Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian

The Power of Speech as a Practice of Faith "This beautifully written book, which is full of graceful words for all the homely and holy moments of everyday Christian life, is not just for preachers. Every believer can deepen and expand her faith by speaking it to others, and Thomas G. Long shows us how." — Barbara G. Wheeler , president, Auburn Theological Seminary "When Thomas G. Long preaches, the congregation is immediately engaged. Other preachers in the congregation start taking notes. Here is one of the best contemporary preachers and teachers of preaching writing on the critical matter of talking about God and Christian faith, Christian practice in a world and at a time when such talk is mostly trivial at best. Long’s book is important and a rich resource for all of us." — John Buchanan , editor and publisher, The Christian Century ; pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois "In the rich vocabulary and cadence of his own speech, Thomas G. Long teaches us how to bring faith to speech in the everyday occurrences of life. One comes away from this book with an emboldened sense of how to speak of God in public places and spaces. Ever the innovative teacher, Long demonstrates for us once again why he belongs in the upper echelons of contemporary writers on matters of Christian faith and practice." — Cleophus J. LaRue , Princeton Theological Seminary "Thomas G. Long has long been one of our most effective Christian talkers, and now in this trenchant testimony, the harvest of a rich and provoking ministry, he helps us all the better to talk about our Christian faith. Never have we had a greater need for authentic discourse, nor have we ever been better served." — The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes , Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church, Harvard University

Editor′s Foreword xi Acknowledgments xv PART ONE: THE HUNGER FOR AUTHENTIC GOD TALK 1 Chapter 1 Talking Ourselves into Being Christian 3 Chapter 2 Can I Get a Witness? 21 Chapter 3 Sunday Words 39 PART TWO: TALKING THROUGH THE DAY 67 Chapter 4 First Light 69 Chapter 5 Walking the Walk, Talking the Talk 89 Chapter 6 Conversation over Lunch 109 Chapter 7 The Six O′Clock News 129 Chapter 8 Whispered Secrets and Bedtime Prayers 143 Epilogue A Last Word 157 Notes 159 The Author 167 Index 169

Thomas G. Long is Bandy Professor of Preaching, Candler School of Theology, Emory University. He is a former pastor and associate editor of the Journal for Preachers. Long is the author of fourteen books.