The Pulpit Power of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
by Dr. Mervyn A. Warren
published by Intervarsity Press 2001
Summary: Dr. Warren did his doctoral dissertation on Dr. King's preaching and speaking in the sixties around the time Dr. King was assassinated. His dissertation involved extensive research and many face to face interviews with Dr. King which gave Warren a unique insight into the preaching and speaking effectiveness of King. This book attempts to translate that document prepared for the world of academia for a broader audience. Make no mistakes this is a "textbook" on preaching, but he presents the information in a way that paints a picture of who Martin Luther King Jr. was and why he was so impactful through the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Warren begins with a biography of King in regards to exposure to preaching and his upbringing. He spends some time helping us to understand the impact of King's ethnicity and the relationship of the Bible to the black culture. From King the preacher he turns briefly to the audience and the context of King's preaching to help us understand who King was trying to reach and for what purpose. He then turns to the sermons themselves, the content, themes, language and wraps up with preparation, design and delivery. He concludes with some observations on King's contributions to preaching and theology. The book also includes five appendices, most of which are transcripts of some King sermons.
Review: This is a fabulous book for anyone studying the art of preaching or anyone studying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; while it is intended for a broader audience it is still very much an academic book. It includes some practical information regarding how King put together his sermons that provides a road map that others could follow if they were so inclined, but more than that this book does and incredible job of merging preaching and theology. Warren reveals in a thorough and intimate way the manner in which King's theology informed and shaped his preaching. So often today theology and preaching end up being two completely separate areas in the practical reality of church life, but they go hand and hand and must never be separated. Warren demonstrates how this should work through King and why it is important by highlighting the impact of King's preaching in this manner. A further bonus of the book is the voluminous number of quotes from King's actual sermons. King was a master preacher, in many ways ahead of his times; and if you have never read or heard any of King's sermons this book will inspire you to do so as you are exposed to the preaching brilliance of this young man who changed the face of the world.
Reading Recommendation: YES (for those inclined to scholarly work and especially for anyone in seminary or course of study preparing to become a preacher.)
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