Todd Wilson

Here's a title I normally do not see for my pastoral role—the Cruciform Preacher. That is, a preacher whose soul is shaped by the cross of Jesus. That's the theme that Todd Wilson develops in his fabulous, moving skills article for this week. The nature of pastoral work (what Wilson calls our "ecclesial location") will throw us into the world of suffering—or as Wilson writes, "Pastors are specialists in loss ... Pastors specialize in loss, hurt, pain, trauma, suffering, and soul-anguish of one kind or another … It belongs to our story. It shapes our entire outlook on life, ministry, the church, God, and, yes, even our theology. Cruciformity is a help, not a hindrance. A place where theology is born." This is one of those rare "leadership articles" that can deepen and color the way you look at everything in pastoral-preaching ministry.

Ken Shigematsu

And if you need to speak on suffering, check out this fine sermon from our friend Ken Shigematsu—"Suffering and the U-Curve of Life," based on James 5:1-11. Think of the letter U as a shape for our lives. Sometimes as we hit the downward curve of failure, suffering, and loss, it can feel like our life is dying. But in God's kingdom, the bottom of the U is often the place where God can break through. As Ken says, "What we think may be the worst thing may be actually the best thing, so far as God is concerned, while what we feel is going to be the best thing may be the worst thing, where God is concerned."

Steve Norman

Finally, in this week's stellar lineup we offer Steve Norman's article "Preaching on Suffering in a Pain-free Culture." (You have to love that title!) Norman mentions that every time his staff gears up for Sunday morning services he tells them, "Never underestimate the pain in the room." But how, in our preaching, do we reconcile the wish for pain-free living in our culture with the ever-present weight of suffering? Well, check out the article and hear his answer to that weighty question.

Also, check out these new resources:

• Featured Illustration: Inuit Hunters Losing Ability to Read Surroundings
• Featured Video: Judged - Jesus was quick to love and slow to judge, but sometimes his followers get it backwards. These real-life stories remind us all of the need to balance truth with grace.
• Featured Sermon: "Suffering and the 'U-Curve' of Life" by Ken Shigematsu
• Featured Skills Article: "The Cruciform Pastorate" by Todd Wilson
• Featured Skills Article: "Preaching on Suffering in a 'Pain-Free' Culture" by Steve Norman

Matt Woodley
Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.