Parental Guidance Advised: Adult Preaching from the Old Testament

by Alyce M. McKenzie, Charles Aaron

When we learn Old Testament Bible stories as children, the stories are stripped of their complexity. But, as adults, hearing the entire stories-the stories of our past-reminds us who we are in God's plan. Parental Guidance Advised shows the Old Testament to be a creative, humorous, insightful, bawdy, dynamic, and enriching collection of sacred literature hammered out over centuries of wrestling with the divine-human relationship. It depicts the Old Testament not as a series of scenes of saints in action but rather as real-life stories of sinners who, somehow, despite themselves, become protagonists in God's plot of salvation. Parental Guidance Advised provides profound and provocative sermons that honor the depth and complexity of both Bible and everyday life. Each chapter includes a brief essay on its topic, followed by suggested texts for preaching. The book covers all three years of the lectionary cycle.

147 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[M Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out the title of this book. Now, take a good look at the cover. Here's the blurb on the back cover: "Parental Guidance Advised presents the Old Testament as a humorous, bawdy, dynamic, and enriching collection of sacred literature hammered out over centuries of wrestling with the divine-human relationship..." Etc.

Now, given the eternal truth that all books of essays by different writers are going to be a mixed bag, wouldn't you think that at least a few of the essays in this book would be funny, bawdy, and/or dynamic? You would, wouldn't you? I did. I was wrong. While there is nothing wrong with any of the essays in this book, none of them are bawdy, funny, or even dynamic. They are, instead, bog standard essays and sermon starters collected in that age-old academic format known as the "festschrift," i.e., "a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar," in this case, Professor John Holbert, late of Perkins School of Theology.

I've never met, read the work of, or even heard of John Holbert before, but if he's the one who taught his students about humor, bawdiness, and dynamism in their writing, he blew it.

I'm giving this book a "Gentleman's C-." Like the ones George W got at Yale.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book that uses the title "parental guidance advised" and links it to preaching requires at least a quick glance on the part of preachers. Because this book is focused on preaching from the Old Testament, that advisory is warranted. Many shy away from the Old Testament in their preaching because it can easily push buttons we're not ready to handle. Even the stories we share with our children, like David and Goliath or the Flood story, are probably too hot to handle if they are carefully addressed.

This brief book of essays written to honor John Holbert on his retirement as professor of homiletics at Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University), is an excellent primer on how to preach difficult texts, texts that challenge our visions of reality. The essays cover things like divine wrath, character flaws, the erotic, the use of film and literature in preaching -- among others. The essayists are friends, colleagues, and former students. Each takes up themes from the Old Testament, usually offering guidelines for preaching -- including creating sermons series that wrestle with texts that are truly adult in their focus.

It should go without saying that any book that concludes with an essay by Walter Brueggemann is must reading. Therefore, I commend this book to all my colleagues who take up the task of preaching. Be not afraid -- there is much wisdom to be found in texts that we often avoid.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most collections, the offerings here are uneven. And since the focus is preaching, there is a quirky element to each chapter for the non-preaching reader. However, the insights that pop up throughout the book are helpful for thinking of some of the typical ugliness in the OT in useful ways. The focus on the body/sexuality is important--not necessarily new to this reader, but if taken seriously is transformative for Christian communities. The Bruggeman chapter on prophetic preaching was provocative/prophetic. :) The chapter on how to use art/poetry/literature pushed my understanding in new ways. And I loved the Buechner-esque chapter on gospel as comedy.