Thomas G. Long, Bandy Professor of Preaching Emeritus at Candler School of Theology, shares insights from his extensive experience in sermon writing. He discusses the transformative journey from aspiring doctor to preacher and the ethical art of crafting sermons that resonate with congregations. Long emphasizes the kingdom of God as an active revelation through parables, while navigating the delicate intersection of preaching and politics. His reflections offer a deeper understanding of authentic preaching and its significance in today’s society.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Courage Inspires Calling to Ministry
Thomas G. Long felt called to ministry through a pastor's courageous racial justice stance in South Carolina.
This inspired him to switch from medical school to theological seminary and pursue preaching.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Put Biblical Text First
Avoid starting sermons with "I" to prevent narrowing the gospel to personal stories.
Let the biblical text's energy drive your sermon with engaged, surprising biblical interpretation.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Avoid Pulpit Plagiarism
Avoid pulpit plagiarism as it breaks a sacred covenant with the congregation.
Always attribute borrowed material to maintain honesty and trust with your audience.
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St. Augustine's "On Christian Doctrine" is a seminal work on biblical hermeneutics, offering guidance on interpreting Scripture. Augustine emphasizes the importance of understanding the different senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—to grasp its full meaning. He stresses the need for a proper understanding of God's word to lead a virtuous life. The book provides a framework for interpreting Scripture in a way that leads to spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of God's plan for humanity. Augustine's insights continue to influence biblical interpretation and theological reflection today. His emphasis on the relationship between faith and reason remains a significant contribution to Christian thought.
Preaching
Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism
Timothy Keller
In this book, Timothy Keller argues for the importance of expository, Christ-centered, and culturally pointed preaching. He divides the material into three parts: 'Serving the Word,' which emphasizes preaching the Bible and the gospel; 'Reaching the People,' which discusses contextualizing messages for the audience; and 'In Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power,' which focuses on the character of the preacher. Keller stresses the need to adapt to the culture while confronting its distortions, and he provides practical guidance on constructing expository messages and engaging with the late modern mind[1][2][3].
Stories with intent
Klyne Snodgrass
In 'Stories with Intent', Klyne Snodgrass provides a detailed analysis of Jesus' parables, examining their historical context, role in Jesus' message, and interpretations across the church and academia. The book includes thematic groupings of the parables and discusses developments in their interpretation since its original publication.
The Difference Heaven Makes
The Difference Heaven Makes
Christopher Morris
Proclaiming the Parables, Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom of God
Proclaiming the Parables, Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom of God
Thomas G. Long
The witness of preaching
Thomas G. Long
In this episode, Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett talk with Dr. Thomas G. Long about his recent book, Proclaiming the Parables.
Thomas G. Long is the Bandy Professor of Preaching Emeritus at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. A Presbyterian minister, Dr. Long has served churches in
Georgia and New Jersey. He has taught preaching for over forty years -- at Erskine Theological Seminary, Columbia Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and, from 2000-2015, at Candler. Dr. Long has served as the president of the Academy of Homiletics and as senior homiletics editor of the New Interpreter’s Bible. He has been editor of Theology Today, is currently an associate editor of Journal for Preachers, and serves as an editor-at-large at The Christian Century. He is the author of textbooks on preaching and worship, collections of sermons, and biblical commentaries on Matthew, Hebrews, and the Pastoral Epistles. In 2011, he was awarded the Emory Williams prize for excellence in teaching by Emory University, and in 2015 he received Emory’s “Scholar/Teacher Award,” the top faculty award for scholarship. He delivered the 2006 Lyman Beecher Lectures in Preaching at Yale Divinity School, and these have been published as Preaching from Memory to Hope. His most recent book is Proclaiming the Parables: Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom of God.
Kingdom Roots 
