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Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching
The Old Testament is filled with intriguing characters, stories and themes. But preaching from its remote historical context wrapped in sometimes unfamiliar literary genres and narrative devices can be daunting. Based on the conviction that the Old Testament texts are a vital and dynamic part of the Christian canon and pertinent to Christian practice, this stimulating volume offers guidance for expository preaching and practical suggestions for understanding the message of its diverse literature. The chapters cover narrative, plot, characters, genre and preaching from difficult texts. The book concludes with a vital chapter on preaching Christ from the Old Testament, which offers a theological account of biblical interpretation without unnaturally forcing the texts. The contributors are internationally respected evangelical Old Testament scholars, from a wide range of church traditions and global regions, who are also active in Daniel I. Block, David G. Firth, Grenville J. R. Kent, Paul J. Kissling, Alison Lo, Tremper Longman III, Ernest C. Lucas, R. W. L. Moberly, Laurence A. Turner, Frederico G. Villanueva, Gordon Wenham, H. G. M. Williamson and Christopher J. H. Wright. Here is a book that will help you use all of the Bible's rich resources in preaching the good news of the global kindgom of God.
- GenresBiblical StudiesTheology
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2010
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November 20, 2020
This is a helpful intro to preaching various kinds of Old Testament texts. It deal with issues a commentary does not always deal with, such as hermeneutical approaches to consider for preaching.
May 19, 2016
Добро съвременно ръководство за проповядване по текстове от Стария Завет. Към всяка разгледана старозаветна книга, група книги или специфичен жанр (като например апокалиптичната литература), има даден примерен план за проповед. Учудва ме, че двама-трима от авторите имат малко тежък и засукан начин на изразяване, което ми се струва неуместно за такава книга (дори се съмнявам в проповедническите им способности). Но като изключим тях, много повечето други автори са си свършили отлично работата. Желаещите да получат малко повече насока за проповядване по старозаветните текстове, могат да извлекат много познания и вдъхновение от книжката.
February 19, 2017
Over the last few decades, a revival of interest in the Old Testament seems to have come over the evangelical church. Numerous resources for preaching the Old Testament and for understanding the various genres we find in the first two thirds of our Bibles have been produced. The tide is turning, and more and more we hear of careful preaching through the Old Testament again.
We still have a long way to go, however. Most conservative pulpits major on the New Testament. After all, the relevance of NT books to the Christian living today is much more apparent. Popular expositors have even given us commentary after commentary on the New Testament, to the almost complete exclusion of the Old Testament. Theology-heavy sermons from the doctrinal portions of the New Testament can serve to keep people out of touch with the reality of the story of Scripture. And ironically, in an age where everybody's story has value, the grand overarching storyline of the Bible is silenced by the Church's neglect of the first 39 books of her Bible.
Many of the resources being published that are seeking to revive a focus on the Old Testament are locked away in scholarly tomes or couched in some liberal theological garb, effectively kept away from the average pastor's and Bible teacher's reach. A new book by InterVarsity Press aims to bring scholarly resources into an accessible and highly useful format. Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching , edited by Grenville J.R. Kent, Paul J. Kissling and Laurence A. Turner, actually manages to live up to its title's bold claim. In an accessible and user-friendly format, the book brings together contributions from a wide array of OT scholars.
After a brief introduction, the book moves on to cover OT narrative plot, OT narrative characters, the Law, Lament, Praise Poetry, Wisdom literature, the Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Apocalyptic literature, and the Minor Prophets. It also has a chapter on preaching from difficult texts and another on preaching Christ from the Old Testament. The chapters aren't too long or overly detailed; instead, they are delightfully readable. They are structured in such a way as to clearly convey the primary difficulties and recommended approaches for the particular genre surveyed. Almost all the chapters include helpful footnotes and recommendations for further study. And each concludes with an example sermon which puts the theory into practice.
