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How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon
Learn to use four characteristics of "preaching with moral imagination" to proclaim freedom for all. The author describes the four characteristics using examples like Robert F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Prathia Hall, and the Moral Monday Movement, along with musicians and other artists of today. Moral imagination helps the hearer to see what they cannot see, to hear what they cannot hear--to inhabit the lives of others, so that they can embody Christ and true freedom for those others.
This book equips and empowers preachers to transcend their basic skills and techniques, so that their proclamation of the Word causes actual turnaround in the hearts and lives of their hearers, and in their communities.
"Frank Thomas has written a passionate amid the current destructive chaos of our society there is an urgent need for moral imagination. Such imagination is the antithesis of “diabolic” and “idolatrous” imagination that is all to the fore in our public discourse and practice. Thomas fleshes out “moral imagination” with close reflection on the practice of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Before he finishes Thomas shows how the urgency of “moral imagination” belongs peculiarly to the work of the preacher. This book is a welcome call for gospel-grounded courage and truth about the neighbor issued in a way that refuses the self-serving fakery that dominates our public life." --Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
"Timely and prophetic, How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon presents a homiletic essential for our churches today. Thomas insists that it is up to the preacher to recapture and reclaim the moral imagination of our nation so that the Gospel’s message of freedom is true for all people. With attention to specific figures whose witness models the qualities and characteristics of moral imagination, Thomas inspires the preacher toward powerful proclamation that both challenges and critiques any speech that subjugates or subordinates. How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon is must read for preachers to recover and reimagine the leadership role of the church for the sake of justice for all." --Karoline M. Lewis, Associate Professor of Biblical Preaching and the Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary; author of Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry.
"In this lucid and compelling book, Frank Thomas plumbs the depths of American moral rhetoric for insights that will help preachers. How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon provides new and dramatic ways in which the moral imagination in a democratic society can be nurtured by visionary, empathic, wise, and artistic preachers."--John S. McClure, Charles G. Finney Professor of Preaching and Worship, Vanderbilt Divinity School
" Preachers, if you are comfortable with the status quo of white privilege, patriarchy, hetero-normativity, and classism, do not read this book. If you are comfortable with sermon series that reduce the gospel to self-help acronyms, don’t read this book. But if you have the courage to look honestly at our landscape and bring the moral imagination of the Christian tradition to bear on it, open these pages and your sermons may never be the same again. But then again neither will the church--or the world--be the same anymore, if enough of us follow Thomas’s advice." --O. Wesley Allen, Jr., Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
This book equips and empowers preachers to transcend their basic skills and techniques, so that their proclamation of the Word causes actual turnaround in the hearts and lives of their hearers, and in their communities.
"Frank Thomas has written a passionate amid the current destructive chaos of our society there is an urgent need for moral imagination. Such imagination is the antithesis of “diabolic” and “idolatrous” imagination that is all to the fore in our public discourse and practice. Thomas fleshes out “moral imagination” with close reflection on the practice of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Before he finishes Thomas shows how the urgency of “moral imagination” belongs peculiarly to the work of the preacher. This book is a welcome call for gospel-grounded courage and truth about the neighbor issued in a way that refuses the self-serving fakery that dominates our public life." --Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
"Timely and prophetic, How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon presents a homiletic essential for our churches today. Thomas insists that it is up to the preacher to recapture and reclaim the moral imagination of our nation so that the Gospel’s message of freedom is true for all people. With attention to specific figures whose witness models the qualities and characteristics of moral imagination, Thomas inspires the preacher toward powerful proclamation that both challenges and critiques any speech that subjugates or subordinates. How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon is must read for preachers to recover and reimagine the leadership role of the church for the sake of justice for all." --Karoline M. Lewis, Associate Professor of Biblical Preaching and the Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary; author of Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry.
