Igniting the Heart: Preaching and Imagination

by Kate Bruce

It has been said that the day of the sermon is over. Kate Bruce argues that the day of the poorly conceived, ill prepared, dull, disconnected, boring, irrelevant, authoritarian, yawn-inducing, patronizing, pontificating, pointless and badly delivered sermon, is indeed over. Imagination can help to engage the hearer in a sermon which seeks to evoke rather than to inform. Imagination frames how we see the world and ourselves in it. As such it has a vital role in how preachers see the preaching task itself, which in turn affects how we go about the task. A theology of imagination is presented to demonstrate the central importance of imagination in the life of faith. Allied to this is an analysis of the sacramental nature of preaching and the role of imagination in enabling the ‘aha, now I get it’ moment of sacramental ‘seeing-as’. Connected to enabling new seeing, preaching in the lyrical voice is defined and discussed along with the importance of preachers shaping sermons for the ear.

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2015

Reviews

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the best book on homiletics I have read and I would unhesitatingly recommend it to any preacher, whether just starting out or something of an old hand (which I suppose I am now). Bruce is passionate about the need to engage the imagination of both preacher and congregation in the act of preaching and presents very good arguments for the use of the imaginative sermon as well as useful tips for preparation and delivery. Sadly I suspect that many of those who most need to hear what she says won't engage with the book because (a) she is a woman and (b) they are suspicious of anything that appears to exalt imagination over the intellect (which, incidentally, she doesn't do).

A few quibbles. Her methods work very well for narrative preaching, and her examples almost entirely come from the gospels. I would have liked to have seen how she would tackle the epistles. I don't go along with her all the way when it comes to preaching as a sacrament. It certainly has sacramental qualities but there is a danger that the good sermon becomes sacramental and the poor sermon does not, in which case the sacramental nature of preaching appears to depend as much on human preparation and skill as on the grace of God. Very good, nonetheless.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great exploration of the relationship between imagination and the practice of preaching. It's firmly grounded in theology at the same time as being very practical. If you have any reservations about the place of imagination in contemporary preaching, this could be the book for you.