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Spirit Empowered Preaching: Involve the Holy Spirit in Your Ministry
One of the great dangers that faces today's preachers is the problem of an over intellectual approach. Careful, meditative and painstaking exegesis brings a potential liability, that of losing the vitality, which must accompany exposition.The Puritans called it 'that certain unction', Martyn Lloyd-Jones called it 'an access of power', others have called it 'the anointing'. If you desire that your preaching be lifted up to a position in which you are being used by the Spirit as a channel, then Arturo Azurdia can help you.The insights in this book are gained from Art's careful study and practical experiences of being used by the Holy Spirit in his ministry.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 1999
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About the author
Arturo G. Azurdia III
6 books6 followersDr. Arturo Azurdia III is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Director of Pastoral Mentoring at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
He is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, having attended the California State University at Hayward where he received a B. A. in Music Performance. His M. Div. was earned from The American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California, and his D. Min. from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California. He was the founding minister of Christ Community Church in Fairfield, California, where he subsequently pastored for 19 years.
Art is the author of Spirit Empowered Preaching (Christian Focus Publications) and a contributing author in two additional volumes: The Compromised Church (Crossway) and Reforming Pastoral Ministry (Crossway). He is a frequent speaker at various national and international conferences.
He is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, having attended the California State University at Hayward where he received a B. A. in Music Performance. His M. Div. was earned from The American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California, and his D. Min. from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California. He was the founding minister of Christ Community Church in Fairfield, California, where he subsequently pastored for 19 years.
Art is the author of Spirit Empowered Preaching (Christian Focus Publications) and a contributing author in two additional volumes: The Compromised Church (Crossway) and Reforming Pastoral Ministry (Crossway). He is a frequent speaker at various national and international conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 2, 2021
This is a fantastic book that calls pastors to remember the supernatural work that they are participating in by preaching the Word. Azurdia pulls from the great preachers of old and calls men to remain lowly and in prayer so that they may be effective proclaimers of the Word. A must read for those in the pulpit.
May 1, 2025
Deeply scriptural. Well cited. Impactful and practical. Way too many block quotes; sometimes pages long. I hope Art is doing well and living in repentance after his disqualification.
Favorite quote:
"I have become convinced that preachers can rightly anticipate the Holy Spirit's power only when they are resolutely wedded to the Holy Spirit's purpose. What is His purpose? To glorify Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of the Old and the New Testament scriptures, both of which point to Him" (59).
Favorite quote:
"I have become convinced that preachers can rightly anticipate the Holy Spirit's power only when they are resolutely wedded to the Holy Spirit's purpose. What is His purpose? To glorify Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of the Old and the New Testament scriptures, both of which point to Him" (59).
September 4, 2015
Azurdia gives us a biblical theology of Spirit empowered preaching. It is both incredibly insightful and piercingly convicting. Every preacher ought to read this book. Every congregation ought to read this book. Then, after you read it once, read it again!
February 20, 2018
Highlights:
The Greater Works
In John 14:12 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” Azurdia observes that a “common interpretation [of Jesus’ statement] is to define this as a promise to the disciples that they will perform greater miracles than those performed by Jesus” (22). And by extension, this direction of interpretation is often applied to believers today in charismatic circles. However, Azurdia points out that in Acts “no record is found of any apostolic figure giving sight to the blind” (22). In fact, there is no evidence of ‘greater’ miracles being performed by the apostles in Acts. Instead, the “’greater works’ to which Jesus here refers are the conversions of people and the advancement of the gospel” (23). More people are going to come into the kingdom through the efforts of the apostles, such as Peter’s sermon in which three thousand responded. The ‘greater works’ refer to “the spoils of the past twenty centuries of Christian conquest; that is, the ongoing deliverance of people who at one point in time were living among those marked out for eternal judgment” (23).
Methods
Azurdia states that today, “the most popular and significant methods and means for doing ministry require little, if any, divine truth and power” (30). By this he means that in many churches, divine truth (the Scriptures and all they contain) and divine power (anointing of the Holy Spirit) are absent from their methodologies. Examples of this would be a focus on tweaking the service to attract, whether with flashing lights or liturgical candles. Or perhaps the pastor prepares for his sermon by studying the latest film or reading the latest self-help book. Or maybe they are focused on programs to keep the kids and adults busy and happy. All of these things do not require the Spirit’s intervention to work. Lloyd-Jones once called the modern church to “repent of setting up her own thinking and methods over against the divine revelation in Holy Scripture” with regards to how we are to worship and minister (32). Azurdia says there are three essential principles in God-honoring ministry: the divine message (Jesus Christ), the divine method (authoritative proclamation), and the divine means (the power of the Spirit of God) (63).
