Walter Brueggemann on Sermons, Congregations and Jeremiah

Paul writes – Over the last few days, I’ve found compelling and fascinating a series of three lectures by Walter Brueggemann. They again reminded me why I have developed a real aversion to many of the ‘Christianity lite” sermons I’ve heard over the last decade, particularly when they, laced with jokes, personal stories etc, have emerged from within a conservative evangelical / Pentecostal context – they’re the kinds of shallow sermons that focus (implicitly and explicitly) on themes like “how to be happy”; “10-easy steps to a fulfilling life” etc. Brueggemann through his writing and preaching has rid me of any inclination to hear these kinds of sermons ever again.   

The March 9-11, 2004 Parchman Endowed lectures (encouraging theological dialogue with the life of the church) delivered on the Baylor campus at the invitation of George W. Truett Theological Seminary featured Dr. Walter Brueggemann. His series of three lectures was entitled, “Texts, Sermons, [&] New Worlds: The Odd Case of Jeremiah” (Downloable as Mp3’s by right-clicking on “Lecture 1” etc.).

Lecture 1 – “Getting Started in Utterance: The Introduction”.

Lecture 2 – “Reaching a Conclusion”.

Lecture 3 – “To Reduce to Nothing the Things That Are”.

Lecture 1 begins: “I take a sermon to be an act of reimagining that is inherently subversive and counter-cultural... The sermon invites listening congregations to reimagine all reality with reference to the Creator of Heaven & Earth, the Sovereign Saviour of Israel, [and] the One whom the Church names as Father, Son and Spirit...”

Comments

[Jason Goroncy]

Thanks for linking to these Paul. They are now on their way to my iPod.

[Sandee McClowry]

I was delighted to find this sermons of Brueggemann. They have such depth that they cannot be absorbed in just one time. but I was disappointed to hear an abrupt end without the conclusions. I've listened to them by downloading them onto my ipod and directly from this blog. Can someone please advise.
Thank you,
Sandee McClowry

[Paul Fromont]

Hi Sandee

All I can suggest is that you visit the original site, scroll down and locate / download the lectures:

http://www.baylor.edu/truett/index.php?id=57369