The Company of Preachers: Wisdom on Preaching, Augustine to the Present

by Richard Lischer (Editor)

This unique volume draws on the wisdom of Christian thinkers and preachers from across the ages to present a warm and informative collection of insights on the art of preaching.

Gathering the writing of figures as diverse as Augustine, John Chrysostom, Jonathan Edwards, Gardner C. Taylor, and Barbara Brown Taylor, The Company of Preachers provides experienced advice on effective preaching, direct from the pens of those who have known it best. The book is arranged in seven divisions, each covering a central component of the preaching task. Editor Richard Lischer, himself a distinguished preacher and teacher, gives a brief introduction to each selection.

Aptly presenting a theological and historical cross-section of the church's homiletics, this volume will be invaluable to preachers, students preparing for ministry, and others seeking models of powerful Christian speech.


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Features insights on preaching from:



Augustine
Karl Barth
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Walter Brueggemann
Rudolf Bultmann
Horace Bushnell
David Buttrick
John Calvin
John Cassian
John Chrysostom
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Fred B. Craddock
C. H. Dodd
Jarena Lee
Jonathan Edwards
Charles Grandison Finney
P. T. Forsyth
Harry Emerson Fosdick
Gregory the Great
George Herbert
Martin Luther
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Henry H. Mitchell
John Henry Newman
Phoebe Palmer
Paul Ricoeur
Oscar Romero
Friedrich Schleiermacher
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Barbara Brown Taylor
Gardner C. Taylor
John Wesley, and many more

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Genres: Church, Theology

496 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2002

Reviews

[Liddy Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific anthology of great preachers of the past 1700 years writing about preaching -- there is so much depth and richness in this symphony of voices.

[Nick Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection. I read it slowly over 1.5 years or so, and it must have added a couple dozen authors to my to-read list. You could have qualms with omissions, but that's true of any anthology.

[Mark Popovitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like collective writings/anthologies such as this. There seems to be a little something for everyone, and the “bite-sized morsels” give enough to satisfy as well as increase one’s appetite for more. Admittedly, there were chapters that (for me anyway) probably could have used a little more context, but over all the strength of this book offers a “round table discussion” with various minds of various persuasions throughout the centuries on preaching. As a stand alone volume I think a reader may feel the collection to be a little scattered in its approach, but in the context of a class or with other books on preaching, this work does a fine job of fortifying the keys to preaching that have been tried and true throughout the Church’s history. Overall a plus.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great anthology of short pieces and excerpts of longer pieces on the art and science of preaching. Not all the pieces made sense to me, nor did I agree with each one, but it was thought-provoking and a definite keeper for my bookshelf.

[Cathy Monkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this in preparation for my preaching class. Lots of insight.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology of great theologians and preachers of the past and present. Enjoyable to read what the past and present preachers have said and are saying.