"In this lucid and compelling book, Frank Thomas plumbs the depths of American moral rhetoric for insights that will help preachers. How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon provides new and dramatic ways in which the moral imagination in a democratic society can be nurtured by visionary, empathic, wise, and artistic preachers."--John S. McClure, Charles G. Finney Professor of Preaching and Worship, Vanderbilt Divinity School
" Preachers, if you are comfortable with the status quo of white privilege, patriarchy, hetero-normativity, and classism, do not read this book. If you are comfortable with sermon series that reduce the gospel to self-help acronyms, don’t read this book. But if you have the courage to look honestly at our landscape and bring the moral imagination of the Christian tradition to bear on it, open these pages and your sermons may never be the same again. But then again neither will the church--or the world--be the same anymore, if enough of us follow Thomas’s advice." --O. Wesley Allen, Jr., Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
- GenresTheologyNonfiction
156 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 18, 2018
Preaching With Moral Imagination
This is probably the most important homiletics book I have ever read. If you have finally gotten tired of preaching milk toast syrupy feel good sermons that don't really challenge anyone to change, you need read this book.
This is probably the most important homiletics book I have ever read. If you have finally gotten tired of preaching milk toast syrupy feel good sermons that don't really challenge anyone to change, you need read this book.
June 14, 2020
Thomas defines a dangerous sermon as one that challenges common, but death-dealing, conventional wisdom and morality, what he calls the "idolatrous and diabolical moral imagination." He writes, "Preach the moral base of issues, and though you will be accused of preaching politics, you will in fact be preaching dangerous sermons. Preaching healthcare for all, at least in some communities, is a dangerous sermon. Preaching about the care and concern of God's green earth is a dangerous sermon. Preaching about white supremacy and white privilege is a dangerous sermon. This is not to suggest that every sermon that is preached is to be a dangerous sermon, but at least some of the sermons one preaches should be dangerous." (90)
Thomas' little book is a few things at once. It's an exploration of what does and should shape people's moral imaginations. It's an argument for preaching that reshapes the imagination toward empathy, love, and freedom. And it's a how-to-preach manual in the progressive, Black preaching tradition.
Thomas' little book is a few things at once. It's an exploration of what does and should shape people's moral imaginations. It's an argument for preaching that reshapes the imagination toward empathy, love, and freedom. And it's a how-to-preach manual in the progressive, Black preaching tradition.
February 13, 2020
This book has a strong philosophical, theological, and spiritual basis that alone make me grateful that I read it. The foundation of the message Dr. Rev. Thomas shares is extremely valuable to all. That said, I'm giving the book three stars for a couple reasons:
*When it comes to the technique of constructing a dangerous sermon, the author pulls a bait-and-switch, and uses a technique that has to be learned on another one of his books. In other words, if you really want to learn how to preach a dangerous sermon from Dr. Rev. Thomas, you need to read his other book first as a prerequisite. This was never mentioned up until the last quarter of the book.
*The author oversells his agenda in many parts of the book, going including long sections that are far afield from the book's core message. For example, the long discussion and criticism of Edward Bernays is a huge distraction just when the book is starting to complete it's big picture.
*When it comes to the technique of constructing a dangerous sermon, the author pulls a bait-and-switch, and uses a technique that has to be learned on another one of his books. In other words, if you really want to learn how to preach a dangerous sermon from Dr. Rev. Thomas, you need to read his other book first as a prerequisite. This was never mentioned up until the last quarter of the book.
*The author oversells his agenda in many parts of the book, going including long sections that are far afield from the book's core message. For example, the long discussion and criticism of Edward Bernays is a huge distraction just when the book is starting to complete it's big picture.
October 25, 2021
I am a big fan of Frank Thomas' preaching and writing. He is a voice that one cannot not listen to, especially if one claims to be a student of preaching. Thus, when I discovered that he was publishing a trilogy of "dangerous sermon" books, I was immediately invested. I thought about using this one as a textbook in a course on contemporary preaching and began reading with great interest.
