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King Legacy #7
A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings
The classic collection of sixteen sermons preached and compiled by Dr. King
As Dr. King prepared for the Birmingham campaign in early 1963, he drafted the final sermons for Strength to Love, a volume of his best-known homilies. King had begun working on the sermons during a fortnight in jail in July 1962. Having been arrested for holding a prayer vigil outside Albany City Hall, King and Ralph Abernathy shared a jail cell for fifteen days that was, according to King, ‘‘dirty, filthy, and ill-equipped’’ and “the worse I have ever seen.” While behind bars, he spent uninterrupted time preparing the drafts for classic sermons such as “Loving Your Enemies,” “Love in Action,” and “Shattered Dreams,” and continued to work on the volume after his release.
A Gift of Love includes these classic sermons, along with two new preachings. Collectively they present King’s fusion of Christian teachings and social consciousness, and promote his prescient vision of love as a social and political force for change.
From the Hardcover edition.
As Dr. King prepared for the Birmingham campaign in early 1963, he drafted the final sermons for Strength to Love, a volume of his best-known homilies. King had begun working on the sermons during a fortnight in jail in July 1962. Having been arrested for holding a prayer vigil outside Albany City Hall, King and Ralph Abernathy shared a jail cell for fifteen days that was, according to King, ‘‘dirty, filthy, and ill-equipped’’ and “the worse I have ever seen.” While behind bars, he spent uninterrupted time preparing the drafts for classic sermons such as “Loving Your Enemies,” “Love in Action,” and “Shattered Dreams,” and continued to work on the volume after his release.
A Gift of Love includes these classic sermons, along with two new preachings. Collectively they present King’s fusion of Christian teachings and social consciousness, and promote his prescient vision of love as a social and political force for change.
From the Hardcover edition.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2012
199 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Martin Luther King Jr.
436 books3,468 followersMartin Luther King, Jr. was one of the pivotal leaders of the American civil rights movement. King was a Baptist minister, one of the few leadership roles available to black men at the time. He became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956) and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957), serving as its first president. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Here he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
April 22, 2021
Martin Luther King’s words were powerful and heroic. Despite the hatred that was thrown at him, he only had love to give in response. And that bespeaks the moral integrity of such a man.
King could have rallied his followers to a more aggressive approach, though he never stooped so low. He knew that the world needed to heal, as such he radiated as much love and positive energy as possible. Certainly, an example to follow for any invested in activism. He has only kindness to impart to his “enemies” and those that oppose his ideology.
King’s writing is loaded with this Christian dogma. he focuses specifically on the principles of kindness, love, and sincerity. Honesty is also important to him and so are actions that correspond with values. And this something King thought was of vital importance. As a teacher, he pushed the ideals of his Church in a way that fuelled his activism and benefited other people. It was, genuine, real, and powerful. I find theology fascinating, and I like the way King interprets biblical discourse here and wields it to advance civil rights.
The fact that King died at the hand of violence shows how feared he was and how strong he was becoming. I often wonder how King would have felt if he knew, some 50 years after his death, an African American would become president. And, not only that, Obama would also run for two terms and become one of the most celebrated presidents in recent years. I am sure King would consider it a great victory, a realisation of his fondest hopes and dreams because it is such a landmark event in modern history.
If King saw the face of the world today, he would be proud of how far we have come, and he would also understand how much further we still must go because racial tension remains. The murder of George Floyd last year exemplifies this. The Black Lives Matter protests that followed highlight the continued need to overcome institutional racism. It created a spark that lit the world on fire with protests, even here in the UK rallies happened in most major cities.
King advanced civil rights majorly in the sixties, and so much progress has been made since then, but more is still needed. And I think it's important to say that this will only be achieved with a gift of love rather than hatred, included here are some great lectures detailing precisely how much so.
___________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
King could have rallied his followers to a more aggressive approach, though he never stooped so low. He knew that the world needed to heal, as such he radiated as much love and positive energy as possible. Certainly, an example to follow for any invested in activism. He has only kindness to impart to his “enemies” and those that oppose his ideology.
