95 Prostheses

Five hundred years after Luther's famous posting of his 95 Theses in 1517, the church again faces an important crossroads. Sunday worship attendance is shrinking at alarming rates. There are now more ""Elvis believers"" in the US than Episcopalians and almost limitless spiritual options exist for those who seek faith and trust in something, but are hesitant to commit to a particular path leading to truth. The word prosthesis, normally associated with surgery, is also an apt word to describe the church's need to forge a theological identity that fits our current context. The church faces change and a transformed body, but not at the expense of the biblical richness and tradition that fueled the restlessness of the reformers. The essays gathered here, arranged around the seasons of the church year, address familiar challenges faced by all pastors and leaders in an era of transition, specifically in Christian formation and discipleship. Appropriate for group and personal reflection, 95 Prostheses employs humor and biblical accessibility with the skeptical outsider who may be considering Jesus and his church for the first time in mind.

""Frank Honeycutt is an engaging preacher whose depictions of Jesus and other biblical characters are unique. Readers will have much to ponder in this collection of some of his best sermons.""
--Gerald R. McDermott, author of Famous Stutterers

""Several times these essays brought me to a complete stop as I thought, 'I'd never considered that.' Honeycutt's breezy, accessible style cleverly peels layer upon layer to unveil both depth and wisdom. By the end, I was wishing he was my pastor.""
--Deb Richardson-Moore, author of The Weight of Mercy, The Cantaloupe Thief and The Cover Story

""In this accessible, witty, and often profound book, Honeycutt invites those of us who know the content of the Bible and those of us who don't to explore its treasures with fresh eyes as the church commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. He brings his own insightful observations and reflections to the text and invites us, as individuals or in groups, to do the same. Those familiar with Honeycutt's approachable style will not be surprised that this book is hard to put down; those who have not yet made his acquaintance will find here a wise, helpful guide to the often strange world of the Bible.""
--H. Julian Gordy, Bishop, ELCA Southeastern Synod

""When Pastor Honeycutt describes John the Baptist as 'a Rottweiler who hasn't eaten in awhile' you know that inside this easygoing storyteller is a serious wordsmith who wants to wake up the neighbors. He's right--we avoid the Bible not because we're busy but because we're afraid. But if you're willing to risk reading the Bible again, Honeycutt is a wise and whimsical guide. He writes like that rare real-life pastor you can say anything to, because he's done, said, or thought it himself.""
--Lillian Daniel, author of Tired of Apologizing for a Church I Don't Belong to, Senior ...