I’ve seen this book recommended by several people I respect in the biblical counseling world. Seeing that it was a missing area of my Bible study books, and it’s a topic my wife loves, I bought the book and gave it to her as a present. At this point, we’ve both read it and loved it. That said this is a compilation of ten African American authors writing together on how African Americans approach preaching. As such, there are some chapters that are far more engaging than others.
The various authors that participated in this book is no list of small names. Indeed each one is well known in their fields: Charlie Dates, Eric C. Redmond, Winfred Omar Neely, Ernest Gray, George Parks Jr., Eric Mason, Terry D Streeter, Romell Williams, Paul Felix, and K. Edward Copeland. Together these authors tackle Black Preaching & Hermeneutics, Biblical Exposition of the Old Testament, & Biblical Exposition of New Testament.
I found the first part of the book, Black Preaching and Black Hermeneutics, a bit drier than the rest of the book. This is to be somewhat expected as these authors tackle the topic of how to study a book and how to express those studies compellingly. While both of those topics are important, it’s a bit like talking about how to write a sentence… it’s essential to know, but often rather dry.
The second part of the book, Biblical Exposition of the Old Testament, is where the book shined the most for me. There’s a chapter here for each genre of literature in the Old Testament: Pentateuch, History, Worship, Prophetic Poetry, and Prophetic Narrative. The authors tackling this section were able to explain the differences of how to do that genre compared to others and then present part or all of a sermon where they did that themselves.
Easily the biggest highlight in this section was Charlie Date’s chapter. He writes like a poet. His words came together with class and style rarely seen in modern-day preaching. While you’re enraptured with his style, you’re also basking in the craft that he put into understanding the text and his expert ability to relay it. Date’s will have you enraptured throughout his chapter.
On the other hand, the chapter I like the least is also in this section. It came from one of my favorite books: Habakkuk. Streeter covers this one and makes a case on how to cast a vision for your church or ministry. The problem is, that’s not really what Habakkuk is about. Habakkuk is the story of a prophet who’s terrified that his nation and home are about to get wrecked by a warring heathen nation. He brings his complaint to God, and God basically says: “It’s happening, get ready.” And then the book ends with Habakkuk telling God he’s nervous about it still, but that he will place his trust in God all the same. Streeter takes the chapter in the middle of that story, where God lays out punishments for those than try to take advantage of their fellow man during this time of upheaval, and makes it about how to create a vision for your ministry. His bullet point list of what makes a good vision is decent, but it just catches me off guard coming from this passage.
The third and final section, Biblical Exposition of New Testament, mimicked the style of the second section with a chapter for the Gospels, one for the letters, and one for prophecy. Through all three chapters and three different authors, a strong theme carried through: the main objective of preaching exegetically is not just to preach what the text says, but to make sure you relate the text to life today. In talking with my wife about her thoughts on the book, she felt like these authors were much better at doing that in general than the average white preacher she’s heard.
Top Quotes
One can learn much from a tradition of preaching that emerged from the transatlantic diaspora, is baptized in suffering is sophisticated in rhetorical harmony, and yet proclaims salvation to the land of its own captivity.
Charlie E. Dates, Page 14.
In our preaching lives the germ of hope. Historically, we have had nothing else.
Charlie E. Dates, Page 19
Dr. Dates sets the tone for this book in the preface by acknowledging the pain and hardship that the Black people in America have suffered through. Their preaching was born in slavery and tears. Their pain gave way to a hope-filled preaching style that is rich in Gospel truth. When slavery gave way to Jim Crow and Jim Crow gave way to racial prejudice and discrimination, the Black saint’s hope was not diminished, instead, it grew stronger and filled the air of every Black church.
We must be able to discern that just because God has done something great in a place in the past doesn’t necessarily mean that He wants us to stay there… We are tempted to fall in love with what God has done in the past, so much that we become handcuffed to it.
George Parks Jr, Page 100
This is a thought that is rather surprising. God blesses us throughout our lives, but just because He brings water out of a rock, doesn’t mean He intends for you to continue drinking from that rock. Let the rock serve its purpose and move on to the land God has for you. God didn’t split the sea so you could stand and marvel on the seabed at the walls of water on each side for the rest of your life. He split the sea as a means to get you out of one situation and begin the process of moving you to the next.
Has God done great things in the history of your country? Your life? Your marriage? Awesome, don’t stagnate there. Keep it moving, saint.
Our preaching must cross the bridge. It cannot leave Jesus in antiquity as some historical fixer, because each week the audience has their own set of problems.
Romell Williams, Page 180.
Bible study and preaching are not meant to illuminate some distant historical story. Their goal is to prick your heart to your very earthly reality. When your heart is made aware that life today is no different than it was 2000 years ago, and the only way that the worldly pressures of this life will relent is by obedience to God and a reliance on His truth, then things can finally begin to change for you.
Overall I give this book 4 stars.
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