Abstract
Barbara Brown Taylor has a way with words. In each of her previous books, she creatively and cleverly managed to put words to the ideas that lurk in so many of her readers’ hearts and souls. She is also known as a wonderful preacher and speaker. Thus, unsurprisingly, this recent volume is a gift of words and ideas to readers: a collection of sermons Taylor has preached at various times and in various settings, with the caveat that in each case, she was speaking as a guest preacher.
Early in her career, Taylor served as a priest in the Episcopal tradition. Preaching each week to the same congregation, she earned a reputation as a renowned speaker. When she left parish ministry to become a professor, however, she says that her “preaching life was born again” (p. ix). Those of us who have been guest proclaimers in congregations, retreat settings, or otherwise know the challenge of stepping onto a stage or into a pulpit without knowing exactly to whom we are preaching. All preaching is (or should be) contextual, and pastors of congregations usually have a strong grasp of their context, as they know the stories that shape the lives of folks in their community of faith. Guest preaching usually presents a significant challenge in this regard. Taylor acknowledges the challenge, saying, “What I value most about speaking of faith far from home is that I have to travel light. I don’t know my hosts well . . . . All of these uncertainties unpack my bags until there are only a few things left: a sacred text, a trust in the Spirit, an experience of being human, and the desire to bear good news” (p. xi). Nevertheless, in spite of traveling lightly, Taylor crafts her sermons carefully to speak to the particular context of each group with which she is invited to share. She is sensitive to the time and reason for each gathering, whether a church in a particular season of the liturgical calendar, a commencement address, or a retreat setting. Each sermon (thirty-one in total) ends with a brief note of where and when it was delivered.
Each sermon begins with a Scripture reading, part or all of which is helpfully printed before the sermon text itself. The Scripture selections of the sermons she has included in this volume lean heavily toward the four Gospels, but some surprises appear as well. Two early sermons highlight texts from Genesis, and readings from Isaiah and Deuteronomy both get treatments. Habakkuk gets one sermon called “Pre-Gaming the Apocalypse,” and one on Sirach will come as a surprise to many. The remainder are from New Testament texts: Acts of the Apostles and Revelation both get attention, and only one sermon is based on a Pauline letter (“How to Lose Your Life Every Day,” on Rom 12:9–21). Twenty-three sermons focus on Gospel texts (some sermons are based on two readings). Many of Taylor’s sermon titles are witty and intriguing. “The Good Heretic,” “The Widow’s Might,” “Divine Forgetfulness,” “Paralyzed by Polarization,” and “What’s Your News Source” all challenge me to think more creatively about how I title my own sermons.
The ordering of the sermons follows no obvious rhyme or reason. They are not in canonical order, chronological order, or otherwise. Nevertheless, occasional connections can be discerned between the sermons, lending a logical flow from one to another. The sermons themselves are actual manuscripts from preaching events. She has not polished them to the point that it is no longer obvious she is talking to an audience. For example, she starts her sermon “Bathing Deep” with “Before I begin, let me ask for a show of hands” (p. 147). For those familiar with Taylor’s southern accent, imagining her speaking these words aloud is easy. In fact, for my first pass on this book, I listened to her audiobook recording of it, which she reads and I highly recommend. My only lament is that the listener cannot hear a congregation responding aloud or laughing at her wit.
Each sermon displays a deep sense of Taylor’s spirituality, deeply Christian in my reading, but also deeply mystical. She sees God in places many people neglect. This collection will be beneficial to preachers of all stripes, those who preach weekly in one setting or those who only preach on occasion as “guests.” Taylor’s insights offer thoughtful and profound reflections on what it means to be people of faith in many contexts. The characteristic charm and wit of her writing shines throughout. Taylor is truly an artist, painting with words, and no one can turn a phrase or put feelings on paper as marvelously as she can.
For those of us who preach regularly on Sundays, finding time to listen to other preachers can be difficult, which is unfortunate, because this is one way we expand our preaching repertoire and improve our craft. Thus, resources like this book can be invaluable. And to have such a resource from as gifted a preacher as Taylor is a true gift. Preachers and seminary students will treasure this collection, as will many lay people. It might be fruitful as a seminary resource for preaching classes, as well as a text for a Sunday school class that cannot get enough of Taylor’s writings. I, for one, hope this book receives a wide audience. And I will enjoy having it on my bookshelf for creative inspiration in my own preaching in my congregation and when I too find myself “far from home.”