In MacDonald's novels, the Christian teaching emerges out of the characters and story line, the narrator's comments, and inclusion of sermons given by the fictional preachers. These sermons in the novels are shorter than the ones in the collections of MacDonald's sermons and so are perhaps more accessible for some. In any case, they are both stimulating and thought provoking. It is my opinion that this collection of sermons from ten novels will bring the "freshness and brilliance" of MacDonald's message to a new generation. Each sermon has an introduction giving some explanation of the setting of the sermon or of the plot, if that is necessary for understanding the sermon. "A Novel Pulpuit" is the first in what is planned as a bi-annual book series by The Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis and Friends at Taylor University.
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.
Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. G. K. Chesterton cited The Princess and the Goblin as a book that had "made a difference to my whole existence."
Even Mark Twain, who initially disliked MacDonald, became friends with him, and there is some evidence that Twain was influenced by MacDonald.
MacDonald grew up influenced by his Congregational Church, with an atmosphere of Calvinism. But MacDonald never felt comfortable with some aspects of Calvinist doctrine; indeed, legend has it that when the doctrine of predestination was first explained to him, he burst into tears (although assured that he was one of the elect). Later novels, such as Robert Falconer and Lilith, show a distaste for the idea that God's electing love is limited to some and denied to others.
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