The Foreword, Preface, and Introduction did capture my attention. However, beyond a few good pages here and there, much did leave me wanting. Not wanting in a "this is not good" kind of way but a "yes, but what has this to do with preaching a 'dangerous' sermon?" kind of way. I agree with much of Thomas' political rhetoric. He is absolutely correct in his estimation of the damage that DJT has caused to the moral fiber of this nation.
And, yet, how do we preach in this vein? This was the question that I returned to on a number of occasions while reading this brief treatise. His examination of Martin Luther King's preaching, Robert Kennedy's speech in response to King's assassination and the homiletic analysis of a sermon from Prathia L. Hall are helpful but all supplementary to a larger discussion that seems missing.
As a book on why we need "dangerous" preaching, this book is certainly a good start. And there are some great points that I will share in my class this spring. However, as a book on how to preach a "dangerous" sermon, it falls a bit flat.
The Foreword, Preface, and Introduction did capture my attention. However, beyond a few good pages here and there, much did leave me wanting. Not wanting in a "this is not good" kind of way but a "yes, but what has this to do with preaching a 'dangerous' sermon?" kind of way. I agree with much of Thomas' political rhetoric. He is absolutely correct in his estimation of the damage that DJT has caused to the moral fiber of this nation.
And, yet, how do we preach in this vein? This was the question that I returned to on a number of occasions while reading this brief treatise. His examination of Martin Luther King's preaching, Robert Kennedy's speech in response to King's assassination and the homiletic analysis of a sermon from Prathia L. Hall are helpful but all supplementary to a larger discussion that seems missing.
As a book on why we need "dangerous" preaching, this book is certainly a good start. And there are some great points that I will share in my class this spring. However, as a book on how to preach a "dangerous" sermon, it falls a bit flat.
February 28, 2019
Thomas himself is a dynamite preacher, and his points here are great--but the book itself is painfully repetitive. The core of the book is around good sermons--the ones that challenge, that ignite, that come out of the prophetic tradition--that dwell in the "moral imagination." This has four main points:
1) Envision equality and represent that by one's physical presence
2) Empathy as a catalyst or bridge to create opportunities to overcome the past and make new decisions for peace and justice
3) Sources of wisdom and truth in ancient texts, the wisdom of the ages
4) The language of poetry and art that lifts and elevates the human spirit by touching the emotive chords of wonder, hope, and mystery (xxi)
That's it. That's the book; the rest of it is just case studies of how famous prophets have put these in practice. A good resource for those really interested in taking apart speeches (not just sermons) and examining the impact, but really just too repetitive for me to keep it on my shelves.
1) Envision equality and represent that by one's physical presence
2) Empathy as a catalyst or bridge to create opportunities to overcome the past and make new decisions for peace and justice
3) Sources of wisdom and truth in ancient texts, the wisdom of the ages
4) The language of poetry and art that lifts and elevates the human spirit by touching the emotive chords of wonder, hope, and mystery (xxi)
That's it. That's the book; the rest of it is just case studies of how famous prophets have put these in practice. A good resource for those really interested in taking apart speeches (not just sermons) and examining the impact, but really just too repetitive for me to keep it on my shelves.
July 16, 2021
The Beneficial Okie Doke
Dr. Thomas pulled an okie doke or as some may say, a bait and switch, on me. I purchased the book with the expectation that I would learn a few techniques that would sharpen my preaching skills. Instead, I received a book in which 80% of the content is about what Dr. Thomas calls a moral imagination. Simply put, a moral imagination is the willingness and ability of the preacher to use his/her platform to address the social economic issues of the day. While I had no desire to read such a book, this book revealed to me that I needed to read it. It reminded me of my pastoral and moral obligation to inform, encourage and equip the people entrusted to me about the moral issues of our day.
Would I have read it if I had known the content beforehand? Probably not. But that is why I titled this review "The Beneficial Okie Doke". It is a bait and switch that greatly benefited me.
