Mastering Contemporary Preaching
Overview
Mastering Contemporary Preaching is the first volume of a twelve-volume series called “Mastering Ministry,” co-published by Leadership, Christianity Today, Inc. and Multnomah Press. This book, authored by three preachers known for their ability to communicate in today’s language, focuses on the particular challenge of effective week-in-week-out preaching. These experts address:
- The authority of the preacher
- Speaking to the secular mind
- Deciding what people need to hear today
- Finding quality insights and illustrations
- Balancing information and application
- Dealing with today’s toughest topics
- and much more, including a section entitled, “Why I Keep Preaching.”
Top Highlights
“Spurgeon was right: the people in the marketplace cannot learn the language of the academy, so the people in the academy must learn the language of the marketplace. It’s the pastor’s job to translate.” (Page 58)
“Ethos comes from authentic ministry—praying for individuals, remembering people’s names, caring for them in times of crisis. And it comes from recognizing and articulating the struggles people face and offering an appropriate word from God. All this shapes our character, and this character is vital as we preachers strive for our rightful authority among those we serve.” (Page 26)
“So almost every time I preach, I’m trying to build up the reliability of Scripture and increase their respect for it. I do that by explaining the wisdom of God behind it. When you show them how reasonable God is, that captivates the secular mind.” (Page 34)
“The need for precision is particularly acute with an antagonistic or less-than-supportive audience. They’ll focus on your minor error as a reason for not listening to the rest of what you have to say.” (Page 24)
“All preaching involves a ‘so what?’ A lecture on the archaeology of Egypt, as interesting as it might be, isn’t a sermon. A sermon touches life. It demands practical application.” (Page 59)
