Helping preachers deliver the goods.

The Iowa Preachers Project.

Photo by Sarah Crowder

I am pleased and thrilled to announce my involvement in the Iowa Preachers Project as a Sermon Evaluator and Writer. The Iowa Preachers Project is a brand-new venture from Grand View University shepherded by Ken Sundet Jones with funding through the Compelling Preaching Initiative of the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the focus of which is to support and encourage preachers to proclaim Christ crucified amid an ever-changing environment of modernity. As the broader culture continues to evolve in seismic ways and at rapid speeds, preachers are often tempted to surrender to the whims of a society that demands novelty. Yet in contradistinction to these winds of change, Christ entrusts preachers with an unchanging announcement — namely, his crucifixion and resurrection for the justification of every sinner. Rather than placating the impulses of the day, the need of the hour remains the proclamation of the untiring message of grace and reconciliation through the Christ of God. The Iowa Preachers Project endeavors to assist and strengthen preachers as they undertake this errand.

An added benefit of being involved with the Iowa Preachers Project is the opportunity to minister alongside Ken, whose friendship in recent years has been a distinct treasure, especially as I have developed a keen interest in Reformation history and Lutheran theology. Ken’s wit and insight have been formative as I’ve sought to stubbornly preach the objective message of hope, forgiveness, and redemption from every page of Scripture. Consequently, when he approached me to gauge my interest in this project, I jumped at the chance to connect with and encourage preachers as they wrestle with the Word and venture to proclaim the foolishness of the Word of the Cross as the revelation of God’s wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption for all who believe (1 Cor. 1:18, 30). Along with Ken, Jason Micheli, and the collective influence of partners such as Mockingbird, the Iowa Preachers Project is poised to serve the Body of Christ as its preachers announce God’s Word of Promise to sinners far and wide and young and old.

Grace and peace to you.