Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shape Your Sermons and Connect with Your Congregation

An experienced preacher and teacher encourages pastors to preach on pain to help their congregants identify and share their suffering in Christian community for the purpose of healing and transformation.

Christianity Today 2022 Book Award Winner (Church/Pastoral Leadership)

Outreach 2022 Recommended Resource (Church)

Southwestern Journal of Theology 2021 Book Award (Honorable Mention, Preaching/Ministry/Leadership)

Offering an important corrective to a pain-averse culture that celebrates individualism and success, veteran preacher and teacher Matthew Kim encourages pastors to preach on the painful issues their congregations face. Through vulnerability and self-disclosure, pastors can help their congregants share their suffering in community for the purpose of healing and transformation. The book includes stories, shares relevant Scripture texts imparting biblical wisdom, and offers best practices for preaching on specific topics. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a sample sermon.