In The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word, Thomason's winsomely illustrated text shows preachers visual techniques to study the Bible, construct a sermon, use the physical space where they preach, create two-dimensional images, and develop and use videos.
Here are some sample illustrations from the book.
Learn some basic skills that will help transform a wall of text into a visual embodiment of the Good News of Jesus that your listeners can connect with and take home.
Praise for The Visual Preacher
This little gem is a must for any preacher in a post-COVID era. Chalked full of much-needed wisdom from a seasoned preacher, artist extraordinaire, and communication guru.
As I teach my preaching courses, I see the need for my students to be equipped to engage congregations so they don’t merely hear but also see the Scriptures unfold before them. In The Visual Preacher, Thomason gives any preacher in any context the tools to unlock that ability. It’s a must-have resource.
Information, illustration, inspiration! The Visual Preacher . . . will spark creativity in proclaiming the gospel in a way that engages all the senses.
The Visual Preacher offers encouragement and concrete tips to preachers who are ready to embrace and enhance the visual aspects of proclaiming the good news. The book offers guidance for studying the Bible visually, utilizing images and video, and crafting sermons for people who wish to see Jesus.
I’ve been a fan of Steve Thomason’s Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible for many years. Now he shows us how we, too, can become visual preachers—even if you’re artistically challenged like me!
Been wanting to use visuals, but not sure where to begin? The Visual Preacher is it! Grounded, relevant, accessible, understandable, immediately applicable. Thomason’s many examples give needed, practical direction to help preachers engage people in the Word in today’s visual world. A gem for your pastoral library.
About the Author
Pastor, Teacher, Artist
Steve Thomason is a practical theologian; a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); and an artist with a PhD in missional leadership from Luther Seminary. His desire is to continually create visual, innovative, educational material for the missional church and anyone seeking to grow in the love and grace of God.
Thomason, a parish pastor with a passion for both art and preaching, assures readers they don’t have to be skilled artists or technological wizards to effectively use visuals in preaching. Rather, believing that pictures speak differently than words, he presents basic principles he has learned as a working preacher and encourages readers to use the ones that make sense to them and to throw out the rest.
Preachers are storytellers, says Thomason. This book will help preachers create and use images that make them even better storytellers than they already are, so that when they are done preaching, their listeners will say, “We have seen Jesus.”
Video Resources
Enjoy this playlist of interviews with preaching and communications experts that went into the research for this book.