Book Review: Preaching Christ from Proverbs
Preaching Christ from Proverbs by Jonathan Akin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book Review: The Beginning and End of Wisdom: Preaching Christ from the First and Last Chapters of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job
The Beginning And End Of Wisdom: Preaching Christ From The First And Last Chapters Of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, And Job by Douglas Sean O’Donnell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The author gives us help on preaching Christ from the wisdom books in a concise and accessible way. O’Donnell gives a good, brief description of what preaching Christ means and explains the use of types in the Scripture. Every preacher needs to read and consider this book. It will help you.
Review: Preaching with Bold Assurance: A Solid and Enduring Approach to Engaging Exposition
Preaching with Bold Assurance: A Solid and Enduring Approach to Engaging Exposition by Hersheal York
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book is divided into three parts: The Text, The Sermon, and Delivery. Part I was the strongest. Part II started with an explanation of the trademarked Decker Grid System for building sermons that felt like quite a departure from Part I, though getting past that, there was definitely good material. Part III was about delivering sermons so the focus was on effective communication. Some of the psychology stuff got in the way, but it helped me think about different aspects of delivering a sermon and connecting with an audience.
Overall, it is not an exhaustive treatment, nor was it intended to be. The book covers a good bit of ground from studying the text, to building the sermon, to delivering the sermon. Throughout I was challenged to think about my own ministry and examine deficient areas in my own preaching. I’m thankful for the book and recommend it as worth reading.
Review: The Art of Prophesying with the Calling of the Ministry: A Needed Tool for All Pastors
The Art of Prophesying with The Calling of the Ministry: A Needed Tool for All Pastors by William Perkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The original being published in the late 1500s was the first book on preaching written and published in the English language. By “prophesying,” the author refers to preaching as the expounding of Scripture and application of its truth to the congregation. It’s an old usage and does not in any way refer to modern day prophesying by various charismatics.
Perkins treats preaching from a pastoral perspective. There are some practical suggestions here and there, but very little space is given to aspects of delivery. He primarily deals with interpreting and expounding Scripture. So it’s quite a contrast from so many more modern books on preaching. Perkins throughout promotes a high view of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, such that preaching including teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction, should all come from the meaning of the passage of Scripture. This high view of Scripture and the presupposition that all aspects of preaching should derive from the natural meaning of the text is what gives this treatment on preaching high value. Even his words on applications have the same assumption.
Review: Preaching in the New Testament
Preaching in the New Testament by Jonathan Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a biblical theology of preaching in the New Testament. The author seeks to find the link, if it exists, from prophetic preaching, to Jesus, to Paul, to Timothy, and to post-apostolic preaching today. He makes a good argument in exegetical fashion with examination of three key terms for preaching in the New Testament and some key textual passages relevant to preaching.
This is not a how-to book, so it will not be much help to learn how to preach. The book deals more with the why of preaching and emphasizes that preaching God’s word as he has given it is how God’s voice is heard today. He focuses on the public proclamation of God’s word in the assembly of God’s people, but he also give some remarks to other facets of word ministry.
This book is more a foundational study of preaching. Though not teaching how to preach, explaining the foundation of preaching will surely shape how it is done. This book isn’t light reading, but it isn’t too technical. I enjoyed the thought provoking study and will return to it again for reference.
