Lectures On Preaching: Delivered Before The Divinity School Of Yale College In January And February, 1877

by Phillips Brooks

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Genres: Christian

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Phillips Brooks (December 13, 1835 – January 23, 1893) was an American Episcopal clergyman and author, long the Rector of Boston's Trinity Church and briefly Bishop of Massachusetts, and particularly remembered as lyricist of the Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem".

In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23.

Born in Boston, Brooks was descended through his father, William Gray Brooks, from the Rev. John Cotton; through his mother, Mary Ann Phillips, he was a great-grandson of Samuel Phillips, Jr., founder of Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts). Three of Brooks' five brothers – Frederic, Arthur and John Cotton – were eventually ordained in the Episcopal Church.

In 1877 Brooks published a course of lectures upon preaching, which he had delivered at the theological school of Yale University, and which are an expression of his own experience. In 1879 appeared the Bohlen Lectures on The Influence of Jesus. In 1878 he published his first volume of sermons, and from time to time issued other volumes, including Sermons Preached in English Churches (1883) and "The Candle of the Lord" and Other Sermons (1895).

Brooks also introduced Helen Keller to Christianity and to Anne Sullivan.

Reviews

[Jack W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would highly recommend for any preacher. The classically trained Brooks, author of O Little Town of Bethlehem, speaks with the wisdom and power of another age, and with theological insight into the man preaching, the truth proclaimed, and the congregation receiving.

[Tom Greentree · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read. I gleaned a lot from Brooks and will return to him again. Amazing how lectures from 1877 are still relevant for today.

[Dan Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I could absorb this book in its entirety. Phillips Brooks is a hero of mine, and his insights on men and preaching are better than anyone else's I've ever come across. If you're into speaking and preaching, the amount of instruction, encouragement, rebuking, and direction found in the pages of his lectures will last a year's worth of contemplation. My two favorite points: Preaching is God's truth through personality... (or, truth plus personality). Sermons aren't art, but communication meant to save souls.

Will be reading this and re-reading this book the rest of my life. I have an old edition to wear in even more!

[M Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

As previously noted, I found much of this book surprisingly fresh. As I read it, particularly the first five chapters, I often found myself thinking, "Yes, his observation is still spot on." It wasn't until chapters 6 and 7 (of 8) that I felt there were more changes in the times over 140 years than Rev. Brooks could have known. Even then, however, there was much to be gained from his insight. The last chapter was weakened by a typical Victorian prolixity of style but, again, this is a fairly minor issue.

I would recommend this book whole-heartedly for any preacher, especially one just starting out.