Desperation
A preacher ought to feel a deep, urgent love for the flock that God has entrusted to him, and the world which needs to be saved. He must be a man focused on eternity, and the eternality of souls, for he will give an account (Heb. 13:17). Azurdia vividly describes this way of being saying, “The preacher wakes up on the Lord’s Day morning and he can smell the smoke of hell on one side and feel the crisp breezes of heaven on the other. He then looks down at his pitiful notes and he says to himself, ‘Who do I think I am kidding? Is this all there is?’ Though oftentimes a source of great anxiety, this is the proper conclusion for a preacher of the cross. He is ever mindful of his inadequacies in relationship to the immensity of the task at hand. Still, he cannot turn away from it” (92). The pastor is tirelessly seeking the salvation of his people, yet he is desperately aware of his own inadequacy, “a nagging frustration; a vulnerability that haunts him daily” (117). Yet, “the preacher must recognize, and even revel in, his own human inabilities” (143), for this forces him to trust in the power of the Spirit, and turns all glory away from him and to the sovereign God.
The Greater Works
In John 14:12 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” Azurdia observes that a “common interpretation [of Jesus’ statement] is to define this as a promise to the disciples that they will perform greater miracles than those performed by Jesus” (22). And by extension, this direction of interpretation is often applied to believers today in charismatic circles. However, Azurdia points out that in Acts “no record is found of any apostolic figure giving sight to the blind” (22). In fact, there is no evidence of ‘greater’ miracles being performed by the apostles in Acts. Instead, the “’greater works’ to which Jesus here refers are the conversions of people and the advancement of the gospel” (23). More people are going to come into the kingdom through the efforts of the apostles, such as Peter’s sermon in which three thousand responded. The ‘greater works’ refer to “the spoils of the past twenty centuries of Christian conquest; that is, the ongoing deliverance of people who at one point in time were living among those marked out for eternal judgment” (23).
Methods
Azurdia states that today, “the most popular and significant methods and means for doing ministry require little, if any, divine truth and power” (30). By this he means that in many churches, divine truth (the Scriptures and all they contain) and divine power (anointing of the Holy Spirit) are absent from their methodologies. Examples of this would be a focus on tweaking the service to attract, whether with flashing lights or liturgical candles. Or perhaps the pastor prepares for his sermon by studying the latest film or reading the latest self-help book. Or maybe they are focused on programs to keep the kids and adults busy and happy. All of these things do not require the Spirit’s intervention to work. Lloyd-Jones once called the modern church to “repent of setting up her own thinking and methods over against the divine revelation in Holy Scripture” with regards to how we are to worship and minister (32). Azurdia says there are three essential principles in God-honoring ministry: the divine message (Jesus Christ), the divine method (authoritative proclamation), and the divine means (the power of the Spirit of God) (63).
Desperation
A preacher ought to feel a deep, urgent love for the flock that God has entrusted to him, and the world which needs to be saved. He must be a man focused on eternity, and the eternality of souls, for he will give an account (Heb. 13:17). Azurdia vividly describes this way of being saying, “The preacher wakes up on the Lord’s Day morning and he can smell the smoke of hell on one side and feel the crisp breezes of heaven on the other. He then looks down at his pitiful notes and he says to himself, ‘Who do I think I am kidding? Is this all there is?’ Though oftentimes a source of great anxiety, this is the proper conclusion for a preacher of the cross. He is ever mindful of his inadequacies in relationship to the immensity of the task at hand. Still, he cannot turn away from it” (92). The pastor is tirelessly seeking the salvation of his people, yet he is desperately aware of his own inadequacy, “a nagging frustration; a vulnerability that haunts him daily” (117). Yet, “the preacher must recognize, and even revel in, his own human inabilities” (143), for this forces him to trust in the power of the Spirit, and turns all glory away from him and to the sovereign God.
October 16, 2024
This was a well written and passionate call to recover the vitality of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church, especially in preaching. It makes a strong case for why preaching must be restored to the central place in the church's worship. But it must not just be mere preaching. It must be a preaching that proceeds from a closet bathed in fervent prayer, diligent study, as well as awareness of the preacher's own limitations. Only such an approach can expect to have the presence of the Holy spirit bless the word to the hearers.
September 19, 2017
Excellent. Convicting and encouraging for preachers and yet in many ways applicable to the whole of the Christian life.
