Invitation to James: Persevering Through Trials to Win the Crown
Overview
A sermon comes alive when it is true to the biblical author’s flow of thought, clear in its unfolding, interesting to listen to, and connected to contemporary life. In Invitation to James, Donald Sunukjian provides a model of preaching using a combination of solid scholarly study, fidelity to the meaning and intent of the biblical author, oral clarity, contemporary relevance, humor, and creativity.
Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church Series
In the Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church series, Donald Sunukjian provides models of biblical preaching based on his own sermons and principles he has developed over years of preaching and teaching.
Praise for the Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church Series
Preaching is the rudder of the church; it provides direction, clarity, and the raw material the Holy Spirit uses to transform lives. Every honest pastor wants to become a more powerful and effective communicator and Sunukjian’s Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church series is one of the most effective tools I know. His coaching and example have had a significant role in shaping how I teach God’s word today and I highly recommend his work to you.
—Chip Ingram, Senior Pastor, Venture Christian Church; Teaching Pastor, Living on the Edge
We are living in a day when Bible exposition has fallen on hard times. There are too few models and even fewer practitioners. Sunukjian is one of the best at wedding solid biblical exposition with creative and relevant applications. His artful use of imagination and penetrating questions in connecting the listener to the text is an invaluable guide for faithfully preaching the ever true and practical Word of God.
Mark L. Bailey, President and Professor of Bible Exposition, Dallas Theological Seminary
Sunukjian is not only an influential teacher of preachers; he’s also an outstanding biblical expositor. In his exceptional new Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church series, Sunukjian wears both hats and helps his readers become more effective biblical communicators as he demonstrates excellent examples of contemporary expository preaching. His sermons are filled with fascinating illustrations and timely application while also reflecting powerful insights into the biblical text. These are books that will encourage any reader—pas tor or lay-person—and they deserve a place on any preacher’s bookshelf.
—Michael Duduit, Executive Editor, Preaching magazine; Dean, College of Christian Studies and the Clamp Divinity School, Anderson University
Top Highlights
“You must come with a trusting, believing heart. You must come convinced that whatever is happening, God is being good to you, and you must not doubt at all that he is working good in your life. You must come with a gentle, yielded spirit.” (Page 21)
“The wrong way to plan, James says, is with a sense of finality and certainty, as though you’re in control of what will happen.” (Page 89)
“because it shows your wisdom about people—that it’s often the poor who have the deepest walk with God” (Page 45)
“You’re making judgments based on the idea of ‘who can do what for me.’” (Page 44)
“Double-minded: that means you’re unable to decide whether the trial is God working on something in you, or just the result of other stupid people in your life who need to be taught a thing or two and told where to get off. Settle in your mind that God is working good in your life, that he’s in control of what’s happening and that his goal is to bring you to maturity and completeness.” (Page 22)
Contents
- Introduction
- A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
- Knowing What’s Going On
- Keeping the Trial from Becoming a Temptation
- The Mirror
- Impartial Love
- Living, Loving, Lasting Faith
- Tongue in Check
- Wise or Otherwise
- He Gives More Grace
- Not Thy Will but Mine Be Done
- Don’t Leave Home without It
- Money Talks
- The Moment of the Lord’s Mercy
- The Prayer of Faith
Product Details
- Title: Invitation to James: Perservering Through Trials to Win the Crown
- Author: Donald R. Sunukjian
- Series: Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2014
- Pages: 136
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 6x9
- ISBN: 9781683592242
About Donald R. Sunukjian
Donald R. Sunukjian (PhD, UCLA; ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, where he has taught preachers since 1996. Before that, he taught preaching at Dallas Theological Seminary for more than ten years. He has also served as senior pastor for fourteen years and is the author of Invitation to Biblical Preaching: Proclaiming Truth with Clarity and Relevance, which is a leading textbook on the craft of preaching. Sunukjian has conducted pastors’ conferences in most metropolitan centers of the United States and maintains a regular preaching schedule.