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Preaching as Testimony
By exploring the historical, theoretical, and practical elements of the tradition of testimony, Anna Carter Florence seeks in this much-anticipated book to establish the historical and contemporary validity of women's preaching and to introduce testimony to a new generation of preachers and teachers. She begins with the stories of three women whose preaching was often described as testimony: Anne Marbury Hutchinson, Sarah Osborn, and Jarena Lee. Then, she examines biblical and theological perspectives on testimony. Finally, she explores how testimony plays out in a preacher's life, offering constructive proposals for preaching as well as helpful guidelines, direction, and exercises.
- GenresTheology
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 7, 2015
Picked up this book for my DMin research (Doctorate in Ministry) as I'm looking at doing a project based on encouraging people to share their stories about their experiences of God in their daily lives, 'testimony' if you like. The title seemed to support that. At some point I shall be writing a proper review of this, but for now suffice to say I found this a challenging and encouraging book both for myself as a preacher and for my thesis. In some ways it feels like three distinct books, a theological overview, a biographical survey of three female examples of testimony preachers, and then a section on 'how to'. This is a deliberate move by the writer to echo the journey she went on in her thinking. Is that helpful? Hard to say. There were certainly sections I think I could have done without, and some spoke to more more than others, that said, the journey helped to earth the book and to make me ponder on how it reflects my own journey.
So what's it about? It's her presentation on an approach to preaching based not on explaining the text or proving the text, but living in the text and sharing what you encounter there - a confessional approach. This is what I encountered in the text and this is what that means for me in my life. This is a liberating approach, you don't need to be a theological or Biblical expert to engage in it, and a challenging approach, if your encounter with God is shallow or absent, that will show up in your preaching, and if you avoid saying the hard things in that encounter, taking a risk in what you say, then you will be preaching a lie.
The practical notes at the end are fun, and I shall certainly be trying some of them.
One note that particularly hit me was her insistence on this not being primarily for preachers, but an encouragement for all people to 'preach' their experiences of God in the text and in their lives, but a recognition that for many this is a big step, therefore as preachers we have a duty to practise this in our preaching to help our congregations make that step.
More to follow when I've had time to deliberate further in the course of my studies, but I think this book has been a great place to start.
So what's it about? It's her presentation on an approach to preaching based not on explaining the text or proving the text, but living in the text and sharing what you encounter there - a confessional approach. This is what I encountered in the text and this is what that means for me in my life. This is a liberating approach, you don't need to be a theological or Biblical expert to engage in it, and a challenging approach, if your encounter with God is shallow or absent, that will show up in your preaching, and if you avoid saying the hard things in that encounter, taking a risk in what you say, then you will be preaching a lie.
The practical notes at the end are fun, and I shall certainly be trying some of them.
One note that particularly hit me was her insistence on this not being primarily for preachers, but an encouragement for all people to 'preach' their experiences of God in the text and in their lives, but a recognition that for many this is a big step, therefore as preachers we have a duty to practise this in our preaching to help our congregations make that step.
More to follow when I've had time to deliberate further in the course of my studies, but I think this book has been a great place to start.
January 13, 2022
Aside from a few cultural references and some pronouns, this book could and should have been written for us right now. I purchased this book 2 years ago streaming the Festival of Homiletics after hearing Florence’s excellent preaching, put it on the shelf and promptly forgot about it. Until now. I really wish this book would’ve been part of my seminary preaching curriculum, I think I would’ve gotten a lot out of it especially as a (female) young, inexperienced, frightened new preacher. 10 years into my ministry, it’s definitely been a refreshing shot in the arm.
July 16, 2021
This book is all over the place, offering (too brief) historical sketches of three neglected female preachers, summarizing a quartet of contemporary theologians' understandings of preaching, and prescribing practical preaching advice that boils down to 'preach what you believe.' There's useful stuff, but reading it all the way through is a slog.
July 16, 2020
I first heard Anna Carter Florence preach at the Festival of Homiletics in Atlanta in 2006. Despite not being close to the most famous preacher in the line up at that event, she was, by far, the best preacher in the bunch. And since then she's remained one of my favourite preachers to hear preach or to lecture on preaching. Somehow I has missed this book before.
But it is either the best or second best book I've read on my craft (Fred Craddock's classic Preaching being the other).
Florence argues that faithful and effective preaching is a form of testimony, in which the preacher shares about their encounter with God in life and in the text. She develops this idea in three sections. The first is a history of the tradition of testimony in preaching focusing on three women Ann Hutchinson in the 17th century, Sarah Osborn in the 18th, and Jarena Lee in the 19th. These are excellent chapters. Even if you have known something about these women before (Osborn was new to me), you'll learn much more about them. Florence teases out the themes that are shared by these preachers, particularly that they spoke from outside the systems of authority.
The second section develops the theory of testimony based on Paul Ricoeur, Walter Brueggemann, Mary McClintock Fulkerson, and Rebecca Chopp. Florence writes about theory with felicity, humor, insight, and grace.
The final section gives practical advice to preachers on how to preach in this tradition. Clearly many of the techniques and suggestions are developed from her own practice and years of teaching at Columbia Seminary.
This was much more than just a book about preaching, it was a theology, a hermeneutic, an excellent contribution to the intellectual and spiritual life of the church.
But it is either the best or second best book I've read on my craft (Fred Craddock's classic Preaching being the other).
Florence argues that faithful and effective preaching is a form of testimony, in which the preacher shares about their encounter with God in life and in the text. She develops this idea in three sections. The first is a history of the tradition of testimony in preaching focusing on three women Ann Hutchinson in the 17th century, Sarah Osborn in the 18th, and Jarena Lee in the 19th. These are excellent chapters. Even if you have known something about these women before (Osborn was new to me), you'll learn much more about them. Florence teases out the themes that are shared by these preachers, particularly that they spoke from outside the systems of authority.
