Always A Guest by Barbara Brown Taylor is the book to read now! I have not finished this yet, but am compelled to tell everyone- read this book now! In our current climate of pandemic fear, economic anxiety and political turmoil, we seek words that help us make sense of the world. We seek comfort and we seek understanding. Sometimes that comes to us with reminders of Who is in control and what we must do to hear God in our lives. Sometimes understanding comes to us through words that challenge us to expand or even rearrange our world views. Sometimes we just want to talk to a friend.
Reading this book is all of that.
Always A Guest is a series of guest sermons given by the author in many different locations. They can be read slowly as part of daily devotions. But it's also tempting to just keep reading to see what new insight is on the next page.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC of Always A Guest.

A series of 31 messages Barbara Brown Taylor spoke as a guest at various congregations and events during different parts of the Christian year. I loved her takes on many of the Bible passages that had me looking at them in a new light. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

A series of sermons Taylor has given as a guest speaker over the years. She does a great job of finding fresh insight in Bible stories her audiences had heard any number of times. A good book at add to the BBT collection.

#AlwaysAGuest#NetGalley
By: Barbara Brown Taylor

Always A Guest is a collection of sermons on different scriptural topics preached by Barbara Brown Taylor as she fills pulpits as a guest minister over the course of many years. Her interpretations of scripture are deeply thought out and presented in such a way reader is inspired to look at his or her life and consider how he or she measures up to God's wishes for His children. Each sermon speaks to us of God's love for both mankind and His other creations. Each sermon challenges us to look at scripture with more illuminated eyes. This is a book to be read again and again. I highly recommend it and this author.
I received this book from #NetGalley# and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Many churches invite guest preachers to their Sunday pulpit time for different reasons. It could be giving the regular pastor a break. It could also be due to a specialized topic that the congregation needed to hear in a specific moment of time. Sometimes, a famous preacher might be in town also available. Many churches would pounce on the opportunity to listen to experienced clergy and well-known preachers. Barbara Brown Taylor is one such person that I find churches should not miss out. As an Episcopal priest who had stepped down from her Church in order to teach, while she may not be preaching at her regular Church, she has been guest preaching in other places like seminaries, colleges, community groups, as well as churches from different denominations. In this book, Taylor shares her thoughts and experiences about what it means to be doing guest preaching and hones her literary creativity in a constantly changing congregational environment. This collection of sermons is a gift to the rest of the world. Not only does Taylor stay faithful to the Scripture, she expounds it in a way that is very much herself. On her website, she calls herself as one who dares to say things that most of us are not "supposed to say." Things like learning to see the ordinary as beautiful. The world famously glorifies the pretty aesthetics but fails to see from God's perspective, that all of God's creation is good. Our problem is sin, which has marred the way we see the world. She looks at political anxiety in society and carefully redirects the problem back to the nature of human unneighborliness. From the Habakuk passage, she shows us the difference between "having faith" and "living by faith." I loved the way she begins each sermon. One that struck home was how she introduced herself as a server to launch into an invitation to taste that God is good. It was a sumptuous seven course meal. Then there was her interpretation of the story of the poor widow's giving. For most people, it would simply mean cheerful giving or generosity from the heart. Taylor turns it around to point out that it is simply a "human story" where the privileged class does things to benefit themselves while the poor demonstrates true giving because the latter had nothing to benefit themselves. This reminds me of the kind of giving that gives not for self-benefit but for those who could not repay our generosity. What is more impressive is the way Taylor brings in the many contexts of widows in the Bible and expands it to urge listeners to be conscientious of the vulnerable in our midst.

The way she titles her sermons are creative and thought provoking. Like the title "Lady Lazarus" which would pique our curiosity as Lazarus in the Bible was male. Soon, we learn that Taylor was using it to parallel how Tabitha, like Lazarus was brought back to life. There is also "Believing Thomas" which challenges the way we tend to demonize the disciple Thomas as some ancient model of doubt or what not to copy. We were reminded of a small detail that would likely change the way we judge Thomas. Jesus asked him to touch his sides but Thomas never did. Instead, he believed! These and many more make this book a beautiful and captivating read. Taylor is never short of the tradition. From the ecclesiastical calendar to the classics, from the theological libraries to the modern writings, she constantly helps us understand the ancient texts while keeping her feet closely grounded on the present contexts.

My Thoughts
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For regular preachers, this book is a fresh look at some of the most common Bible passages being preached. With literary poise and creative prose, engaging thoughts and light humour, there is much to learn from this seasoned and wise preacher. We can learn about the clever use of titles to engage the audience. This means learning to discern biblical text and the contexts of the congregation. Knowing the Bible is one thing. Recognizing the unique circumstances of each congregation is another. For Taylor to do the same for so many different congregations and communities each week is a commendable task indeed.

