Category Archives: Blog Posts

I had a great time talking with Pod Only Knows out of Wesley Memorial UMC out of Wilmington. We touch on preaching, listening to preaching, and goings-on in the American church.

Psalm 66 is an invitation to worship God. But it’s not just an invitation for us: it’s an invitation for all of creation to join in praise unto our God. “Shout for joy to God, all the earth!” Thanks to A Sermon for Every Sunday for this sermon. I do hope you’ll enjoy!

Here’s a a Pentecost Sunday sermon called “The Holy Spirit Helps Us” based on John 14:8-17. I ask the question: “How do we get to know God?”  Through Jesus!  “How do we continue getting to know God and God’s will for us and the world?”  Through the Holy Spirit! But what does the Holy Spirit do?Continue reading “How do we get to know God?”

What a privilege it was to preach at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina this weekend. The assigned gospel afforded me the opportunity to preach about the Holy Spirit

I had an enjoyable conversation with my good friend, James Howell, about the joys of biblical preaching. And afterwards, one of my star students, Taylor Pryde Barefoot talks about her ministry in Charlotte.

“Listening is a human skill, but as God’s word is proclaimed, the hearer experiences a vocal mix of preacher, listener, and God.” Thanks, Rick, for having me on to talk about Listeners Dare. You can listen to our conversation below.

“The gospel is news that passes from the lips of one who has heard to the ears of one who has not yet heard, then (God willing) it burrows in the soul, energizing the hands in daring response to a word received. Preaching is instigated by an astounding claim: Good news; God has spoken toContinue reading “Listeners Dare on Crackers & Grape Juice”

This month, Abindgon Press publishes my new book, Listeners Dare: Hearing God in the Sermon. It’s my attempt to think about preaching from the listener’s perspective and to give sermon listeners help in getting more out of sermons.  In five decades of preaching and teaching preaching, I’ve learned to respect preaching as a demanding practice for listeners. Listeners Dare is myContinue reading “Release of Listeners Dare: Hearing God in the Sermon”

It was great to be preaching in one of my favorite churches, Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston, a vibrant church that is leading the way for episcopal renewal. It was low Sunday and the churches year, the Sunday after Easter, but few services at Grace are low!

I was part of the video sermon at White Plains United Methodist Church in Raleigh this past Sunday. Here’s a portion of that interview.