Preaching for God's Glory

by Alistair Begg

Every Christian, from the pastor to the newest believer, is to study the Scriptures and learn to handle the Word of God correctly. Yet far too many congregations are being fed sweet but empty words that leave them spiritually malnourished and ill-prepared to stand firm in their faith. 

Alistair Begg calls for a fresh commitment to biblical preaching in this newly formatted re-release. Drawing on his thirty-five years of pastoral ministry and the lessons of great preachers, Begg defines Bible-based preaching and outlines its practical implications within a local church. 

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Christianity, Church Ministry

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 1999

About the author

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. Following graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church.

In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written several books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. The teaching on Truth For Life stems from the week by week Bible teaching at Parkside Church.

Reviews

[Daniel Warne - True Myth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short (very short!) and sweet, Begg's work serves as a solid introduction to (or reminder of) the basics of expositional preaching.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little read. By no means exhaustive, however it did bring up some of the issues that plague pulpits today. Begg also gives some good principles to avoid these pitfalls. I enjoyed most that Begg is clear, that the Bible is to be the sole authority in preaching.

[Mitch Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a quick read, and chapters 4/5 are worth the price of the book!

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a short solid read! Pointing to a serious deficiency in the preaching in the world today. Begg brings his winsome and clear teaching style out in this book. I was blessed by it

[Nick Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, short primer on expository preaching.

[Keith Gandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great reminder as to what we are to do and who we do it for. Not for our name or honor, not to win the respect and affections of the listeners, but to honor the One whose name is above all names.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an author I've not had the pleasure of reading until recently when I picked up this book (on Amazon). I'm no preacher, though I do "preach the Word in season & out of season". And I'm not trained in homiletics. But I can and do appreciate those who are gifted and know how to exegete and expound the Scriptures in such a way as to bring the full light of God's Word into the darkened recesses of my own heart.

I appreciate the author's approach to this needed subject. The contents are as follows: 1. The Eclipse of Expository Preaching, 2. What Happened to Expository Preaching?, 3. The Nature of Expository Preaching, 4. The Benefits of Expository Preaching, 5. Practical Pointers, and 6. “Who Is Equal to Such a Task?”. The content and argument of the book are well laid out and present a challenge for us who are in the Church to get back to true biblical preaching that instructs the mind, motivates the hands to action and transforms the heart.

[Drake Hyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alistair Begg is a Scottish evangelical pastor and author who has served as the Senior Pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio since 1983. He is a graduate of the London School of Theology and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2009 from Cedarville University. He has garnered widespread recognition for his authorship of numerous books on preaching and Christian living, and for the internationally syndicated radio program Truth for Life, which he has hosted regularly since 1995. He is venerated among evangelicals for his hallmark expositional style of teaching and firm emphasis on the authority and veracity of Scripture.

In his book Preaching for God’s Glory, written in 2005, Begg sets out to ascertain the root cause of the many problems that have arisen within the evangelical church. Several theologians like David Wells have described it as the church “dying as a significant religious force because it has forgotten what it stands for” (8). For Begg the cause is clear: there has been a widespread “eclipse of expository preaching” (11). In place of careful exegesis of Scripture, many pastors have opted instead for what he calls caricatures of true preaching, all of which lack the full benefits which expository preaching offers. Sadly, many preachers, having lost confidence in the Bible, settle for these methods in attempt to be more relevant and contemporary, allowing the times to dictate what they preach rather than God’s Word. In response, Begg endeavors to remind the pastor that he is to be first and foremost the mouthpiece of God’s Word, thus giving the Scriptures a voice by which God speaks to the ears and hearts of the congregation.

Begg begins by explaining what has happened to lead the evangelical church to the state in which it can be found today. He contrasts a typical church today with that of Scottish Presbyterianism in the 19th century, where “every man and every woman…carried his pocket-Bible to church, and not only looked out the text, but verified each citation” (12). In such bygone churches, congregants became so closely familiar with the Bible that they were able to recall every passage, explain its structure and apply its truths in their lives. By contrast, says Begg, today’s preaching “pays scant attention to the Bible, is self-focused, and consequently is capable of only the most superficial impact upon the lives of listeners” (14). He describes this as the administering of a placebo rather than the true medicine of God’s Word. Furthermore, the modern church has come to glorify the performance style and personality of its pastor, a fact reflected in the layout of church buildings. Rather than being respected for their sound teaching of Scripture, pastors have been lauded for their ability to motivate, ideate, narrate, entertain, or simply attract through their use of popular methodologies and styles. Timeless truths have taken a backseat to contemporary fads. Begg writes, “We live in a time when being unsure and vague is in vogue” (24). Pastors have let the pew control the pulpit, which has meant the Gospel is thrown out since people do not by nature ask for the Gospel.

