous space of the sermon we never dared to hope was there. It invites us to smell the cool air, finger the rocky contours, hear the distant trickle of far-off streams defying the silence. Day reminds us we have much to explore, and in this book he offers I to take us there.”
—Expository Times

"David Day's book Preaching with All You’ve Got [has] a depth of insight and a lightness of touch that is a delight. Time and time again I found myself challenged by what he wrote, and motivated to try the practical exercises and put into practice some of his suggestions as soon as I could. Day's major interest is on the craft of preaching, and his book is designed to be of use in preparing next Sunday's sermon.
“In Part 1 he deals with the way in which 'The Word' is embodied in the preacher, with a particularly helpful section on Scripture and the imagination. In Part 2 he deals with 'Story', the use of images, analogies, metaphors and illustrations, with interesting suggestions as to the way in which case studies might be used in teaching the congregation. Part 3 is about embodying the Word in our World, looking at contemporary culture and the visual arts, and evaluating, helpfully, preaching with objects, and teaching with a power point presentation. Part 4 concludes with ‘preaching with the congregation' and 'preaching for a response'. Day comments: 'at the risk of sounding harsh, the preacher who never expects a response, never plans for one, and would be taken aback if there were one, is wasting the congregation's time'.
“Preaching with All You’ve Got is full of such challenging, pertinent comments. It is written with clarity, commonsense and humor. Here is a book to inspire us afresh to improve our preaching and to motivate us to preach the Word with clarity, passion and 'sanctified imagination' to the glory of God. ”
—Anvil

“Working from the correct assumption that preaching is the incarnation of biblical truth, David Day teaches how to embody the Word with effective delivery, personal transparency, imaginative storytelling, verbal imagery, case studies, concrete visuals, dialogue, and more. The author not only exhorts us to make our preaching concrete, he also models that virtue. Sprinkled with scores of illustrations and exercises, this book would serve well as a textbook in any homiletics class dealing with the communication aspects of preaching. I plan to use it in a course on creativity. . . . It is winsome and helpful. Day writes with a personal, conversational style while at the same time demonstrating wide scholarship. His advice on using ‘controversial’ methods such as movie clips and Power Point is balanced and wise. . . . Preaching with All You've Got is delightful and helpful.”
— Journal of Evangelical Homiletics Society

“This volume has much to commend it. It is peppered with exercises dealing with pertinent points. This makes it very practical. It also challenges preachers to use the methods and at the same time, not neglect sound exegesis and balanced theology. Furthermore, it employs useful public speaking techniques without degenerating these into mere rehearsal; such freshness is to be appreciated. Finally, numerous excerpts from actual sermons enhance and illuminate the several points put forward in each chapter.”
—Journal of Asia Adventist Seminary

“A few keywords stand out in Preaching With All You've Got that make it a worthwhile read. One word is transparency. Day rightly argues that people need to sense and see the gospel in their preacher. Preaching is far more than a political speech or a college lecture; it is God's truth flowing through human personality. . .

“A second key word is love. ‘Preachers must love their congregations. ... They have to realize: I am part of them, and I want to share with them what I have received from God. It will not help to speak with the tongues of either men or angels if this love is missing.’ . . . Read this book. The result will be fewer sleepers in church, fewer wandering eyes, and more eager attention.”
—Enrichment

David Day is pastor of St. Nicholas’ Church, Durham, England. The former Principal of St John’s College, Durham established the Center for Christian Communication and taught preaching and communication to ministry students while there. He is the author of several books including A Preaching Workbook, Pearl Beyond Price, and Christ Our Life.

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