How God Used R.A. Torrey: A Short Biography as Told Through His Sermons

by Fred Sanders

Sermons to change you, a life to inspire you. Scholar, expositor, storyteller, and evangelist, R. A. Torrey was a master-of-all-trades minister. Crowds worldwide called his preaching “that famous Torrey thing.”  And that famous Torrey thing won souls. Inside are the most famous, influential, and characteristic of his sermons. Though nearly a century old, they challenge us anew from Scripture and are greatly instructive to any who preach. Drawn from various periods of Torrey’s ministry, and prefaced with bibliographic commentary, these sermons paint a portrait of a man gripped by God. But even more they grip the reader. They take us into the great halls where God’s Word bellowed forth from Torrey and left his audiences hushed. It’s no wonder that Torrey caught the attention of the great evangelist D. L. Moody. Be ready to be provoked. Like an archer who strikes with both accuracy and force, Torrey preached with clarity while cutting deep to the heart. Behind the bow you’ll see a man fully sold on the kingdom of God, and you’ll be inspired to follow suit.

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2015

About the author

Fred Sanders is professor of theology at Biola University's Torrey Honors College.

Reviews

[M.J. Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This evangelistic preacher stirs my spirit to boldly proclaim Christ in submission to the Holy Spirit and in constant prayer. Though I disagree with Torrey's view on the second experience of the Holy Spirit (baptism by fire), it was encouraging to me to see that he despised viewing Christians in two classes (those with and those without this second experience).

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

In compiling How God Used R.A. Torrey Fred Sanders has given us insight into one of the most important evangelical leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the lens of his own sermons.

I was not familiar with Torrey beyond his serving as dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles now known as BIOLA. In his sermons and the illustrations in them you can trace the life and development of Torrey. Torrey in his sermons addresses areas of key importance as Christian which demonstrate his importance for his time. None in Torrey's day could accuse him of holding his beliefs due to ignorance, Torrey had been exposed to and had almost been won over by the liberal view of Scripture but through God's grace came to a settled conviction of the truth. This insight into Torrey helps shed light onto how he had such a great impact in his day, his day was one in which church leaders were becoming enamored with higher critical theories which cast doubt on the truthfulness of Scripture.

Torrey was as revealed in his sermons an evangelist in the truest sense of the word. His goal and focus was to win the lost, and as evidenced in his illustrations he had a passion for reaching those who appeared furthest from grace. He also had a great desire to see ordinary Christians become involved in the work of personal evangelism which was evidenced clearly in how he spent his final years.

This biographical look through the sermons preached by R.A. Torrey provides an encouraging insight to an evangelical leader who is often forgotten.

Disclosure: I received this book free from from the publisher for providing this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...