In effort to point to the true medicine for the problem, the Gospel, Begg calls for pastors to employ the power of God’s Word through its rightful method of delivery: expository preaching. The key difference between it and other methods is that when “God’s Word is truly preached, God’s voice is truly heard” (33). He lays out the process as first beginning with the text of Scripture. Expository preaching is not simply another style, rather it is the rightful handling of the text of God’s Word. The challenge for the pastor then is to be the intermediary between the world and words of Scripture and that of his congregation. He must be an effective cultural and linguistic translator, being able to effectively “declare what God has said, explain the meaning, and establish the implications so that no one will mistake its relevance” (37). The preacher must show his audience that God’s Word is relevant to their lives, but he must be under the control of Scripture to do so. Such a preacher would therefore ensure that the pulpit is not a place for speculation, manipulation or entertainment, but rather of direct communication by God in His Word through the mouth and by the mind of the preacher.

The benefits of expository preaching are numerous. First and foremost, all of the resultant glory of preaching goes to God alone. If a sermon is not the invention of man, man can take no glory for it. Second, the preacher is lead to closely and carefully study God’s Word, which means the preacher’s own heart is touched and affected by it. Third, it helps the congregation not only by offering them truths of Scripture, but by also teaching them how to read and study it for themselves. As Roy Clements put it, “it is no longer enough to feed our people. These days we must also show them how to cook” (44). Fourth, expository preaching means that the pastor can’t skip certain sections of the Bible he is uncomfortable dealing with. The entire Bible, with all its depth and complexity, must be studied and preached. Fifth, expository preaching means the congregation is receiving a healthy, balanced diet of Scripture. In an age where “wisdom” comes from so many sources, people need to hear and consume the unadulterated truth of God’s Word so that they may be transformed by it. Lastly, Begg argues that by teaching Scripture sequentially, pastors avoid what he calls “Saturday Night Fever” (48). There is no longer any stress to come up with a sermon at the last minute since the text of Scripture the pastor is studying provides the sermon he is to preach.

The are several important practical implications of expository preaching which Begg lays out. First, such a method requires that the pastor use his mind. Proper study requires a great amount of reading and thinking over the material in question. “If we do not become thinking pastors, we are unlikely to have thinking congregations” (52). Second, pastors must take time to ensure that they are effectively communicating the fruit of their study to an audience, not laying out all the details in an unorganized, incomprehensible fashion. After all, “it is the finished building men want to see and not the builder’s scaffolding” (55). Third, pastors must recognize and be submissive to the Holy Spirit in prayer. At all stages, from reading, to study, to writing, to rehearsal and ultimately to delivery, the preacher must be constantly in prayer. The reason is that “we can do more than pray, after we have prayed, but not until” (56). Finally, a preacher must recognize that his unique mind, personality and style do have a role to play, and thus he should not attempt to imitate someone else. At the same time, it is not the preacher himself which is being communicated, but God’s Word, and so he must remove himself from the equation whenever he finds that he is in Its way. In his conclusion, Begg points out that this means the preacher must remain humble, since he always striving to truly preach God’s Word perfectly, though he may never do so in this life.

In just sixty-three well-written pages, Alistair Begg has certainly provided a compelling case for the efficacy of expository preaching. For any who may be wondering what style of preaching they should pursue, or which would work best with their personality and skillset in a given context, Preaching for God’s Glory serves as a powerful impetus for the adherence to exposition. To be a Christian means to be one who believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as communicated to mankind over the centuries through God’s Word. To veer away from teaching it means at worst to risk creating a new religion entirely disconnected from it, and at best to offer a shell of Christianity which may provide some benefits, but which will not result in radical life transformation. In order for that to occur, people must study the Bible to learn more about who God is and who they are to be on this earth. In light of this, Begg has effectively demonstrated that expository preaching is the only method which will lead people to such transformation.

He has also done an excellent job of listing the advantages of expository preaching over and above any other methods. However, due to its short length, there were not many examples of other preaching styles and how they may be seen as negative in and of themselves. Certainly, any which are wholly disconnected from Scripture may be counted as such, but he has failed to demonstrate that other effective formats do not exist. One such possible method would be that of Bible-storying, which condenses portions or books of Scripture in order to demonstrate its interconnectedness as a whole.
Perhaps both a strength and a weakness of the book is its length. Certainly, there is wisdom in the adage “simplicity is the glory of expression”, and Mr. Begg suffers nothing from overcomplication or wordiness. To some extent, it is apparent that he is relying upon the reader’s presupposed familiarity with the Bible. This is most evident in places like chapter three, in which he refers to Nehemiah 8. He does not explain what happens in the passage, but rather asks his reader a question in response to the “dramatic scene” depicted in that passage (33). Certainly it is safe to assume that an individual reading this book may be familiar with that passage, or at the very least may take the time to look it up on his or her own, but a bit more explanation of its implications for the important of expository preaching may have been in order here.

