Exodus Preaching: Crafting Sermons about Justice and Hope

by Kenyatta R Gilbert

Exodus Preaching is the first of its kind. It is an exploration of the African American prophetic rhetorical traditions in a manner that makes features of these traditions relevant to a broad audience beyond the African American traditions. It provides readers a composite picture of the nature, meaning, and relevance of prophetic preaching as spoken Word of justice and hope in a society of growing pluralism and the world-shaping phenomenon of racial, economic and cultural diversity.

African American preachers have distinctively invested great symbolic significance in the Exodus story, the messianic witness of Jesus, and the prophetic literature for developing and shaping prophetic sermons. Kenyatta Gilbert demonstrates how four distinctive features of discourse can shape sermon preparation, for effective preaching in a period of intense social change, racial unrest, and violence.

Gilbert includes dozens of practical suggestions and five practical exercises to equip the reader for preaching in new ways and in new environments. He offers an holistic approach, fully equipping the reader with the theological and practical resources needed to preach prophetically.

156 pages, Paperback

Published March 20, 2018

Reviews

[Benjamin Lantzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenyatta R. Gilbert attempts to unleash several elements of what he calls “Exodus preaching,” or, “African American prophetic preaching” (page 1). These elements include “unmasking” idols and systemic evil, stirring hope, naming reality, and speaking beauty.
Gilbert includes sermonic examples of these elements at various points throughout the book, as well as key questions and exercises to practice.
I thought the content of the book was strong, motivating, and challenging. There were phrases and lines that will strike a deep chord with many preachers of various traditions.
The one negative about the book for me was its format. I’ve read books before that seemed to flow as if a seminary professor had hastily converted his lecture notes into a book. The format of this book seemed a bit like that. However, the content of the book far outweighed any formatting or cosmetic shortcomings.

[Timothy Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply a good book to help preachers capture the hope, justice, and shalom of scripture. Kenyatta helps us imagine a reality where preaching can regularly stir passion in a community to live in a way that mirrors active faith and hope in God in the midst of injustice, trials, and pain. This book is filled with both very practical tips, exercises, and sermon of examples. This is a needed resource for preachers. Yes, Kenyatta focuses on the tradition and styles of the black preaching tradition, but at the core of this claim, all preaching should reflect the spirit of exodus preaching, even if it doesn’t always sound like it.

What i wish Kenyatta added, is the necessary work for preachers to not only internalize the sermon, but to allow it to deeply form and transform the preacher. I think it’s necessary for preachers to allow the implication of the text they are preaching to change them, challenge them to more faithful thinking, feeling, and acting - and from that place, internalize the sermon itself. Preaching should get into the preacher, before it comes out of the preacher. That adds a dynamic to the call for justice and hope, in ways that no amount of preparation can compensate.