November 18, 2008

Book Review: The Supremacy of God in Preaching

John Piper issues a ringing challenge to today's preachers: "Preach the Supremacy of God!!!" This may be Piper's shortest book. For those engaged in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, it may also be the most important one you read.

Piper divides this work into two parts. In the first section he answers the question "Why should God be supreme in preaching?" This section comes in three "intentionally trinitarian" parts: The Goal of Preaching (the Glory of God), The Ground of Preaching (the Cross of Christ), and The Gift of Preaching (the Power of the Holy Spirit). He then offers an addendum called "The Gravity and Gladness of Preaching"

While the whole book is excellent, I got the most out of the second part, entitled "How to Make God Supreme in Preaching". This is basically an analysis of the life and work of Jonathan Edwards, as it relates to his preaching. In the last chapter Piper gives ten aspects of Edwards' exposition that should be imitated by all modern preachers:

1. Stir up holy affections
2. Enlighten the mind
3. Saturate with Scripture
4. Employ analogies and images
5. Use threat and warning
6. Plead for a response
7. Probe the workings of the heart
8. Yield to the Holy Spirit in prayer
9. Be broken and tenderhearted
10. Be intense

Piper's treatment of these ten points alone is worth the investment in the book. If you are a pastor, preacher, missionary, teacher--in short, anybody involved in the proclamation of the Word, you need to read "The Supremacy of God in Preaching".

Posted by Andrew on November 18, 2008 6:24 PM.