On the Emmaus road, Jesus reveals to two of His disciples how the entirety of the Old Testament is, in actuality, about Him. Following in the tradition of that moment (as well as the rest of the New Testament), these authors present glimpses of Christ in the OT, revealing Him as not just a shadowy figure on the fringes, but the very inspiration of the words and events recorded there—words and events pointing to Him.

If there is a fog in the pulpit, we should not expect clarity in the pew. When it comes to our preaching Christ in all the Scriptures, our congregation should not be mystified by our wizardry, exclaiming, "How did he do that!" Rather they should be edified by our clarity, declaring, "That makes sense to me." We should have confidence in unfolding the Scriptures in this way because Jesus explained to His followers that the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms (the threefold division of the Hebrew Bible) point to Him (Luke 24:44). [56-7]

The providences of God are seldom, if ever, self-interpreting. It other words, the explanation for what happens in our lives is usually quite literally "beyond us." [65] 

TOP

This collection of addresses from the 2010 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology focuses on the ‘last days’—a period that began with the resurrection of Christ and will continue until His return. Specific emphasis is put on the Christian hope amidst this present age of evil. Featuring contributions from a wide range of authors, this book has some strong chapters and others that fall a bit short of the mark, but the overall effort is helpful.

It should not escape our attention that the first impact of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the powerful preaching of Peter. The first dramatic impact, if you like, of the age of the Spirit being ushered forth in this way is a sermon. [42]

Missionary zeal is in decline…full-time missionary service has now been truncated to four years. Short-term mission trips are now a quick flight from Miami to San Juan and back again on Tuesday and—Presto!—you can put that on your résumé. You haven’t done anything apart from taking some miserable photographs and expending a bit of time and money. [48]

We have lost our missionary zeal. And young people are growing up with the bizarre notion that somehow other people will take care of it. If I could say just one thing to you, if you’re a young person wondering what in the world to do with your life, this is it: Give up your small ambitions. Recognize that this is still the age of the Spirit, and be willing to be sent by Christ to carry this amazing news to the ends of the earth. [49]

Fellow preachers, our people’s faith needs to rest not in our power, but in God’s power. If we understand the Bible at all, we know that God puts this treasure in earthen vessels or clay pots, so that the transcendent power might be seen to belong to Him and not to us. So we need to get alone in our studies and ask God to give us all that He has for us. You must do this, if you preach God’s Word. We must realize that God is more willing to bless us and enrich us than we are even to take the time to ask Him. And because we do not know how to do this, it is no wonder that so many of our sermons sound the way they do. [50]

If you want to see effective Bible teaching and preaching Sunday after Sunday, you need at least two things: first, you need a praying pastor, and second, you need a praying congregation. You will be surprised at what happens if you just pray for your pastor while he is preaching. Pray for him before he preaches, and pray for him after he preaches. You will discover that he is preaching the most unbelievable sermons you have ever heard in your entire life. They will be the same sermons, but they will be experience in an entirely different way. [50] 

TOP

This book contains the messages presented at the 2009 Ligonier Ministries National Conference: ‘The Holiness of God.’ Each of the contributors approaches that topic from varying angles. Some of the chapters likely flowed more smoothly as oral messages, but the content is solid (which is to be expected when the list of authors reads like a ‘who’s-who’ of Reformed theology). We too often neglect God’s holiness, thus this collection is especially helpful in refocusing our thoughts.

The activity of the Spirit is never given to us in Scripture in isolation from the person and work of Christ or in isolation from the eternal will of the Father. Any endeavor to think of the Spirit in terms that are entirely mystical and divorced from Scripture will take us down all kinds of side streets and eventually lead to dead ends. [45]

In creation, we have the Spirit breathing His energy, releasing the power of God in the act of creation. We have the same thing in the act of redemption, and we see it again in the divine act of giving to us the record in the Scriptures themselves. The doctrine of inspiration is entirely related to the work of God the Holy Spirit. [47]

This is the kind of preaching that is largely missing in our day and to which we need to return—preaching that is done in dependence on the Spirit; winsome, but still direct and unequivocal. I fear that some of us may have lost the sense of both the sufficiency of God’s Word and the efficacy of God’s Spirit, and as a result, our endeavors are increasingly weak and ineffectual. [51]

What, then, is the ultimate work of the Spirit of God if not to conform the child of God to the image of the Son of God? How will we know if the Spirit is really fulfilling His purposes in us? We will become increasingly like Jesus. [53] 

TOP

What is the atonement? Why was the blood of Christ necessary to offer us forgiveness from God? These are the questions at the heart of this book, a collection of sermons that each investigates the atoning work of Christ. As with most compilations, some parts are more helpful than others, but the sum total of this book provides a decent depth of material on a matter that both remains under attack and deserves our full attention. 

God has ordained men and women to salvation, but He has also ordained the means whereby they will come to salvation. Under His providential overruling, your voice is a significant part in that process. Great is the mystery and yet true is the statement. [126]

It is impossible to establish how clever the preacher is and how great Jesus is at one and the same time. You can’t show people how brilliant you are and how wonderful Jesus is simultaneously. [130]

One of the greatest detriments to the effective preaching of the cross is, namely, us. I am the greatest barrier to its effective preaching in my church. There is too much of me and not enough of Him. That’s why Paul said and did what he did. Some of us are so smart we are of no use at all. Some of our ministries are wood, hay, and stubble. But because there are numbers that attach to them and there are things that happen in them, we believe them to be silver, jewels, and gold. [132]

Those of us who believe our theological suppositions to be erudite must be about the business of weeping over the fallen and rescuing the perishing. We cannot write books on the cross of Christ that simply stoke our heads with information and fail to stir our hearts with the divine compulsion to see unbelieving people become committed followers of Jesus Christ. We must publish these books to stir up evangelistic activity and not merely increase theological ability. [136] 

TOP

This brief book from Begg explains the concept (and implementation of) expository preaching. Citing much of today’s preaching as ineffectual and unable to fulfill its goal, Begg argues that only expository preaching meets the definition of true preaching. He carefully explains why this is so, showing the benefits of true preaching—both to the preacher and those who sit under his teaching. Although limited by space, Begg manages to provide a thoughtful, helpful resource for preachers. 

It is imperative that we acknowledge and remember, and help each other acknowledge and remember, that we gather together as the church not to enjoy preaching eloquence (or criticize its lack) but to hear and heed the Word of God. We come to be exhorted, not entertained. [13]

Expository preaching means unfolding the text of Scripture in a way that makes contact with the listeners’ world while exalting Christ and confronting them with the need for action, and we need to identify and emulate role models in this noble pursuit. [23]

There is a dramatic difference between the congregation that gathers in anticipation of a monologue on biblical matters from a kindly fellow and the one that has come expecting that when God’s Word is preached, God’s voice is really heard. [26]

It is the text of Scripture that establishes the agenda for the sermon. The Bible expositor does not start with an idea or a great illustration and then search for an appropriate passage. Instead he begins with the Scripture itself and allows the verses under consideration to establish and frame the content of the sermon. [28]

If we do not become thinking pastors, we are unlikely to have thinking congregations. [41]

TOP