TEACHING 1 SAMUEL:
Message Outlines for the Book of
1 Samuel
Equipping Pastors Worldwide.
244 pages. £8.50
ISBN 978 1 839 650 499
PREACHING JUDGES:
Message Outlines for the Book of
Judges
Equipping Pastors Worldwide.
110 pages. £7
ISBN 978 1 839 650 451
Authors unstated.
“Pray – Prepare – Preach” is a series of guides to help Bible teachers worldwide explain God’s word clearly and accurately. So reads the blurb that explains the point of this series.
I believe it most certainly achieves this aim, prepared in association with the well-known stable of The Proclamation Trust and The Good Book Company, and in partnership with a number of worldwide organisations such as Langham Partnership and Grace Baptist Mission.
Each volume splits the Bible book into preachable sections, often a chapter, and each section then follows an identical pattern encompassing three headings, “STUDY”, “PLAN” and “TEACH”. Under the “STUDY” heading there is usually helpful background information, an emphasis on careful “reading” and gaining “understanding”, with very helpful questions posed to facilitate this. Then the crux: “Find the main point of the passage.” Invariably the authors supply their suggestion of the main point, in a sizeable paragraph. Under “PLAN”, attention is then consequently given to the main point of the proposed sermon, again with suggestions as to “Sub-points”. Illustration and application are emphasised. Finally, under “TEACH”, the reader is supplied with a sample sermon in brief note form, which aims to “Explain” the text, leaving the preacher to supply the “Start” and the “End”.
The level of careful attention to the meaning of the text is impressive, and not surprising coming from these stables. Chapter after chapter found me generally agreeing with the authors’ suggestions as to a wholesome “take” upon the relevant Bible passage. Any hard-pressed preacher anywhere will bless this series for the invaluable help it offers. I have just a niggling doubt, however – is this just a spoon-feed too far, at least for those of us in the West?