Dr. Thomas pulled an okie doke or as some may say, a bait and switch, on me. I purchased the book with the expectation that I would learn a few techniques that would sharpen my preaching skills. Instead, I received a book in which 80% of the content is about what Dr. Thomas calls a moral imagination. Simply put, a moral imagination is the willingness and ability of the preacher to use his/her platform to address the social economic issues of the day. While I had no desire to read such a book, this book revealed to me that I needed to read it. It reminded me of my pastoral and moral obligation to inform, encourage and equip the people entrusted to me about the moral issues of our day.
Would I have read it if I had known the content beforehand? Probably not. But that is why I titled this review "The Beneficial Okie Doke". It is a bait and switch that greatly benefited me.
April 26, 2018
I can't even begin to describe the quantity or quality of information - historical, theological, homiletical - packed into this comparatively tiny book. There is almost too much to absorb. As someone the same age as the author but a different race, he carried me through events I remember, know happened but didn't understand or was completely oblivious to in a gently informative way and showed me why they matter not just to him, not just to a specific culture, but to all of us. Through him, I "met" or became "reacquainted" with figures that - whether I realized it or not - impacted me in ways - whether I realized it or not - I could - and should - emulate. Most important to me was how he showed me throughout the book both why it's important to address those dangerous topics and how to preach those dangerous sermons. May his lesson be ever evident in my future work for the Church.
November 9, 2019
After the preface, forward, and introduction, I was really excited about this book.
But all the chapters could be summed up by saying that this author feels his personal preference in political party is vastly superior to the other political party. This is rather ironic because the book is about having imagination, and this is the least imaginative stance I can imagine in America today.
But all the chapters could be summed up by saying that this author feels his personal preference in political party is vastly superior to the other political party. This is rather ironic because the book is about having imagination, and this is the least imaginative stance I can imagine in America today.
February 22, 2023
The first half of this book had me scratching my head, but the second half of the book was some of the richest material on preaching that I’ve found to date. Especially his reflection on David Hume (which echoed Howard Thurman’s notion of contact with fellowship) posed rich opportunity for a hermeneutic of meaningful proximity.
July 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I’m glad I read it. It made me think about preaching. The author has four principles or ways of looking at the sermon that are very helpful in thinking about how I think about preaching. As someone who has less than 10 years left in a full time pulpit I’m glad to keep reading good work like this.
July 1, 2025
I felt mislead by this book. It’s not a preaching book, but rather could be better described as a book on American politics from a black christian leader’s perspective. That kind of book has its place, but wasn’t what I picked up this book for, nor is it clear from the marketing. That bait and switch significantly affected both my enjoyment of the book, and the credibility of its message.
January 16, 2021
This book was short and easy to read, but packed with valuable knowledge. Practical resources and checklists make his method accessible to any preacher. The “moral imagination” is a concept I won’t soon forget.
January 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book on preaching specifically for the stories, perspective on Dr King, and the focus questions for forming my own sermons. There were some editing issues, but as a short book on preaching that directly engaged “moral imagination,” I found it very helpful and engaging.
March 4, 2025
Exceptional
Outstanding Book by a top rate scholar! I found Frank Thomas’ explanation of the moral imagination to be exceptional and impactful. This book is intellectually stimulating and practical.
Outstanding Book by a top rate scholar! I found Frank Thomas’ explanation of the moral imagination to be exceptional and impactful. This book is intellectually stimulating and practical.
November 6, 2020
Very powerful
This was an amazing book that I expect to revisit in the future. The framework of a moral imagination was a new concept for me and really made me think.
This was an amazing book that I expect to revisit in the future. The framework of a moral imagination was a new concept for me and really made me think.
March 28, 2021
Something wrong
The title of the book and the writing to me did not go together. I did not enjoy this book. I did not read any information on how to preach a dangerous sermon. Maybe I missed it somewhere I don't know .
The title of the book and the writing to me did not go together. I did not enjoy this book. I did not read any information on how to preach a dangerous sermon. Maybe I missed it somewhere I don't know .
