Preaching at 2019 Dedication Service of Calvary Bible Church
Since 2003 I have been Senior Pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Mount Joy, PA. I also serve as Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Bible College|Capital Seminary & Graduate School and as Mentor and Guest Lecturer to Doctor of Ministry students in Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s tracks, Preaching the Literary Forms of the Bible and From the Study to Pulpit. My hometown is Weeks Mills, Maine. I enjoy weightlifting and fitness, riding motorcycles, playing the cello, bow ties, and research in OT hermeneutics. I have written, Preaching With Accuracy (Kregel) and A Preacher’s Manifesto (Amazon).
This website is designed to help pastors preach with greater accuracy by connecting Christ-centered hermeneutics to homiletics. My main approach will be to pass along insights I’m learning in my current preaching series. So, for instance, if you’re planning to preach in Isaiah, you’ll find posts pertaining to my entire Isaiah series. Also, my moonlighting ministry as a professor forces me to continue to read aggressively. I will try to relay information I’m learning from my classroom preparation and interaction with pastor/scholars. You can expect to see posts dealing with:
* Christo-centric hermeneutic
* Theology of Preaching
* Genre-generated theology and application
Nice to “meet” you, sir. I am a graduate of LBC, a licensed minister and counselor, and a lover of bowties myself!. I’m looking forward to perusing your blogs. BTW, I too have a faith blog called “In His Grip,” would love to share it with you – http://charitisesomenoi.wordpress.com/.
Blessings,
Barry
Good afternoon, Barry. Thank you for taking time to write and for sharing your blog. I hope your LBC experience was helpful. Gotta love bow ties. Keep up the good work of faith.
Hi Randy,
I remember your saying that a pastor needs to “reinvent” themselves in preaching style every few years. At 64, I sense this is greatly needed and yet am at a loss of where to go. Any suggestions? Living in China changed me – maybe too much to integrate back into Maine. I know the hunger for the Word is much different. I saw the recommended book, Privilege the Text!. Is that a good place to start?
Dan
It’s great to hear from you, Dan. I trust you’re staying sane through all this. I admire your ability to want to keep growing. I recommend Carrell’s book, Preaching That Matters: Reflective Practices for Transforming Sermons. Great research from thousands of interviews and very practical help. I’ve referred to it often in past blog posts. It’s easy to read. Kuruvilla’s will not help you preach differently and is difficult to follow, although I have great respect for him and his theories/methods. His commentaries are a great help. Living in China, ME changed me! (*smile*) Yes, preaching to most U.S. congregations will not feel like other countries with respect to hunger and thirsting for the Word, but part of our job is to create that hunger through the way we preach. I know you’ll do that. Keep up the good work of faith. You are missed and remembered fondly, brother!
Thanks. I have ordered it. Now to read it. BTW, I have enjoyed being part of study groups. That was a great idea. Of course it takes the right mix. Thanks for challenging us on mission trips.
I am glad to hear your experience with others was helpful. You’re right about the mix being important. Preach good sermons, will ya?!