King’s writing is loaded with this Christian dogma. he focuses specifically on the principles of kindness, love, and sincerity. Honesty is also important to him and so are actions that correspond with values. And this something King thought was of vital importance. As a teacher, he pushed the ideals of his Church in a way that fuelled his activism and benefited other people. It was, genuine, real, and powerful. I find theology fascinating, and I like the way King interprets biblical discourse here and wields it to advance civil rights.
The fact that King died at the hand of violence shows how feared he was and how strong he was becoming. I often wonder how King would have felt if he knew, some 50 years after his death, an African American would become president. And, not only that, Obama would also run for two terms and become one of the most celebrated presidents in recent years. I am sure King would consider it a great victory, a realisation of his fondest hopes and dreams because it is such a landmark event in modern history.
“One of the most agonising problems with our modern human experience is that few, if any, of us live to see our fondest hopes fulfilled.
If King saw the face of the world today, he would be proud of how far we have come, and he would also understand how much further we still must go because racial tension remains. The murder of George Floyd last year exemplifies this. The Black Lives Matter protests that followed highlight the continued need to overcome institutional racism. It created a spark that lit the world on fire with protests, even here in the UK rallies happened in most major cities.
King advanced civil rights majorly in the sixties, and so much progress has been made since then, but more is still needed. And I think it's important to say that this will only be achieved with a gift of love rather than hatred, included here are some great lectures detailing precisely how much so.
___________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
October 17, 2024
Sometimes five stars is not enough for one book, this was one of those books. Inspiring, thought provoking, well argued and written I don’t think it would be possible to get to the end of this book and not make a conscious decision to strive to be a better person. “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”
March 10, 2018
This book was really good. It is a collection of sermons from his book Strength to Love plus two more that the King Estate added. Dr. King had such a way with words. He was so smart and full of wisdom. I wish there were more nationally known preachers like him in our current moment.
Some of my favorite lines from his sermon "Love In Action":
Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude.
Only goodness can drive out evil and only love can conquer hate.
Intellectual blindness is a dilemma which man inflicts upon himself by his tragic misuse of freedom and his failure to use his mind to its fullest capacity.
Some of my favorite lines from his sermon "Love In Action":
Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude.
Only goodness can drive out evil and only love can conquer hate.
Intellectual blindness is a dilemma which man inflicts upon himself by his tragic misuse of freedom and his failure to use his mind to its fullest capacity.
January 14, 2023
I decided it was time to learn a bit more about the ideas and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr and got myself this book. It contains 16 short essays, or maybe it would be more accurate to call them sermons (as this is what most of them initially were).
Actually, them being sermons is an important fact, as sermons are quite distinct from lectures or essays in crucial ways. I'm not gonna go into this specific distinction here though, I'm just gonna say that these are definitely some of the better sermons I heard / read, and I've heard quite a good bunch of them over the years. So what exactly is it that makes (most of) these sermons so great? First of all, King was a very intelligent man and a deep thinker. Unlike many a preacher today, he did not consider philosophy worldly, but studied it deeply and was enriched immensely by it. Theologically speaking he was also widely read and I was more than glad to see that he mentioned Paul Tillich multiple times (who I consider to be one of the most important theologians of the last century). Even though King was not afraid to to talk about Hegel, Nietzsche, essentialism and existentialism in his sermons (or at least in one of them), they have a clearness and simplicity to them. One need not have studied theology or philosophy to understand them and be enriched by them.
Another differentiating factor from other sermons is that King is not so focused solely on spiritual things such as personal salvation, the Bible or praying. His focus is mostly on the social and material condition of the people. This probably stems from a difference in his perception of the role of the church: "the church must seek to transform both individual lives and the social situation that brings to many people anguish of spirit and cruel bondage". In his context this of course meant preaching on the injustices of segregation and on the importance and efficacy of nonviolent resistance.
A recurring theme throughout all of the sermons is love. According to King, love is the only way to face the injustices of the world and through love God is manifesting himself in the world: "Above all, we must be reminded anew that God is at work in his universe. He is not outside the world looking on with a sort of cold indifference. Here on all the roads of life, he is striving in our striving."