For guest preachers, we learn about the pros and cons of speaking to an unknown congregation, especially if we are speaking in that place for the first time. On the one hand, it is exciting. On the other, it comes with unknown expectations. Taylor is candid about this as well, fully prepared not to be invited back in case she says things that are unconventional or controversial. We have much to learn on how to choose our titles; connect the Bible passages with the modern culture; and to preach in a manner that reminds us of our ecclesiastical heritage, namely, the Church calendar.

For the rest of us, this book showcases the literary prowess and communications skills of one of America's best known preachers, in particular, lady preachers. Taylor is not afraid to be upfront like Anne Lamott or observant like Annie Dillard. Neither is she restrained in pushing the limits of conventional wisdom. What I appreciate is her ability to shed new light on old stories. That alone should challenge us to find creative ways to bring out the fresh light of the gospel of Christ. The biggest strength in this book is the way Taylor invites us to eavesdrop on what she was saying to the particular congregation and gradually we realize she speaks directly to us.

Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, professor, author, and theologian and is one of the best-known preachers in the United States. In 2014, TIME included her on its annual list of Most Influential People; in 2015, she was named Georgia Woman of the Year; in 2018, she was named one of the world's twelve most effective preachers in a landmark survey of clergy by Baylor University. She is the author of many books, including New York Times bestsellers Leaving Church, An Altar in the World, and Holy Envy.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

ALWAYS A GUEST-Barbara Brown Taylor

I received this free from Net Galley for the purpose of review.

I fully enjoyed the topics she chose to use and encouraged by her way to take ordinary life and weave it into faith and trust. She has spoken many places as each mini call to faith has a footnote as to where she had given it.

I found the book to be inspiring and thought-provoking. It would make a great devotional to use as you try to rest or study the word of God.

I love this book. For me this a book to read slowly and over time. I haven't finished this book yet but am reading one sermon at a time to fully get the benefit and message that the author has written.

I cherish Barbara Brown Taylor’s voice–not because she and I agree on everything, but because we do not. Her prose is lyrical and her reasoning is crystalline, which is so healthy for someone like me, addicted to being right and generally convinced that everyone who disagrees with me must do so because they do not fully understand the issue at hand.

Always a Guest is a collection of sermons and speeches Brown Taylor delivered as guest speaker after having left parish ministry. Ironically, it has been in this ministry of schlepping from pulpit to podium that she has stumbled upon the rich insight that the speaker’s role is “to do what any person sitting in front of them could do: give voice to the faith that is in them, and trust God to do the rest.” (89) As a teacher, I’ve inscribed these words in the front of my journal as a sort of mission statement and a reminder of Who’s behind all the words, both written and spoken.

BBT has a gift for reading a well-known Bible story, diving in head first, and emerging from the depths, clutching in her fist a completely fresh and fearless interpretation based simply on her willingness to observe the scene without the bias of the familiar. Her commitment to the creative life bubbles forth as a joyful invitation to others to create and to appreciate beauty everywhere:

When we put something beautiful into the world, it is Genesis all over again.” (210)

“[Jesus] seemed to know that what anxious people need most is to get over ourselves for a moment, losing ourselves in the kind of beauty that loosens our grip on all the thing we mistakenly think will keep us safe.” (279)

Conversations about the nature of true faith, Christians and conflict, and what it means to worship God challenge the reader to embrace the truth that God exists outside our organizational systems–even outside our theology, which is, after all only a servant of the inquiring heart. If you are willing to take the risk of being prodded into seeing your following life in a new way, this is the book for your late fall night stand.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this books to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.

A new book by Barbara Brown Taylor is always a glorious thing and this is a collection of sermons she has given over the past 10 or so years as a visiting speaker. Her turns of phrase are always sparkling and witty and her enthusiastic observations help me see the Gospel stories from a fresh perspective. My ARC from Netgalley was indeed welcome during this pandemic and crazy election year.

I am such a huge fan of Barbara Brown Taylor and her writing and this latest book of hers did not disappoint. Always A Guest: Speaking of Faith Far From Home is a collection of 32 different sermons that she has given over the years. My intention was to read one a day but they were so good that I couldn’t stop! Her encouragement and inspiration is such a lovey antidote to the turbulent times we are in now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for an advanced copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Im so happy I got this book, Ive never heard of Barbara Brown Taylor before ,so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I got a wonderful surprise . This book was exactly what I needed, it s uplifting and filled with positive messages. This will definitely be one of those books that gets a lots read from me, theres already tons of highlight throughout.

This book is a collection of sermons delivered by the author throughout the years as she preaches in different places. Each sermon is strong , scripture based and captivating. I wanted more of each, I just wanted to sit under her teaching and just soak up her wisdom. each day i would read a sermon and just meditate on the word of God. this is my first by the author, but it wont be my last.

I am a long time fan of Barbara Brown Taylor. I love both reading her work and hearing her speak which I've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do three or four times now.

