I have been greatly encouraged by the warm initial reception that my new book, Leaps of Faith: Sermons from the Edge, has received. Here are some of the endorsements that have come in:
“In one of these sermons, Dean remarks that the Gospel is simple but not simplistic. That insight also describes these well-wrought sermons. Dean has a gift for helping us see our lives storied by the story of the Bible. It is by no means clear in our time what a sermon should be but Dean’s sermons are clearly examples of what sermons should be–that is, serious but avoiding all forms of sentimentality. May these sermons find a wide readership.”
Stanley Hauerwas (Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law, Duke Divinity School)
I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book, Leaps of Faith: Sermons from the Edge (Resource Publications). The book includes sermons that I have preached over the course of my ministry as a pastor at Good Shepherd Community Church in Scarborough, as an itinerant preacher speaking throughout Southern Ontario, and as a professor of theology at Tyndale Seminary. The sermons are prefaced by a short introductory essay where I theologically reflect upon the task of preaching and an insightful Foreword by Fleming Rutledge that may be worth the price of admission by itself. Continue reading Announcing “Leaps of Faith”→
An upcoming opportunity to preach on a passage from the book of Romans provided me with a convenient excuse to dive into Beverly Roberts Gaventa’s new book, When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul. In addition to being one of the most cleverly titled books I’ve come across in some time, the book confirms Gaventa’s place in the rare company of biblical scholars whose writing demonstrates theological sensibilities and is at the same time accessible to pastors and laypeople. (I would also place Richard Hays and Michael Gorman, among others, in this category.) Gaventa is clearly informed of the most recent scholarly debates, as evidenced in the endnotes, but she wears her learning lightly. Her lucid prose is peppered with references to contemporary culture, including, for example, a discussion of Terrence Malick’s film, The Tree of Life. Continue reading When in Romans: A Short Review→
After publishing several powerful collections of sermons and having faithfully served the cause of the Gospel for many years in pulpits both within her own Episcopal Church and across the ecumenical spectrum, it is wonderful to see her magnum opus receiving this kind of well-deserved recognition. Continue reading Book of the Year→
I have been greatly encouraged by the warm initial reception that my new book, Leaps of Faith: Sermons from the Edge, has received. Here are some of the endorsements that have come in:
