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Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching: In Honor of R. Kent Hughes
For more than forty years, pastor R. Kent Hughes has shared thegospel with thousands of people and raised the standard ofexpository preaching in North America and beyond. To celebrate his legacy and pay tribute to his years ofministry, fifteen of Hughes's friends and colleagues from acrossthe globe, including J. I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, John MacArthur,Peter Jensen, and D. A. Carson, examine what it means to be anexpository preacher. Among the contributors are professors, auniversity chaplain, a college president, and urban churchplanters—living testimonies to Hughes's wide influence. These contributors address an array of themes for theministry-minded, such as interpretive principles and practices,biblical and historical paradigms, expository preaching'scontemporary aims and challenges, and the priority of training-allin the expectation that this one man's passion to preach the Wordfaithfully will enhance the understanding and practice ofexpository preaching in churches and seminaries around the world.This book will also inspire and prepare you to make the pulpit theprow of your ministry and influence the generations to come.
Hardcover
Published November 8, 2007
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About the author
Leland Ryken
128 books139 followersDr. Ryken has served on the faculty of Wheaton College since 1968. He has published over thirty books and more than one hundred articles and essays, devoting much of his scholarship to Bible translations and the study of the Bible as literature. He served as Literary Chairman for the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible and in 2003 received the distinguished Gutenberg Award for his contributions to education, writing, and the understanding of the Bible.
He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken
He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 18, 2021
This collection honoring Kent Hughes was hit and miss. Or more accurately, hit and 'meh'. Because it's a festchrift-like collection of disparate essays, there is some repetition, as well as essays which really pop and those which fizzle.
Some of the themes of quality preaching advice: Keep it expository. There's a lot of ways that term is described, but it amounts to working to really discover what's in a text, and giving preference and priority to the text itself, and then working to apply it.
Also, the importance of training new pastors. There's a dearth of quality pastors who focus on Biblical preaching - and this seems to be a timeless challenge. One of the timely difficulties brought to the fore is how the function of preaching within the repetoire of a pastor has increasingly taken a back role. There's not a detailed exploration of why, but I suspect that with the growth of mega churches, preaching opportunities have dwindled while pastoral care opportunities remain as great as ever. However, even with the lead pastor-preacher, much of his role has now swiveled to a leadership/ management focus. The habit of emphasizing the importance of bringing out and applying truth from the Bible has slipped, and could only be revived through more adoption and dedicated focus by more pastors, churches, and seminaries.
Some of the themes of quality preaching advice: Keep it expository. There's a lot of ways that term is described, but it amounts to working to really discover what's in a text, and giving preference and priority to the text itself, and then working to apply it.
Also, the importance of training new pastors. There's a dearth of quality pastors who focus on Biblical preaching - and this seems to be a timeless challenge. One of the timely difficulties brought to the fore is how the function of preaching within the repetoire of a pastor has increasingly taken a back role. There's not a detailed exploration of why, but I suspect that with the growth of mega churches, preaching opportunities have dwindled while pastoral care opportunities remain as great as ever. However, even with the lead pastor-preacher, much of his role has now swiveled to a leadership/ management focus. The habit of emphasizing the importance of bringing out and applying truth from the Bible has slipped, and could only be revived through more adoption and dedicated focus by more pastors, churches, and seminaries.
April 16, 2022
Many interesting and challenging incites about the Scripture, interpretation and preaching. Many of the contributors are prominent theologians and preachers who have had a impact on the evangelical world. A worthy read for those who communicate God's Word. I always appreciate the variety in these festschrifts.
April 18, 2024
What an outstanding material! Best Hermeneutics book I have ever read!
July 26, 2014
Kent Hughes is a name I have been aware of for many years, but honestly I have never heard him preach or read any of his books. Still, this book of essays written in his honor caught my attention. Collections of essays in honor of individuals of spiritual stature range in quality from excellent to extremely ordinary. Sometimes their quality of production falls far short of the person’s life and ministry they are intended to honor. Not so in this case. This book is a quality production from Crossway and a decent collection of essays from an impressive list of contributors. This book is worthy of our attention.
Divided into four parts, the book contains sixteen essays, culminating in a gracious and encouraging biographical essay on the life and influence of Kent Hughes. By the end of this book, you will have greater motivation to pursue the exposition of God’s Word, and a greater passion to expand that ministry by influencing the next generation. Not a bad legacy to honor Kent Hughes’ ministry.
The first part is concerned with Interpretive Principles and Practices. The book begins with a call to expository preaching from David Jackman. John MacArthur offers a sound although very basic introduction to inductive Bible study. Paul House considers the preaching of Old Testament narratives with a focus on three sermons from Acts. Wayne Grudem offers a helpful chapter on rightly interpreting the Bible. The only chapter to surpass Grudem’s contribution in this section is the excellent offering on “The Bible as Literaure and Expository Preaching” by co-editor, Leland Ryken.
The second part focuses on Biblical and Historical Paradigms. Bruce Winter helpfully considers Paul’s approach to warfare in reference to the thought processes of his listeners – how to preach to minds not fully renewed. Duane Litfin’s chapter on Paul’s kerygma foolishness in 1Cor.1-4 is superb. In my notes I remarked the book was worth the price for this chapter alone. Wallace Benn moves the book into church history with a straightforward summary of Richard Baxter’s classic, The Reformed Pastor. J.I.Packer then adds another heavyweight and inspiring article (in power, not in density), a delight of a chapter on Charles Simeon.
