Beeke, Joel R. Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God's
Word From The Heart Of The Preacher To The Heart Of His People. Wheaton:
Crossway, 2018.
Reformed Preaching is grand, sweeping, and engaging.
It is at once substantive theology, a church-historical survey, and a book of
practical divinity on experiential, Reformed preaching. No one has written
anything quite like it. Subtitled Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the
Preacher to the Heart of His People, Beeke’s book breathes the air of its
theme. This book is excellent in every way; it is all doctrine and all
application. Reformed Preaching challenges the church with the indispensable
necessity of preaching that is biblical, doctrinal, and experiential, preaching
that leads God’s people to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8).
While Beeke addresses ministers and hearers of the preached Word alike, as a
gospel preacher, I found myself worshiping the triune God on every page and
humbled in the dust with gratitude for the privilege of proclaiming God’s
truth.
Preaching the Word of God is at the very center of
pastoral ministry. Indeed, the task of preaching God’s Word that should occupy
a good portion of the pastoral week. Neglecting this critical responsibility
results in weak sheep who are unable to discern the times. Minimizing or
marginalizing preaching always leads to a malnourished flock.
joel R. Beeke addresses the matter of preaching in his
latest volume. Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the
Preacher to the Heart of the People underscores the importance of the preaching
task and inspires every expositor who is set on obeying the biblical mandate.
Beeke alerts readers to his purpose early in the book: At the center of Beeke’s
concern is preaching that engages the affections, a quality that is sorely
absent from many Reformed pulpits. He offers a stern warning for preachers who
provide good instruction but fail to nourish the flock of God! This identical
concern also occupied the attention of Jonathan Edwards:
Comments
Post a Comment