The most impressive thing is of course the fact that King not only preached these things, but he actually lived them and was ready even to die for them. This is why he will be remembered as one who changed the course of history.
Actually, them being sermons is an important fact, as sermons are quite distinct from lectures or essays in crucial ways. I'm not gonna go into this specific distinction here though, I'm just gonna say that these are definitely some of the better sermons I heard / read, and I've heard quite a good bunch of them over the years. So what exactly is it that makes (most of) these sermons so great? First of all, King was a very intelligent man and a deep thinker. Unlike many a preacher today, he did not consider philosophy worldly, but studied it deeply and was enriched immensely by it. Theologically speaking he was also widely read and I was more than glad to see that he mentioned Paul Tillich multiple times (who I consider to be one of the most important theologians of the last century). Even though King was not afraid to to talk about Hegel, Nietzsche, essentialism and existentialism in his sermons (or at least in one of them), they have a clearness and simplicity to them. One need not have studied theology or philosophy to understand them and be enriched by them.
Another differentiating factor from other sermons is that King is not so focused solely on spiritual things such as personal salvation, the Bible or praying. His focus is mostly on the social and material condition of the people. This probably stems from a difference in his perception of the role of the church: "the church must seek to transform both individual lives and the social situation that brings to many people anguish of spirit and cruel bondage". In his context this of course meant preaching on the injustices of segregation and on the importance and efficacy of nonviolent resistance.
A recurring theme throughout all of the sermons is love. According to King, love is the only way to face the injustices of the world and through love God is manifesting himself in the world: "Above all, we must be reminded anew that God is at work in his universe. He is not outside the world looking on with a sort of cold indifference. Here on all the roads of life, he is striving in our striving."
The most impressive thing is of course the fact that King not only preached these things, but he actually lived them and was ready even to die for them. This is why he will be remembered as one who changed the course of history.
October 19, 2025
What I got most out of this book was the authors humility. He questions himself, is afraid, full of doubts and anxiety. But his central point is that through self reflection, discipline, and most important faith in God, one can overcome all tribulations.
Being irreligious myself I of course thought there was an over reliance upon religious arguments, but only a slight one; if anything I was impressed by the length and breadth of MLK’s arguments, and especially by his deep knowledge of non-religious philosophy. At many points he brings up figures like Hegel, Heidegger, Sartre, Kierkegaard and more, comparing them to his model of belief. What emerges is a soberly rational approach that accepts the limits of faith, that encourages rational reflection and rejects blind superstition. While the point is always that man cannot have a fulfilling and moral life without Christianity, religion is not the be-all and end-all, and various forms of knowledge at which Christianity fails at are praised.
I especially liked, “Their respective worlds are different and their methods are dissimilar. Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power; religion gives man wisdom which is control… The two are not rivals. They are complementary.”
While the main theme of this book is of course the struggles of the civil rights movement, there is also a lot of emphasis put on the growing wealth and material prosperity of the United States, which incorporated the first echoes of the growing concerns of wealth inequality and social disruption. Much of the sermons are concerned with developing the capacity to create inner strength, and in this sense it really appealed to the moral philosopher in me. As mentioned, this heavily relied upon religion, but not in a way that felt overtly biased: in other words it didn’t seem like King had an agenda, but was advocating for what he truly saw as a way out of the spiritual issues the people of the world were already facing in mid 20th century, which have gotten even worse in the 21st.
Something also has to be said about his fantastic writing: it’s obvious the man is a fantastic orator because of the way in which he writes. It manages to feel grandiose but not never cheap or fanciful. You can hear his voice booming across the page while reading the myriad essays in here. Never knew he was as good a writer as he was an orator. Pleasantly surprised.
In conclusion, immensely glad to have read the man. One of those figures that you have just got to read: we owe much to his philosophy, deep and well reasoned as it was. Truly one of the great figures of the modern era, but not because of his actions; because he had the will and discipline to carry the torch even in darkest night.
