Ebook
Embodied Hope explores implications of an embodied theology of hope for preachers’ ability to nurture imaginative abundance and purposeful hope-filled action in the most chaotic of times. Embodied hope is grounded in a theological anthropology that foregrounds humanity’s inherent identity as imago Dei and capacity to live as a nondistorting nondestructive reflection of God’s presence in the earth. The conceptual metaphor embodied Hope represents that which creates within each of us yearning for wholeness and well-being, the always-speaking voice of God’s Spirit assuring us of God’s power, faithfulness, and redemptive presence and calling us toward loving, just, and restorative action in our world today. Humans possess the capacity to imagine and live toward a qualitatively better state of existence for all creation, but overwhelmed by the despairing realities of life, we often feel despondent and drained of imaginative potential. Preaching amplifies the voice of Hope, bearing witness and inviting us to imagine the possibility and efficacy of a new reality grounded in Jesus’s gospel proclamation. Embodied Hope invites us to stand at the intersection of Hope and despair as we explore the contours and possibilities of living with Hope in times such as the present.
“Miles is herself an expression of the embodied hope she
describes so well in this compelling volume. Her confident and
joyful spirit reverberates in these pages so much that the book
does more than talk about hope; it generates it. This is a gift for
preachers!”
—Thomas G. Long, Candler School of Theology, retired
“Without question, Embodied Hope is the most
comprehensive, relevant, substantive, and nuanced treatment of hope
in homiletics in the twenty-first century. Miles draws wisdom from
the past to remind us that each of us is the imago Dei, and
we carry within us the antidote and promise for a better, more
hope-filled tomorrow.”
—Renee K. Harrison, Howard University School of Divinity
“With wisdom and energy, Miles proclaims hope. She also encourages
us to live hope. Miles has woven together with brilliant insights
the concepts of ‘embodied hope’ and ‘culturally induced despair.’
. . . These pages resound with the assertion that
culturally induced despair does not have the final word.
. . . Embodied Hope is an extraordinary gift to
anyone who wants to proclaim hope by infusing our everyday words
and actions with hope.”
—Jill Crainshaw, Wake Forest University School of Divinity
“Miles invites preachers to a thoughtful reevaluation of hope in
preaching, one that
takes seriously cultural forces that persistently erode hope.
. . . Her analysis of the array of everyday discursive
tropes that induce despair is illuminating. . . . Sample
sermons demonstrate how vivid speech that concretizes shalom, love,
and justice in accessible ways can restore hopeful vision and fuels
communities that embrace God-given wholeness.”
—Sally A. Brown, Princeton Theological Seminary