A Sermon Workbook: Exercises in the Art and Craft of Preaching

BOOK REVIEW: A SERMON WORKBOOK
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Book Review: A Sermon Workbook
The Golden Thread: Summary
In twenty-nine chapters, Two Yale Divinity School professors, Leonora Tubbs Tisdale and Thomas H. Troeger, offer practical approaches to preaching that are useful to both theological students and experienced preachers. Titled “A Sermon Workbook: Exercises in the Art and Craft of Preaching,” the book is divided into two parts, with the first part, "Thinking Like a Preacher," focusing on the homiletical principles essential for good preaching. In the second part, "Writing Like a Preacher," the authors guide the reader to write for the ear, which is contrasted to academic writing that requires logical thought progression. Although divided into two sections, two overarching themes cut across the book: imagination and diversity of perspectives. The authors invite the reader to be imaginative in every scenario, to think outside the box, and to embrace different perspectives in their approach to preaching.
Before delving into diversity and the power of imagination, the authors begin the book by differentiating a good sermon from a bad one. As per the authors, a good sermon is one that stays close to the Scripture. In urging preachers to remain faithful to the Bible, the authors emphasize their belief that preaching should be rooted in God's word as revealed in the Scriptures. On the other hand, bad preaching is one where the preacher talks about themselves instead of focusing on the congression and their concerns and needs. In this sense, the authors reveal that attentiveness to the congregation is an essential hallmark of preaching. In the first part of the book, the congregation's role in the sermon is greatly emphasized, with the authors stressing that preaching is a collaborative act between the preacher and the congregation.[BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 Tisdale, Leonora Tubbs, and Thomas Troeger. 2013. A Sermon Workbook: Exercises in the Art and Craft of Preaching. Abingdon Press., 24]
Imagination is one of the commonly used words throughout the text. The authors severally urge the reader to use their imaginations to make discoveries about the text. Through imagination and paying attention even to the small details in Biblical verses, preachers can develop important insights into not only the character of God but also the life of faith. Imagination helps preachers make connections between the Scripture and the contemporary experience. In addition, through imagination, preachers get the ability to touch the depths of the human soul and consequently move the audience. Imagination also allows the preacher to put themselves in the shoes of others and deliver a sermon that is in touch with the experience of members of the congregation. The authors also recommend the use of vivid imagery and engaging narrative, which further underpins the value placed on the power of imagination.[Tisdale and Troeger, “A Sermon Workbook,” 73]
The integration of diverse perspectives into preaching is also covered extensively in the book. The authors embrace the idea that there is no right way to preach and no single purpose for preaching. In essence, the book invites the reader to get acquainted with different forms of preaching in order to embrace different possibilities in their own way of preaching. The author also encourages preachers to integrate numerous perspectives and intellectual disciplines in their thinking and writing of sermons. In reading the Bible, the book recommends that preachers shift their point of view to other characters in the passage. In sum, the authors urge the reader to embrace a diversity of perspectives and the power of imagination in their sermon development process.
Internal Critique
Although the authors do not focus on a single argument, it is apparent that the book holds together. A major strength of the book lies in the organization. As mentioned before, the book is separated into two sections, with the first one focusing on helping the reader think like a preacher and the second one helping them write like a preacher. While both sections contain exercises for the reader/student, the exercises differ. In the second part, the exercises are accompanied by other students' responses, which is integral in stimulating the reader's mind to embrace different perspectives.
It is also clear that the book is well-researched and documented. In almost every chapter, the authors begin by highlighting the ideas of other scholars to complement their message. This implies that the authors took a considerable amount of time to research the works of other scholars. With quotes and citations from other publications, the reader is presented with rich content supported by different perspectives. The authors even utilize schola...