Bread of Angels

by Barbara Brown Taylor

As Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, the Israelites received the bread of angels― manna―as they made their way through the wilderness. So too is God made known to us in the simple things that sustain our lives. With humor and an eye for human stubbornness, Taylor points to just how much like the people of scripture we can be―stiff-necked and ungrateful in the face of God's bounty.

Taylor moves through the span of the Bible in her search for divine love. In the stories of Moses, David, and Daniel she picks up its trace in reversals and surprises. She refreshes our perspective on Pentecost and its aftermath in a sermon sequence on the Book of Acts. And at book's center radiates her stunning parable of the Incarnation, “God's Daring Plan.”

With characteristic flair, Taylor grounds her exegetical enterprise on jokes and stories packed with truth. As pleasurable as they are profound, her meditations on the life of faith and the cost of discipleship will instruct the preacher and delight the reader.

Genres: Christianity, Spirituality, Religion, Theology, Faith, Nonfiction, Christian

174 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Barbara Brown Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest. Her first memoir, Leaving Church (2006), won an Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers Association. Her last book, Learning to Walk in the Dark (2014), was featured on the cover of TIME magazine. She has served on the faculties of Piedmont College, Columbia Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, and the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia. In 2014 TIME included her on its annual list of Most Influential People; in 2015 she was named Georgia Woman of the Year; in 2016 she received The President’s Medal at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Mercer University and is working on her fourteenth book, Holy Envy, forthcoming from HarperOne in August 2018.

Reviews

[Aldafan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of her books. This is a book of her sermons that was used this year for our Daughters of the King study. It contains my favorite sermon, "God's Daring Plan," that I re-read every Christmas Eve.

[Kevin Senapatiratne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the simple stories that she used to connect it to the Gospel passage she was talking about. A great job of looking at passages of scripture that I had heard many times and bringing new insight

[Dennard Teague · Rating 4 out of 5]

I participate in a bible study/book study at my church. BBT’s sermons have led us to great discussions!

[CarolAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the perspective she has of the scriptures! Many that I had become so familiar with, she offers a completely new interpretation or application.

[Rosalie Calloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used this book of sermons for our Sunday School class. Although it was written some time ago, it was interesting how many of the sermons are so relevant to the current issues of our lives today.

[Angelina DeVincenzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

BBT is just the most wonderful story-teller and she brings the bible to life in these mini-sermons. I can’t wait to use this as a reference for preaching, writing curriculum, etc.

[Derek Kubilus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her sermons are always an inspiration to this working preacher.

[Rachel | All the RAD Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looooooove Barbara Brown Taylor so dang much and loved savoring these sermons/writings from her earlier days as a preacher. Girl knows her STUFF and these words were encouraging and rich in a way I needed right now.

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, the Israelites received the bread of angels manna as they made their way through the wilderness. So too is God made known to us in the simple things that sustain our lives. With humor and an eye for human stubbornness, Taylor points to just how much like the people of scripture we can be stiff-necked and ungrateful in the face of God s bounty. Taylor moves through the span of the Bible in her search for divine love. In the stories of Moses, David, and Daniel she picks up its trace in reversals and surprises. She refreshes our perspective on Pentecost and its aftermath in a sermon sequence on the Book of Acts. And at the books center radiates her stunning parable of the Incarnation, God s Daring Plan. With characteristic flair, Taylor grounds her exegetical enterprise on jokes and stories packed with truth. As pleasurable as they are profound, her meditations on the life of faith and the cost of discipleship will instruct the preacher and delight the reader.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of Eat,Pray,Love but the author is on more of a spiritual journey. She is in Damascus for a year studying Christianity in the Middle East. She uses much imagery but by the end I felt the book dragged. I did learn much about the Koran and that it had a Jesus and stories similar to those in the Bible .Also I loved the descriptions of Damascus--you could see,hear and smell the life there.

[Lscoopmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Brown Taylor is a gifted, engaging writer and preacher and it's a tragedy that she seemed to burn out and leave the active ministry. But if you suffer from listening to poor sermons from time to time, this book --and her others-- will make you even more discontented. I ran across this when I took a class on preaching last summer. Enjoy!

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older volume of Barbara Brown Taylor's sermons, _Bread of Angels_ is an invitation to the reader to wrestle with whether or not we really want to know the Spirit, the terrifying and awe that attends living a God-filled life, that pushes us past our comfortable definitions and easy understanding of our faith. These remain words that challenge and encourage at the same time.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I finished reading this the day after my daughter was born, so I was a bit distracted. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I was concentrating.

[Lenora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these sermons