The third part concerns Contemporary Challenges and Aims. Here you find Phillip Jensen and D.A.Carson’s more engaging lecture on contemporary challenges in ministry. Philip Ryken then offers a very good call for expository preaching that is evangelistic, doctrinal and practical.
The fourth and final part focuses on Training and Example. Peter Jensen considers the seminary setting, where he rightly wishes that expository preaching were the primary goal of the entire faculty. Jon Dennis offers a detailed list of eight principles for multiplying ministers from 2Tim.2:2 and its surrounding context. David Helm brings in British church history again, in an engaging article that looks for a generation of preachers to be trained.
This is a solid book, well worth buying and reading. The essays are all decent and worthy of their place, although it must be recognized that the offerings of Leland Ryken, Duane Litfin and J.I Packer (perhaps with David Helm’s historically birthed effort attached to Packer’s consideration of Simeon) – these stand out as especially worthy of note and worth the price of the book!
Originally reviewed on http://www.biblicalpreaching.net
Divided into four parts, the book contains sixteen essays, culminating in a gracious and encouraging biographical essay on the life and influence of Kent Hughes. By the end of this book, you will have greater motivation to pursue the exposition of God’s Word, and a greater passion to expand that ministry by influencing the next generation. Not a bad legacy to honor Kent Hughes’ ministry.
The first part is concerned with Interpretive Principles and Practices. The book begins with a call to expository preaching from David Jackman. John MacArthur offers a sound although very basic introduction to inductive Bible study. Paul House considers the preaching of Old Testament narratives with a focus on three sermons from Acts. Wayne Grudem offers a helpful chapter on rightly interpreting the Bible. The only chapter to surpass Grudem’s contribution in this section is the excellent offering on “The Bible as Literaure and Expository Preaching” by co-editor, Leland Ryken.
The second part focuses on Biblical and Historical Paradigms. Bruce Winter helpfully considers Paul’s approach to warfare in reference to the thought processes of his listeners – how to preach to minds not fully renewed. Duane Litfin’s chapter on Paul’s kerygma foolishness in 1Cor.1-4 is superb. In my notes I remarked the book was worth the price for this chapter alone. Wallace Benn moves the book into church history with a straightforward summary of Richard Baxter’s classic, The Reformed Pastor. J.I.Packer then adds another heavyweight and inspiring article (in power, not in density), a delight of a chapter on Charles Simeon.
The third part concerns Contemporary Challenges and Aims. Here you find Phillip Jensen and D.A.Carson’s more engaging lecture on contemporary challenges in ministry. Philip Ryken then offers a very good call for expository preaching that is evangelistic, doctrinal and practical.
The fourth and final part focuses on Training and Example. Peter Jensen considers the seminary setting, where he rightly wishes that expository preaching were the primary goal of the entire faculty. Jon Dennis offers a detailed list of eight principles for multiplying ministers from 2Tim.2:2 and its surrounding context. David Helm brings in British church history again, in an engaging article that looks for a generation of preachers to be trained.
This is a solid book, well worth buying and reading. The essays are all decent and worthy of their place, although it must be recognized that the offerings of Leland Ryken, Duane Litfin and J.I Packer (perhaps with David Helm’s historically birthed effort attached to Packer’s consideration of Simeon) – these stand out as especially worthy of note and worth the price of the book!
Originally reviewed on http://www.biblicalpreaching.net
June 16, 2013
The message of this book is simple and it's in the name: preach the word. This is a fairly simple idea, but it is a hard thing to practice. I'm not a preacher by profession or hobby, but this book is for more than just preachers.
This book has challenged me:
* To read the Bible better to learn what a text means and its implications, and to only speak of those.
* To value and study the Old Testament more and to see Christ there.
* To be a herald of the Gospel message and to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to convince and sanctify rather than my own power.
* To learn more about history and the present culture and to believe that the Gospel is still sufficient.
* To value discipleship more.
I happened to have known all of these things before reading this book. Even still, this book was wonderful informative and convicting.
This book has challenged me:
* To read the Bible better to learn what a text means and its implications, and to only speak of those.
* To value and study the Old Testament more and to see Christ there.
* To be a herald of the Gospel message and to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to convince and sanctify rather than my own power.
* To learn more about history and the present culture and to believe that the Gospel is still sufficient.
* To value discipleship more.
I happened to have known all of these things before reading this book. Even still, this book was wonderful informative and convicting.
March 9, 2013
This is an overall very good collection of essays on preaching from biblical, theological, historical, and practical angles. Most of the contributions are very strong; several are first-rate (D.A. Carson, Duane Litfin, and Philip Ryken). I really enjoyed Randy Gruendyke's biographical sketch of Kent Hughes and I was glad that so many of the contributors are pastors of churches that take preaching seriously (Ryken, Dennis, Helm). This is worth a read for seminary students and pastors seeking to fine tune their preaching.
June 9, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Many of the essays were superb. I especially enjoyed the last section on how to train ministers and pastors. A lot of food for thought in the book, even though I did not agree with it all.
November 15, 2009
Several strong essays, only a couple of weaker ones. Good resource,
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January 9, 2015Cannot read a book with stars, especially of this type, a lot of essays some spoke to me, some were useful, some may speak in the near future. It was a fitting tribute to a pastor I wish to know.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews