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Summary: A new way to think about preaching biblically
Review: Here is book for preachers who are frustrating with the lifeless sermons they were taught to preach, but uncomfortable with glib preaching that neglects the Bible by treating it superficially. You can bring the Bible to life--in all of its literary, historical, and religious dimensions--and still interest your hearers!Here are some reviews of this book: "In his very readable book on biblical preaching, William Shepherd pays exquisite attention to the four things on which a preacher's life depends: language, scripture, the congregation and the grace of God. Through his careful reading of each one, he develops an approach to preaching that respects both the sanctity of everyday life and the profound "otherness" of the divine which turns a sermon into an experience of the holy. Shepherd is a scholar who knows what hard work a deft sermon requires. He is also a disciple who understands that, in the end, the effective preaching of the gospel is always God's surprising gift."-Barbara Brown Taylor "Since preaching lies at the intersection of many disciplines, so a text on preaching should do the same. There is no "ministerial ghetto" talk here. Experience, scripture, theology, literary theories, performative views of language, and understanding the difference between written and oral communication, all meet in this book and talk to each other....It is quite evident that here is both a teacher and practitioner of preaching. He respects the task of preaching and the reader who is someone called to preach....Shepherd begins with the most basic raw material-a word-and gradually works toward the final goal-the delivery of the sermon. Such a movement in a text could not be improved upon."-Fred B. Craddock "Bill Shepherd has written a book that delights as it profits. He knows preaching and he knows the Bible. He shows how to think about each in a way that is fresh and engaging. He makes such good use of contemporary theory and theology that it seems like just plain good sense. If you care about words and care about God's Word, this book will help you appreciate them more."-Luke Timothy Johnson "Bill Shepherd has written an immensely practical book about how to think about preaching. Anyone who has the task of proclaiming the Gospel today will find renewal in reading and reflecting on this jargon-free and thoughtful approach to the problems and possibilities of our task."-Geoffrey M. St. J. Hoare, Rector, All Saint's Episcopal Church, Atlanta GA
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