Hitmen and Midwives: Talking Preaching with Preachers

Talking Preaching with Ken Jones

Back in the fall, I gave a series of talks on grace and proclamation to a clergy conference for the Anglican Church of Canada. I titled the talks, “Hitmen and Midwives,” taking the idea from the Word’s self-description in the Book of Deuteronomy:

“I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal.”

Just so, preachers are like Hitmen and Midwives, killing the Old Eve and Adam in hearers in order for God to create faith and, through faith, a new creation.

You can find the audio of those talks here on the site.

As an extension of those talks, I am beginning a series of conversations on preaching with preachers and those who listen to them.

First up, my friend Ken Jones, in true Lutheran fashion, has sketched out 9.5 Theses on Preaching. Also, in true Lutheran fashion, Ken has neither a shortage of opinions nor a fear of polemic.

In this conversation, Ken and I converse about Thesis #1:

The task of preaching is the delivery of the free and immutable gift of mercy on account of Jesus, crucified and risen, to all who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Ken and I discussed the importance of understanding that word “delivery” as well as how faith depends on those other words, “free,” “immutable,” and “mercy.” If you enjoy this conversation and would like to listen in on the future ones as well as learn the remaining 8.5 Theses, be sure to subscribe to receive the future installments.