The Jazz of Preaching

How to Preach with Great Freedom and Joy

by Kirk Byron Jones

What if preachers were as contagiously joyful in their preaching as Louis Armstrong was in his playing and singing? As rich in their sermonic renderings as Sarah Vaughn was in her musical vocals? As honest about heartache as Billie Holliday was every time she sang about the blues of life? As alluringly clear as the angelic voice of Ella Fitzgerald? As tenaciously uninhibited in the action of creating as Duke Ellington? Kirk Byron Jones explains how to dramatically improve one's preaching through understanding and applying key elements of the musical art known as jazz. these elements include innovation; improvisation; rhythm; call and response; honesty about heartache; and delight. Drawing on a deep love of jazz and enlivening his discussion with insights drawn from the tradition of African American preaching. Jones introduces the reader to rich and rewarding possibilities for constructing and delivering the sermon.

--Abingdon Press, Publisher

Kirk Byron Jones has tapped sweet dreams and a compelling vision for a time that calls for "creating a way out of no way." Drawing on the rich treasures of jazz, Jones calls preachers to unleash their creative enterprise by risking improvisation, playing with dialogue, and becoming open to receive the mystery and grace of it all. This is a book dedicated to deep honesty. It is about reaching for a "beyond-ness" that can persuade people to embrace God. Jones invites his readers to listen with a kind of "tenacious openness" in order to hear and then participate in the construction of a sound never heard before. While this is a book about preaching, it is also about life. In the end, The Jazz of Preaching is about fresh joy and new freedom in living. It is a testament of gratitude.

--Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois

The Jazz of Preaching is a remarkable book. You need know nothing in advance about jazz to be impacted, because he knows not only preachers and theologians but also poets and novelists--as well as jazz artists. Chapter 2, "Holy Common Ground," is amazing. here's a taste: "Jazz and preaching share the common ground of mystery. Both ultimately evade, to use poet David Whyte's phrase, "the cage of definition." Kirk Byron Jones has more about preaching to share here--from blues to swing.

--Eugene L. Lowry, The William K. McElvaney professor of Preaching Emeritus, Saint Paul School of Theology

Contents

Source: The Jazz of Preaching How to Preach with Great Freedom and Joy