Abraham Kuruvilla

Captivated by the intricacies of the interpretive movement from Scripture to sermon, Dr. Kuruvilla centers his ministry around homiletics: exploring preaching through research and scholarship, explaining preaching by training the next generation of church leaders, and exemplifying preaching in regular pulpit engagements. He served in DTS as Senior Research Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries. He has also served as interim pastor of several churches, and as president of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. Dr. Kuruvilla is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, and he maintains an active clinical schedule. His research arenas include hermeneutics as it operates in the homiletical undertaking and the theology and spirituality of preaching and pastoral leadership. Single by choice, he also has a special interest in the theology of Christ-centered singleness and celibacy.

Abraham Kuruvilla’s Books

Abraham Kuruvilla’s Publication Articles

  • “Big Idea—Requiescat in Pace! Authorial Rejoinder to Steven Mathewson.” Homiletix 2019. 1-16.
  • “Time to Kill the Big Idea? A Fresh Look at Preaching.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (61). 2018. 825-46.
  • “What is the Author Doing with What He is Saying? Pragmatics and Preaching-An Appeal.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (60). 2017. 557-80.
  • “Pericopal Theology.” Bibliotheca Sacra (173). 2016. 3-17.
  • “Christiconic Interpretation.” Bibliotheca Sacra (173). 2016. 131-46.
  • “Theological Exegesis.” Bibliotheca Sacra (173). 2016. 259-72.
  • “Applicational Preaching.” Bibliotheca Sacra (173). 2016. 387-400.
  • “Re-Visioning Preaching: Issues.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (15.1). 2015. 4-22.
  • “Re-Visioning Preaching: Implications.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (15.1). 2015. 23-39.
  • “David v. Goliath: What is the Author Doing with What He is Saying?.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (58). 2015. 487-506.
  • “The Next Thirty-Four Years? The Making of the Future.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (14.2). 2014. 12-14.
  • “The Aqedah: What is the Author Doing with What He is Saying?.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (55). 2012. 489-508.
  • Review of “How to Read the Bible in Changing Times: Understanding and Applying God’s Word Today.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (12). 2012. 82-83.
  • Review of “Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (12). 2012. 80-81.
  • “The Naked Runaway and the Enrobed Reporter of Mark 14 and 16: What is the Author Doing with What He is Saying.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (54). 2011. 527-545.
  • Review of “The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church. Volume 7: Our Own Time.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (11). 2011. 96-98.
  • Review of “The Word of the God for the People of God.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (54). 2011. 211-214.
  • Review of “On Your Mark: Reading Scripture without a Teacher.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (11:2). 2011. 114-115.
  • Review of “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (52). 2010. 877–880.
  • Review of “Four Views on Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology, ed. Gary T. Meadors.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (53). 2010. 191–194.
  • Review of “He is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World, R. Albert Mohler, Jr.,.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society 2010.
  • “Pericopal Theology: An Intermediary between Text and Application.” Trinity Journal (31). 2010. 265-283.
  • Review of “Teaching Preaching as a Christian Practice: A New Approach to Homiletical Pedagogy, eds. Thomas G. Long and Leonora Tubbs Tisdale.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (9). 2009. 128-130.
  • Review of “Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community, James C. Wilhoit.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (52). 2009. 644–647.
  • “Preaching as Translation via Theology.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (9.1). 2009. 85–97.
  • Review of “We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation, Michael P. Knowles.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (9). 2009. 127-128.
  • Review of “Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching, eds. Leland Ryken and Todd A. Wilson.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (9). 2009. 123–124.
  • Review of “Saint Paul as Spiritual Director: An Analysis of the Concept of the Imitation of Paul with Implications and Applications to the Practice of Spiritual Direction, Victor A. Copan.” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 2009.
  • Review of “Reflections on My Call to Preach: Connecting the Dots, Fred Brenning Craddock.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society 2009.
  • “Application as Improvisation.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (9.2). 2009. 36–52.
  • Review of “Preaching Christ through Genesis, Sidney Greidanus.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (8). 2008. 137–140.
  • Review of “The Nature of Biblical Criticism, John Barton.” Bibliotheca Sacra (165). 2008. 493–494.
  • Review of “The Evangelism Mandate: Recovering the Centrality of Gospel Preaching, David L. Larsen.” Bibliotheca Sacra (161). 2004. 253–254.
  • Review of “Commending the Faith: The Preaching of D. L. Moody, Garth Rosell.” Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society (4). 2004. 76–78.