February 7, 2016
Azurdia's "Spirit Empowered Preaching" is a profoundly helpful book for those called to preach the Word to God's people. It is refreshing that this is a contemporary work with much wisdom, as well as rebukes for much of our modern evangelical folly. We cannot expect God to work mightily if we are not faithful to obey His command to "preach Christ". This is foolishness to the world.
Further, while many want to replace preaching in the church with motivational speeches, dialogues, debates, rock 'n roll worship experiences, Azurdia reminds the church of our generation that nothing can replace preaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit.
One of the final chapters I found most edifying was the chapter which exhorted congregations to "do their part" in preaching; that is, be attentive, eager, discerning listeners. It is no wonder that we get so little out of preaching, precisely because we come predisposed to dislike, critique, and even disdain the message preached.
Azurdia presented some real solid portions here, worthy of consideration and implementation. However, there seemed to be a lack of original material here, and while the quotes he provided were wonderful, it seemed to me that the arguments made relied a bit too heavily on external material rather than original reasoning.
Overall, really good. Worth reading by both pastors and parishioners!
Further, while many want to replace preaching in the church with motivational speeches, dialogues, debates, rock 'n roll worship experiences, Azurdia reminds the church of our generation that nothing can replace preaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit.
One of the final chapters I found most edifying was the chapter which exhorted congregations to "do their part" in preaching; that is, be attentive, eager, discerning listeners. It is no wonder that we get so little out of preaching, precisely because we come predisposed to dislike, critique, and even disdain the message preached.
Azurdia presented some real solid portions here, worthy of consideration and implementation. However, there seemed to be a lack of original material here, and while the quotes he provided were wonderful, it seemed to me that the arguments made relied a bit too heavily on external material rather than original reasoning.
Overall, really good. Worth reading by both pastors and parishioners!
September 22, 2011
I give five stars to two types of books; those that are just good in and of themselves, like Hamlet or Lord of the Rings, and those that greatly effect my life. This book falls into the latter category. I have been thinking and preaching on prayer lately. This book was perfect to round out my thinking on prayer and the relationship of the Spirit to preaching. The section on the weakness of the preacher was convicting.
At times the author verged towards a revivalistic view of the Spirit's view in preaching. He balanced it out in certain areas, but this is one potential weakness of the book.
Still it was excellent, a necessary tonic for too much reliance upon myself as I preach.
At times the author verged towards a revivalistic view of the Spirit's view in preaching. He balanced it out in certain areas, but this is one potential weakness of the book.
Still it was excellent, a necessary tonic for too much reliance upon myself as I preach.
March 27, 2013
Art Azurdia's DMin dissertation summarizes his approach to preaching. In my humble opinion, Art Azurdia is one of the finest preachers in all of the world, a craftsman with words, who also understands the role of a Christocentric hermeneutic and biblical theology. But as committed as Art is to preaching the biblical text, this book emphasizes the absolute necessity of the working of the Holy Spirit. Art's exegesis is accurate and his arguments are compelling. If every preacher would read this book, the people of God would be well-fed.
June 30, 2014
I bought this at a conference Azurida was the main speaker at. I will have to read it again to glean all the deep truths he conveyed. Many people won't touch the subject of the Holy Spirit but he does so with confidence. A must read to anybody behind the pulpit and also for anybody listening from the pew.
February 17, 2015
Good book. It is worth reading. I appreciated the words on the weakness of the preacher and his need for and dependence upon prayer and holiness. As I read I couldn't help but see the correlations between the preaching role and the fathering role. This book applies equally to those who teach in congregations and in the home. We desperately need the ministry of the Spirit in both.
December 15, 2011
Great read - should have read it years ago when I purchased it. Excellent exhortation on subject matter that is all too often ignored. A must read for all preachers and will be a book that I regularly re-read.
February 24, 2009
Quite good.
March 12, 2009
Author does a great job of informing the reader how the Holy Spirit helps the orator.
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June 4, 2020Good stuff here. I enjoyed it very much.
October 19, 2025
This is an excellent exhortation to prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit in our preaching ministry.
March 27, 2013
This is one of my favorite books!!
April 22, 2013
Great book! This may be the best book I have ever read.
August 15, 2013
Helpful book in recovering/realizing the role of the Spirit in preaching. A bit idealistic (but what homiletical books aren't?). Certainly opens one's eyes to the need of grace in the pulpit.
February 24, 2017
The Spirit must empower the preacher of the word or his message will have no eternal significance. Great book!
April 28, 2012
Moaned "amens" while reading. Dude writes with fiyah.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews