Peculiar Speech: Preaching to the Baptized. By William H. Willimon. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992.124 pages. Paper, $10.95.  

This book grew out of a series of lectures given at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin, Texas, 1991. It underscores the importance of preaching, not to “the general human condition” (presuming, he says, that we could know what that is), but to the baptized who gather on Sunday morning because they have been called.  

In four chapters Willimon “looks at preaching through baptism” (p. 2). The chapters are: “Preaching as Baptismal Speech,” “Preaching as Baptismal Repentance,” “Preaching to Pagans,” and “Preaching as Politics.” He includes a sermon at the end of each chapter except the third.  

Willimon’s words, as usual, are packed with meaning. For example: Baptismal preaching is a matter of “testifying to something, …bringing into view the significance of our baptism with words” (p. 5). Baptismal preaching, he adds, is distinctive but makes sense because it is done in community—a community of worshippers which is distinctive. He effectively combines theology of church and theology of preaching.  

Style makes this book a pleasure to read and content gives it interest value. Preachers ought to read it for some helpful thoughts about what is being done and said when preaching.