Pictures at a Theological Exhibition: Scenes of the Church's Worship, Witness and Wisdom, By Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Pictures at a Theological Exhibition
paperback
  • Length: 327 pages
  • Dimensions: 6 × 9 in
  • Published: March 30, 2016
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • Item Code: 3959
  • ISBN: 9780830839599

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Many Christians are held captive by a picture of the imagination as a purveyor of false images, prone to idolatry. We live in a society fixated on images that have little or no significance. We are surrounded by models of the world that are not in touch with any truth outside of themselves. But we lack the resources to see and imagine things differently.

Kevin Vanhoozer calls the church to a more biblical and premodern picture, one that sees every particular person, thing and event in the light of God's act of reconciling the world to himself in Christ. Through essays on the church's worship, witness and wisdom, Vanhoozer shows us how a poetic imagination can answer the questions of life's meaning by drawing our attention to what really matters: the God of the gospel.

"I have always loved Pictures at an Exhibition, both the music and the art, and now that Vanhoozer has structured his theology book according to its promenade and galleries, I will remember his descriptions and clarifications that much better. He is a meticulous explainer, so his work in this book is very unambiguous as he reckons with many issues such as the role of a pastor in interpreting a text, the affective relation of doctrine and worship, and debates about cognitive enhancement. Then there is the added presentation of his artistic sermons. Don't miss this display!"

Marva J. Dawn, theologian, author, speaker

"Kevin Vanhoozer writes of the church's worship and wisdom with enormous discernment and love. Deeply revealing and fascinating!"

Cornelius Plantinga Jr., author of Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists

"Vanhoozer has a reputation for unveiling the big picture for us, but here he devotes his considerable critical powers to a series of small ones. For fans of his earlier work, there are characteristic delights and a few surprises—not least the interspersed sermons that answer the question, 'Yes, but will it preach?' Vanhoozer's playfulness, recursions, puns and layered allusions all pay off exceptionally well in these miniature studies. And readers who have heard that Vanhoozer's theology deserves attention but have wondered where to begin studying are well advised to start with these rich and accessible essays."

Fred Sanders, Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University

"Imagine a book that seeks to rehabilitate theology's tenuous connection to the church's worship, mission and discipleship. Put the idea into the hands (and heart) of a master theologian who is an artist, playwright and vision-caster operating in the interface of Scriptural canon and shifting culture. The result is the picture/play book you are about to enjoy. Imagine (no) more!"

Gregg R. Allison, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Discarded Imagination: Metaphors by which a Holy Nation Lives

Foyer: Before the Promenade (Prolegomena)
1. What Are Theologians For? Why Doctors of the Church Should Prescribe Christian Doctrine
2. True Pictures: What Every Pastor Should Know About Biblical Truth and Interpretation
3. Three Ways of Singing Sola: Scripture as Light, Compass and Script (A Sermon on Psalm 119:103-5, Luke 24:25-27 and Colossians 3:15-17)

Gallery One: Pictures of the Church?s Worship
4. Worship at the Well: From Dogmatics to Doxology (And Back Again)
5. Praising God in Song: Beauty and the Arts
6. Moses? Magnificat: A Song for the Semester—and the Ages (A Sermon on Exodus 15:1-18)

Gallery Two: Pictures of the Church?s Witness
7. The Drama of the Christ: The Gospel as Thing Done and Word Made
8. The Drama of Discipleship: A Vocation of Spiritual Formation
9. The Strange New Status Symbol of the Cross (A Sermon on Philippians 2:5-11)

Gallery Three: Pictures of the Church?s Wisdom
10. Sapiential Apologetics: The Dramatic Demonstration of Gospel Truth
11. Enhancement in the Cathedral: Power, Knowledge and Smart Pills
12. The Wisdom of Angels: Brokenness and Wholeness in the Academy and Church (A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

Conclusion: The Man with the X-Rho Eyes (A Sermon on 2 Kings 6:14-23)

Author Index
Subject Index
Scripture Index

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Kevin J. Vanhoozer

Kevin J. Vanhoozer (PhD, Cambridge University) is research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of several works, including Faith Speaking Understanding: Performing the Drama of Doctrine, First Theology: God, Scripture, and Hermeneutics, The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology, and Remythologizing Theology: Divine Action, Passion and Authorship. He is the editor of the Cambridge Companion to Postmodern Theology and the Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible.