To Preach the Truth

But will it preach? The only good answer to this question often asked about a Christian theology is to preach it, which is to say, to preach according to it, to what it indicates, reflectively and critically, valid Christian preaching ought to be. This volume of selected sermons and homilies documents a career-long attempt to do exactly that. Concerned at once to be faithful to the Christian witness and to speak intelligibly and credibly to women and men here and now, it represents the way of preaching, and so directly calling for a Christian commitment, that is of a piece with the distinctive way of doing Christian theology set forth and argued for in Schubert Ogden's other books and articles. This is why each sermon or homily seeks so to interpret its scriptural text as to bring out its existential meaning for understanding ourselves and leading our lives as human beings today. It is also why each of them, in its way, directly puts the question of decision raised by Christian faith. Thus, together with its companion volume, To Teach the Truth, this book offers a model for bearing witness to the truth as Christians understand it. ""Schubert Ogden burst on the academic and church scenes in the early 1960s. He quickly established himself as a major Christian theologian whose main purpose was to identify and share the truth about God. In this book, he continues that task with a remarkable series of sermons which uncover and share the depths of his chosen biblical texts with passion, accuracy, and the carefulness of a disciplined scholar."" --James M. Wall, former editor of The Christian Century ""If I were still teaching preaching in a seminary classroom, I would assign this collection of sermons to be read, one at a time, while seated in the chapel. Such a location would increase the chance of being addressed rather than simply addressing others. As a result, the preacher may have the uneasy joy of experiencing the truth of the gospel."" --Fred B. Craddock, author of Overhearing the Gospel ""The author brings together sermons from over forty years of preaching in churches, university chapels, and theological communities. To witness to the truth is, of course, the challenge for every Christian. For Ogden, it joins a lifelong devotion to theological research, reflection, teaching, and writing--all discerning, profound, and justly honored as such--with a commitment to assuring us that God is 'sheer love' and that Jesus is God's word on this matter which all of us can trust."" --Bernard O. Brown, author of Seasons of His Mercies ""What is a sermon supposed to do? A sermon is supposed to put its hearer in the shoes of a person who first heard the words on which it is based. To do so seems, however, to be rather rare. This is what Ogden does, and does consistently. These are real sermons."" --Philip E. Devenish, translator of Konrad Hammann's Rudolf Bultmann Schubert M. Ogden is University Distinguished Professor of Theology Emeritus at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. His books include The Understanding of Christian Faith (Cascade, 2010), Doing Theology Today (Wipf & Stock, 2006), and Faith and Freedom (Wipf & Stock, 2005).