The second section develops the theory of testimony based on Paul Ricoeur, Walter Brueggemann, Mary McClintock Fulkerson, and Rebecca Chopp. Florence writes about theory with felicity, humor, insight, and grace.
The final section gives practical advice to preachers on how to preach in this tradition. Clearly many of the techniques and suggestions are developed from her own practice and years of teaching at Columbia Seminary.
This was much more than just a book about preaching, it was a theology, a hermeneutic, an excellent contribution to the intellectual and spiritual life of the church.
November 25, 2019
Kázání jako svědectví o tom, co jsem viděl a slyšel, když jsem se sám ponořil do hloubky textu; když jsem v něm přebýval a žil. To je osvobozující (cíl není text "vysvětlit", ukázat na jeho jediný správný výklad), ale taky je to pěkně těžký (mám odvahu podat pravdivé svědectví? není mnohem bezpečnější zůstat na výkladové rovině? a mám vůbec o čem svědčit? tohle nás při studiu teologie nikdo neučil!).
Čerstvá a krásně napsaná kniha jedné z mých učitelek z Columbia Theological Seminary v Atlantě. Začíná příběhy tří žen-kazatelek, které kázaly v době, kdy být ženou-kazatelkou bylo nemyslitelné; pokračuje inspirací Ricoeurem, Brueggemannem a feministickou teologií (tam jsem úplně všechno nepobral) až ke konkrétním nápadům, jak teorii uvádět v praxi. Osvěžující, imaginativní, užitečné, potřebné. A taky se dozvíte, na kterém prominentním místě Nového zákona zazní tehdejší výraz pro slovo "bullshit". Prostě pecka :)
Čerstvá a krásně napsaná kniha jedné z mých učitelek z Columbia Theological Seminary v Atlantě. Začíná příběhy tří žen-kazatelek, které kázaly v době, kdy být ženou-kazatelkou bylo nemyslitelné; pokračuje inspirací Ricoeurem, Brueggemannem a feministickou teologií (tam jsem úplně všechno nepobral) až ke konkrétním nápadům, jak teorii uvádět v praxi. Osvěžující, imaginativní, užitečné, potřebné. A taky se dozvíte, na kterém prominentním místě Nového zákona zazní tehdejší výraz pro slovo "bullshit". Prostě pecka :)
February 18, 2018
I heard this book recommended on a preaching podcast (The Sermon Studio) and was instantly intrigued. I've since listened to numerous sermons by Anna Carter Florence and was impressed with her fresh approach to homiletics.
In Preaching as Testimony, she examines what it means to give testimony in preaching, which is to say, telling what you have seen and experienced in the text. Carter Florence also gives dozens of helpful ways to engage with Scripture and to experience it afresh so that one may testify.
I also appreciated her discussion about three female preachers who understood their preaching to be "testimony" and the discussion around authority that stems from testimony.
Highly recommended.
In Preaching as Testimony, she examines what it means to give testimony in preaching, which is to say, telling what you have seen and experienced in the text. Carter Florence also gives dozens of helpful ways to engage with Scripture and to experience it afresh so that one may testify.
I also appreciated her discussion about three female preachers who understood their preaching to be "testimony" and the discussion around authority that stems from testimony.
Highly recommended.
November 29, 2018
This was so much more of a preaching book than I expected! I learned about 3 incredible female preachers from the 17-19th centuries, practical tools for sermon prep, and even got some Brueggemann! Anna Carter Florence is witty, wise and courageous. These words will give me some extra courage, too.
January 8, 2017
This book popped up on one of those Facebook flash sales. I was a fan of Anna Carter Florence from her essays, typically in preaching journals, but did not know about this book. So then I bought it thinking it was a book about preaching in a general sense - it turned out to be a book about preaching as testimony particularly from a feminist perspective. So I accidentally found this book and began reading it without knowing exactly what was in store. What was in store was awesomeness. The slowest portion of the book is the opening, set-up portion, but it goes uphill all the way from there. The best part of a great book is the sketches of three women preachers from the American past. I'd love a whole book of these stories. The book closes with a great section that will challenge and inspire.
August 28, 2007
Anna Carter Florence led the College of Preachers event I went to at the National Cathedral. I really enjoyed it -- the event, and the book. I was frustrated at times with the book -- it seemed to me that Anna was devaluing the craft, the writing process, when her writing was so very vibrant. That wasn't terribly clear, but I know what I mean... She had some very creative suggestions for interacting with the text -- I look forward to giving a few of them, perhaps the less off the wall ones, a try.
Anyway... I continue to be quite interested in this whole field of homiletics... We shall see.
Anyway... I continue to be quite interested in this whole field of homiletics... We shall see.
April 30, 2016
The idea hat powerful preaching in this era should start in testimony has percolated up enough that I did not see his book as challenging or as radical as Carter seemed to present it, which wound up distracting me. At its core, though, the necessity of the diversity of unique voices offering their experience and understanding of scripture shone through.
May 2, 2009
I'm blessed to have had Carter Florence as a preaching professor, but for those who weren't so lucky, she packages up her brilliant preaching techniques in one handy place. If you wonder what a soccer mom might have to do with preaching a text, this book is for you!
June 21, 2010
As soon as I finished page 158, I immediately turned back to page ix and started again. A challenging must-read for all preachers. Stretches the boundaries of whose-in-whose-out when it comes to preaching!
October 30, 2010
These words inspire me to truly say what I believe. Thanks be to God.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews