Take Up and Preach: A Primer for Interpreting Preaching Texts

The foundation of a good biblical sermon is the biblical text. Take Up and Preach is a helpful guide for the preacher in how to approach a biblical text with the intention of preaching its life-giving message. Blayne Banting uses memorable images and careful instructions to aid the preacher through the process of understanding a theology of preaching selecting and interpreting a preaching text right up to the point of producing the sermon outline. Take Up and Preach both grounds and guides the preacher in a sound method for biblical preaching and does so with a number of practical helps to aid in the process. Having sat under Blayne Bantings faithful preaching and teaching I testify that Take Up and Preach represents the work not only of a qualified academic but a practiced pastor. His Bridge metaphor helps aspiring and experienced preachers alike to keep both biblical and contemporary contexts firmly in mind while preparing a sermon. I hope copies of this book will become dog-eared with use and find their place of honor in many pastors libraries. --David Guretzki Professor of Theology Church & Public Life Briercrest College and Seminary Take Up and Preach offers preachers a practical repeatable process to ground their sermons in the biblical text bridge that text to contemporary listeners and circumstances and to do so in a manner that honors the intent literary form and flow of the text. Dr. Banting has offered the field of homiletics a helpful tool that will extend the ministry of biblical preaching into the next generation. --Daniel Overdorf Dean of the School of Congregational Ministry and Professor of Preaching Johnson University Blayne A. Banting DMin PhD is Lead Pastor of Caronport Community Church in Caronport SK as well as adjunct professor at Briercrest College and Seminary. Dr. Banting is married to Peggy and they have four children. He is author of With Wit and Wonder: The Preachers Use of Humour and Imagination (2013).