As I read through this book, I kept earmarking page after page where helpful insights were shared about the various parts of the Old Testament. The sections covering narrative plot and characters were especially helpful and full of examples. Laurence Turner stressed placing each narrative in context to its larger narrative, and on sticking to the flow of the author as much as possible when developing a sermon. Paul Kissling discussed a unique strategy of comparing the speech of the characters over and against the narrator's account, as a way of finding the main point of a given story. Christopher J.H. Wright's chapter on preaching the Law was also superb. He stressed the connection Law has with grace as seen in the historical setting given in the Pentateuch. He also unpacked the lesser-known missiological aspects of the Law: namely, Israel living out God's Law as a testimony to the nations, and the application this has to the Church today.
Federico Villanueva's chapter on Lament was particularly insightful as he writes from the standpoint of a non-Westerner (he ministers in Manila). Tremper Longman's chapter on wisdom literature, particularly his discussion of Ecclesiastes and Job, was also very helpful in finding ways to grasp the main point of these books and how best to apply it to today's Christians. Similarly, Grenville Kent's discussion on the Song of Solomon was also very helpful. Even though he steers clear of a direct allegorical interpretation, he finds value in analogy and metaphor. His discussion of where God makes an appearance in the Song, and why, is worth quoting here:
The chapter on Isaiah, by H.G.M. Williamson did a great job stressing the literary unity of Isaiah. He traced the theme of righteousness and justice showing how such wide themes inform the specific context of any given passage in the book. Daniel Block challenges us to preach Ezekiel, and offers several helpful charts and analyses of the book and its central message. Alison Lo gave a wonderful, yet brief treatment of the Minor Prophets. She excelled at relating the context and themes of those books to today's world and its problems. She also discussed the interrelation of the books as a wider whole (the "book of the twelve"), and provided a fascinating outline of Zephaniah.
Gordon Wenham's discussion of various "difficult texts" in the Old Testament was in the whole, masterful. Some may disagree with his stance on Gen. 1 -- explaining the wider context of the ideas about the world of the time (and thus not getting into a discussion of whether the six days are literal 24 hour days), but his comments on the imprecatory psalms, the "eye for an eye" law, apparent divine-sanctioned genocides, and OT slavery are both helpful and wise. R.W.L. Moberly's chapter on preaching Christ from the Old Testament cites a lot of material that applies to this concern. He stresses that the wider context of the Old Testament includes the canonical grouping of the books and their use by the Church. He sees a second narrative (the NT) interpreting the original narrative in a sense similar to a detective story where at the end, all the initial elements of the plot make perfect sense. He also allows for imagination to impact interpretation and helpfully walks through some examples in how to think through this in a practical manner.
The chapters in the book are not all of equal value. The praise poetry, and apocalyptic literature sections were not as helpful to me. Some of the contributors may not be as immediately accessible as others. But the beauty of this book is how it offers a manual for the preacher who is choosing an OT text to preach. This book won't be the only resource consulted, but it offers a sensible approach and several helpful points for encountering just about any text in the Old Testament. Throughout, it stresses a literary and canonical approach that focuses on the Old Testament we have, not imagined historical reconstructions. This ensures the book's usefulness by people of a variety of particular persuasions within evangelicalism.
I trust tools such as Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching, will encourage many pastors to pick an OT book for their next sermon series. This book will prove useful for any Bible student, and I highly recommend it. May the beauty of the Old Testament captivate the hearts and minds of more teachers and preachers, and be preached with power to the congregations that God has entrusted to their care.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Inter-Varsity Press for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
Pick up a copy of this book at Amazon.com or through IVP direct. An expanded version of this review, with additional resources, will also be available at CrossFocusedReviews.com.
We still have a long way to go, however. Most conservative pulpits major on the New Testament. After all, the relevance of NT books to the Christian living today is much more apparent. Popular expositors have even given us commentary after commentary on the New Testament, to the almost complete exclusion of the Old Testament. Theology-heavy sermons from the doctrinal portions of the New Testament can serve to keep people out of touch with the reality of the story of Scripture. And ironically, in an age where everybody's story has value, the grand overarching storyline of the Bible is silenced by the Church's neglect of the first 39 books of her Bible.