Being irreligious myself I of course thought there was an over reliance upon religious arguments, but only a slight one; if anything I was impressed by the length and breadth of MLK’s arguments, and especially by his deep knowledge of non-religious philosophy. At many points he brings up figures like Hegel, Heidegger, Sartre, Kierkegaard and more, comparing them to his model of belief. What emerges is a soberly rational approach that accepts the limits of faith, that encourages rational reflection and rejects blind superstition. While the point is always that man cannot have a fulfilling and moral life without Christianity, religion is not the be-all and end-all, and various forms of knowledge at which Christianity fails at are praised.
I especially liked, “Their respective worlds are different and their methods are dissimilar. Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power; religion gives man wisdom which is control… The two are not rivals. They are complementary.”
While the main theme of this book is of course the struggles of the civil rights movement, there is also a lot of emphasis put on the growing wealth and material prosperity of the United States, which incorporated the first echoes of the growing concerns of wealth inequality and social disruption. Much of the sermons are concerned with developing the capacity to create inner strength, and in this sense it really appealed to the moral philosopher in me. As mentioned, this heavily relied upon religion, but not in a way that felt overtly biased: in other words it didn’t seem like King had an agenda, but was advocating for what he truly saw as a way out of the spiritual issues the people of the world were already facing in mid 20th century, which have gotten even worse in the 21st.
Something also has to be said about his fantastic writing: it’s obvious the man is a fantastic orator because of the way in which he writes. It manages to feel grandiose but not never cheap or fanciful. You can hear his voice booming across the page while reading the myriad essays in here. Never knew he was as good a writer as he was an orator. Pleasantly surprised.
In conclusion, immensely glad to have read the man. One of those figures that you have just got to read: we owe much to his philosophy, deep and well reasoned as it was. Truly one of the great figures of the modern era, but not because of his actions; because he had the will and discipline to carry the torch even in darkest night.
May 18, 2023
Soul-stirring sermons. Made me want to jump up from my seat and clap my hands singing “Glory hallelujah.” But on a real note, a wellspring of deep wisdom gleaned from the daily struggle of love. We do not get to choose the suffering that comes our way, but we get to choose how we bear it. In MLK we have a fine example of taking up one’s cross and following the Lord. Unificationists will notice many parallels between these words and the words of Reverend Moon.
Life is a struggle. Better yet, life is the struggle. To quote Miley Cyrus, “It’s the climb.” But we are not alone on this journey. God said he will never leave us - he will be with us “until the end of time”.
Keep it up, keep going, one day this life will start to make a lot more sense. You only know the meaning of the story when you get to the ending. Pray, hope and don’t worry.
“My feets is tired but my soul is rested.” - Old lady mentioned at the end of the last sermon.
God bless.
Life is a struggle. Better yet, life is the struggle. To quote Miley Cyrus, “It’s the climb.” But we are not alone on this journey. God said he will never leave us - he will be with us “until the end of time”.
Keep it up, keep going, one day this life will start to make a lot more sense. You only know the meaning of the story when you get to the ending. Pray, hope and don’t worry.
“My feets is tired but my soul is rested.” - Old lady mentioned at the end of the last sermon.
God bless.
August 22, 2021
I’ve heard Martin Luther King Jr’s famous ‘I have a dream’ speech many times but the sermons included in this book pushed the boundaries for me in seeing his talent as a writer, preacher, and speaker. I loved his references to other philosophical and poetic ideas, including Shakespeare and Tillich. His sermons are clear and actually interesting to read, with the stories and references he includes, which I didn’t expect when I heard ‘sermon’. But they also made me reflect on my personal life and my faith journey and how I should be doing so much more to pursue biblical social justice. Can’t wait to read again
March 16, 2013
Martin Luther King, Jr is well known for so many reasons. A civil rights leader, great orator, great Christian, great pacifist. It is no surprise to find all those elements in "A Gift of Love: Sermons from 'Strength to Love' and Other Preachings." As sermons, they are rooted in the Christian faith. But his call for civil rights, his call for a non-violent struggle, are prominent throughout. King was a preacher of the moment, responding to the needs of his congregation and beyond through the lens of his faith. And his strong oration style can be heard even in reading the sermons, as he brings home his points with a cadence which cannot be missed.
The weaknesses in the sermons are more a matter of their context rather than their thinking. Some of them slip toward self-help language, but they reflect the growing awareness of psychology in one's thinking. Some of the world political issues are now a moot point, and some of what he sought we have reached.
But that our world has not reached the racial integration he sought is clear, and shameful, 50 years after some of these sermons were preached. What does come through in reading these sermons is King's faith. He was a Christian, and he interprets what he sees through those eyes. These sermons will not allow him to become a secular hero. The civil rights movement was an expression of his Christian faith. His pacifist viewpoint, which was strengthened by the example of Gandhi, was rooted in his Christian faith.
I will not attempt a break down of each sermon. I read this over a long period and was more interested in their impact on my own faith than that of a book review. His sermon, "Antidotes for Fear," was given to me by a doctor treating my son, who has been battling cancer for over two years. He is not likely to survive another year, and King's words spoke to my condition. What stronger testament is there to one's power as a writer or thinker that 50 years later, they still reach people where needed.
The weaknesses in the sermons are more a matter of their context rather than their thinking. Some of them slip toward self-help language, but they reflect the growing awareness of psychology in one's thinking. Some of the world political issues are now a moot point, and some of what he sought we have reached.
But that our world has not reached the racial integration he sought is clear, and shameful, 50 years after some of these sermons were preached. What does come through in reading these sermons is King's faith. He was a Christian, and he interprets what he sees through those eyes. These sermons will not allow him to become a secular hero. The civil rights movement was an expression of his Christian faith. His pacifist viewpoint, which was strengthened by the example of Gandhi, was rooted in his Christian faith.
I will not attempt a break down of each sermon. I read this over a long period and was more interested in their impact on my own faith than that of a book review. His sermon, "Antidotes for Fear," was given to me by a doctor treating my son, who has been battling cancer for over two years. He is not likely to survive another year, and King's words spoke to my condition. What stronger testament is there to one's power as a writer or thinker that 50 years later, they still reach people where needed.
September 3, 2017
Dr. King was a sage. This set of sermons shows his wisdom, a clear moral code and they are so well written. I absolutely love this book.
July 1, 2021
Great book, really love MLK’s perspective. 3 main thoughts coming from this:
I wanna read more of the sources he referenced throughout his sermons. These sermons were clearly from a different historical time and it shocked me how different various things seemed to be back then. I’m frustrated with how poorly I understand 20th century America.
I want to understand his philosophy better. It’s clear through his sermons that he wants social change (materialism and militarism!!) and it’d be interesting seeing what solutions he hoped to see. In one sermon he said something along the lines of looking for a solution that was “in the frame of democracy” and rejected both unbridled capitalism/materialism and communism. Feel like I’ve been fed a watered down MLK wanna understand him more.
I really don’t think the modern social justice movement has been significantly influenced by MLK. He’s constantly focused on the idea of loving our enemies, I was humbled by how he referred to those who opposed him as his “white brothers”. I wonder what it would take for the modern church to lead in this field.
I wanna read more of the sources he referenced throughout his sermons. These sermons were clearly from a different historical time and it shocked me how different various things seemed to be back then. I’m frustrated with how poorly I understand 20th century America.
I want to understand his philosophy better. It’s clear through his sermons that he wants social change (materialism and militarism!!) and it’d be interesting seeing what solutions he hoped to see. In one sermon he said something along the lines of looking for a solution that was “in the frame of democracy” and rejected both unbridled capitalism/materialism and communism. Feel like I’ve been fed a watered down MLK wanna understand him more.
I really don’t think the modern social justice movement has been significantly influenced by MLK. He’s constantly focused on the idea of loving our enemies, I was humbled by how he referred to those who opposed him as his “white brothers”. I wonder what it would take for the modern church to lead in this field.
July 9, 2020
This collection of sermons and essays are an important and timeless read
March 5, 2017
This is a collection of best sermons Martin Luther King wrote. I am not a christian or strong believer, and I still think they're great. It sounds as relevant now as it did 50 years ago.
