Preaching Sparks

Shaping a Homily for the Epiphany: An Exercise in David Buttrick's Homiletic ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger, Ph.D.

Jan 212 min read

Shaping a Homily for the Epiphany: An Exercise in David Buttrick's Homiletic ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger, Ph.D.

When it came time for David Buttrick to offer a sample of his distinctive method of preaching, he selected the Gospel Lesson for the...

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Lent 5 A ~ John 11:1-45 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Mar 21, 202320 min read

Lent 5 A ~ John 11:1-45 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Once again, John is faithful to the literary structure of a sign narrative. By now we expect some sort of need or lack to be stated at...

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Lent 4 A ~ John 9:1-41 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Mar 14, 202315 min read

Lent 4 A ~ John 9:1-41 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

With the arrival of the Fourth Sunday in Lent, we encounter a Johannine sign for the first time in our forty day journey. Therefore, it...

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Lent 3 A ~ John 4:5-42 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Mar 8, 202314 min read

Lent 3 A ~ John 4:5-42 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

This profound and detailed story follows upon a sequence of events that function in differing ways to shape the reader’s expectations as...

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The Multiple Feasts of the Transfiguration

susan mcgurgan

Mar 1, 20233 min read

The Multiple Feasts of the Transfiguration

This article was researched by Kendall McCabe for Rev. Richard Eslinger's Commentary on Lent, Year A, in the New Proclamation series,...

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What's the Problem with Catholic Preaching? What Can we Do About It? II ~ Rev. Michael Connors, CSC

susan mcgurgan

Feb 21, 20236 min read

What's the Problem with Catholic Preaching? What Can we Do About It? II ~ Rev. Michael Connors, CSC

Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC, is the Director of the Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics at the University of Notre Dame. In the...

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"Know What You're Doing in Preaching and Why You're Doing it" ~ Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC

susan mcgurgan

Nov 22, 20225 min read

"Know What You're Doing in Preaching and Why You're Doing it" ~ Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC

Rev. Michael Connors, CSC, is the Director of the Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics at the University of Notre Dame. In the...

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"The Via Dolorosa via Municipal Court" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

susan mcgurgan

Jul 25, 20222 min read

"The Via Dolorosa via Municipal Court" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Jesus did not shun the work of the dock, the dust of the field or the din of the marketplace. His preaching rang with references to the...

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"Homilies that Spark" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

susan mcgurgan

Jun 13, 20222 min read

"Homilies that Spark" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Can I Get an Amen?: A Survey of Homiletic Strategies that Engage the Listener This is the second in a series of five brief essays that...

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The Eye of the Homily ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

susan mcgurgan

May 12, 20222 min read

The Eye of the Homily ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Can I Get an Amen?: A Survey of Homiletic Strategies that Engage the Listener “Did you see that?” “Did you notice the look on his face?”...

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susan mcgurgan

Mar 17, 20229 min read

Taking Risks: First Person Preaching ~ Susan McGurgan

First person preaching is an approach that takes one of the characters from the Bible, from Church History, from the communion of Saints...

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susan mcgurgan

Oct 13, 20213 min read

"It’s About Time: A reflection on homily preparation" ~ Susan McGurgan

In 1940, my Uncle Ray, a young Methodist pastor, was named interim pastor of a thriving community in Kansas, an assignment that usually...

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susan mcgurgan

Apr 6, 20214 min read

"To Manuscript or Not to Manuscript..." ~ Susan McGurgan

This article was published in "Preach" Magazine, which alas, had a short publication run and no longer exists. Since there is no one to...

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"Hunter, Athlete, Soldier, Savior" ~ A blog post about Priesthood, shared by Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

susan mcgurgan

Mar 22, 20213 min read

"Hunter, Athlete, Soldier, Savior" ~ A blog post about Priesthood, shared by Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

I had a brother who wasn’t from my family. We worked a ranch down by the border where the rain clouds aren’t ever seen. Ol’ Rocko got...

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The Transfiguration & "Generic Homilies" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

susan mcgurgan

Feb 11, 20213 min read

The Transfiguration & "Generic Homilies" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

As we approach the Feast of the Transfiguration, it may serve us well to revisit “generic homilies.” Texts in multiple attestation...

