Say It!: Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition

by Eric C. Redmond

Publisher:

Moody

, 2020

Overview

Say It! A Celebration of Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition argues that Biblical Exposition is most dynamic when coupled with the African American preaching tradition. Charlie Dates, Romell Williams, George Parks, Jr., Terry D. Streeter and a cast of pastors and preaching professors collaborate to demonstrate the power of exposition in the cradle of the Black pulpit. The contributors in this volume give examples of African American Biblical exposition in every section of the Old Testament and New Testament. They also explain how to preach from narrative, poetical, prophetic, epistolary, and apocalyptic genres throughout the Scriptures. This important and powerful resource celebrates the faithful, biblical preaching of African Americans that is so often overlooked because it’s stylistically different than the style of most white preachers. Appropriate for training associate ministers or use as a textbook in homiletics, Say It!will give the preacher what is needed to speak to real life from every page of the Book!

Key Features

• Demonstrates the power of exposition in the cradle of the Black pulpit
• Explains how to preach from narrative, poetical, prophetic, epistolary, and apocalyptic genres
• Argues that Biblical Exposition is most dynamic when coupled with the African American preaching tradition

Contents

• Preface: The Treasure and Potential of African American Preaching — Charlie E. Dates
• Introduction: The Joining of the African American Tradition and Exposition - Eric C. Redmond

Part I: Black Preaching and Black Hermeneutic: A Background for Biblical Exposition

• The African American Expositor: Interpretive Location, the Plain Sense of Scripture, and Church Life - Winfred Omar Neely
• A Ladder, a Mediator, and an Ark: The Challenge of Old Testament Exposition - Eric C. Redmond
• Contextual Considerations in a Tension-Filled New Testament Text - Ernest Gray

Part II: Biblical Exposition of the Old Testament

• Enough Is Enough: Expository Preaching from an Old Testament Pentateuch Book—Deuteronomy 1:1–8 - George Parks Jr.
• Take Your Mountain: Expository Preaching from an Old Testament Historical Book—Joshua 14:6–15 - Eric C. Redmond
• Holla If You Hear Me—The Mission of Worship: Expository Preaching from an Old Testament Poetical Book—Psalm 96 - Eric Mason
• The Ministry of Vision: Expository Preaching from an Old Testament Prophetic Book, Largely Poetical —Habakkuk 2:1–4 - Terry D. Streeter
• His Word Works: Expository Preaching from an Old Testament Prophetic Book, Largely Narrative —Jonah 3 - Charlie E. Dates
• Part III: Biblical Exposition of the New Testament
• Who Is This Man? Expository Preaching from the Gospel and Acts—Mark 5 - Romel Williams
• Have You Got Good Religion? Expository Preaching from a New Testament Epistle—James 1:26–27 - Paul Felix
• Waiting for a Wedding: Expository Preaching from the Apocalypse—Revelation 21 - K. Edwards Copeland
• A Case for a Regular Diet of Preaching through a Biblical Book - Eric C. Redmond

Praise for Say It!: Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition

Eric Redmond’s book is one that will inspire, inform, and bring insight into the African American church cultural experience. The art of the African American celebration in preaching is a style of many different facets. It has been ridiculed in media and betrayed humorously in movies. Nevertheless, at the same time this experience has lifted up a nation and a people from the ashes of the despair. Redmond’s book will bring a sense of understanding and clarity to these experiences and why this unique style is still beneficial in today’s church.

—A.B. Vines Sr. Bishop, New Season Global Network, Former 1st Vice President of SBC, Senior Pastor, New Seasons Church

Say It! provides insight and examples of how the preacher can be equally effective in reflecting upon the human condition while at the same time skillfully applying accurate biblical perspective and interpretation through the discipline of expository preaching. Through its collection of expository sermons that are enveloped in the African American preaching style, Say It! not only affirms the African American preaching tradition but also and most importantly the African American preacher. It masterfully demonstrates to the broader faith community and beyond that the African American preacher in many instances has both the learning and the burning. We congratulate Redmond and the faithful exegetes who have contributed to this marvelous work on a job well done.

—Keith W. Byrd Sr. Second Vice President, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc

In Say It!, Eric C. Redmond and his cowriters have produced a must-read for students, teachers, pastors, and theologians alike. This is a highly commendable presentation that includes practical Old and New Testament sermonic examples of how biblical exposition can offer an effective method for powerful preaching in the black tradition. Readers will find this work to be a proven tool and a powerful resource.

—Felix G. Willims III, President, Congress of Christian Education, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. USA and International

Product Details

• Title: Say It! Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition
• Author: Eric C. Redmond
• Publisher: Moody
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Pages: 242
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: African American preaching; Expository preaching
• ISBNs: 9780802497895, 0802419208, 9780802419200, 0802497896
• Resource ID: LLS:9780802497895
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-03-11T21:09:55Z

About Eric C. Redmond

Eric C. Redmond (PhD, Capital Seminary and Graduate School) is Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL and Associate Pastor of Preaching, Teaching, and Care at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL. He has a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Capital Seminary and Graduate School, and a Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the general editor of Say It! Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition, the Preaching Magazine 2020 Book of the Year. His teaching and research specialties are hermeneutics, interpretation of narrative and parable, interpretation of poetical literature, homiletics and Bible exposition, and the Gospels. Eric is a fellow of the St. Augustine Cohort of the Center for Pastor Theologians, a Teaching Fellow for the C. S. Lewis Institute-Chicago, and previously served as a church-planting senior pastor.