Preaching and Literary Forms

I approached, investigated and uncovered the riches of the Bible after reading Tom Long's book on preaching and the literary forms of the Bible, as he lists honest academic perspectives about the literary form and dynamics of biblical texts, discovering how to best move from text to sermon. I gained a wealth of insight as I looked for the spiritual, - experiences of the Divine - and moral reasonings - for new information, not wanting to make assumptions, and found the canonical textual answers and, thereby, using the literary forms could be better or seriously prepared in my sermons and when engaging in discussions. I especially like the comprehensive text-to-sermon process or approach that applied methodology in separate chapters on preaching the psalms, proverbs, narratives, parables, and epistles in textual, focused literary genres , historical and diversities forms that were now not in a hit and miss fashion, regarding the earliest writings. I saw the possibilities for hearing the plots, claims or movements of the inner sequences of the forces/texts themselves on contemporary life in various settings, identifications, and unfoldings and welcomed these possibilities in preaching.

Dr. Long urges us to let the text guide the process. Long is on the forefront of the new homiletical method which does not put the text on the operating table to perform surgery on it, but lets the text loose to speak to the church. Sermon gerne should follow scripture genre. The book is accesible and valuable to anyone seeking to make their preaching more accessible to the congregation.

One of the best books out there for people who are serious about preaching. Nothing has helped me communicate the gospel better in a long time

The contents of Tom Long's Literary Forms of the Bible are inclusive and interesting. Although I have not heard him preach - I have heard him teach and critique other preacher's sermons. He always zeros in on the preacher's use of literary forms: Psalms, Proverbs, Narratives, Parable, Epistles. Long quotes varied literary critics as Stanley Fish, Laurence Perrine and Robert Scholes. He makes use of Robert Alter, Walter Brueggemann, Fred Craddock, C. H. Dodd and Paul Ricoeur. I have experienced with delight his teaching of Parables focused upon the symbols of Code, Vesels, and Objects of Art! I am tempted to chime-in to his class discussions, when he asks: "What if we switch over into another related period of American art?" Naturally, my first parallel comes from the classical or jazz fields of music that I have lived with for fifty years. Not a surprise when I am seeking-out fresh gripping illustrations to fit into the same Biblical text. He has mastered the art of Literary Approach to Preaching! Chaplain Fred W Hood