{"product_id":"of-seeds-and-the-people-michael-p-knowles-9781498236317","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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Michael P. Knowles\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1498236316\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781498236317\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Cascade Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/06\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.33lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.81d","brand":"Michael P. Knowles","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48453712707839,"sku":"9781498236317","price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_ecec7eee-b803-414f-a36d-146dc46770d0.jpg?v=1777301837","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/of-seeds-and-the-people-michael-p-knowles-9781498236317","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}