The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence. This item is unavailable.The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence

After the horrors and violence of the twentieth century, words can seem futile. In this reflection on the place of preaching today, Richard Lischer recognizes that our mass-communication culture is exhausted by words. Facing up to language's disappointments and dead ends, he opens a path to its true end. With chapters on vocation, interpretation, narration, and reconciliation, The End of Words shows how faithful reading of Scripture rather than flashy performance paves the way for effective preaching; Lischer challenges conventional storytelling with a deeper and more biblical view of narrative preaching. The ultimate purpose of preaching, he argues, is to speak God's peace, the message of reconciliation. While Lischer's End of Words will surely be invaluable to pastors and preachers, his honest, readable style will appeal to anyone concerned with speaking Christianly.

Richard Lischer is distinguished professor emeritus of preaching at Duke Divinity School. His fourteen books include the prize-winning The Preacher King, the anthology The Company of Preachers (named a "Best Book" in 2003 by Christianity Today), and two beloved memoirs: Open Secrets and Stations of the Heart.