Faithful Preaching: Declaring Scripture with Responsibility, Passion, and Authenticity
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
What is a preacher? What is preaching? Pastor Tony Merida asks these foundational questions to arrive at this overview of his widely anticipated book, Faithful Preaching:
“Faithful preaching is the responsible, passionate, and authentic declaration of the Christ-exalting Scriptures, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of the Triune God. Expository preaching is the best approach for accurately explaining and applying God’s Word, and for maintaining a God-centered focus in preaching. It also offers wonderful spiritual benefits to both the preacher and congregation. To be faithful expositors today, we must avoid the common problems associated with expository preaching such as boredom, irrelevancy, and Christless messages. Faithful preachers will usher the people through the text passionately and authentically, pointing them to Christ.”
- Approaches faithful preaching as that which is resolute, responsible, relevant, and reliable, and that requires discipline, focus, commitment, and devotion
- Seeks to lay out an introductory overview of the theological, practical, spiritual, historical, and missiological foundations of preachings and preachers
- Places special concern for the younger generation of preachers who have entered, or are preparing to enter, the ministry of preaching the Word
Top Highlights
“The Father administered our salvation (Eph 1:4) for the purpose of holiness; the Son accomplished our salvation (1:7–11), making sanctification possible; and the Spirit applied our salvation (1:13–14), by working in our hearts to make us see the Son and be changed into His likeness (2 Cor 4:6; 3:18).” (Page 6)
“Preachers in the biblical period were characterized by two primary factors: (1) his calling, and (2) his message.” (Page 2)
“Principle #5: Remember that the whole Bible focuses upon God’s redeeming work in Jesus” (Page 64)
“Principle #1: Read the Bible in an attitude of prayer” (Page 63)
“Further, the metaphors for God’s messengers in the New Testament illustrate the preacher’s responsibility to the Word. God calls the messenger a ‘sower’ (ho speiron), who sows the seed of the Word; a ‘steward’ (oikonomos), who is entrusted with the mysteries of God; a ‘herald’ (keryx), who proclaims the news of God; an ‘ambassador’ (presbus), who represents God; a ‘shepherd’ (poimen), who feeds and protects the flock of God; and a ‘workman’ (ergates), who rightly divides the truth of God. Concerning these images, John Stott stated, ‘It is impressive that in all these New Testament metaphors the preacher is a servant under someone else’s authority, and the communicator of someone else’s word.’” (Pages 3–4)