The themes of fascism, love, intellectual blindness, segregation and prejudice with only a slight hint of preaching - you can read it today and find similarities, especially in the current political and international climate. Highly recommend to find solutions and ways to act in the corrupt, populist and post-truth/alternative facts times that we find ourselves in these days.
The themes of fascism, love, intellectual blindness, segregation and prejudice with only a slight hint of preaching - you can read it today and find similarities, especially in the current political and international climate. Highly recommend to find solutions and ways to act in the corrupt, populist and post-truth/alternative facts times that we find ourselves in these days.
January 13, 2022
Though this is a collection of Martin Luther King Jr.’s lectures, his speech is still beautifully spoken, depth in its content and rich in its meaning.
I’m definitely fond with the idea of reacting bad deeds with good deeds, spiritual-physical discourse, doing things with the finest touch that you could get, the importance of God in our human life, the length-breadth of life and how Martin Luther King Jr. blends the idea of Gandhi, Kierkegaard, Sartre, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Jaspers with his own philosophy of life.
I’m definitely fond with the idea of reacting bad deeds with good deeds, spiritual-physical discourse, doing things with the finest touch that you could get, the importance of God in our human life, the length-breadth of life and how Martin Luther King Jr. blends the idea of Gandhi, Kierkegaard, Sartre, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Jaspers with his own philosophy of life.
May 30, 2024
Read in 2020. Most formative book of my life so far.
August 14, 2023
Summary: A collection of sixteen sermons, an original introduction by Coretta Scott King, and a new introduction by Raphael Warnock.
I have been slowly working through the audiobook of A Gift of Love for a couple of months. I tend to listen to a sermon about once a week as I am on a walk. I enjoy having audiobooks that I can dip into occasionally when I do not feel like anything else. Most of these sermons were compiled in 1963. And then, two more sermons were added along with a new introduction when it was re-released in the King Legacy edition. I have not looked to see which were the new sermons added.
None of the sermons in the collection are bad, but personally, the second half was more engaging than the first half. Some of King's sermons felt more like speeches instead of sermons. But most of them were clearly a sermon given to a church and were in the black theological tradition, not the progressive tradition. There is a difference in the discussion of sin and the role of hope that differs from the progressive and the black theological traditions. That is not to say that some do not merge those traditions well. But I think King was at his best in these sermons when he spoke clearly about the reality of sin in a Christian theological register. This was not fire and brimstone preaching but a clear acquaintance with the reality of how sin impacted the world. Sin was not abstract. Sin was real and it impacted people that King knew, himself included. This was also not just individual or personal sin; sin here was a system or a force, not just individual wrongdoing or animus.
But just as much as sin was real in many of these sermons, hope was also real. I understand the critique of misplaced hope or hope that ignores the day-to-day world. But that was not King's view of hope. Just as his pain at sin was real, so his hope was real. His home was bombed when his wife and infant daughter were home alone. But he had a personal spiritual encounter with Jesus not long after that still empowered him nearly a decade later when most of these sermons were written.
Many people have not read much that King wrote and primarily have only listened to a few of the more famous speeches. But there is a range that is helpful to get exposure to. If you have not read King widely, I would recommend starting with Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Then I think that Radical King is where I would recommend as a follow-up. This would probably be my fourth recommendation after Where Do We Go From Here.
I listened to this on audiobook, but the narration bothered me less, and I am unsure why. Maybe JD Jackson was just better at impersonating King's speaking than some of the other narrators of King's books. But I think it may also be that except for the Drum Major Instinct, which is in Radical King and one of his best-known speeches, many of the rest of these were much less familiar.
Originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/gift-of-love/
I have been slowly working through the audiobook of A Gift of Love for a couple of months. I tend to listen to a sermon about once a week as I am on a walk. I enjoy having audiobooks that I can dip into occasionally when I do not feel like anything else. Most of these sermons were compiled in 1963. And then, two more sermons were added along with a new introduction when it was re-released in the King Legacy edition. I have not looked to see which were the new sermons added.
