Description
Book SynopsisChristianity Today 2022 Book Award Winner (Church/Pastoral Leadership) Outreach 2022 Recommended Resource (Church) Southwestern Journal of Theology 2021 Book Award (Honorable Mention, Preaching/Ministry/Leadership) Offering an important corrective to a pain-averse culture that celebrates individualism and success, veteran preacher and teacher Matthew Kim encourages pastors to preach on the painful issues their congregations face. Through vulnerability and self-disclosure, pastors can help their congregants share their suffering in community for the purpose of healing and transformation. The book includes stories, shares relevant Scripture texts imparting biblical wisdom, and offers best practices for preaching on specific topics. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a sample sermon.
Table of ContentsContents
Introduction
Part 1: Naming the Pain
1. The Preacher's Pain
2. The Listeners' Pain
3. A Plan for Preaching on Pain
Part 2: Preaching on Pain
4. Painful Decisions
"The Anatomy of a Bad Decision" (Sermon on 1 Samuel 15)
5. Painful Finances
"The Secret to Contentment" (Sermon on Philippians 4:10-20)
6. Painful Health Issues
"Panhandling for True Satisfaction" (Sermon on Acts 3:1-10)
7. Painful Losses
"Successful Suffering" (Sermon on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
8. Painful Relationships
"Honoring Mom as Honoring God" (Sermon on Ruth 1-4)
9. Painful Sins
"The God of Fourth Chances" (Sermon on John 21:15-25)
Conclusion
Appendix: Worksheet for Understanding Pain
Indexes
