What The Blues Teaches Us About Preaching
Black preachers sometimes use the sound of words to make a rhythm. Sometimes this might be a pause for breath. Sometimes the very taking of the breath will make a noise that is a part of the rhythm. Sometimes even the organist joins in with the rhythm.
Black Preaching Style – Rhythm and Cadence Read MoreBrian Mavis has an article up on sermon title creation at this link. Mavis illustrates the importance of title by noting that the same book under different titles have had much different sales figures. Titles are very important. With that in mind one wonders why so little is written in homiletics texts on this subject. While I am by no means an expert, i have written on the subject in a few posts on this particular site.
Sizzling Sermon Titles? Read MoreMitchell’s second characteristic of Black preaching is the use of tone. This includes “whooping” but also many forms of intonation and tuning. Mitchell notes that many use this in the “celebration” of the sermon which should be connected to the content of the sermon.
More on Whooping – Use of Tone Read MoreNow I am going to begin a series of posts on Black Preaching style. This will go on for a while often interrupted by other posts. In this first one I look at Mannerisms that Henry Mitchell describes in his book Black Preaching: The Recovery of a Powerful Art.
Mannerisms in Preaching Read MoreThe Interdenominational Theological Center coordinated a survey of African American churches and found that Black churches reach out to the community in “addressing social needs, such as assistance to families, youth programs, food distribution and other outreach services.”
What was of interest is that the survey confirmed the presuppositions of some of those who presented the survey, namely that the Black church emphasizes the community aspect of Christianity more than other traditions.
Preaching Themes in Black Churches Read More
The presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ died on March 20, 2007. You can find information on his wikipedia entry. Here is a slideshow if a few pictures. Here is a myspace page that someone has put up in his honor.
Bishop G. E. Patterson – Rest in Peace Read MoreWalker provides a glimpse into the characteristics and importance of music to African Americans. It is her contention that music, preaching, and praying are all fundamentals to helping the African American survive in this land. There are a few very helpful and interesting assertions.
Somebody’s Calling My Name – Review Read MoreTeresa Frye Brown’s musical ministry forms a background for her application of music a metaphor to the preaching moment. In the book she interviews numerous preaching sistas and uses categories from her homiletics courses to structure the data that she found in the interviews.
Weary Throats and New Songs Read MoreThe Reverand Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III is the pastor of the Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas Texas. At their website you will find a link to their streaming faith page with a number of Video sermons.
Black Church Spotlight – Frederick D. Haynes III and Friendship-West Baptist Church Read MoreJason Miccolo Johnson has authored the powerful book Soul Sanctuary: Images of the African American Worship Experience. This is a picture of images of the Black Church. The images are over a full worship service.
A Day in the Life of a Black Church Read MoreVincent Wimbush provides a history of African American interaction with the Bible in his book The Bible and African Americans. The Bible has often been held in high esteem by Black Americans and thus it is interesting to look at how this came to be.
Black Bible Reading Through the Years Read More
In The Heart of Black Preaching Cleophus LaRue describes the different domains of experience in a sermon. These are different ways a sermon address Black (or any other) culture. Explicitly he states on page 20 of his work that:
Black Preaching to Name God in all Human Experience Read More