Many of the resources being published that are seeking to revive a focus on the Old Testament are locked away in scholarly tomes or couched in some liberal theological garb, effectively kept away from the average pastor's and Bible teacher's reach. A new book by InterVarsity Press aims to bring scholarly resources into an accessible and highly useful format. Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching , edited by Grenville J.R. Kent, Paul J. Kissling and Laurence A. Turner, actually manages to live up to its title's bold claim. In an accessible and user-friendly format, the book brings together contributions from a wide array of OT scholars.
After a brief introduction, the book moves on to cover OT narrative plot, OT narrative characters, the Law, Lament, Praise Poetry, Wisdom literature, the Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Apocalyptic literature, and the Minor Prophets. It also has a chapter on preaching from difficult texts and another on preaching Christ from the Old Testament. The chapters aren't too long or overly detailed; instead, they are delightfully readable. They are structured in such a way as to clearly convey the primary difficulties and recommended approaches for the particular genre surveyed. Almost all the chapters include helpful footnotes and recommendations for further study. And each concludes with an example sermon which puts the theory into practice.
As I read through this book, I kept earmarking page after page where helpful insights were shared about the various parts of the Old Testament. The sections covering narrative plot and characters were especially helpful and full of examples. Laurence Turner stressed placing each narrative in context to its larger narrative, and on sticking to the flow of the author as much as possible when developing a sermon. Paul Kissling discussed a unique strategy of comparing the speech of the characters over and against the narrator's account, as a way of finding the main point of a given story. Christopher J.H. Wright's chapter on preaching the Law was also superb. He stressed the connection Law has with grace as seen in the historical setting given in the Pentateuch. He also unpacked the lesser-known missiological aspects of the Law: namely, Israel living out God's Law as a testimony to the nations, and the application this has to the Church today.
Federico Villanueva's chapter on Lament was particularly insightful as he writes from the standpoint of a non-Westerner (he ministers in Manila). Tremper Longman's chapter on wisdom literature, particularly his discussion of Ecclesiastes and Job, was also very helpful in finding ways to grasp the main point of these books and how best to apply it to today's Christians. Similarly, Grenville Kent's discussion on the Song of Solomon was also very helpful. Even though he steers clear of a direct allegorical interpretation, he finds value in analogy and metaphor. His discussion of where God makes an appearance in the Song, and why, is worth quoting here:
So if Yahweh had appeared directly in the Song, the culture may well have misunderstood him as condoning fertility religion or even as just another fertility god. The Song clearly separates worship and sex. it is 'a non-mythological, non-cultic, non-idolatrous, outright, open celebration of God-given sexual love'. (pg. 130, quote from John G. Snaith The Song of Songs (Eerdmans, 1993), pg. 5.)
The chapter on Isaiah, by H.G.M. Williamson did a great job stressing the literary unity of Isaiah. He traced the theme of righteousness and justice showing how such wide themes inform the specific context of any given passage in the book. Daniel Block challenges us to preach Ezekiel, and offers several helpful charts and analyses of the book and its central message. Alison Lo gave a wonderful, yet brief treatment of the Minor Prophets. She excelled at relating the context and themes of those books to today's world and its problems. She also discussed the interrelation of the books as a wider whole (the "book of the twelve"), and provided a fascinating outline of Zephaniah.
