Union with God Through a Transformative Homiletics

This book examines the early Korean Pentecostal homiletical approach in its context. In particular, it draws on the writings of French philosopher Paul Ricoeur, which mediate between objectively reconstructing the meaning of a text in its original context and moving to the world "in front of" the text. Author Woori Han also focuses on the homilies on the Song of Songs and other works by twelfth-century French Cistercian mystic and theologian Bernard of Clairvaux, whose writings promote the spiritual formation of the believer. The book encourages a balance between emphasizing the individual’s dynamic experience of encountering the Holy Spirit (divine healings, miracles, speaking in tongues) and the individual’s inner sanctification or purification by the Holy Spirit (union with God in Christ through the Spirit).

This book encourages preachers to deepen their reading of the biblical text and to be open to the possibility of being transformed in the process. The book is especially appropriate for seminary courses on preaching and the history of religion, and for working preachers.