This book is a collection of sermons from events or guest pastor spots where I might have heard her - chance encounters with a visiting pastor. While she goes into some of the things in the open of the book that often trip up visiting pastors, the beauty of a visiting pastor experience is that there often aren't expectations and - as expected - Brown Taylor always rises well above the fray to provide a message that is both inspirational and thought provoking.

The 31 sermons in the book blend in common messages from Brown Taylors other writings so as a long time fan this was comfortable territory. It was also new territory as I considered how a specific message delivered on a certain day in a certain audience might have had different meaning or a different context for the listener. The book is worth of that kind of deep exploration and thought as you read and re-read it. The chapters are brief - about the length of a 10 - 20 minute sermon and are easily readable. They also leave you thinking and will be something you can return to regularly.

This is a collection of bite-sized sermons that uplift and inspire. In addition, there were many times when her words convicted me and spurred me to open my own Bible and seek God's continued wisdom in the subjects she discussed. This is a fabulous gift option for anyone in your life.

Always A Guest is a collection of sermons and a gift to us all from a beloved minister and preacher. Since leaving parish ministry, Barbara Brown Taylor accepts invitations to preach all over the world in a variety of settings and to diverse groups of audiences. This collection is honest and humble, wise and spiritual, beautiful and ordinary. Each chapter (sermon) is an invitation to love God, love His creation, love our neighbors, and yes - love ourselves, with fresh insight and compassion, written in the everyday lyrical prose that is essentially Barbara Brown Taylor. She encourages us to approach God's word with an open mind, to accept the Spirit's prompting with an open heart, to greet each other - friend and stranger - with open arms. This is what hospitality is all about. So have a seat, open to the first page of Always A Guest, and be Barbara Brown Taylor's guest to an exploration of our common humanity and the love that binds us all together - the love of God and the love of each other.

Barbara Brown Taylor is a new author to me, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m always looking for uplifting books with a positive message. This book checked those boxes!!

Inside, you will find a collection of thirty-one sermons delivered by Taylor in her role as a guest preacher. I really enjoyed reading a chapter (sermon) each morning with my coffee. It was an excellent way to start the day!

Some of her sermons really hit home for me and the message was strong. I found myself wishing that those sermons were longer or more in depth. I could listen to her sermons all day long!!

I will be reading more of Barbara Brown Taylor's work and I would recommend this book for anyone needing a dose of inspiration. They were perfect messages to add some joy during an otherwise difficult 2020.

Barbara Brown Taylor left settled parish ministry twenty years ago, but she continues to write, teach, and preach widely. "Always a Guest" is a compilation of sermons she's preached as a guest preacher in churches, seminaries, college chapels, cathedrals, the Chautauqua Institution, and on the radio.

Preaching to people you've never met presents particular challenges. Over and over, Barbara Brown Taylor demonstrates her gift for weaving scripture, relevant cultural touchstones, historical realities, literature, and the liturgical calendar together in such a way that the reader hears truth in a new, eye-opening way. Familiar bible passages shimmer with new resonance because of her provocative but simple words.

This collection belongs on every preacher's bookshelf and will be great devotional reading for preachers and non-preachers alike.

In Always A Guest, there are sermons about almost every topic, but most importantly Barbar Brown Taylor writes about her experience of being a guest everywhere she goes. The messages are timely and the arrangement makes it easy to find the type of sermon you're looking for (you don't have to read them in order). The most important part... she gives scripture references on each one.

A nice collection of sermons and speeches given in different places the author has traveled to. A great collection that can be taken in slowly. The sermon focus on a variety of passages and I really enjoyed thinking about the point Taylor is making.

I requested an ARC of this book without even reading the description because I adore author Barbara Brown Taylor. Her gentle grace and wisdom always inspires hope and optimism for me.

In my enthusiasm for this author, I did not realize that I was requesting a book of *sermons*. Whoops.
I have gone through a significant faith deconstruction and am now in a stage of life where I have *zero* interest in reading (or listening to!) sermons.

And yet, against the odds, this set of homilies "spoke" to my "spirit". Taylor reveals an expansive, inclusive, wide open table, freely offering welcome and embrace to both believers and agnostics. This book reminded me of the things that I loved about the Bible and the "Jesus" story. I suspect it will do the same for you.

I'm glad that I read this one. My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for allowing me access to the book in exchange for my honest opinion. The pleasure was mine. #AlwaysAGuest

It should come as no surprise that a collection of sermons and stories (or should that be sermon-stories and story-sermons?) from Barbara Brown Taylor, who's repeatedly been recognized as one of the best preachers in America, is powerful. It's also challenging, moving, illuminating, and delightful. In my opinion, "Mariam the Magnificent", a sermon about Mary, the mother of Jesus, is worth the entire price of the book. Her ability to turn a biblical story with which most Christians are almost too familiar so that a new facet is revealed is almost unparalleled and certainly invaluable. As a whole, the collection depicts a Jesus who was firmly grounded in his first century Jewish culture, who cared deeply for the physical bodies and realities of his followers (not just their spiritual lives), and who loved us unto death.