Gordon Wenham's discussion of various "difficult texts" in the Old Testament was in the whole, masterful. Some may disagree with his stance on Gen. 1 -- explaining the wider context of the ideas about the world of the time (and thus not getting into a discussion of whether the six days are literal 24 hour days), but his comments on the imprecatory psalms, the "eye for an eye" law, apparent divine-sanctioned genocides, and OT slavery are both helpful and wise. R.W.L. Moberly's chapter on preaching Christ from the Old Testament cites a lot of material that applies to this concern. He stresses that the wider context of the Old Testament includes the canonical grouping of the books and their use by the Church. He sees a second narrative (the NT) interpreting the original narrative in a sense similar to a detective story where at the end, all the initial elements of the plot make perfect sense. He also allows for imagination to impact interpretation and helpfully walks through some examples in how to think through this in a practical manner.
The chapters in the book are not all of equal value. The praise poetry, and apocalyptic literature sections were not as helpful to me. Some of the contributors may not be as immediately accessible as others. But the beauty of this book is how it offers a manual for the preacher who is choosing an OT text to preach. This book won't be the only resource consulted, but it offers a sensible approach and several helpful points for encountering just about any text in the Old Testament. Throughout, it stresses a literary and canonical approach that focuses on the Old Testament we have, not imagined historical reconstructions. This ensures the book's usefulness by people of a variety of particular persuasions within evangelicalism.
I trust tools such as Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching, will encourage many pastors to pick an OT book for their next sermon series. This book will prove useful for any Bible student, and I highly recommend it. May the beauty of the Old Testament captivate the hearts and minds of more teachers and preachers, and be preached with power to the congregations that God has entrusted to their care.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Inter-Varsity Press for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
Pick up a copy of this book at Amazon.com or through IVP direct. An expanded version of this review, with additional resources, will also be available at CrossFocusedReviews.com.
February 10, 2012
Homo Homini Lupus
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/
Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching is an academic overview and guide for preaching but it is a far cry from a piece on homiletics. Nowhere therein do the various authors wax long on the importance of three points or such inanities. Instead the work focuses on genres and aspects of the Old Testament and through pointed study shows the benefits, pitfalls, and practical necessities for preaching the different and diverse literatures of the Old Testament. The three man editing team of Kent, Kissling and Turner bring together a variety of voices and styles which not only strengthen the work but also reflects the variety of the task to be handled.
The book opens with two essays that take a wide look at the Old Testament and the challenges posed in preaching from narrative with the first focusing on plot and the second on character within the books. From there the full literary gamut is run from Law to Praise, from Lament to the Song of Solomon and every genre between. The material is as various as the contributing authors who come from a wide sampling of Christian denominations and from all across the globe.
A work composed of the writings of so many Old Testament scholars runs serious risk of dryness and inside jargon that would be a deterrent to a reader that did not share the scholastic inclination. That the work remains lively, impassioned and imminently readable speaks to the subtle hand of good editing and compilation. Like good stage direction it is rarely seen yet the presence reverberates throughout the work.
The scriptural insights that the authors bring to the work might be found with ample time, Sisyphean labors, and oceanic resources. Were a pastor enabled to endlessly burn the midnight oil and pour himself not only into the Word of God but into the multifarious commentaries and the time-spanning collections of theological tomes available he would certainly be able to come up with all of the answers contained in these mere 250 pages. That one does not have to is worth the investment in the test.
Beyond the scholastic side lies the true gold of Reclaiming in its practical application to sermon preparation. The authors are not mere biblical scholars but each in his own right preaches. And should one takes the texts at face value he cannot deny that the authors preach with great zeal for Christ and his Church. Were the scholastic language scotched the practical side of the work would serve the layman just as well as the pastor; not in the preparation of sermons but in the simple study of God's Word. There is enough substance to the work to establish a more serious reading of the text than many a bible study geared to the general congregant is able. This alone is enough to recommend the book: that the advice therein seeks to bring the 'God-breathed' Word to the church at large in a fashion that is beyond the superficial without being beyond the pew-sitter.
