Ebook: Matthew

Traditional books on preaching a book of the Bible often look at broad themes of the text with little explicit advice about preaching individual passages. Lectionary resources often offer exegetical and homiletical insights about a pericope with little attention given to broader theme and structures of the book from which the lection is taken.
In this book Wes Allen draws together the strengths of these two approaches into a new genre of homiletical and teaching resource with a focus on the Gospel according to Matthew. Matthew will not only be an essential classroom resource to help students learn to link text and sermon, it will also help congregational leaders develop exegetically informed cumulative preaching and educational experiences focused on but not limited to the lections in Matthew.

By helping preachers and students make connections between the various lections from Matthew throughout Year A in their sermons and studies, they and their parishioners will have a deeper appreciation of Matthew's unique interpretation of the Christ Event and how that influences their approach to living the Christian faith in today's world.

With liturgical sensitivity and exegetical skill, Allen provides a unique preaching resource that will build biblical literacy by assisting both preachers and listeners in understanding Matthew's Gospel as a whole, not just as a collection of vaguely related stories.

Review
"Allen helps the preacher to listen to both text and congregation, and to construct a sturdy bridge—with two-traffic—binding each to the other." --M. Eugene Boring, I.Wylie Briscoe Professor of New Testament, emeritus, Brite Divinity School

"O. Wesley Allen has given us a fine commentary on Matthew's gospel. Here is a robustly, unashamedly theological reading of the biblical text, all in service of Christian proclamation today. Here is Matthew's good news meant to be preached, to be performed, and practiced!" --William H. Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School

About the Author
O. Wesley Allen Jr. is associate professor of homiletics and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary. He is author of numerous books, including Determining the Form (2008), in the Elements of Preaching series, which he also edited, and editor of The Renewed Homiletic (2010).