The short length also leaves one desiring more examples of the negative results of non-expository preaching. Perhaps in not including too much of this, Begg is avoiding unnecessary criticism of his fellow brothers in Christ, and for that he should be commended for his optimism. Nevertheless, it would have been to his advantage to include more stories of churches having been adversely affected, both in the short term and the long, by alternative preaching methods.
That being said, the book contains many excellent quotes which highlight the gravity of the general situation in the evangelical church today. In perhaps his best summative paragraph regarding the problem at hand, Begg writes:

“Young men beginning pastoral ministry are besieged by members of their congregations wanting them to begin their sermons with man and his need instead of God and his glory. Paranoid preoccupation with a new millennium is due more to a preoccupation with ourselves and our needs than to a humble dependence upon the unerring truth of the Bible. The antidote to such a virulent disease is biblical preaching that allows the Scriptures to establish the agenda” (27).

Indeed, in this paragraph alone, the entire rationale behind his book is contained and explained with brilliant brevity and clarity.

The value of this book for contemporary ministers, particular those young men about to enter the pastorate, is undeniable. If a man considers himself to be a Christian with the calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he cannot disconnect himself from God’s Word by which Christ is made known. For any seeking wise counsel in how to conduct his or her Christian ministry, this book is a must read.

Likewise, for those in the ministry who are under pressure from other leaders and congregants to adopt other styles or, God forbid, to place less emphasis on the Bible, this book may just contain the needed exhortation to persevere. Though the world may reject it, “the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12 NIV). Jesus Christ alone, presented through the Word of God, is the antidote for sin and death. There is no other.

[Noah Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief book on preaching that packs a punch. Alistair Begg spends less than 75 pages calling God's men to be expositors of the Word. He deals with the lack of expository preaching and offers some reasons for that. However, he does not wave his fist in anger at the sky. Instead, he addresses the problems and presents some solutions by calling men to be heralds of the Word. If you are new to expository preaching or simply need a reminder, this book is helpful for both. I read books on preaching regularly and this did what I was looking for. It is a faithful reminder about the weight and power of preaching.

Begg pointed this out about who the expositor is to be:
"The expositor is not a poet moving his listeners by cadence or imagery, nor is he an author reading from a manuscript. He is a herald speaking by the strength and authority of heaven." (29)

That is at the heart of what he emphasizes much throughout this book. Preaching is not about entertainment, but it is about speaking to God's people from the Word of God under the authority of God. The expositor reads, explains, and applies what God has said in His Word. This book was a helpful reminder about what it truly means to preach.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a little short. Almost felt silly when it arrived and I realized what I had just bought. Still, it is a solid read. It doesn't necessarily add a bunch to the conversation of expository preaching. It makes a solid case for why pastors should use expository preaching, is filled with wonderful quotes about expository preaching, and gives a solid description of what expository preaching is.

Missing is practical matters of HOW to prepare and give expository sermons, which is too bad because I enjoy listening to Begg a great deal, and I was hoping to see more inside his process. Expository preaching is the way churches should be fed, but all the books say virtually the same thing and are incredibly vague about the process. It is as much an art form as it is a science, so step-by-step instructions will ultimately fall short, but you have to start somewhere and it would be nice if these books would give clear concise directions, step-by-step walk me through a sermon preparation.

A lot of pastors will claim they are expository preaching, and it is hard to notice that they are not without a very basic "checklist" (if you will) of things to look for.

[Randy Corn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially, Begg does in this book what I have heard him do in some of his radio messages. This is a brief book of homiletics, really more a critique of what is wrong with a lot of modern preaching. I have to say that I agree with Begg. There is a lot of this sort of stuff going on, far more than should be.

The strength of this book is in the quotations from sources which make his points well. It shows that this is not simply the result of Begg’s thinking about the subject, but a careful consideration of what a whole host of different writers have thought. I was impressed by the names of individual writers and preachers which apparently are held in high regard by Begg that were totally unknown to me. This tells me that I need to reading more widely than I am on this important subject.

I feel certain that I will be recommending this book to friends of mine who preach. I can’t see how they would not find it helpful if not positively interesting. The brevity of the book is also in its favor as well.

[David Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critiques: Begg’s reformed bias comes through in this book, and his reliance of Lloyd Jones is clear. His argumentation is not very strong, rather an overview of expository preaching and why we should do it.
 
Praises: Begg gives extremely practical application for the preacher in regards to prayer, study and reading/writing. The “why” for expository preaching, while not extensive in its argumentation, is extremely helpful and encouraging for the pastor to remember. Expository preaching is the way to go in Begg’s mind.

