Dr. Joni Sancken is Associate Professor of Homiletics at United Theological Seminary. Her interests include theological approaches to preaching, women preachers, preaching about the cross and resurrection, and preaching in a context of trauma. She is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. Her most recent book is Words that Heal: Preaching Hope to Wounded…
I’m excited to announce the arrival of a new book by my colleague, Dr. Joni Sancken, Associate Professor of Homiletics at United Theological Seminary. The book is called Words That Heal: Preaching Hope to Wounded Souls (Abingdon, 2019, 122 pp.). From the back of the book: Words That Heal: Preaching Hope to Wounded Souls offers students and preachers…
Many of us are, says Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Particularly since the internet has become a part of our lives, our tendency is to multitask almost all of the time. For example, I can’t tell you how many articles I’ve written with my email inbox open.…
I’ve been writing down some theological reflections on Mark’s gospel. Perhaps at some point these will constitute the makings of a short book, but for now they’re just reflections. Here are some brief thoughts on the scribes and Pharisees in Mark. I’d appreciate any constructive feedback you have. Let’s clear something up about the scribes and…
Recently I was invited to preach at worship during our master’s intensive at United. The theme for the week was Wisdom. Prov 24:1-14 Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; 2for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. 3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding…
Dear Pastors: This is a letter to say thank you. For the messages of hope that you preach, the people you lead to Christ, the baptisms you perform, the newcomers to whom you teach the faith, the long-time churchgoers whom you nurture in the faith, thank you. Thank you for the counsel you provide to those who…
“In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us” (2 Cor 5:19). This is one of the most well known passages of Christian scripture. It is also one of the most puzzled-over. Atonement is a particularly knotty theological matter. While the…
When I was interviewing with the Board of Ordained Ministry to be commissioned as an elder, one member of the committee asked me about the resurrection of Jesus. She asked, “How do you see resurrections in your own life?” I’ve long reflected on that question because the way in which we answer it has implications…
I’m preaching this morning. Granted, I don’t preach all the time. I speak publicly quite often, but preaching is different. I can give an hour-long lecture on a research topic as a matter of course. Putting together a twenty-minute sermon, however, is something I have always found very difficult. After some reflection, I’ve decided the reason…
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