Words of Life

Father Don Hanway defines preaching as "an attempt to link the words of Holy Scripture with the lives of the hearers in such a way that both the words and the lives are illuminated." He demonstrates the definition in this collection of 40 sermons from the last fifteen of his 22 years ministering next to a state university in the nation's heartland. This volume was produced in response to entreaty from a few of the many who benefited from and contributed to the preacher's continuing education. He selected the sermons on the basis of originality, variety of season and occasion, centrality of the message of Good News for all people, and in many cases, reference to movies for illustrative purposes. Preaching is a privilege, as well as a demanding profession. Church-goers seek an authentic word of hope and challenge that will help them make sense of their lives in a complex and fast-moving world. Respecting the time and intelligence of his listeners, and following the three-year lectionary of the Church, Dr. Hanway's sermons are lucid and concise, ranging over many topics, and infused with his personal witness to timeless truth and the reality of God's presence in our lives.