A Faith Worth Believing, Living, and Commending

The materials presented here are reflections on a variety of topics: a belief in God''s suffering and the pastoral implications of this; Luther''s theology of preaching; practical approaches to evangelistic preaching; pastoral advice on death and dying; apologetic preaching in a post-Christian culture on the model of Paul; effective living in the power of the Holy Spirit, striking a balance between enthusiastic service and fervent love; the image of God''s love in the Old Testament; and personal exhortations. Although this book was written on the balcony of my own study where reflection and meditation are carried out, it is cognizant of ministry contexts where people''s needs and struggles are most evident. With anecdotes and analyses, the readers will be enabled to discern the signs of divine transcendence in their lives, and to apprehend, or rather to be apprehended by, the beauty of God''s grace--the abiding basis of our being and well-being. What has been written in this book reveals the heartbeat of a mentor who earnestly hungers for divine beauty and holiness, a mentor whose hunger God eagerly fulfills, just as he promises, and a mentor who wishes this same fulfillment to happen for readers. The basic assumption in this book is this: a faith that is worth believing is a faith that is worth living, and thus worth commending. The book is also an exercise of faith seeking understanding--understanding only God could supply. It is written with the hope that it will lead readers from knowing God to loving him, to enjoying him, and finally to proclaiming him so that others will be brought into the orbit of God''s inestimable grace. Not until our hearts, which God''s heart touches, touch the heart of others is our ministry complete and our life found pleasing to God. ""Like the ancient prophet, Amos, we live in an era marked by a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. These exemplary sermons and speeches by Dennis Ngien provide satisfying nourishment for heart and mind alike because he enables the Scriptures to speak again in clear, powerful ways to our generation. Ngien effortlessly blends the committed passion of a preacher, the wise perspective of a mentor, and the careful precision of a scholar. This book is recommended reading for anyone eager to hear what truly practical theology sounds like.""-- Jeffrey P. Greenman, Associate Dean of Biblical & Theological Studies and Professor of Christian Ethics, Wheaton College""This book is far more than a collection of compelling sermons by the consummate pastor-theologian, Dr. Dennis Ngien. It is an exemplar of the interface of theology and piety, of biblical interpretation and practical implication, of scholarly rigor and spiritual fervor. The nine chapters comprising the volume offer rich theological reflection on a range of subjects including the suffering of God, death and dying, Luther''s theology of preaching, effective living in the power of the Spirit, and the nature of God''s love. Ngien never loses sight of what he calls ""the curvature of the human soul,"" and offers exhortations and insights that are at once deeply theological, profoundly pastoral, and disarmingly personal. Like his historic mentor, Luther, we see in Ngien a theologian of the cross at work in the pastoral context. This is a book of immense value for all who seek a faith worth believing, living, and commending.""-- Janet Clark, Dean, Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, Canada""The Scottish theologian James Denney once commented that ''if evangelists were our theologians or theologians our evangelists, we should be nearer the ideal.'' These sermons by Dennis Ngien exemplify the fact that he is a passionate amalgam of both. Professor Ngien is a noted theologian in the Reformation tradition, but also a man of action, who has proclaimed the gospel in various settings over many years of public ministry. May his tribe increase! And may you be inspired and built up in faith.""-- Kevin Livingston, Senior Pastor, Knox