Sermons use words. And though it appears obvious that preachers should be careful and exacting in word choice, novice preachers often set aside this aspect of preaching in favor of exegetical work and sermonic focus. Nonetheless preachers subscribe to preaching aids, peruse preaching websites, and purchase annuals of sermon illustrations in order to adorn their sermons with apt imagery. Preachers look for others' words to amplify their own. The weekly work with language is daunting: Preachers must be disciplined to find fresh phrases for sermons and to make good choices about their own words and those borrowed from others as language shapes faith. This volume introduces the power of language to determine reality, the intricacies of language issues for preaching, and the custodial task of preachers for this work.
