Missional Preaching: Communicating the Gospel in an Age of Unbelief

by Stephen Stallard

Overview

American society has rapidly shifted, and preachers suddenly find themselves preaching in a post-Christian country. Some listeners harbor doubts planted by secularism. Other listeners are on the verge of deconstructing their faith. Still others are members of other religions, and they are hostile, or at least skeptical, to the claims of Christ. Preachers can no longer preach to the safe audience of the choir. We must learn to stand confidently on the missional frontier, proclaiming the Risen Lord in a society marked by mistrust and skepticism. This primer offers overwhelmed preachers the practical tools necessary to preach beyond the choir. Drawing on his experiences preaching on the missional frontier in NYC and Portland, Stephen Stallard provides a hands-on primer to missional preaching.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781430094029
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2025
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.37(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Stephen Stallard (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of Pastoral Ministry at Western Seminary.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Preaching Past the Choir

Chapter 1: Watch Your Tone
Chapter 2: Acknowledge the Elephant in the Room
Chapter 3: Narrate the True Story of the World
Chapter 4: Be Ready to Answer
Chapter 5: Celebrate Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Chapter 6: Preach Jesus

Conclusion
Acknowledgments
General Index

Editorial Reviews

Missional Preaching should be on every pastor’s ‘must read’ list. It is short and simple, clear and concise, and delightful to read. It will help all of us better engage the multiple cultures and perspectives sitting in our congregations each and every week. I was blessed and challenged by this book. I believe you will be as well.”
—Daniel Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“The missional frontier comes to our church today, and we must preach not to the choir but to the seekers and critics, adversaries and mockers. Stephen Stallard’s book is helpful in this process of becoming more missional in our preaching. It resonates with my own experience and challenges me to preach more confidently and experiment more creatively. Being born and raised in a Christian home in the former USSR meant staying isolated from the hostile Soviet society to survive and protect ourselves. Yet, my parents and grandparents found enough opportunities to preach on the frontier of unbelief and hostility, even in trials, even in prison. They once lived and preached on the missional frontier, and they served well. How about us today? How about our churches? Please, read the book and answer the questions.”
—Rev. Dr. Michael Cherenkov, Senior Pastor, Revival Baptist Church, Vancouver, WA

“In his book, Missional Preaching: Communicating the Gospel in an Age of Unbelief, Stephen Stallard has provided a wonderful resource for preachers and teachers everywhere. There is no shortage of books on preaching, and perhaps the only thing rivaling the advance of secularity in our age is the proliferation of books about secularity in our age. Nevertheless, this book is a fresh contribution of valuable insight that is both theologically grounded in the good news of Christ and immensely practical, filled with timely principles for today. You will benefit greatly from reading this!”
—Josh Matthews, PhD, Dean, Western Seminary

“Stephen Stallard is the ideal person to write about missional preaching in North America. First, he has served as a pastor on both coasts—in Brooklyn, New York, and now in Portland, Oregon. Second, Stephen is a terrific writer who knows how to turn a phrase. His writing is delightful to read. Third, this book is rich in both biblical and historical reflection. It is practical, as well. It has helped me. I already plan on rereading it and recommending it to my preaching students and my pastor friends.”
—Steven D. Matthewson, Adjunct Professor in Preaching and Biblical Studies, Western Seminary

“Stephen Stallard brings the knowledge and the experience needed for us to think through how to preach the old, old story in an age of tumult. This book guides us through crafting and communicating the message while knowing which words are dulled by cultural familiarity and which are obscured by cultural confusion. Preachers and teachers will be glad to learn from this solid, thoughtful guide.”
—Russell Moore, Editor in Chief, Christianity Today

“This is a winsome wake-up call for all preachers in our late modern context. Whether we like it or not, we must come to terms with the fact that God has placed us on a missional frontier. Drawing from both Scripture and the testimony of Christian history, Stephen offers an engaging and reliable guide in calling for contextual, commonsense, confessional, caring, and Christcentered missional preaching. I definitely recommend this read.”
—Dan Strange, Director, Crosslands Forum

From the Publisher