I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest, and when in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 1/2twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
The words of this old hymn are the essence of narrative preaching. One of the most moving forms of proclamation, the narrative sermon puts great demands on the preacher, not only at the moment of delivery, but also because of the needed time for reflection, reading, and research. Preachers keep coming back to this form of addressing congregations for the very reasons that drew them to the ministry: the compulsion of the call and the profound desire to share the unerring word of God with others. For almost fifty years, Joe H. Cothen has pastored congregations in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, with ample opportunity to refine his skills as a narrative preacher. This book, his fifth, details the basic ingredients to create and deliver sermons that share the character, function, and value of the word of God with a congregation. The superb examples and thorough guidance make this book a valuable resource to preachers, whether young and just starting out or in need of a fresh perspective.
