{"product_id":"9781630878740","title":"Of Seeds and the People of God: Preaching as Parable, Crucifixion, and Testimony","description":"Preachers mount the pulpit steps terribly burdened by the conviction that they are somehow responsible for the growth and spiritual well-being of their congregants. How, they ask themselves, can mere words communicate the reality of God, bring life to a congregation, or foster spiritual growth?  This study argues that effective sermons function much like Jesus' parables--by bearing witness to divine power. Parables and preaching both testify to something beyond themselves: to a life-giving dynamic that far outstrips the force of words alone. Preachers are not go-betweens or gatekeepers for the kingdom of heaven: rather, they imitate Jesus by dying to themselves in the very act of proclamation, relying directly on God for their sermons to bear fruit.  As well as offering a novel interpretation of Jesus' agricultural parables, Of Seeds and the People of God presents a Christ-shaped theology of preaching. Beyond exegesis or rhetoric alone, faithful proclamation is a question of spirituality, of preachers and listeners together yielding to God's gift of new life.","brand":"Wipf \u0026 Stock Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47149331382512,"sku":"9781630878740","price":19.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781630878740_p0.jpg?v=1763671264","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781630878740","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}