HOW SHALL THEY HEAR?
Why non-preachers need to know what
preaching is
By Ryan M. McGraw
EP Books. 136 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978 1 783 972 500
While reading this book and preparing the review I attended the funeral of a dear brother in Christ. We heard the story of his conversion – a sermon from 1 Corinthians 15 answered his deep fear of death and he was wonderfully converted. Eventually he would serve as elder in the church where he heard that message. He loved to hear preaching and he loved to preach.
The author of this book would, I am sure, rejoice in this story of salvation and in this clear testimony to the purpose and necessity of preaching. His passion and enthusiasm for the subject pours out of every page. In his own words, the aim of the book ‘is to help all Christians understand what preaching is, how it should be done, and why they have a vested interest in it. It is only indirectly a homiletical manual for pastors’ (p.xi).
The book gives a short definition of preaching as ‘a public, authoritative proclamation of the gospel.’ (p.3) This is expanded and explained further.
It covers a great deal in relatively few pages. The chapters are precise and punchy with lots of ‘whats’ and ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ in the headings. There is a great emphasis on the centrality of Christ in any preaching.
Visiting and preaching
This is highlighted in my favourite Chapter 4. Starting with Colossians 1:28-29 ‘Him we preach…’, we learn that we are both hearing from Christ and hearing about Christ. Preachers are reminded that this ministry will require knowing the people to whom we preach. Pastoral visitation is needed as well as preparation in the study. Preaching with the glorious aim and hope of bringing hearers to saving faith is emphasised.
There is a useful discussion over three chapters on methods for preaching. The author wants to ensure a proper balance between exposition, theological content and devotional matters of the heart. He is clearly concerned that the latter is underemphasised. There is a proper emphasis on good training and preparation of those who are called to a preaching ministry. This was pushed a bit too far for me, as the distinction between all Christians evangelising with an ordained few to be preachers is a bit too binary a distinction. So much gospel work has to be done in ordinary life and outreach ministries in order for gospel seeds to be sown. To be fair, the author does acknowledge these and even if I would give them a greater relative value, his desire to keep preaching central is something I can happily endorse.
The first 12 chapters would serve as a positive and concise reminder for preachers of some core principles. I was beginning to wonder if this was to be the most useful aspect of this book and that the author had perhaps missed his primary aim. Chapters 13 and 14 practically outline how church members can make the most of preaching. They pull the book together. You could even read them first if you wanted! I particularly liked the statement that ‘All Christians should be involved in sermon preparation’ (p.103). By this he means that every church member should value, pray for, encourage, invite to, listen to, discuss, reflect on and take to heart gospel preaching.
A very encouraging book for church members.
