Resources on Frederick Buechner

Ministry, Trust, Grace, Pastoral Leadership

The Road Goes On

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

Frederick Buechner’s address at a seminary commencement reflects on the foolishness, the faith, the grace, the truth, the trust involved in the journey of Christian ministry.

John 14:6

Forgiveness, Trust, Grace, Power

Christmas Itself Is By Grace

Frederick Buechner | Global Worship

Book Quote

Frederick Buechner's quote on the incarnation explores John 1:14, marveling that the stupendous miracle of it resists our efforts to domesticate it.

John 1:14

Christmas, Grace, Incarnation, Salvation

Parable

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Frederick Buechner says most of Jesus’ parables have “a kind of sad fun” about them, and "with parables and jokes both, if you've got to have them explained, don't bother."

Matthew 20:1-16

Parable, Generosity, Labor, Vineyard

A Magnificent Defeat

Ronald Rolheiser | Grandin Media

Article about Theology

Ron Rolheiser shares Frederick Buechner's take on the story of Jacob's wrestling with the stranger (Genesis 32:24-32). In being defeated, Jacob finds the blessing of love, which can only be received as a gift.

Genesis 32:24-32

Blessing, Stranger, Jacob (biblical Patriarch), Wrestling

Parables as Comedy

Frederick Buechner | Day1

In this illustration for Luke 15:11-32, Frederick Buechner shows that we hear the Gospel best when we hear it as a wild and marvelous joke about the preposterousness of God and his grace.

Luke 15:11-32

Grace, God's Love, Prodigal Son, Humor

The Sacred Journey: Once Beyond Time

Frederick Buechner | Duke University Chapel

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In this audio sermon on Matthew 19:16-30, Carl Frederick Buechner reads from his memoir. Buechner describes how he came to be healed from the reality of his father's death through God's gift of holy grace.

Matthew 19:16-30

Faith, Healing, Grace, Love

Not Much To Look At

Frederick Buechner | Day1

"Little by little the forgiven person became a forgiving person." In this illustration for 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Frederick Buechner gives an overview of Paul's life and highlights some of the themes in his letters.

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Paul, Life, Ministry, Forgiveness

The Fruit of the Spirit

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Reflecting on Galatians 5:18-23, Frederick Buechner reminds us that although good works do not earn salvation, "they are nonetheless the mark and effect of it."

Galatians 5:18-23

Fruit Of The Spirit, Grace, Good Works, Law

Absalom

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Reflecting on the death of Absalom (2 Samuel 18), Frederick Buechner says that although King David would have given his own life to make Absalom alive again - only a God could do that.

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

Love, Jesus, Crucifixion, Grace

The Coming Day of Judgment

Frederick Buechner | Preaching Today

Frederick Buechner meditates on the bad news and good news of the coming judgment. We will be judged, but the one who judges us will be Jesus, who bore our judgment on the cross.

Death, Grace, Love, Judgment

The Cock Crows the Whole Night Through on Christmas

Frederick Buechner | Preaching Today

Frederick Buechner quotes a conversation from Hamlet in which the characters discuss the power of Christmas as a time of holiness. Shakespeare's words provide us with another angle from which we can marvel at the incarnation.

Luke 2:8-20; John 1:1-5 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Birth, Christmas, Advent, Conversion

Sermon Illustrations on Pastors

Albert Mohler Jr | The Pastor's Workshop

Several sermon illustrations on pastors, including the primary role of the pastor, the need for pastors to witness to God's presence in their lives, and the impossible expectations people have for pastors.

Ministry, Church, Pastor, Spirituality

Hands for the Harvest

Frederick Buechner | Day1

An excerpt from Frederick Buechner's "Book of Bebb," used as an illustration of Luke 10:1-3, in which Bebb reflects how being in prison made him "ripe for the harvest."

Luke 10:1-3

Gratitude, Hope, Evangelism, Grace

Just Beyond Our Grasp

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Cited as an illustration of Hebrews 11:1, Frederick Buechner says faith begins with being loved and is "stepping out into the unknown with nothing to guide us but a hand just beyond our grasp."

Hebrews 11:1

Faith, Grace, Love, Trust

The Experience of Grace

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In this lecture on preaching Frederick Buechner encourages preachers to "draw on your life, not for illustration but draw on it for truth, not for illustrations of grace, let's say, but for the experience of grace."

Grace, Truthfulness, Conflict/disagreement, Listening To God

Zaccheus

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Reflecting on the story of Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10), Frederick Beuchner reminds us that scripture is filled with individuals who were deemed undesirable by those around them and yet God treasured them.

Luke 19:1-10

Grace, Greed, Hospitality, Jesus

Searching For Home

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Book Quote

Frederick Buechner describes waiting for God to provide the words or grace to write something he is unable to produce on his own.

Letting an Empty Place Open Up

Grace, Writing, God

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Book Quote

Frederick Buechner writes of the empty spaces that open up while he is writing, and the way God fills that space.

Grace, Writing, Waiting, Waiting Upon God

No Theological Axe

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Article about Preaching

Writer Frederick Buechner explains the tension of being a Christian novelist: While he makes a concerted effort not to preach in his novels, he strives to be true to his experience as a Christian.