The pandemic of 2020 necessitated a rethinking of preaching, prompting the need for a robust theology and innovative strategies for online delivery. This book seeks to provide a theological framework for online preaching, drawing on Karl Barth’s definition of God’s Word and exploring the emerging digital dimensions and practices of preaching.

In examining Karl Barth’s threefold definition of God’s Word—comprising the Written Word (Scripture), the Revealed Word (Christ), and the Proclaimed Word (Preaching)—Yang emphasizes their interdependence, which reflects the Trinity. He highlights their distinct theological traits: reliability and immutability (written), proximity and presence (revealed), and transformation and assurance (proclaimed). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yang argues that preachers must now recognize a fourth dimension: the Word Digitalized. This adaptation integrates these traditional forms into online contexts while retaining Barth’s principles. While traditional traits continue to influence online preaching, new traits such as fluidity, usability, cross-cultural ubiquity, and instant communication have emerged as essential. The author advocates for incorporating these traits to create effective online preaching, despite challenges related to critical reasoning and digital infrastructure.

In the second part of the book, Yang presents ten styles of online preaching, illustrating how he incorporates the seven traits and offering preachers practical strategies for various digital contexts. This work is an invaluable resource for understanding the evolving nature of preaching in the digital age.

Preaching ought to indeed consider the medium through which it is delivered. Although the pandemic that began in 2020 has subsided and most people have returned to gathering in churches for worship and sermons, the demand for online streaming remains strong. Interestingly, even as in-person church attendance has resumed, live-streamed services continue to be a vital component of worship across contexts, whether in the United States or other parts of the global community. In the post-pandemic era, online preaching offers considerable advantages that can transform spiritual engagement. It transcends geographical boundaries, enabling diaspora communities and individuals in remote areas to remain connected with their faith communities.

Online preaching, however, presents unique challenges for Asian and Asian American Christians. One notable challenge is its impact on congregational engagement, as the relational dynamics central to many Asian church traditions can be diluted in digital formats. Many of these churches have rich ritual practices intertwined with theological expressions and cultural traditions, where preaching is deeply integrated with ritual actions and communal participation. Maintaining the integrity of both ritual and preaching in the digital environment is difficult, underscoring the need for a digital theology of preaching that considers the connection between liturgy and the digital context.

Despite these challenges, the book reminds us that the Word of God possesses universality and adaptability, capable of transcending various cultural and technological contexts while maintaining the unchanging essence of its core truth. Through these strategies, preachers may be inspired to creatively adapt not only their preaching styles but also their worship experiences. By exploring these possibilities, digital preaching has the potential to become an essential tool in contemporary church ministry, fostering church growth and inspiring believers to respond more fully to the call of the gospel.

Wan-Ting Tsai

Taiwan Graduate School of Theology

Categories: (W) Book Review