The chapter on preaching the Law is especially poignant here. The essay on the Law focuses not on the Pharisaical minutiae but rather on the God who gives the laws and the place within the narrative that this happens. The idea that one focus on what the law says about God instead of the duty apportioned to the ancient Hebrews creates a true foundation (see the pun there) for reading the text beyond preaching upon it. Any doubt that this message need be proclaimed to God's people may be assuaged in asking any number of congregants their take on the law. Is there any doubt that most will view Old Testament law as nothing more than that: old, dated, suffering from old-men-in-robes syndrome. The very idea that Christ freed us from the law, that is often heard in Christian circles, extols the need.
Reclaiming fills the need, or, more precisely, it aims to equip pastors, preachers, and lay-leaders with the tools and understanding necessary to fill the need. Were we to take Timothy's 'all scripture is inspired. . . and useful' seriously then it must be admitted that the lack of all scripture in most pulpits is a shameful waste of the resource God provided the leaders of his Kingdom.
5/5
Propter Sanguinem Agni,
RS
This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. They asked only for my honest opinion. Nothing weird or anything like that. I am only disclosing this information because it is illegal if I don't. I'm pretty sure that I would go to prison, probably for life, seeing how reviewing a product you are given for free under the guise of having purchased it yourself is similar to murder. O laws, like whitewashed tombs!
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/
Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching is an academic overview and guide for preaching but it is a far cry from a piece on homiletics. Nowhere therein do the various authors wax long on the importance of three points or such inanities. Instead the work focuses on genres and aspects of the Old Testament and through pointed study shows the benefits, pitfalls, and practical necessities for preaching the different and diverse literatures of the Old Testament. The three man editing team of Kent, Kissling and Turner bring together a variety of voices and styles which not only strengthen the work but also reflects the variety of the task to be handled.
The book opens with two essays that take a wide look at the Old Testament and the challenges posed in preaching from narrative with the first focusing on plot and the second on character within the books. From there the full literary gamut is run from Law to Praise, from Lament to the Song of Solomon and every genre between. The material is as various as the contributing authors who come from a wide sampling of Christian denominations and from all across the globe.
A work composed of the writings of so many Old Testament scholars runs serious risk of dryness and inside jargon that would be a deterrent to a reader that did not share the scholastic inclination. That the work remains lively, impassioned and imminently readable speaks to the subtle hand of good editing and compilation. Like good stage direction it is rarely seen yet the presence reverberates throughout the work.
The scriptural insights that the authors bring to the work might be found with ample time, Sisyphean labors, and oceanic resources. Were a pastor enabled to endlessly burn the midnight oil and pour himself not only into the Word of God but into the multifarious commentaries and the time-spanning collections of theological tomes available he would certainly be able to come up with all of the answers contained in these mere 250 pages. That one does not have to is worth the investment in the test.
Beyond the scholastic side lies the true gold of Reclaiming in its practical application to sermon preparation. The authors are not mere biblical scholars but each in his own right preaches. And should one takes the texts at face value he cannot deny that the authors preach with great zeal for Christ and his Church. Were the scholastic language scotched the practical side of the work would serve the layman just as well as the pastor; not in the preparation of sermons but in the simple study of God's Word. There is enough substance to the work to establish a more serious reading of the text than many a bible study geared to the general congregant is able. This alone is enough to recommend the book: that the advice therein seeks to bring the 'God-breathed' Word to the church at large in a fashion that is beyond the superficial without being beyond the pew-sitter.
The chapter on preaching the Law is especially poignant here. The essay on the Law focuses not on the Pharisaical minutiae but rather on the God who gives the laws and the place within the narrative that this happens. The idea that one focus on what the law says about God instead of the duty apportioned to the ancient Hebrews creates a true foundation (see the pun there) for reading the text beyond preaching upon it. Any doubt that this message need be proclaimed to God's people may be assuaged in asking any number of congregants their take on the law. Is there any doubt that most will view Old Testament law as nothing more than that: old, dated, suffering from old-men-in-robes syndrome. The very idea that Christ freed us from the law, that is often heard in Christian circles, extols the need.
