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Of Seeds and the People of God

Hardcover |English |1498236316 | 9781498236317

Of Seeds and the People of God

Hardcover |English |1498236316 | 9781498236317
Overview

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. ""Michael Knowles has written a stunning and demanding book on preaching. His central point is the life-giving power of God, which is exemplified in Jesus's agricultural parables. Over and against 'how to' books, Knowles advocates homiletical helplessness as a primary virtue, which involves putting to death our reliance upon rhetorical techniques. Preaching is testimony to what God does rather than to what the preacher does. The book is richly exegetical, theologically expansive, and ultimately deeply practical because everything is cast upon the practice of God."" --Andrew Purves, Professor of Reformed Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA ""Studies of homiletical method are legion. Michael Knowles offers us something finer, richer, and more honest: a deep consideration of the God of life, whose cruciform Spirit graces our inadequacy and failures in the pulpit to bear faithful witness to a power that is not our own. Professor Knowles's approach is at once profoundly scriptural, traditionally sensitive, theologically grounded, and spiritual in the most authentically Christian sense. Only an author of seasoned wisdom and great compassion could have written Of Seeds and the People of God. May it find its way into the hands of all who preach, particularly those doubtful that their preaching makes a difference. It does--as surely as we depend on the trustworthy God 'who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.'"" --C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ ""How does preaching convey the life-giving power of God? In an age of self-absorbed preachers and preaching, Michael Knowles answers with a 'parabolic' and 'cruciform' homiletics of dependence, dying and rising with Christ, and testimony that points away from the preacher. A must-read for those serious about the possibility of Christian preaching today."" --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD Michael P. Knowles holds the George F. Hurlburt Chair of Preaching at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In addition to shorter studies in homiletics, pastoral theology, and biblical interpretation, his previous publications include We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation (2008) and The Unfolding Mystery of the Divine Name: The God of Sinai in Our Midst (2012).
ISBN: 1498236316
ISBN13: 9781498236317
Author: Michael P. Knowles
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Format: Hardcover
PublicationDate: 2015-02-06
Language: English
PageCount: 294
Dimensions: 5.98 x 0.81 x 9.02 inches
Weight: 21.28 ounces

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. ""Michael Knowles has written a stunning and demanding book on preaching. His central point is the life-giving power of God, which is exemplified in Jesus's agricultural parables. Over and against 'how to' books, Knowles advocates homiletical helplessness as a primary virtue, which involves putting to death our reliance upon rhetorical techniques. Preaching is testimony to what God does rather than to what the preacher does. The book is richly exegetical, theologically expansive, and ultimately deeply practical because everything is cast upon the practice of God."" --Andrew Purves, Professor of Reformed Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA ""Studies of homiletical method are legion. Michael Knowles offers us something finer, richer, and more honest: a deep consideration of the God of life, whose cruciform Spirit graces our inadequacy and failures in the pulpit to bear faithful witness to a power that is not our own. Professor Knowles's approach is at once profoundly scriptural, traditionally sensitive, theologically grounded, and spiritual in the most authentically Christian sense. Only an author of seasoned wisdom and great compassion could have written Of Seeds and the People of God. May it find its way into the hands of all who preach, particularly those doubtful that their preaching makes a difference. It does--as surely as we depend on the trustworthy God 'who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.'"" --C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ ""How does preaching convey the life-giving power of God? In an age of self-absorbed preachers and preaching, Michael Knowles answers with a 'parabolic' and 'cruciform' homiletics of dependence, dying and rising with Christ, and testimony that points away from the preacher. A must-read for those serious about the possibility of Christian preaching today."" --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD Michael P. Knowles holds the George F. Hurlburt Chair of Preaching at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In addition to shorter studies in homiletics, pastoral theology, and biblical interpretation, his previous publications include We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation (2008) and The Unfolding Mystery of the Divine Name: The God of Sinai in Our Midst (2012).

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview

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. ""Michael Knowles has written a stunning and demanding book on preaching. His central point is the life-giving power of God, which is exemplified in Jesus's agricultural parables. Over and against 'how to' books, Knowles advocates homiletical helplessness as a primary virtue, which involves putting to death our reliance upon rhetorical techniques. Preaching is testimony to what God does rather than to what the preacher does. The book is richly exegetical, theologically expansive, and ultimately deeply practical because everything is cast upon the practice of God."" --Andrew Purves, Professor of Reformed Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA ""Studies of homiletical method are legion. Michael Knowles offers us something finer, richer, and more honest: a deep consideration of the God of life, whose cruciform Spirit graces our inadequacy and failures in the pulpit to bear faithful witness to a power that is not our own. Professor Knowles's approach is at once profoundly scriptural, traditionally sensitive, theologically grounded, and spiritual in the most authentically Christian sense. Only an author of seasoned wisdom and great compassion could have written Of Seeds and the People of God. May it find its way into the hands of all who preach, particularly those doubtful that their preaching makes a difference. It does--as surely as we depend on the trustworthy God 'who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.'"" --C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ ""How does preaching convey the life-giving power of God? In an age of self-absorbed preachers and preaching, Michael Knowles answers with a 'parabolic' and 'cruciform' homiletics of dependence, dying and rising with Christ, and testimony that points away from the preacher. A must-read for those serious about the possibility of Christian preaching today."" --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD Michael P. Knowles holds the George F. Hurlburt Chair of Preaching at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In addition to shorter studies in homiletics, pastoral theology, and biblical interpretation, his previous publications include We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation (2008) and The Unfolding Mystery of the Divine Name: The God of Sinai in Our Midst (2012).
ISBN: 1498236316
ISBN13: 9781498236317
Author: Michael P. Knowles
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
Format: Hardcover
PublicationDate: 2015-02-06
Language: English
PageCount: 294
Dimensions: 5.98 x 0.81 x 9.02 inches
Weight: 21.28 ounces

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. ""Michael Knowles has written a stunning and demanding book on preaching. His central point is the life-giving power of God, which is exemplified in Jesus's agricultural parables. Over and against 'how to' books, Knowles advocates homiletical helplessness as a primary virtue, which involves putting to death our reliance upon rhetorical techniques. Preaching is testimony to what God does rather than to what the preacher does. The book is richly exegetical, theologically expansive, and ultimately deeply practical because everything is cast upon the practice of God."" --Andrew Purves, Professor of Reformed Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA ""Studies of homiletical method are legion. Michael Knowles offers us something finer, richer, and more honest: a deep consideration of the God of life, whose cruciform Spirit graces our inadequacy and failures in the pulpit to bear faithful witness to a power that is not our own. Professor Knowles's approach is at once profoundly scriptural, traditionally sensitive, theologically grounded, and spiritual in the most authentically Christian sense. Only an author of seasoned wisdom and great compassion could have written Of Seeds and the People of God. May it find its way into the hands of all who preach, particularly those doubtful that their preaching makes a difference. It does--as surely as we depend on the trustworthy God 'who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.'"" --C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ ""How does preaching convey the life-giving power of God? In an age of self-absorbed preachers and preaching, Michael Knowles answers with a 'parabolic' and 'cruciform' homiletics of dependence, dying and rising with Christ, and testimony that points away from the preacher. A must-read for those serious about the possibility of Christian preaching today."" --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD Michael P. Knowles holds the George F. Hurlburt Chair of Preaching at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In addition to shorter studies in homiletics, pastoral theology, and biblical interpretation, his previous publications include We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation (2008) and The Unfolding Mystery of the Divine Name: The God of Sinai in Our Midst (2012).

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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