The Relevance of Preaching

by Pierre Ch. Marcel, Rob Roy McGregor (Translator), William Robinson (Editor)

Because he believed in the importance of preaching in our age, the author wrote this book “to be read by every Protestant desirous of deepening his acquaintance with the goal, power, and relevance of preaching; to permit him to profit as much as possible from this preaching; to help him, layman or preacher, become conscious of his own personal responsibility in the preaching as a means of grace and the content, relevance, and characteristics of good preaching.“

110 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2019

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book on preaching that I have long waited for. It is not a method of preaching, as much as it is a theology of preaching. Unlike many other practical volumes on preaching, Marcel holds forth the weighty view of preaching that the Reformers held — that the preaching of the Word of God IS the Word of God. As such, he challenges the preacher to consider the weight of his task, to rely upon the Spirit of God, and to not redefine preaching in light of human whims.

One of the things that I especially appreciated was his emphasis in the final chapter on the necessity of the hearer for preaching. Those who hear the preached Word are necessary in that the preacher must have a specific congregation (Church) to whom he must preach. But also, those who hear will know the most benefit from the preached Word when they understand what preaching is and they ask God to speak to them through the mouth of the preacher.

For such a small volume, this book is jam-packed with theology. It is certainly one I will return to frequently — perhaps even annually — throughout my ministry.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book dealing with the nature of preaching. Marcell argues for the "relevance" of preaching, that is, the contemporary need of it, and he explains the kind of preaching that is relevant. His emphasis on the preacher's dependence on the Spirit was most helpful. This book was required reading in homiletics class at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. I've read it twice and intend to read it again occasionally.