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 the Life of Jacob, 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.
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.
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
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.