John Allen Paulos

Advantages: Clear, well presented, useful
Disadvantages: -

...makes them feel. Information, ideas, or the person of the preacher take second place (or lower) to the emotive power of the sermon. This is not to say that people want to be uplifted and made happy exclusively – as Allen writes, ‘emotional discomfort [can be an] occasion for becoming more faithful.’ In the final chapters, Allen looks at all three elements together in one sermon. Using a sample sermon based on the text of Luke 3: 7-18 (a John the Baptist passage from Advent), Allen provides a brief exegesis and ideas for appealing to each of the three types of listeners. The one disadvantage of the sermon text (and this is a structural problem with all texts of sermons) is that it is disembodied – there is no preacher preaching, there are no vocal changes, physical gestures, facial expressions or other elements that can turn a good... Read review

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Advantages: An interesting look at the way biblical texts are read and used
Disadvantages: -

...Ron Allen is a professor of preaching and New Testament at my seminary, Christian Theological Seminary, and the author of many books on preaching and biblical exegesis. For this volume, he teamed with John Holbert, who teaches preaching and Hebrew Bible at Perkins School of Theology, SMU. One of the perennial tasks of a preacher is to faithfully use the scriptures that came before the four gospels and rest of the Christian era writings. This books addresses that issue head-on. One of the issues, which comes to the forefront at the very start of such an inquiry, is what to call it? There are issues with the terms ‘Old Testament’, ‘Hebrew Scriptures’, and other commonplace terms we take for granted. The assumptions built into the term ‘Old Testament’ conjure up negative images and an implicit second-class status. Thus, the authors... Read review

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Advantages: Written by the likes of Paulo Coelho, an inspirational read, messages are very clear to the reader, via a sense of unique writing style.
Disadvantages: In depth discussion relating to angels perhaps?

...Hi there! Well for the past two months i have been heavily engrossed with Paulo Coelho's wonderful books! Well i first encountered The Valkyries! I must say i did enjoy the book thoroughly! Although i am a firm believer in angels, this also enhanced my belief concerning the various messages which Paulo tries to seep through at times. He does it well, the reader has to stop and think, which is something you cant help but do, without wishful thinking where would any of us be?! The book concerns Paulo's journey in search for the Valkyries (angels - women which ride through the desert on their motorcycles), in order to unearth the secret concerning ACTUALLY seeing ones angel - physically). This is quite interesting, as Paulo knows angels exist, communication with his angel is no problem, however he has come across a hurdle... Read review

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