Reclaiming fills the need, or, more precisely, it aims to equip pastors, preachers, and lay-leaders with the tools and understanding necessary to fill the need. Were we to take Timothy's 'all scripture is inspired. . . and useful' seriously then it must be admitted that the lack of all scripture in most pulpits is a shameful waste of the resource God provided the leaders of his Kingdom.
5/5
Propter Sanguinem Agni,
RS
This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. They asked only for my honest opinion. Nothing weird or anything like that. I am only disclosing this information because it is illegal if I don't. I'm pretty sure that I would go to prison, probably for life, seeing how reviewing a product you are given for free under the guise of having purchased it yourself is similar to murder. O laws, like whitewashed tombs!
August 18, 2013
"Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching" is a helpful book for the preacher who finds exposition of the Old Testament an intimidating prospect. The genius of the book is the editors’ decision to enlist various Old Testament scholars to aid the preacher in grasping the overall view of different genres of Scripture found in the Old Testament.
Each chapter is based on a paper presented at Tyndale Fellowship Old Testament Study Group in July 2009 at Cambridge University.
Divided into thirteen chapters, the reader will be introduced to such themes as ‘Preaching from the Law,’ ‘Preaching from Narrative,’ and ‘Preaching from the Minor Prophets.’
Finally, at the end of each chapter is a sample of a homiletical outline from each type of literature discussed.
As with any edited work, the book is only as profitable as the chapter under consideration.
The strength of the work is that it is an attempt to bridge the unfortunate gap that exists between the scholar and the pastor. I would argue that the scholar-author was challenged to write in such a way that the average pastor can take an imprecatory psalm or a seed from the Old Testament Law and preach it in such a way that is faithful to the text and beneficial to the congregant.
Further, the reader-pastor will be edified as he sees the necessity of not slipping into a Christ-less moralistic sermon or delivering a hagiographical ditty about Abraham’s honesty or Jonah’s faithfulness. Many busy preachers have known the frustration of attempting to fit a Psalm of Lament into a three-point outline, all the while feeling the reality that the mourning of David does not fit into “three points and a poem.”
The inherent yet unavoidable weakness of the book is that the subject matter is far too broad to be covered in the space of the average published work. One would even wonder if a well-written study Bible would suffice.
For the pastor who desires to improve his handling of various Old Testament genres, "Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching" is a good place to begin. However, the thorough preacher will recognize that he cannot end here.
Each chapter is based on a paper presented at Tyndale Fellowship Old Testament Study Group in July 2009 at Cambridge University.
Divided into thirteen chapters, the reader will be introduced to such themes as ‘Preaching from the Law,’ ‘Preaching from Narrative,’ and ‘Preaching from the Minor Prophets.’
Finally, at the end of each chapter is a sample of a homiletical outline from each type of literature discussed.
As with any edited work, the book is only as profitable as the chapter under consideration.
The strength of the work is that it is an attempt to bridge the unfortunate gap that exists between the scholar and the pastor. I would argue that the scholar-author was challenged to write in such a way that the average pastor can take an imprecatory psalm or a seed from the Old Testament Law and preach it in such a way that is faithful to the text and beneficial to the congregant.
Further, the reader-pastor will be edified as he sees the necessity of not slipping into a Christ-less moralistic sermon or delivering a hagiographical ditty about Abraham’s honesty or Jonah’s faithfulness. Many busy preachers have known the frustration of attempting to fit a Psalm of Lament into a three-point outline, all the while feeling the reality that the mourning of David does not fit into “three points and a poem.”
The inherent yet unavoidable weakness of the book is that the subject matter is far too broad to be covered in the space of the average published work. One would even wonder if a well-written study Bible would suffice.
For the pastor who desires to improve his handling of various Old Testament genres, "Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching" is a good place to begin. However, the thorough preacher will recognize that he cannot end here.
