Your Faith Has MadeYou Well
Preaching The Miracles, Cycle B
Charles L.Aaron

This is an admirable example of pastoral theology at its best. Aaron's discussions of the historical background and theological significance of each text are thoroughly informed and articulate. Equally helpful are the insights he brings to the understanding of the pastoral implications of each text and the strategies appropriate to preaching the text. This book proves that some of the best biblical theology for pastors can be written by a pastor.

David Bartlett

Lantz Professor of Preaching

Yale University Divinity School

The moving accounts of Jesus' astonishing power to cast out demons and heal physical ailments are singularly compelling preaching texts with rich possibilities for proclamation -- they have much to teach us about God's grace and the ministry of the church, as well as the spiritual dimension of evil. But these passages are also fraught with homiletic peril, presenting preachers with a tangle of problems and conflicting beliefs. In light of modern scientific knowledge and technological sophistication, some Christians question if these miracles really occurred. Others wonder why only some people experience such healings, and there is a temptation to simplistically equate lack of healing with lack of faith. Should we expect similar miracles today? What is the link between faith and wellness? And most important of all, what do these strange yet fascinating stories mean for us today?

Your Faith Has Made You Well helps preachers negotiate this minefield with a detailed exploration of eleven miracle narratives appearing in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. It's packed with stimulating ideas and illustrations for developing dynamic sermons, including a supplemental chapter with numerous examples of contemporary miracles and healings. Each miracle is examined from several perspectives to produce a holistic understanding:

? historical background -- What Old Testament narratives or ideas are reflected in the story? What do we know about the understanding of medicine and health in Jesus' time?

? literary analysis -- How does the plot unfold? How are the characters developed? What literary devices are employed?

? theological reflection -- What does the text affirm or imply about God, creation, the ministry of Christ, salvation, and the meaning of evil? What does it teach us about faith, the Christian life, and the mission of the church?

? pastoral reading -- What insight does the text give us about the human condition? How do we experience and cope with suffering?

? preaching strategies -- What homiletical problems need to be addressed? What are some possible approaches that can make the text come alive?

Chapter titles include:
? Jesus Meets The Official Spokesdemon

Mark 1:21-28
? Forgiveness Starts A Fight
Mark 2:1-12
? The (Demonic) Empire Strikes Back

Mark 4:35-41
? Getting Back Into The Conversation

Mark 7:31-37
? Interrupting The Interruption
John 11:1-44


...and six more!

Charles L. Aaron, Jr. is currently the pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Garland, Texas, and has served other congregations in Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. In addition to serving in the parish ministry, Aaron has also taught at Perkins School of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Duke University Divinity School, where he was a Luce post-doctoral fellow in preaching. Aaron is the author of Preaching Hosea, Amos, and Micah (Chalice Press), and he is a prolific writer whose articles, sermons, and book reviews have appeared in numerous publications, including Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching Great Texts, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and Word and Witness. He is a graduate of Lambuth College (B.A.), Memphis State University (M.S.), Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (M.Div.), and Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (Ph.D. in Old Testament).