Power in the Pulpit: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare their Sermons

by Cleophus J. LaRue

Publisher:

Westminster John Knox

, 2002

In this book, scholar and preacher Cleophus J. LaRue brings together the voices of twelve of America’s most influential African-American preachers. Each of these renowned preachers describes his or her method of sermon preparation and includes a sample sermon for illustration. An excellent how-to manual for pastors and students, Power in the Pulpit is both sage wisdom on the art of preaching and an inspiring look at some of the most prominent figures in the black church.

Key Features

• Explores the preaching styles and preparation of twelve prominent African-American preachers
• Features an example sermon from each contributor

Contents

• Charles G. Adams
  • Preaching from the Heart and Mind
  • Sermon: “Faith Critiques Faith” Isaiah 58:6-9
• Charles E. Booth
  • The Wedding of Biblical Truth with Social Justice
  • Sermon: “Three Responses to a Miracle” Acts 16:25-32
• H. B. Charles Jr.
  • Explaining What the Text Means
  • Sermon: “God Uses Weak People” 2 Corinthians 4:7
• Prathia L. Hall
  • Encountering the Text
  • Sermon: “Encounters with Jesus from Dying to Life” Mark 5:21-43
• Zan Holmes
  • Enabling the Word to Happen
  • Sermon: “Are We for Real?” John 13:34
• Carolyn Ann Knight
  • Preaching as an Intimate Act
  • Sermon: “When All Hell Breaks Loose” Job 1:1-5, 13-22
• Joe Samuel Ratliff
  • The Gloom, Glamour, and Glory of Preaching
  • Sermon: “Manipulated Blessings” 2 Kings 5: 15-27
• Cheryl Sanders
  • Preaching with Passion
  • Sermon: “The Parable of the Sower” Luke 8:5-8
• J. Alfred Smith Sr.
  • How Can They Hear without a Preacher?
  • Sermon: “Foundations of Our Faith” 1 Corinthians 15:12-18
• Gardner Calvin Taylor
  • A Holy Pursuit
  • Sermon: “Look Up!” Luke 21:25-27
• William D. Watley
  • Whence Cornes the Sermon Idea?
  • Sermon: “Healing Shadows” Acts 5:14-15
• Ralph West
  • Weaving the Textual Web
  • Sermon: “Declare These Things” Titus 2:11-15

Product Details

• Title: Power in the Pulpit: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons
• Author: Cleophus J. LaRue
• Edition: First edition
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox
• Print Publication Date: 2002
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 191
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: African American preaching; Sermons, American › African American authors
• ISBNs: 9780664224813, 0664224814
• Resource ID: LLS:PWRPLPTTHRSRMNS
• Resource Type: text.monograph.sermons
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:31:44Z

About Cleophus J. LaRue

Cleophus J. LaRue, Princeton Theological Seminary’s Francis Landey Patton Associate Professor of Homiletics, received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Baylor University, his M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton Seminary. He specializes in the theory and method of African American preaching and worship. An ordained minister in the National Baptist Convention of America, LaRue is the former pastor of two churches in Texas as well as the former interim pastor of churches in Harlem and Jamaica Queens, New York. He is a frequent speaker at churches, seminaries, and conferences throughout the country and is a member of the Academy of Homiletics.