Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons [Hardcover]

John F. Thornton (Author), Katharine Washburn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 1999

Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons is a one-volume collection of the world's great sermons from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Resonant with promise, here are the speeches that have echoed down the centuries. From the Sermon on the Mount to Savonarola's attack on Renaissance Florence's excesses, from the anti-Nazi preaching of Bonhoeffer to Merton's awareness of the everyday in spiritual life, there is no issue or dilemma the pulpit has not addressed.

This engaging collection combines a myriad of topics, individuals, eras, and controversies to achieve a balance of the human, the moral, and the theological. Jewish readers will be moved by the Hasidic exhortation to faith and joy, and Christian readers will appreciate the pulpits use as a forum for debate.

Edited, annotated, and abridged by two experts, here are nearly one hundred famed sermons from preachers as diverse as Paul, Augustine, Benedict, Curé d'Ars, John Donne, Hildegard of Bingen, Girolamo Savonarola, Martin Luther, Meister Eckhart, John Henry Newman, Cotton Mather, Thomas Crammer, Henry Ward Beecher, Desmond Tutu, Martin Niemöller, John Calvin, Rabbi Akiba, John Wesley, Billy Sunday, Bernard of Clairvaux, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many, many more. A full thematic index, an alphabetical list of preachers, and a comprehensive index complete this book filled with timeless riches.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Phillips Brooks, the Episcopal bishop of Boston near the end of the 19th century, defined preaching as "the communication of truth by man to men. It has two essential elements, truth and personality ... preaching is the bringing of truth through personality." This definition, cited by John F. Thorton in the introduction to Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons, gives a clear sense of what this book delivers.

Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men gathers many of the most vibrant public expressions of Christian and Jewish truths ever made by some of the most compelling personalities in the history of these religions. From Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to John Donne's "Death's Duel" to Martin Luther King's "The Dimensions of a Complete Life," Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men dazzles readers with timeless wisdom, shaped by its speakers' distinct voices. More than 80 sermons by Christians and Jews, each preceded by a brief biographical sketch of the preacher, are gathered in an elegant volume that will serve as a devotional for laypeople, an inspirational resource for pastors, and a historical reference for any reader interested in the development of Jewish and Christian communication since the time of Jesus. A useful (if somewhat humid) introduction gives a basic sense of the development of the sermon genre from the early church through the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and beyond. Most readers will skip straight to the sermons themselves, however, because life is short, and this book is a reminder to concentrate only on the most excellent things. --Michael Joseph Gross

From Publishers Weekly

Thornton (literary agent and former book editor) and Washburn (author, translator and freelance editor) previously teamed up in Dumbing Down: Essays on the Strip-Mining of American Culture. Here, they have compiled an impressive collection of the Christian tradition's greatest sermons. Moreover, they have done so in a handy one-volume reference that is easy to use and fun to peruse. The variety is exhaustive, including sermons for liturgical occasions (Pentecost, All Saints Day, Maundy Thursday) and specific topics (William Jennings Bryan's "God and Evolution" is a must-read). Several styles of preaching are represented, including expository, exegetical (closely based on a biblical text) and prophetic. The preachers span two millennia, from the Apostle Paul to 20th-century icon Billy Graham. They encompass justice activists such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the poet and Anglican convert John Donne, the baseball-playing revivalist Billy Sunday and Saint Augustine. Some famous sermons are included, including Jonathan Edwards's riveting "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. A full thematic index, an alphabetical list of preachers and a comprehensive index make this book a valuable resource for students, teachers, ministers and scholars alike. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (September 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385488920
• ISBN-13: 978-0385488921
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Preaching

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep this book with your Bible, December 1, 1999

By 

John Rousmaniere (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons (Hardcover)

I am giving copies of this wonderful guide to reflection and private devotion to several friends and family members. A beautifully published collection of almost 90 great sermons -- some familiar, others not so -- it ranges from the Sermon on the Mount to words of John Paul II, Desmond Tutu, Billy Graham, and Peter Gomes. Extremely helpful are the excellent introductions by the editors and the thorough index, which allows finding readings for special seasons and occasions like Advent, Lent, and marriage.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration for every day of the year!!, February 14, 2004

By 

Christiana Washington (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tongues of Angels, Tongues of Men: A Book of Sermons (Paperback)

I could not put this book down there was so much wisdom packed in it's pages! Every famous writer or preacher who ever lived seems to show up in this handy book. Sermons from Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, Jonathon Edwards, and many, many more! The subjects are broad and interesting, and the collective knowledge of these saints is useful in our own turbulent times. A fabulous reference book for pastors, teachers, and laymen!