Book Reviews: Speaking the Truth; Nurturing Children's Spirituality; Finding our Way Again

Samuel Wells, Speaking the Truth: Preaching in a Pluralistic Culture (Abingdon, 2008), 196pp (thanks to Abingdon for a review copy)

Sam Wells is one of my favourite theologians and for me a new Sam Wells book is always worth a read, whether its on ethics (Improvisation), worship (God's Companions) or the passion story (Power & Passion). He is consistently insightful, readable and practical. Wells has been Dean of Duke Chapel since 2005. His predecessor was Will Willimon. So being able to preach well is part of the job.  Speaking the Truth is a collection of sermons given by Wells over the last few years, which are excellent demonstration of how to preach, and also of Christian theology and ethics.  In eight chapters he covers speaking the truth about God, Faith, the Bible, Discipleship, Resurrection, Salvation, Economics and Sex. These sermons are a fantastic example of how to preach, they are an invitation to listen and to think. So much of preaching these days appears to be about telling a good joke or tugging the heart strings - here Wells show the use of a good story, but also how scripture speaks new light and truth to each generation. There are sermons here that were given in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the Virgina Tech shootings, the Anglican Winsdor report. As someone seeking to learn the art of preaching, I find there's nothing better than listening (or in this case reading) to someone who demonstrates there's still life left in the 'sermon.'

Holly Catterton Allen (ed.), Nurturing Children's Spirituality: Christians Perspectives and Best Practices (Cascade, 2008), 400pp (thanks for Cascade for a review copy)

The last ten years have seen a large increase in interest in children's spirituality. This book is a collection of essays from the 3rd Children's Spirituality Conference in 2006.  Behind a lot of the papers is the work of David Hay and Rebecca Nye in their book The Spirit of the Child.  The book comes in three parts: historical and theological perspectives on children's spiritual development; best practices for nurturing children's spirituality; and some possible future directions. From a long history of children being marginalized, it's good to see this new development into encouraging and recognising the spirituality of children. 

Brian McLaren, Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practice (Thomas Nelson, 2008), 216pp (with thanks to Thomas Nelson for a review copy)

Brian McLaren has become a well-known author in recent years and one of the key voices among emerging and postmodern Christians. He is helpful because he is so readable and translates theology into an everday language. His latest book is the first in a new series that aims to recover ancient spiritual practices. McLaren's key argument is that Christianity has been turned in a system of belief rather than a way of life.  The book, like other McLaren books would be great for a small group, perhaps through Lent. Each chapter is fairly short and ends with possible questions or spiritual exercises. 

Comments

[Glen]

Andy, is the Wells book just a collection of sermons or does it also include reflections on preaching?

[andy goodliff]

Glen it includes an Introduction and then comments around the sermons in each chapter. The introduction outlines what it means to speak and preach in a pluralist and specficially American culture. Wells tells the story of America - in brief, chapter 1 - the establishment, chapter 2 - liberation (the civil rights movement, etc) and chapter 3, which is where he believes America is now, which is both a combination of chapters 1 and 2 and something different. I would be interested to think how we might tell the British story in this way ...

[Glen]

Thanks Paul - it's now on my list.

[andy goodliff]

it's Andy - but glad its on your list

[lynn]

thanks for highlighting the book on children's spirituality. A useful one for me.