Miscellanies

• Very good article by Hershael York. We who preach should always strive to be better preachers.
• I've enjoyed this podcast thus far, by H.B. Charles. It promises to be a good one
• Dan Phillips with some great thoughts on the public reading of scripture.
• "The reading of Scripture is a vital and apostolically-enjoined facet of the gem of divine worship. If these exhortations serve to enrich readers' and hearers' experience of the Word in worship, glory to God."
• Joe Thorn wants your to preach like you mean it. "When it comes to preaching, there are two basic things that I want to hear from a preacher: the word of God and earnestness."
• Interesting thought by Peter Hitchen's, especially if we see a Hillary Clinton campaign for president:

"Female politicians won't help real women. Why do people think that women in politics will help ordinary women lead better lives?

Political females are almost all ambitious careerists who have decided, of their own free will, to work outside the home and spurn the task of raising children.

Such people have no time for those who think it better to stay at home and raise the next generation. And they think all women are like them, actively preferring the office to the home. But, in fact, millions of women go out to work because they have to, not because they want to."

• Did the thought of another President Clinton make you sad? Try memorizing a Psalm.
• David Murray has a list of his 10 books for preachers. I have read 5 of them. Shall I send you my mailing address? 
• Once I receive your gracious gift of the books, I'll need this.

 What did I miss? Too much? Would this work out better at the end or the beigning of the week?

Let me know.

Books on Preaching

About 10 years I determined to do an intense study on homiletics. Up to that point, I had not devoted myself to the study of sermon delivery and preparation and no one was surprised when I told them. I picked up a few recommended books and then would seek out the books that these authors mentioned or recommended and on and on I went on this bibliophile rabbit trail. I read and studied many books on preaching and homiletics that first year and realized that the study of the art of preaching and homiletics would be a lifetime pursuit. Ever sense, I am constantly reading books on preaching, public speaking, and writing. Some of the best thoughts I have found on homeltics have been in books on writing. There are many similarities to writing and preaching and preachers ought to write.

All that to say this; I'm constantly reading books about preaching. Instead of doing full reviews on these books, I thought I might, every now and again, give a quick shout out to some of the books I’ve read. I’ll begin this little foray of book summary merriment by letting you in on the books I’ve read on the subject thus far 2014, duds and all.

Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson. If you do not preach expositional sermons or are unsure if that is the way to go, I commend this book. If you are on the fence and want some encouragement to get off on the side of a long line of godly preachers who were also expositors, pick up the short book and be encouraged.

Saying it Well by Chuck Swindoll. I had a boss in Kentucky who listened to Christian radio all day in the shop and heard Insight for Living every weekday for three years. Swidoll could capture and keep your attention as a communicator. I found this book in the bargain rack and it was worth the $3 I spent. It is mostly an autobiography and while that was interesting enough, it was lacking in the "saying it well"department, though I did pick up a few tips. 

Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists by Cornelius Plantinga. The bad thing about book recommendations is that sinners recommend them. I wish I could remember who recommended this to me. There were some good suggestions and nice thoughts, such as " Where else in life does a person have to stand weekly before a mixed audience and speak to them engagingly on the mightiest topics known to humankind — God, life, death, sin, grace, love, hatred, hope, despair, and the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Who is even close to being adequate for this challenge?" Nice. But, in the preface he also says "Christian preachers today are both men and women; accordingly I will alternate by chapter in my use of masculine and feminine pronouns for preachers."

Falling flat on your face in a race is bad. Falling flat walking to the starting line is worse. I may have enjoyed chapter one more if I hadn't been thinking the whole time "is he really going to say she/her in chapter two?" Then when I read about the 'pastor and her study' and it was more than I could bear.

Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers by James C. Hunt. On the front cover of my edition, there is a recommendation from MSNBC's Chris Matthews. My expectations were very low, to say the least. But I had just read about women pastors, so even Chris Matthews couldn't dampen the Newell spirit at this point. In all seriousness, I really enjoyed this one. There were some chapters that would have no applicable information for the preacher, but there was a lot of insight into public speaking. I learned a lot about how great political orators put so much time in crafting their presentation with the purpose of influencing people. I learned a lot about what I NEVER want to do as a preacher as some of the techniques were manipulative and dishonest (manipulative and dishonest politicians? SHOCKED! Shocked, I say!). There were a few useful hints about writing an outline or preaching from a manuscript. The illustrations were both numerous and entertaining. Fun read and I'm glad I picked it up.

On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons by John Broadus. I try to read this one every couple years. Each time I read it, I pick up something new. This time, I was reading the annotations I made in the margin last time I read it and that was fun. Last time, I disagreed with Broadus on a point he made, and as I read it through this time, I found myself agreeing with Broadus but now disagreeing with my own annotations. Good times.

 

Spurgeon's Defense of Preaching Election

"At the very announcement of the text, some will be ready to say "Why preach upon so profound a doctrine as election?" I answer, because it is God's word, and whatever is in the Word of God is to be preached. "But some truths ought to be kept back from the people," you say, "lest they should make an ill use thereof." That is a Popish doctrine, it was upon that very theory that the priests kept back the Bible from the people; they did not give it to them lest they should misuse it. "But are not some doctrines dangerous?" Not if they are true and rightly handled. Truth is never dangerous, it is error and reticence that are fraught with peril. "but do not men abuse the doctrines of Grace?" I grant you that they do; but if we destroyed everything that men misuse, we should have nothing left. Are there to be no ropes because some fools will hang themselves? and must cutlery be discarded and denounced because there are some who will use dangerous weapons for the destruction of their adversaries? Decidedly not. Besides all this, remember that men do read the Scriptures and think about these doctrines, and therefore often make mistakes about them; who then shall set them right if we, who preach the Word, hold our tongues about the matter?"

CH Spurgeon Election: It's Defenses and Evidences