Customer Reviews

Speaking Parables: A Homiletic Guide

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This book presents a rethinking of the way we approach the parables of Jesus. They are not trite morality tales, nor are they pedantic sermon illustrations. While some scholarship has claimed that they are stories of everyday life, parables are far more ambiguous and surreal; they make us uncomfortable with our images of God and our understandings of society.

This book is in two parts. The first, shorter one explains the parables in general. Buttrick describes the background of parables and how they stand within a rich tradition of Jewish rhetoric and theology. He criticizes individualistic interpretations, and provides some alternatives which make Jesus' words seem much more compelling. He also provides a mini-handbook on preaching parables, some of which readers of his earlier _Homiletic_ will recognize, but which stands out as an especially good way to approach the telling of parables.

The second part, the larger section of the book, is a parable-by-parable analysis. Buttrick's exegesis is not only good, it's a fun read. With some parables he provides sample sermons and critiques which are enjoyable lessons in sermon construction themselves. As in _Homiletic_, it is easy to notice how tightly interwoven are Buttrick's theory of preaching, his theological perspective, and his approach to Biblical interpretation. This is "Worldly Preaching" at its best.

Arguably David Buttrick is the finest homilitician in the United States. His latest book, Speaking Parables, is a marvelous, no-nonsense map for this preacher. Being able to review Rev. Buttrick's homilies is fascinating and encouraging. However the chapter on the Mysterious Kingdom of God is worth the price of the book! Cogent, insightful and laid out in a refreshing manner, Rev. Buttrick moves the busy pastor through a minefield without even a scratch.