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susan mcgurgan

Feb 5, 20214 min read

Remembering Santa~ Susan McGurgan Reflecting on the Paschal Mystery in the Time of Covid

During the pandemic, pastors who may have preached a dozen funeral homilies over the course of typical year, are now presiding over...

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The Torn Veil ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer Preaching in the Time of Covid

susan mcgurgan

Feb 5, 20215 min read

The Torn Veil ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer Preaching in the Time of Covid

In “Preaching as a Social Act,” Don Wardlaw offers a homiletic schema that includes three over-lapping spheres: the world of the Bible,...

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susan mcgurgan

Jan 20, 20214 min read

The Bible in One Hand, Headlines in the Other: A Reflection Exercise ~ Dr. Susan McGurgan

In 2013, Pope Francis spoke to the Holy See Diplomatic Corps, saying, “One of the titles of the Bishop of Rome is Pontiff-- that is, a...

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susan mcgurgan

Jan 18, 20214 min read

Preaching in Three Dimensions ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

God’s Word offers space to explore, not lessons to bore. Keeping an eye out for the three-dimension properties of a biblical text enables...

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Shaping a Homily for the Epiphany: An Exercise in David Buttrick's Homiletic ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger, Ph.D.

Lent 5 A ~ John 11:1-45 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Lent 4 A ~ John 9:1-41 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Lent 3 A ~ John 4:5-42 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Multiple Feasts of the Transfiguration

What's the Problem with Catholic Preaching? What Can we Do About It? II ~ Rev. Michael Connors, CSC

"Know What You're Doing in Preaching and Why You're Doing it" ~ Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC

"The Via Dolorosa via Municipal Court" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

"Homilies that Spark" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

The Eye of the Homily ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Taking Risks: First Person Preaching ~ Susan McGurgan

"It’s About Time: A reflection on homily preparation" ~ Susan McGurgan

"To Manuscript or Not to Manuscript..." ~ Susan McGurgan

"Hunter, Athlete, Soldier, Savior" ~ A blog post about Priesthood, shared by Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

The Transfiguration & "Generic Homilies" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Remembering Santa~ Susan McGurgan Reflecting on the Paschal Mystery in the Time of Covid

The Torn Veil ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer Preaching in the Time of Covid

The Bible in One Hand, Headlines in the Other: A Reflection Exercise ~ Dr. Susan McGurgan

Preaching in Three Dimensions ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

What's New?

New Position for Susan McGurgan
Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis.

20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week

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Shaping a Homily for the Epiphany: An Exercise in David Buttrick's Homiletic ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger, Ph.D.

Lent 5 A ~ John 11:1-45 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Lent 4 A ~ John 9:1-41 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Lent 3 A ~ John 4:5-42 Exegesis, Homiletic Reflection & Strategies ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Multiple Feasts of the Transfiguration

What's the Problem with Catholic Preaching? What Can we Do About It? II ~ Rev. Michael Connors, CSC

"Know What You're Doing in Preaching and Why You're Doing it" ~ Rev. Michael E. Connors, CSC

"The Via Dolorosa via Municipal Court" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

"Homilies that Spark" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

The Eye of the Homily ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Taking Risks: First Person Preaching ~ Susan McGurgan

"It’s About Time: A reflection on homily preparation" ~ Susan McGurgan

"To Manuscript or Not to Manuscript..." ~ Susan McGurgan

"Hunter, Athlete, Soldier, Savior" ~ A blog post about Priesthood, shared by Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

The Transfiguration & "Generic Homilies" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Remembering Santa~ Susan McGurgan Reflecting on the Paschal Mystery in the Time of Covid

The Torn Veil ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer Preaching in the Time of Covid

The Bible in One Hand, Headlines in the Other: A Reflection Exercise ~ Dr. Susan McGurgan

Preaching in Three Dimensions ~ Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer

What's New?

New Position for Susan McGurgan Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis. 20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week

Subscribe Form

New Position for Susan McGurgan
Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis.

20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week