Religious Books > Ronald J.Allen Religious Books

Advantages: Good perspectives on different groups of people
Disadvantages: -

...a mixture – rarely does one get a congregation that fits any particular model. The authors give fair warning up front: 'Belonging to a particular cohort does not completely predetermine how a person will respond to a particular mode of expression or to a particular sermon.' This book will provide clues to finding the answer, but that answer may still remain elusive. In looking at generational issues, the task is more complicated than young versus ...
...at sexuality and orientation issues, one of the hot-button issues confronting many denominations today. Jeter and Allen are generally open and affirming toward such populations, recognising the real issues and pain others have confronting such issues in their home churches. In looking at multicultural issues, Jeter and Allen look at race issues, but also beyond to nationality and linguistic differences. They are honest about the church's lack of ... Read review

Advantages: Very useful for this particular style of preaching
Disadvantages: -

One of the primary duties of a preacher is to be a teacher. This aspect of preaching often gets buried under other considerations; depending upon the denomination, preachers can see their primary duty as preparation for an altar call, preparation for communion, explaining aspects of the Bible for today's context, identifying issues of concern for the congregation and community, energising and/or consoling the congregation, and a host of other concerns. ...
...the consideration, and for others it becomes somewhat of a stretch. However, preachers are, in many respects, the one and only trained teacher of Christianity with whom many people will ever come into contact. In this volume, 'The Teaching Sermon', Allen gives strategies and techniques for developing sermons that can embody this teaching element for the congregation. Churches often have Sunday school, adult forums, and other events in which `education' ... Read review

Advantages: A good book for preachers and church-goers
Disadvantages: A narrow audience appeal

'Make the Word Come Alive' is the fourth volume in the Channels of Listening series, a Lilly Endowment funded study to learn how people listen to, understand and respond to sermons in different churches. The study involved a diverse collection of people, congregations and scholars at my seminary and elsewhere. The first three volumes have been published over the last year or so, and include 'Listening to Listeners', 'Hearing The Sermon: Relationship ...
...Hear In Sermons'. With this particular volume, the data collected is used to identify shared elements. 'The twelve chapters of this book lift up twelve qualities that many listeners find appealing in sermons.' The purpose is to advise preachers to help them provide more effective sermons. To be sure, there are far more than twelve elements to a good sermon. However, those listed here are the ones that most consistently were mentioned across the board ... Read review

Advantages: Useful in structure and examples
Disadvantages: For a narrow audience range

Ronald J. Allen is the senior professor of preaching at my seminary, Christian Theological Seminary. Allen is also one of the most prolific writers on faculty at this (or any) seminary. I have a shelf full of books by Allen, and the volumes on the shelf seem to keep multiplying. I have reviewed several of Allen's works here, and will be adding further reviews of his work in the future. This particular book is a fairly recent text, growing out of ...
...congregational and other settings for many years. The book is divided into the following sections: - Thoughts and Issues for Beginning Preachers - Three Contexts for Preaching Today - Preaching as Theological Interpretation - Establishing and Developing a Direction for the Sermon - Putting the Sermon Together - From the Study to the Pulpit and Back - Case Studies of Sample Sermons Thus, one can see that most of the topics that are of concern to beginning ... Read review

Advantages: A good framework, full of considerations for modern times
Disadvantages: -

According to theologian Charles Allen (no known relation to Ron Allen, the author), there is no consistent and single definition to the term 'postmodern'. However, most descriptions of the postmodern involve a recognition of the relativity of all human acting and thinking, and a certain degree of discomfort and suspicion with terms such as truth, objectivity, absolute, etc. Postmodernity comes in various 'shapes and sizes', without a single school ...
...project of empirical research and rational critical analysis, postmodernity has many nuances that may or may not incorporate modernity's tools. For preachers, the authors state, key aspects of postmodernity to incorporate and appreciate include community, conversation, diversity and collegiality. This is reflected throughout the book, where the contributions of the three authors are often distinctly recognised, rather than blended together 'anonymously' ... Read review