Lectures on Preaching: Delivered Before the Divinity School of Yale College in January and February, 1877

by James Henry Kelly

Excerpt from Lectures on Preaching: Delivered Before the Divinity School of Yale College in January and February, 1877

Let me say one word more in introduction. He who is called upon to give these lectures cannot but remember that they are given every year, and that he has had very able and faithful predecessors. There are certainly, therefore, some things which he may venture to omit without being supposed to be either ignorant or careless of them. There are certain first principles, of primary importance, which he may take for granted in all that he says. They are so funda mental, that they must be always present, and their power must pervade every treatment of the work which is built upon them. But they need not be de liberately stated anew each year. It would make these courses of lectures very monotonous; and one may venture to assume that there are some elemen tary principles upon whose truth all students of the ology are agreed, and whose importance they all feel.

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Genres: Christian

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Jack W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would highly recommend for any preacher. The classically trained Brooks, author of O Little Town of Bethlehem, speaks with the wisdom and power of another age, and with theological insight into the man preaching, the truth proclaimed, and the congregation receiving.

[Tom Greentree · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read. I gleaned a lot from Brooks and will return to him again. Amazing how lectures from 1877 are still relevant for today.

[Dan Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I could absorb this book in its entirety. Phillips Brooks is a hero of mine, and his insights on men and preaching are better than anyone else's I've ever come across. If you're into speaking and preaching, the amount of instruction, encouragement, rebuking, and direction found in the pages of his lectures will last a year's worth of contemplation. My two favorite points: Preaching is God's truth through personality... (or, truth plus personality). Sermons aren't art, but communication meant to save souls.

Will be reading this and re-reading this book the rest of my life. I have an old edition to wear in even more!

[M Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

As previously noted, I found much of this book surprisingly fresh. As I read it, particularly the first five chapters, I often found myself thinking, "Yes, his observation is still spot on." It wasn't until chapters 6 and 7 (of 8) that I felt there were more changes in the times over 140 years than Rev. Brooks could have known. Even then, however, there was much to be gained from his insight. The last chapter was weakened by a typical Victorian prolixity of style but, again, this is a fairly minor issue.

I would recommend this book whole-heartedly for any preacher, especially one just starting out.