None of the sermons in the collection are bad, but personally, the second half was more engaging than the first half. Some of King's sermons felt more like speeches instead of sermons. But most of them were clearly a sermon given to a church and were in the black theological tradition, not the progressive tradition. There is a difference in the discussion of sin and the role of hope that differs from the progressive and the black theological traditions. That is not to say that some do not merge those traditions well. But I think King was at his best in these sermons when he spoke clearly about the reality of sin in a Christian theological register. This was not fire and brimstone preaching but a clear acquaintance with the reality of how sin impacted the world. Sin was not abstract. Sin was real and it impacted people that King knew, himself included. This was also not just individual or personal sin; sin here was a system or a force, not just individual wrongdoing or animus.
But just as much as sin was real in many of these sermons, hope was also real. I understand the critique of misplaced hope or hope that ignores the day-to-day world. But that was not King's view of hope. Just as his pain at sin was real, so his hope was real. His home was bombed when his wife and infant daughter were home alone. But he had a personal spiritual encounter with Jesus not long after that still empowered him nearly a decade later when most of these sermons were written.
Many people have not read much that King wrote and primarily have only listened to a few of the more famous speeches. But there is a range that is helpful to get exposure to. If you have not read King widely, I would recommend starting with Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Then I think that Radical King is where I would recommend as a follow-up. This would probably be my fourth recommendation after Where Do We Go From Here.
I listened to this on audiobook, but the narration bothered me less, and I am unsure why. Maybe JD Jackson was just better at impersonating King's speaking than some of the other narrators of King's books. But I think it may also be that except for the Drum Major Instinct, which is in Radical King and one of his best-known speeches, many of the rest of these were much less familiar.
Originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/gift-of-love/
March 27, 2025
As the news gets worse and worse and chaos seems to become the norm, this book is just what I needed. I wish I could find a church near me that dares to preach hard truths. King writes of the churches, "We preach comforting sermons and avoid saying anything from our pulpit which might disturb the respectable views of the comfortable members of our congregations. " This has all to often been my experience.
This book helped me remember that Christianity is radical and causes us to follow hard truths such as love your enemy and forgive them as well. It's a reminder that our neighbor is anyone who needs help, and not just those that live next door.
Dr. King, while always preaching love, does not hold back from boldly speaking the truth. His sermons, written during the Civil Rights Movement, are just as timely today. "Modern man is presently having a rendezvous with chaos, not merely because of human badness, but also because of human stupidity."
Throughout the entire book, I found our modern world described, and then was given words of wisdom and encouragement to move forward--all based on scripture.
This book helped me remember that Christianity is radical and causes us to follow hard truths such as love your enemy and forgive them as well. It's a reminder that our neighbor is anyone who needs help, and not just those that live next door.
Dr. King, while always preaching love, does not hold back from boldly speaking the truth. His sermons, written during the Civil Rights Movement, are just as timely today. "Modern man is presently having a rendezvous with chaos, not merely because of human badness, but also because of human stupidity."
Throughout the entire book, I found our modern world described, and then was given words of wisdom and encouragement to move forward--all based on scripture.
May 5, 2019
Combining thoughtful biblical scholarship, prophetic insight, the wisdom of his day, and powerful proclamation, King's sermons stand the test of time, and are as relevant now in their call to work for freedom as they were in the 50s and 60s. Never having read King's work before, i was blown away. I realise now where that famous quote comes from 'to our most bitter opponents we say: we will match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you...' [Love your enemies - Matthew 5]. He saw relentless, nonviolent activism as the Christian's duty to effect change here and now. He didn't just preach it or pray for it, he lived it. With that kind of authenticity ringing out from every page, the reader is not allowed to escape the effect of these sermons. Read at your own risk!
October 9, 2022
'May it not be that the "certain rich man" is Western civilisation? Rich in goods and material resources, our standards of success are almost inextricably bound to the lust for acquisition. The means by which we live are marvellous indeed. And yet something is missing. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers. Our abundance has brought us neither peace of mind nor serenity of spirit' (76-7).
August 25, 2020
In a nutshell: absolutely brilliant. This is what relevant Kingdom proclamation looks like!