“Why is expository preaching absent from most of today’s churches? Because of a loss of confidence in the scripture, preoccupations with the wrong battles, and a lack of excellent role models, many preachers compromise in their calling and revert to the expectations of the cultures.”

[Camden Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tiny little book was convicting. Beautiful quotes and pointed insight from Alistair Begg. All glory to God who has given us His Word. Nothing else need substitute the Word of God. We must come under it and proclaim it. Here were two of my favorite quotes:

"O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart" (Begg, 43).

"O thou who camest from above
The pure celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze" (Begg, 60).

[Josh Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, pithy read on preaching - specifically the type of preaching that gives glory to God. The booklet encourages the use of expository preaching as the most Biblical way of preaching to people the Word of God. As much attention is given to the preparation of the preacher's heart during studying & before preaching as much as the style of preaching.

In this day and age of much preaching that is "a mile wide and an inch deep," the truth that rings forth from the author needs to be implemented by more preachers of God's Holy Word.

[Matthew Kottman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Begg is really a fast read. If you are feeling a stirring to teach/preach the Bible, this is a great primer on the importance of exposition. Begg is a seasoned exegete and a gifted preacher. I love hearing nuggets and insights from those who do it well, and Begg is one of those. I would have liked this volume to be longer and more in depth just because I believe this author has so much to add to the conversation of biblical exegetical preaching. But his objective was to be concise, and he does an excellent job giving a framework for exegetical preaching with brevity.

[Ricardo Daglio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente. Consejos biblicamente fundados. El Pastor Begg nos hace un conciso pero profundo desarrollo de lo que señala a una buena predicación. Si has leído otros libros sobre el tema seguramente hallarás reminiscencias de ellos pues Alistair no busca demostrar originalidad, pero ciertamente lo hace por la manera en que revive los conceptos fundacionales de la predicación expositiva; a la vez que añade otros aspectos igualmente importantes y necesarios para que cualquier predicador honesto pueda recordar y practicar.

[Jory Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful Intro to Expository Preaching

With brevity, simplicity, and passion, Begg communicates the need, the power, and the basic guidelines for expository preaching. This is in contrast to popular preaching styles that frequently use other mediums as their foundation besides the Bible (psychology, politics, movies, etc.) Great short book for someone who wants an introduction to expository preaching. Though it was written in 2000, it has a Puritan-like vibe to it. If you like that, you’ll love this book.

[Josiah Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Begg calls the preacher back to expository preaching that is concerned with teaching the text. I especially appreciate his emphasis on biblical theology and his comment that when we preach by consecutive exposition, sometimes we must be content with being less precise in our systematic theology and more precise in our biblical theology. I also really appreciate the practical steps of thinking yourself empty, reading yourself full, writing yourself clear, praying yourself hot, and being yourself while forgetting yourself.

[Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes length isn't everything. This book is short, sweet and to the point. It doesn't waste any time getting to the point of what preaching should be - Expository. It highlights the benefits and importance of Expository preaching in a well written, concise manner.

I also really liked the quotes on Jesus being explained in the Epistles AND the other quote about how people should not leave your sermon saying "what a great preacher" but rather "what a great God!"

[Ben Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and blunt he drives the point home that expository preaching glorifies God, preaches the authority of scripture and connects it to the individual. "The preacher’s task is to declare what God has said, explain the meaning, and establish the implications so that no one will mistake its relevance."

[Cody Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent booklet dealing with expository preaching. If you have listened to and benefitted from the preaching of Alistair Begg as I have, you know his style is engaging and conversational. His writing is the same. Easily readable in a few short sittings. This would serve as a great introduction to expository preaching, including practical tips without being technical.

[Guilherme Reggiani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livreto é um guia prático e fácil para aqueles que querem se aprofundar na arte da pregação expositiva. O autor, além de explicar o que é a pregação expositiva, defende que esta é a maneira mais correta e bíblica de pregar e a que dá também, mais glórias a Deus.

[Troy Nevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begg does a great job of showing the importance, necessity, and duty of a pastor to faithfully exposit the Word of God to his congregation.

Many of the messages he has preached have had many of these elements, so nothing seems uniquely novel, but it is consistently gold and worth its weight in it.

[Brian Algie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book on expository preaching that can be read in one sitting.

[Anthony Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but succinctly put!

Begg states in a concise manner what it means by expository preaching. Here’s a helpful and inspiring guide for any preacher to His glory!

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, although brief, book about the use of expository preaching - which is missing in a majority of churches (along with a pulpit).

[Tom Robson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short and some helpful points, but not my favourite book on preaching

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick but very applicable look at the role of the pastor and the function of expository preaching.

[Kyle Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars.

[Andy Deck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great compilation of concise and insightful articles. Sad it was so short.