Abraham Kuruvilla’s Contributions

The Paradox of Ministry

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY,…
September 2, 2021
man standing at podium speaking at DTS Chapel

God's Leaders, God's People: Samson

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, senior research professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries, reflects on the life of…
September 24, 2019
man standing at podium speaking at DTS Chapel

Fighting For God

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, senior research professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries at DTS, affirms the prioritization…
September 23, 2018
man standing at podium speaking at DTS Chapel

God's Grand Plan

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, senior research professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries at DTS, discusses how God,…
April 10, 2018
Dr. Bock and guests recording The Table podcast

Singleness and the Church Community

In this classic episode, Dr. Darrell Bock, Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla and Kari Stainback discuss singleness, focusing…
February 13, 2018
Dr. Bock and guest recording The Table podcast

What Makes a Good Sermon?

In this episode, Drs. Darrell L. Bock and Abe Kuruvilla discuss what makes a good sermon,…
September 19, 2017

Isaac: Confident in God

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Research Professor of Pastoral Ministries at DTS, highlights responses to opposition when walking…
September 6, 2016
Guest speaker recording The Table podcast

Singleness and the Role of Community

In this episode, Dr. Darrell Bock, Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla and Kari Stainback discuss singleness, focusing on…
June 2, 2015
Abraham Kuruvilla recording The Table podcast

Being Single in the Local Church

In this episode, Dr. Darrell Bock, Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla and Kari Stainback discuss singleness, focusing on…
May 26, 2015

A Vision for Preaching: The Heart of Pastoral Ministry and Its Implications 2

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Professor of Pastoral Ministries, encourages us to consider the implications of preaching pericopes.
February 6, 2015

A Vision for Preaching: The Heart of Pastoral Ministry and Its Implications

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Professor of Pastoral Ministries, reveals the implications of preaching the thrust of the…
February 5, 2015

A Vision for Preaching: The Heart of Pastoral Ministry and Its Impact

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Professor of Pastoral Ministries, expounds on the impact of pericopal theology.
February 4, 2015

A Vision for Preaching: The Heart of Pastoral Ministry and Its Importance

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Professor of Pastoral Ministries, emphasizes the importance of understanding and preaching the thrust…
February 3, 2015

The Paragon of Discipleship

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries, describes how the paragon of discipleship is marked…
February 13, 2014

Who Was That Young Man?

Most scholars believe that, like an artist painting himself in a corner of his canvas, Mark…
December 30, 2013

Stumbling in Discipleship

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries, DTS, shares how Jesus wore our sin and…
October 16, 2012
Mark - A Theological Commentary

Mark: A Theological Commentary

Mark: A Theological Commentary for Preachers engages hermeneutics for preaching, employing theological exegesis that enables the…
June 2, 2012

Fighting for God!

Dr. Abe Kuruvilla, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries, DTS, encourages us to fight for God as…
September 13, 2011

The Humility of Suffering

Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries Dr. Abe Kuruvilla reminds us that success, strength and power are…
September 16, 2010

An Extravagant Sacrifice

Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, assistant professor of Pastoral Ministries, encourages us to give extravagantly for Christ.
September 2, 2009
man standing at podium speaking at DTS Chapel

Trusting the Presence of God

Abraham Kuruvilla, assistant professor of Pastoral Ministries, teaches on how to finish strong in ministry. He…
March 26, 2009

Ace The Test

Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministries, Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, exhorts students to "ace the faith" of faith…
February 1, 2008

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