Books by Darrell W. Johnson

Nearly two thousand years ago a young Jewish rabbi known as Jesus of Nazareth was nailed to wooden beams and hoisted above the skyline of the city of Jerusalem. Christians ever since have proclaimed that this event, symbolized by the cross, lies at the very center of their faith. Indeed, they have claimed that in the cross event God has actually "saved the world." But how could a single man's execution centuries ago have anything to do with us in the twenty-first century? In these meditations, Darrell Johnson probes the mystery and majesty of the cross, exploring it from various angles and illuminating this core belief of Christian faith in its multiple dimensions. Darrell W. Johnson has served as a professor at Regent College, Vancouver, since the Fall of 2000, teaching in the areas of preaching, worship and pastoral theology. He is known for his faithful and engaging exposition of Scripture. Before joining the Regent faculty, he served as pastor of a number of Presbyterian congregations in the United States, as well as Union Church of Manila, Philippines. He is the author of Experiencing the Trinity, Fifty-Seven Words That Change the World (on the Lord's Prayer) and Discipleship of the Edge (on the book of Revelation).

In these pages you will find a vision of preaching that is both illuminating and inspiring. Drawing from biblical and theological resources as well as years in the pulpit, Darrell Johnson takes us far beyond the mere mechanics of delivering sermons. He dynamically unpacks the link between the human task of speaking to a congregation and the real, gracious action and presence of the living Christ in and through our proclamation. Johnson assists preachers to profoundly engage the biblical text and then liberates them to make use of their own personality, gifts and abilities as they communicate that message. This book is for any pastor or student who wants to cultivate a deeper pulpit approach, one that participates in the transforming mystery of God working through our less-than-perfect proclamation. Here is a solid foundation for preaching the good news as if God was living, Jesus was resurrected and the Holy Spirit was faithfully at work among us.