Exploring and Proclaiming the Apostles' Creed

by Roger E. Van Harn (Editor)

No preacher should send his or her congregants home from worship with their heads hurting, but there is a growing sense that the Church could benefit these days from a revival of doctrinal preaching, the fundamentals of Christian belief. Where better to start than the Apostles's Creed. It was this conviction that brought together a group of the most outstanding theologians and preachers from the English speaking world to write this book. They include the Regius Professor of Divinity in The University of Cambridge (David Ford), the great and hugely lamented Professor Colin Gunton, Professor Frances Young from Birmingham and the Dean of King's College, London, Dr Richard Burridge. The authors are from different denominations and include Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans and people from the United Reformed Church. The Apostles' Creed was chosen as the basis of this book because of its narrative structure, confessional character, liturgical familiarity and ecumenical appeal. It was formulated and adopted as doctrine at The Council of Nicea for the Universal Church. Anchoring doctrinal reflection on this historic creed can focus our faith and restrain our eccentric tendencies. Each chapter includes an essay and a sermon to assist exploration and proclamation of the Creed. The authors identify biblical sources, trace how the doctrine was perceived and interpreted in Christian history and reflects theologically on the confession for our turbulent times. As one of the contributors has written 'Before they counsel, instruct, warn or comfort, preachers must proclaim'

Genres: Theology

318 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2004

Reviews

[Andy Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this as the set text for a ministry course. Each section of the Apostles' Creed is given a scholarly essay and a sermon, mostly pastoral but some exegetical. Essays and sermons are written in academic language for the most part, which means a fondness for the recondite, the arcane and the erudite. An easy read it is not though it provides many opportunities for thoughtful reflection.
The major drawback is that it lacks an index so finding parts again is nigh impossible without substantial re-reading.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of MANY great new books on the Creed: Alister McGrath's I Believe; Luke Timothy Johnson, The Creed (2003);Michael Horton, We Believe, and the last section of David Matzko McCarthy, The Good Life [2004]. This one is anthology by a variety of pretty notable neo-orthodox types, mostly from the mainline Reformed camp. Some are less orthodox than I might like, but almost every essay in here is insightful and provactive.

Each of 15 articles of the Creed is given a theological essay by one author and a sermon by another. Among the most notable contributors are: Colin Gunton; Neil Plantinga (CRC evangelical); Ralph Wood (Barthian Baptist); James Kay and George Hunsunger(Barthian Princetonian Presbyterians); Daniel Migliore (Princetonian, more liberal than Kay or Hunsinger); Richard Hays (neo-orothodox, Duke); Fleming Rutledge (neo-orthodox Episcopal priestess). Several others (Tom Long, Cynthia Rigby etc.) BTW have Princeton connections.

While somewhat uneven theologically, this is a must read for the preacher or serious student of the Creed. Probably my third choice after McGrath and Johnson.

[Eric Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The church order of the denomination I was raised in mandates catechetical/confessional preaching. Honestly, I've never really agreed with the practice, but this collection of essays and sermons made me reconsider its viability, at least with the Apostles' Creed. Van Harn has collected a nice smattering of theological voices (Colin Gunton, Cornelius Plantinga, George Hunsinger, Richard Hays, etc.) in a collection of exploratory theological essays and sermons on the Creed. It's a great resource for the confessional section of your bookshelf and would be valuable if you were teaching or preaching through the Creed.