Preach the Word!: The Call and Challenge of Preaching Today

A wide range of outstanding teachers, preachers and communicators were invited to share their skills, wisdom and strongest convictions on a host of themes related to this great task, and a large number of delegates gathered each month at Westminster Chapel, London to give them an enthusiastic hearing. The transcripts of these teaching sessions have been edited and distilled into this outstanding single volume. "Preach the Word!" is the guide on preaching and includes: technicalities of teaching; historical perspectives; different preaching styles; and, modern day approaches.

This book grew out of preachers conferences held at Westminster Chapel. They were convened by the present resident minister Greg Haslam who, amid what must be a frightening schedule, found the time to edit them for publication. According to RT Kendall in the backpage blurb "This book should be required reading for every theological seminary in the world. Every preacher under the sun should have this valuable book on their shelves." Greg Haslam did not hesitate to mix the Reformed, the Conservative, the Charismatics and the Pentecostals. In the line up are household names like John Stott and Terry Virgo. Lesser known contributors also appear. The mix certainly adds flavour to the book and makes it unusual if not unique. Despite theological nuances the contributors are bound to a love for Scripture, a commitment to Jesus Christ and a passion to communicate the gospel through what the Apostle Paul unblushingly calls 'the foolishness of preaching' (1 Cor 1:21). Perhaps what is most helpful is not just the content but the framework. Haslam and his colleagues have done well to thrash this out to minimise repetition. There are many aspects to preaching. Different occasions demand differing approaches. Preaching requires you to be faithful to the text and its context but in doing so to collapse two or three thousand years and thereby reveal the abiding principles. Illustrations help so too can humour. All these items - except the length of a sermon - are tackled. Refreshingly, a generous slice has been given to the work of the Spirit at the point of preaching. On the whole I agree with Kendall; this book is well worth considering. The so-called lay person will also profit from it. --Christianity, May 2007

Preach the Word is a collection of teaching on the art of Biblical preaching today. Based on messages offered at Westminster Chapel of a preaching school held since 2003, it brings together the thoughts of twenty leading evangelical preachers. People such as John Stott, J. John, Jeff Lucas, David Pawson, Michael Eaton, Joel Edwards, Phillip Greenslade, Terry Virgo and others share insights into what preaching is, different styles of preaching, preaching to various groups within our culture, ministry through preaching, and becoming a preacher. The articles are not written just as theory, but reflect personal experience, which makes the writing extremely practical. The book, at over 600 pages, resembles a textbook, and as such is a welcome addition to any library. It offers solid insights to digest over a long period of time. Greg Haslam, the current minister at Westminster Chapel and general editor of the book, says that he hopes the book will "encourage renewed confidence in the importance of this ministry, and impart practical know-how in its development, both in beginners starting out on this call as well as those considerably more experienced in the work. " This book is well-suited to the task. --CLC World, January/February 2007

Greg Haslam, RT Kendall's successor at Westminster Chapel, shares the concern of many over the 'decline in bold, authoritative and powerful preaching' and so invited the good and the great of the preaching world to run a series of seminars covering just about every aspect of the preaching ministry it's possible to think of. This book is a write-up of their teaching, and as an 'everything you ever wanted to know about preaching' book it can't be beaten. Evangelical luminaries such as John Stott, J John, Mark Stibbe, Jeff Lucas, David Pawson and many more have contributed their wisdom, and lest you think this is a return to outdated communication styles, there is even a helpful chapter on using film in preaching. In 39 chapters the book explores the technicalities of preaching, some historical perspective, different preaching styles (evangelistic, prophetic, expository, and, intriguingly, 'Preaching to Change a Nation'). There are sections on Black preaching, preaching to youth, and also material on the preacher's anointing and the role of the Spirit in preaching. In short, it's all here, and you should sell your shirt for this book. My only quibble is the lack of anything from outside the evangelical tradition, but maybe that's asking a bit much of Westminster Chapel. --Christian Marketplace September 2007