October 7, 2021
Dr. King had a way with language. I’m gonna have to buy this book, there’s a rich depth here in most of these sermons.
August 1, 2021
A Gift of Love was enlightening from the first to the final page. MLK embodied gospel truth throughout his life. Reading this book gave me an insight into what it takes to act as a Christian in a world where there is so much evil and hate. I found his short anecdotes about his own persecution illuminating. I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their faith or social views, he lays out an articulate simple argument for acting out of love instead of hate.
October 31, 2020
Some essays were brilliant, others didn't super hit the mark for me
August 7, 2018
Interesting choice of MLK's sermons and speeches- I was surprised that the "I have a dream" speech wasn't incorporated into this book. MLK is DEEP, and so professorial that at times I needed a dictionary along with the book to read it properly. The last two sermons are actually a different style and much more relaxed and kind of a "hooping"style. I really enjoyed those and was disappointed that the last sermon in the book was cut off and unfinished.
I have renewed love and respect for this man of love and nonviolence who very much emulates a modern day Jesus Christ. His life almost mirrored that of Christ and he sacrificed his life for so many who do not even have an appreciation for his gift.
Would love to read other sermons picked by the people and not the family.
I have renewed love and respect for this man of love and nonviolence who very much emulates a modern day Jesus Christ. His life almost mirrored that of Christ and he sacrificed his life for so many who do not even have an appreciation for his gift.
Would love to read other sermons picked by the people and not the family.
June 29, 2018
Out of the sixty-five reviews I’ve written so far, I have given five stars to only five books. I save them for the most exceptional. I wish I could give this more than five stars. It is by far the most inspiring, moving book I have ever read. Second only to the New Testament. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
January 20, 2014
Another fine volume in the King Legacy series edited by Beacon Press, where Martin Luther King's writings and speeches are being assembled and published (or republished). Now, _Strength to Love_, where most of the book is drawn from, is one of my favorite of King's works, something I have turned to again and again at low points in my own life, when discouraged in community work, and when feeling my own strength to love on the wane. These sermons are both practical theology and sources of encouragement to keep on through the long and difficult haul. I disagreed with the editors' choice to remove King's sermon distancing the civil rights movements from communism -- an important piece of history and also a dirty trouble community organizers still have to wrestle (what's politically necessary in aligning with other marginalized and oppressed groups or might sink one set of work because of association with another, especially when you have concerns about that other? - there being both practical and idealist answers to that question). Still, this collection is powerful preaching and leadership. Sadly, many of the themes expounded on are still issues today, so may we take up these words and not just remember, but answer the urgency of now and the work of justice, equity, and dignity still to be accomplished.
October 15, 2021
Great writing by a brilliant wordsmith. I’m not religious myself, but the wisdom in his sermons is relevant to everybody and still very relevant today. The world would be a better place if people thought a bit more like MLK Jr.
Personal highlights: A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart; Love in Action; The Major Drum Instinct; The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life
The ending to The Major Drum Instinct is also particularly poignant seeing as it was given only 2 months before his assassination. 5/5 stars
Personal highlights: A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart; Love in Action; The Major Drum Instinct; The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life
The ending to The Major Drum Instinct is also particularly poignant seeing as it was given only 2 months before his assassination. 5/5 stars
March 21, 2015
A wonderful man of God
Dr. King showed us what a real man he was .He did what he had to and did it afraid. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart. Even if he died to do it.
Dr. King showed us what a real man he was .He did what he had to and did it afraid. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart. Even if he died to do it.
August 21, 2015
Well written and prevalent even today. The spiritual aspects are essential to the manifestation of principles of success. Dr. King Jr. Exemplifies his passion and his thought processes that help the movement to succeed.
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March 4, 2017King was not only an amazing leader of the civil rights movement, but also a deeply intelligent and critical thinker ahead of his time. I am proud to say that I am also an alumni of the same university where he earned his doctorate, Boston University.
August 8, 2023
Whenever I feel lost. Whenever I feel like the world is an ugly place. Whenever I feel lonely, I read the wisdom of Martin Luther King and I know everything will be fine.
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