Prayer and Preaching

This series of lectures, delivered to French-speaking students in 1947-49, begins with an exposition of the Lord's Prayer. As always, Barth takes the lateral approach, drawing surprise inferences from familiar sacred texts. The "lateral approach," in this case, begins with his doctrine of the Word of God. The second section has to do with preaching and the fixed point from which it starts - "the fact that God has revealed himself." Having laid down the essentials, such as "preaching and revelation" and "adapting preaching to the congregation," Barth offers guidance on choosing a text and preparing a sermon. This edition includes a wonderful Ascension Day sermon delivered at Basel Prison in 1956. The theologian notorious for his complexity preaches the message of new life in terms that the simplest can understand. Also included are some specimens of Barth's sermon outlines.