Read
December 2, 2010Reclaiming The Old Testament for Christian Preaching
One thing that I have noticed to be painfully absent in Christian preaching is the Old Testament. I have noticed its absence in my own preaching far too often. Thankfully, the good folks at Intervarsity Press noticed this issue and took steps to help us with it. They assembled a team that is a “who's who” of preachers, teacher, professors, etc. to write a book about Old Testament preaching in the Christian church.
The book is essentially an encyclopedia of preaching on the Old Testament. It addresses the various genre of the OT, as well as the law, the prophets, minor prophets, Psalms, wisdom, Song of Solomon, and much more. In other words, this book is not only about preaching, but hermeneutics, Biblical theology, and pastoral application.
I simply cannot say enough good about this book, as almost every chapter delves into the heart of what we must do to understand the genre, or book we are reading and preaching. Then it moves to how to present it. There is much wisdom to be found here for pastors in preaching, too, as the contributors help us to see various mistakes we could make with the texts and applications. They also suggest to us various ways that we can best present the texts.
Best of all, however, each contributor shows us how to find Jesus in each text, or how to minister Christ through each text. It is refreshing to read and learn how we can bring out the relevance of this ancient text and preach Christ to our people.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who longs to gain a greater understanding of the unity that exists in the Bible, and express that unity to others in teaching God's Word. This book will be of inestimable value.
One thing that I have noticed to be painfully absent in Christian preaching is the Old Testament. I have noticed its absence in my own preaching far too often. Thankfully, the good folks at Intervarsity Press noticed this issue and took steps to help us with it. They assembled a team that is a “who's who” of preachers, teacher, professors, etc. to write a book about Old Testament preaching in the Christian church.
The book is essentially an encyclopedia of preaching on the Old Testament. It addresses the various genre of the OT, as well as the law, the prophets, minor prophets, Psalms, wisdom, Song of Solomon, and much more. In other words, this book is not only about preaching, but hermeneutics, Biblical theology, and pastoral application.
I simply cannot say enough good about this book, as almost every chapter delves into the heart of what we must do to understand the genre, or book we are reading and preaching. Then it moves to how to present it. There is much wisdom to be found here for pastors in preaching, too, as the contributors help us to see various mistakes we could make with the texts and applications. They also suggest to us various ways that we can best present the texts.
Best of all, however, each contributor shows us how to find Jesus in each text, or how to minister Christ through each text. It is refreshing to read and learn how we can bring out the relevance of this ancient text and preach Christ to our people.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who longs to gain a greater understanding of the unity that exists in the Bible, and express that unity to others in teaching God's Word. This book will be of inestimable value.
October 1, 2012
For many Christians, reading the Old Testament is a venture into foreign territory. Perhaps this is in part a result that many pastors are uncomfortable preaching in this territory. This is a great collection of essays addressing not only the hermeneutics of various OT genres but also how one moves from text to message in these genres. Essays include discussions of preaching from narrative (plot and characters), the Law, laments, praise poetry, Wisdom, the Song of Solomon (!), Isaiah, Ezekiel, apocalyptic literature, and minor prophets.
I especially appreciated the treatment of narrative as well as that of preaching laments (something I've rarely done or heard). Yet, as I get older and see the evil in the world, I find myself saying "how long" and needing this literature more.
Two concluding essays deal with difficult texts and the question of preaching Christ from the Old Testament. Hope this book gets enough notice to stimulate a renewal of preaching. Think how much richer the church will be when we hear the other three quarters of the Bible!
I especially appreciated the treatment of narrative as well as that of preaching laments (something I've rarely done or heard). Yet, as I get older and see the evil in the world, I find myself saying "how long" and needing this literature more.
Two concluding essays deal with difficult texts and the question of preaching Christ from the Old Testament. Hope this book gets enough notice to stimulate a renewal of preaching. Think how much richer the church will be when we hear the other three quarters of the Bible!
November 7, 2016
A series of essays on how to preach different genres in the Old Testament. Very practical, includes samples. I generally don't like highlighting a lot in my books, but I couldn't help it with this one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews