On Easter Sunday evening at the Easter Event “Resurrection” in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Peter Grainger preached a narrative sermon based on the story of Thomas from John 20. Read the text here or watch the video below:

He reflects on the experience and answers some of the questions about “narrative preaching” in this post. If you’d like to learn more, please consider attending our Narrative Preaching Workshop.

It is remarkablethat the Gospels and Acts, taken together, comprise almost two thirds of the bulk of the New Testament. Here is evidence of the importance of narrative in the formation of Christian faith.

• How does this affect what we preach on?
• How does preaching from narrative differ from other genres?
• Why is this so relevant to today’s generation?

Come and explore these and related issues with:

7th May, 10am – 1pm

Charlotte Chapel Lounge, Rose Street, Edinburgh EH4 2AZ

Cost £10, email register@2tim4.org to register.

“From text to sermon”

Practical teaching… practical examples… practical exercises     

Peter Grainger, senior pastor of Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh for 17 years and now Director of the 2 Timothy 4 Trust which is dedicated to strengthening Scottish preaching, will help you explore and experience the process of preparing a sermon.

Saturday April 2^nd, 10am – 1pm

Airdrie Baptist Church, 97 Graham Street, Airdrie ML6 6DE http://www.airdriebaptist.co.uk

Cost: £5

To register, email peter@2Tim4.org

Comments from previous participants:

“The principles and practical aspects of the workshop were invaluable and answered so many questions which I have been carrying around as I have been thinking about a future in pastor-teaching ministry.”

“Excellent, encouraging and entertaining, also informative, instructive, and very helpful.”

1. Introduction – Teaching that instructs and rebukes (Titus 1:9)
2. Is Jesus the Only Way? (The exclusivity of Christ and the Gospel)
3. A New Kind of Christianity? (The challenge of the emerging church)

Parables workshop PowerPoint (.ppt) and Slides Handout (.pdf)

Last Saturday (6 November 2010) was 2 Timothy 4 Trust’s latest conference called ‘Preaching From the Parables’. MP3s of both sessions are now available to download by following the links below.

AUDIO: ‘Parables’ Session 1

AUDIO: ‘Parables’ Session 2

Further media (including video and PowerPoint slides) will be available soon.

It should now be far easier for us to keep things up to date and to post the media from our various events – I’ve just added Planning a Preaching Programme from May 2010.

> Download conference audio and supporting files.

As I reflected on this after stepping down as Senior Pastor in Charlotte Chapel and, for the time in 25 years, not having to prepare to preach this Christmas, I wondered if I could be of some help and encouragement to fellow-pastors and preachers? Could I offer some examples of Christmas messages that you could take and adapt for your own use? Even better, how about if we shared together and pooled ideas, illustrations and material that we have prepared and preached at past Christmases?

One of my Christmas talks, based on the Live Aid song, was entitled “Do they know it’s Christmas?” Sadly, most people don’t and this season of the year provides a window of opportunity to share the good news of great joy for all people – and especially with those people who don’t normally darken the doors of a church at any other time of year…

Peter’s Introduction

Full Session Video

> Download supporting media from this event