Overview

Stories are a powerful tool in the hands of a preacher. Used poorly, they can become the central focus of a sermon, usurping the rightful place of God's word as teacher and guide. Used well, they support the cause of truth, bringing the word of God to life with fresh clarity, relevance and power. This concise book serves as an excellent introduction to the role of storytelling in expository preaching. Ed Moll, a seasoned preacher and preaching trainer, offers readers a comprehensive guide to the types of stories that can support biblical teaching, from simple images and metaphors to full-fledged narratives, illustrating how each type can best aid the preacher in teaching the word of God. An excellent resource for both experienced preachers seeking to grow their skill and new preachers just starting out on their journey, this book provides practical exercises to put learning into practice and includes reading lists for those wanting to dive deeper into the topics raised.

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9781839736544

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Reviews

I'm always impressed by how frequently and fluently many Ugandan preachers pepper their speech and sermons with local proverbs and parables, and how well-received and appreciated they often are by congregations. But integrating such little stories into a sermon in order to serve and teach listeners without being distracting or confusing can be tricky. I'm so grateful for Ed's help to do this effectively with this excellent little book, Stories that Serve. It's the most practical, applicable, clear and helpful guide to this topic I've yet found. I'm planning to apply these principles into my own preaching and will also be sharing this book widely with my students and colleagues to help them do the same. Chris Howles Head of Theology, Uganda Martyrs Seminary Namugongo, Kampala, Uganda Founder, From Every Nation, https: //www.fromeverynation.net/ Some of us leave church on Sunday talking about the amusing little story that the preacher shared in the sermon. But we can't for the life of us remember what the Bible passage was about. Ed Moll's wonderfully helpful book will enable his fellow preachers not to fall into this trap. The great strength of this book is its focus on the power of God's word to change human lives. Ed helps us to think about how little stories, our illustrations and applications, bring clarity not confusion to the exposition of Scripture, so that God's word is clearly understood. I wish I'd been able to read this book when I began my own preaching ministry thirty years ago; and I'd love to be able to share it with fellow preachers I've served alongside in England, Kenya and Australia. David Williams Director of Training and Development, Church Missionary Society Australia No doubt illustrations play a vital role in making sermons relevant. But as Ed Moll says, We want neither big stories that swallow up the sermon nor no-stories that stifle it, but little stories that serve the sermon and allow the text to do the work. (p. 5). What little stories, are, where can one find them and how and where in the sermon these can be used most effectively are valuable insights this book offers. If one wants to know how to give supporting help or how stories can help with clarity, this book is a guide. Alongla Aier Langham Preaching Movement Coordinator, Nagaland, India Stories are said to be windows that shed light to a truth. An obscure idea becomes clear when a story is used to illustrate the point it is making. Stories are especially important in our sermons. Ed Moll introduces us to the different kinds of stories that we can use in our expository preaching. From his many years of pastoral and preaching experience, Moll shows us the advantages of using the right stories at the right place and the pitfalls of using the wrong stories. To be good storytellers, we need to learn the skills of storytelling. This is an excellent resource that will help anyone involved in preaching God's word to tell stories that will help our hearers grasp the message of the sermon. Ed Moll has given us a treasure that needs to be in the hands of pastors, teachers and laypersons who have committed their lives to preaching the word. Frew Tamrat, PhD Principal, Evangelical Theological College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Langham Preaching Movement Coordinator, Ethiopia

Author Information

ED MOLL is senior minister at St. George's Church, Wembdon, England, and is involved in training preachers locally and in partnership with Langham Preaching in French-speaking Africa. He has a DMin from Covenant Seminary, Missouri, USA, and has written books on parenting and church leadership.

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