November 7, 2021
Great Insight
A timely spot on book.This book offers great insight to help in the understanding deep prophetic preaching . Thomas has done his research.
A timely spot on book.This book offers great insight to help in the understanding deep prophetic preaching . Thomas has done his research.
October 26, 2022
Excellent!
Thomas gives a sound theological and biblical argument for preaching a dangerous sermon. His logic is sound. His writing is thought provoking.
Thomas gives a sound theological and biblical argument for preaching a dangerous sermon. His logic is sound. His writing is thought provoking.
January 1, 2021
Books that are about the craft and practice always intrigue me. I am especially drawn to some of them because of their title, and this book is one of those. Dr. Thomas is an exceptional teacher, I am sure of that after reading this book. He is convicted of the things that he writes in this book, and that passion comes across on almost every page. He challenges preachers to preach sermons that are dangerous in the culture of our society and culture. He feels as if those that are mistreated, ostracized, held back, and have their freedoms taken -- are in need of the preachers of today to use "moral imagination" in trying to relieve these problems in or culture. On page 90 (in the introduction to his sermon "Did Heaven Make a Mistake") he lists some of those that are victims in our society -- " ... misogyny, molestations, abuse of women, human and girl trafficking, discrimination against the LGBTQ community, the economic and political exploitation of the poor, the devastation of the environment ...". A Bible-believer cannot condone the mistreatment of any group of people, even those that we disagree with their lifestyle choices. Thomas presents a powerful case that these people have been mistreated, and often times those of the white majority have been quiet, particularly evangelicals.
It is my guess, that Thomas wrote this book (copyright 2018) very early in the Trump administration; and much of his consternation is leveled at Trump, and those that supported Trump. I think that much of his anger is deserved, and that all people ought to be concerned about how all people are treated -- even those that we disagree with. It is my conviction that many of the white people that supported Trump saw them selves doing just that. Make their voice, and their presence, known for those that could not support them selves -- those that were killed while living in the womb. The problem with that was, that was all that many cared about -- and that was wrong. In my opinion, that focus has created them more problems. I believe that the religiously conservative, white, Bible believing Christian, has become one of those groups that has been marginalized by many who attempt to be the opinion makers in our country -- media (print, television, and entertainment), educators, and the wealthy.
As a small-town preacher, that does not have (and does not want) a big stage; it is my opinion, that the first type of sermon I preach must be about the freedom in Jesus, and them the dangerous sermons that follow are how that serving "King Jesus" compels me to stand for those that are being mistreated -- even those that I don't agree with. The one that expresses allegiance to Jesus, can not endorse the sin, but neither can they endorse the mistreatment of another. I believe that is what Jesus was expressing when he talked about the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40).
It is my guess, that Thomas wrote this book (copyright 2018) very early in the Trump administration; and much of his consternation is leveled at Trump, and those that supported Trump. I think that much of his anger is deserved, and that all people ought to be concerned about how all people are treated -- even those that we disagree with. It is my conviction that many of the white people that supported Trump saw them selves doing just that. Make their voice, and their presence, known for those that could not support them selves -- those that were killed while living in the womb. The problem with that was, that was all that many cared about -- and that was wrong. In my opinion, that focus has created them more problems. I believe that the religiously conservative, white, Bible believing Christian, has become one of those groups that has been marginalized by many who attempt to be the opinion makers in our country -- media (print, television, and entertainment), educators, and the wealthy.
As a small-town preacher, that does not have (and does not want) a big stage; it is my opinion, that the first type of sermon I preach must be about the freedom in Jesus, and them the dangerous sermons that follow are how that serving "King Jesus" compels me to stand for those that are being mistreated -- even those that I don't agree with. The one that expresses allegiance to Jesus, can not endorse the sin, but neither can they endorse the mistreatment of another. I believe that is what Jesus was expressing when he talked about the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40).
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews