Preaching As Theology And Art

Elizabeth Achtemeier focuses her considerable expertise on the necessity and consequences of thorough training in Christian theology for effective preaching. She illustrates that conviction through the full texts of sixteen sermons and meditations, demonstrating that rhetorical skills and biblical exegesis can be eloquently combined with theological reflection. Having established the imperative for blending creativity, imagination, and common sense with the responsible use of the Scriptures in an earlier volume, Dr. Achtemeier again calls preachers to greater excellence in their craft as she asserts that the preacher is the church's theologian. Therefore, he or she must be thoroughly trained not only in Bible and the art of Homiletics, but also in Christian theology. The sermons she selects as examples in the first section of the book focus on approaches to Christian life in the light of Scriptures and theology. In the second, she centers on the artistry of language that enables the pulpit message to reach the hearts and minds of the hearers. Inspirational and challenging, Preaching as Theology and Art exemplifies the author's creativity as a writer and speaker, her solid knowledge of the bible, and the practicality that her readers have come to expect.