Even though the sermon is perhaps the central element of Protestant worship, preachers sometimes have difficulty capturing the imagination of their audiences and communicating the spiritual resources that worshipers need. But the messages in David Rogne's latest book,
Let Me Tell You..., provide the living connection that worshipers are hungering for. Rogne makes a further presentation of an autobiographical homiletic style described in his previous CSS release,
Telling It Like It Was. Readers will see how the preacher can assume the identity of featured characters, stressing aspects of their spiritual pilgrimages which are relevant for today's faithful living.
Following an introductory chapter in which Rogne briefly touches on issues raised by the characters represented, he presents twelve monologues highlighting the experiences of both biblical and more recent personalities. You'll meet such fascinating personages as Abraham, Jeremiah, Thomas, Paul, Father Damien, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The monologues depict individuals who persevered through difficulty and emerged with their faith intact.
This book will be invaluable for preachers and seminarians who want to expand their repertoire of sermon styles, as well as for anyone who wants a concise biographical portrait of some of the heroes of the faith. These dramatic profiles are guaranteed to make a strong impression!
During 39 years of active pastoral service,
David G. Rogne served as senior minister at several of the largest United Methodist congregations in southern California. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Rogne received his M.Div. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and his D.Min. degree from the Claremont School of Theology, where his doctoral project involved first-person preaching. Rogne currently writes, lectures, and preaches on special occasions, and is a resident of South Carolina. He is also the author of
Telling It Like It Was (CSS).
