Inscribing the Text: Sermons and Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (Hardcover)

by Walter Brueggemann (Author), Anna Carter Florence (Author) "The primal case of speaking-truth-to-power in the Old Testament is Moses addressing Pharaoh..." (more)
Key Phrases: Old Testament, Jesus Christ, Columbia Theological Seminary (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This volume contains the most recent collection of Walter Brueggemann's sermons and prayers. That would be notable in itself: another dazzling set of words from a man whose sheer energy and creativity make us wonder if he is climbing Sinai every morning, for dictation. Yet this book is more than a collection.

From the Publisher
Students and readers of Brueggemann will hear cadences of familiar themes: in the scribe, we hear poet and prophet, testimony and resistance, truth and power, exile and captivity.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800636465
• ISBN-13: 978-0800636463
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #553,646 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consistent Brueggemann, March 24, 2005

By	Israel Galindo (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As anticipated, the book was a delight to read, more like a conversation with a companion over a couple of days than a brow-knitting exercise in academic critique. And, writing a review is worth the price of the experience.

This collection of prayers and sermons by Walter Brueggemann, now Professor Emeritus of Old Testament in the William Marcellus McPheeters Chair at Columbia Theological Seminary, is a companion volume to an earlier collection by the same publisher, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth (2003). Those readers who are familiar with Brueggemann's works (there is a plethora to choose from, the man is an industry unto himself) know with anticipation that this work too can only be good.

The sermons are wide-ranging in themes, scripture text, and occasion. The original context of these sermons range from chapel addresses to colloquia presentations; from congregational sermons to lecture series events; from homiletic conferences to the 100th anniversary of the author's home church (Peace UCC in Tilden, Nebraska). These sermons have a characteristic Brueggemann style in their construction, movement, and structure, and those who have heard the author speak will hear the echo of the spoken voice throughout. There are twenty-three sermons and twenty five prayers, and the book concludes with a helpful index of biblical references.

The first chapter of the book (though not designated as such) is a paper presented at the Festival of Homiletics in Chicago in 2002 (originally appearing in the Scottish Journal of Theology and revised for this volume). This essay, itself titled "The Preacher as Scribe" provides the title of the book. In this piece Brueggemann challenges preachers to "speak truth to power," but not by influence of office or personality or skill, but rather, through respecting the power of the text to do so. He concludes, "The text is a voice of truth, albeit an elusive one. Yet when text-time is well managed, truth does speak to power-but not through the advocacy of the preacher." (p. 17).

The sermons are model exposition, without being expository, with a decidedly didactic element to them. In these sermons Brueggemann models how it is possible to stay close to the text while providing both an authentic and contemporary interpretation and the prophetic function that is sorely needed in today's pulpits.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All-inclusive, Illusive & Inscrutable Bruegge!, April 20, 2004

By	Fred W Hood "barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This amazing Teacher, Prophet, Writer, Friend of Students, Searcher of classic faculty personalities as Kathleen O'Connor, Anna Carter Florence, Christina Roy Yoder, has collected in one volume his best sermons, prayers, & poems! After my first time of hearing Sir Walter in St. Luke's Pentecost Sunday of 1993; again at Montreat teaching large classes of Psalms & Jeremiah; that fall teaching Psalms, Survey of OT, finally in 2003, O.T. Theology...I understood clearly his canonical, Deuteronomist, dramatically inspired adventures into the Hebrew Bible, prayers beginning every class and good-natured jousts with bright, young students + one older curmudgeon... all came from his amazing graciousness!

What more can I say of the Man but his "Inscribing the Text" has included amazing sermons from his home-town of Tilden Neb. ; Lectures to 3 Homiletics' Festivals, Sermons at Columbia, in his retiring, Psalm 73 at 2003 Colloquium, Sermons from Jeremiah, Lamentations, plus awesome, energizing Prayers! From one older, perenial student who is proud to know & love Bruegge, AMEN!
Retired Chap Fred W Hood

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daily reading for the thoughtful, February 27, 2006

By	Kelley A. Johnson "avid reader" (Surprise, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have found reading Brueggemann's sermons and prayers to be deeply nourishing and challenging. In a world of thin theology and even thinner devotions, this text is deep and rich soil for the soul. I have found this be a wonderful devotional for the thoughful - each day reading a sermon or prayer that stirs, quickens and inspires the heart and mind. This is a gem and catalyst...