POWER IN THE PULPIT

How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons

Cleophus J. LaRue

Editor

Westminster John Knox Press

LOUISVILLE • LONDON

© 2002 Westminster John Knox Press

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396.

“I HAVE A DREAM” reprinted by arrangement with the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr., c/o Writers House as agent for the proprietor, New York, N.Y. Copyright 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., copyright renewed 1991 by Coretta Scott King.

Scripture quotations marked (GNB) are taken from the Good News Bible. Old Testament: Copyright © American Bible Society 1976; New Testament: Copyright © American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible ®. Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (TEV) are taken from Today’s English VersionSecond Edition. Copyright © by the American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Cover design by Design Point Inc.

First edition

Published by Westminster John Knox Press

Louisville, Kentucky

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Power in the pulpit : how America’s most effective Black preachers prepare their sermons / Cleophus J. LaRue, editor.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN-13: 978-0-664-22481-3 (alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 0-664-22481-4 (alk. paper)

1. African American preaching. 2. Sermons, American–African American authors.

I. LaRue, Cleophus James, date–

BV4241.5.P68 2002

251′.0089′96073—dc21 2002016864

In loving memory

of

Manuel L. Scott Sr.

(1926–2001)

This book is dedicated to the late Reverend Manuel L. Scott Sr., a prince of the pulpit and one of the most gifted preachers of the twentieth century. Scott, born in a small Texas town, was a Baptist pastor in California and Texas who rose to international prominence as an eloquent and effusive proclaimer of the gospel. ...

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About Power in the Pulpit: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons

In this book, scholar and preacher Cleophus J. LaRue brings together the voices of twelve of America’s most influential African-American preachers. Each of these renowned preachers describes his or her method of sermon preparation and includes a sample sermon for illustration. An excellent how-to manual for pastors and students, Power in the Pulpit is both sage wisdom on the art of preaching and an inspiring look at some of the most prominent figures in the black church.

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