The Privilege, Promise, Power & Peril of Doctrinal Preaching

by Thomas J. Nettles

What made Jonathan Edwards’s preaching so powerful?

Why is much of today’s preaching so lifeless, even dangerous?

Where did things go wrong?

How has the church traveled so far away from the doctrinal convictions of Edwards?

Church historian and theologian Tom Nettles answers these questions by explaining the historical departure from doctrinal preaching and the various pitfalls that come from leaving sound doctrine behind. If we want to recapture the power of preaching, we must recapture the power of sound doctrine.

“Tom Nettles brings a rare combination to bear on the subject of doctrinal preaching... The insight of such study informs his deep conviction about the power of biblical preaching, and the results have been organized in this book. Tom writes as a practitioner of what he commends. I highly recommend it.” —Tom Ascol

“For many long years it has been my conviction that the Church needs fewer statesmen, managers of the mundane, leaders of pep rallies, and clowns. What we need is more Pastor/Theologians, men who know how to teach doctrine while preaching expositionally through books of the Bible. Tom Nettles has called our attention to this lost art. May the book be read by many.” —David Miller

“Nettles’s historical analysis of leading pulpit figures is charitable, but his biblical-theological conclusions are full of the fierce conviction of a man who loves the church and understands the power and priority of preaching. If you care about preaching this is a book you should read.” —David E. Prince

“This book fills a lamentable and long-time void in the field of homiletics. In fact, I know of no other text that weaves exegesis, application, theology, and history into a comprehensive model of doctrinal preaching. For years I have lamented the lack of a good text for doctrinal preaching, but this one was worth the wait. It will stand as the model for faithful doctrinal preaching for years to come.” —Hershael W. York

Tom Nettles has written biographies of Charles Spurgeon and James P. Boyce. Among his other books are By His Grace and for His Glory and Baptists and the Bible. He is retired but serves as a Senior Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Paperback

Published July 8, 2018

About the author

Tom Nettles (see also) is Professor of Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[George Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, though at times somewhat unfocused, reminder of the vital necessity of preaching doctrinally-based sermons from scripture.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amen! Amen! Amen! Most of the sermons coming from our pulpits today are watered down, man centered appeals to human autonomy and "free-will". Thomas J. Nettles does an outstanding job of giving us a historical look at the preaching of the last few centuries and clearly details the parallel between our falling away from the authority of Scripture and reliance on God's Word to the modern evangelical movement and it's "worship" of entertainment, pop culture, and psychological manipulation.
I picked this up and rarely put it down. Very clearly written and eye opening to say the least. The author is fair and detailed in his observations on the lives, preaching, and ministries of such household names as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham. He even has a kind observation about Joel Osteen! One cannot walk away from this book without realizing how far away from the true Gospel the American church has fallen and what we have fallen away from. Great book!

[Matt Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Nettles shows the decline of doctrinal preaching in the American Church. That is kind of obvious as the title dictates. Yet walking through the different eras of the American church from the Puritans to Modern day, it shows how the reverence for God as left and been replaced by the autonomy of the will. There is not much attention paid to Jonathan Edward's Freedom of the Will, but the contrast is there. There is direct rebuke of Joel Osteen, but it is not so much of Osteen but the modern day Ted Talks which are really Christ-less sermons.

[Jim Savastio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Nettles is very clear and compelling author. In this book he shows the importance of doctrinal preaching rooted in a conviction of the finality of God's authoritative revelation. He shows the importance of preacher's theology being in accordance with the great creeds and confessions and the dangers that ensue when these historic safeguards are thrown off. As an historian, Dr. Nettles utilizes examples, both positive and negative to demonstrate these truths and then presses home the point to preachers at the end with extended biblical exegesis and application.

[Mark Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful reminder of necessity and exclusivity of faithful doctrinal preaching for the pastor and his church, while highlighting the potentially dangerous heritage of man-centered preaching that our people have received.

[Jacob Pippin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by Dr. Nettles, highly recommended.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun historical survey of preaching in America, tracing through Edwards, to Finney, to Sunday, to Graham, to the Apostle Paul’s example. Worthwhile read.