Preaching the Manifold Grace of God, Volume 1
Theologies of Preaching in Historical Theological Families
Edited by Ronald J. Allen
Imprint: Cascade Books
Preaching the Manifold Grace of God is a two-volume work describing theologies of preaching from the historical and contemporary periods. Volume 1 focuses on historical theological families: Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, Anglican/Episcopal, Wesleyan, Baptist, African American, Stone-Campbell, Friends, and Pentecostal. Volume 2 focuses on families that are evangelical, liberal, neo-orthodox, postliberal, existential, radical orthodox, deconstructionist, Black liberation, womanist, Latinx liberation, Mujerista, Asian American, Asian American feminist, LGBTQAI, Indigenous, postcolonial, and process. In each case, the author describes the circumstances in which the theological family emerged and describes the purposes and characteristics of preaching from that perspective.
Ronald J. Allen was Professor of Preaching, and Gospels and Letters at Christian Theological Seminary for thirty-seven years. He is the author or editor of forty books, including The Sermon without End, coauthored with O. Wesley Allen Jr. (2015). He is also a coeditor of the three-volume Preaching God’s Transforming Justice (2012) and the editor of the widely used sermon collection Patterns of Preaching (1998).
“In volume 1 of Preaching the Manifold Grace of God, Ronald J. Allen and his team of collaborators give a gift to the church and the academy that will bless both communities for years to come. Now more than ever, we need resources that help us name our theologies and better understand the rich diversity in theological traditions. This wonderful book helps us do both. Already excited for volume 2.”
—Jared E. Alcántara, Truett Theological Seminary
“Ron Allen gifts us with an insightful collection of essays from preaching scholars and practitioners who reflect upon the theologies of preaching that ground their various ‘theological families.’ . . . I am convinced that this compilation of essays may hold potential for evoking generative dialogue that can enhance various Christian traditions and denominations’ appreciative engagement with one another.”
—Veronice Miles, Wesley Theological Seminary
“Preaching the Manifold Grace of God acknowledges we all come to interpretation from a perspective, often framed by our ecclesial identity. In this volume, Allen gathers homiletic voices to expose the distinct characteristics in preaching resulting from these various points of view. The gift of this volume is it provides description without value judgment. For those seeking to understand the theological nuances of meaning that characterize the oral interpretation of the Bible, this is the book to read.”
—Joy J. Moore, Luther Seminary
“This curated volume of a diverse cohort of scholars reveals the diverse theologies of preaching embedded in historical theological families. It reminds readers that preaching is never acontextual and always theological, not merely rhetorical. Readers will learn implicitly how just as there is not one theology of preaching, but theologies of preaching across traditions, there are various vibrant Christianities in the world.”
—Luke A. Powery, Divinity School, Duke University