The Supremacy of God in Preaching

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't think of a more appropriate title
Review: I have yet to read a book by Piper without being enlightened and motivated by the supremacy of God. Far from being a boring "how-to" manual on preaching, John Piper has given an excellent primer on preaching with passion and direction in this work. This book is the application of Piper's overriding philosophy of life, that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him," to preaching. Piper divides the book into two parts. The first part is sort of a defense for his thesis being the supremacy of God in preaching. In so doing, Piper argues that the goal of preaching is the glory of God, the ground of preaching is the cross of Christ, and the empowerment of preaching is the Holy Spirit. The second part of the book is essentially a survey of Jonathan Edwards' preaching, based on his view of God as supreme. Essentially, Piper judges modern preaching with the preaching of the great Jonathan Edwards. It is most significant that Piper finishes this section by saying that one must first of all, catch a vision of the God of Jonathan Edwards (105). Piper says, "If God is not supreme in our preaching, where in this world will the people hear about the supremacy of God? . . . If anyone in all the world should be able to say, 'I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory,' it is the herald of God'" (108-09).

Rating:
Summary: John Piper: the modern authority on the Sovereignty of God
Review: I've read many of John Piper's books, and I have concluded that he is a passionate man, a man who truly pursues God with his life. This book reflects that. Piper applies the principle of God's Sovereignty to preaching in his usual passionate, concise style: Preaching should be God-centered because the Bible, our faith, our salvation, and our very existence are God-centered. This is a very helpful book for any person who teaches the Word of God.

Rating:
Summary: A God-centered beacon to preachers
Review: In this self-centered age that is increasingly saturated with self-gratification, in the Church as well as out, this book is a God-centered beacon to preachers. It's been 30 years since J.B. Phillips published "Your God is too Small," and our popular conception of God certainly hasn't gotten any bigger since then.

John Piper caught his God-centered vision of preaching (and all of life), from Jonathan Edwards, and in this concise little book he ably passes that vision on to the reader with a heart for God. When I am feeling dragged down by things of the spirit of this age, I find this little book always able to lift me back up into heavenly places.

What we need in our churches, in this shallow age in which we're living, is for our preachers to be set on fire with the God-centered, God-magnifying, God-glorifying vision of preaching which this thoroughly Biblical book inspires! Much thanks to John Piper, for his faithfulness to God...and Glory to God, for gifting men like Piper and Edwards with a passion for His Glory, and the gift to so ably communicate that passion! Sola Deo Gloria!

Rating:
Summary: Passion in the Pulpit!
Review: John Piper is the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here he expertly and passionately brings together belief and practice. The Supremacy of God in Preaching is divided into two major sections. The first section is entitled "Why God Should be Supreme in Preaching." Within this section, Piper has written four chapters. These chapters present what he considers to be, "The Goal of Preaching," "The Ground of Preaching," "The Gift of Preaching," and the "Gravity and Gladness of Preaching."

Within this first section, Piper shows God-centered preaching in a Trinitarian way. The first three chapters focus on the role of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in preaching. The first chapter exhorts the preacher to exhort the Scriptures for the glory of God alone. Through the submission of the expositor to the faithful handling of the Word, Piper exhorts that all should be done to bring glory to God. Piper is quick to point out in the next chapter, however, that the "most fundamental problem of preaching is how a preacher can proclaim hope to sinners in view of God's unimpeachable righteousness." The solution to this problem is Jesus Christ. The Cross is God's solution to the sin of man and problem of revealing His glory to him. Piper goes on to demonstrate that the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is the only way in which the preacher can accomplish his goals. The fourth chapter presents the bittersweet aspect of presenting God's Word from the pulpit. In the chapter called the "Gravity and Gladness of Preaching," Piper acknowledges that the preacher should take great joy in his pulpit ministry. However, if he preaches without earnestness for his people, he has failed. Piper looks to great expositors of the past and concludes that their success was not dependent on their style of delivery, but rather on their "blood-earnestness."

The second major section of the book focuses on observing a practical outworking of the principles that Piper set forth in the first section of the book. In "How to Make God Supreme in Preaching: Guidance from the Ministry of Jonathan Edwards," Piper examines the pulpit ministry of the famous American Theologian Jonathan Edwards. From Edward's messages, Piper develops three principles: "Keep God Central," "Submit to Sweet Sovereignty," and "Make God Supreme." Here, Piper examines in brief detail three areas of Jonathan Edwards: his life, his theology, and his preaching. In all of these things, Piper shows where he drew the basis for this book. For it was Edwards himself who was the model for the advice and exhortation that Piper provides here. This section allows the reader to see the first four chapters in the life of a real person. It allows the reader to go deeper than the theoretical and see the impact of implementing the principles in "real life."

One can present nothing but high praise for the work he has seen. In his pursuit to demonstrate the Supremacy of God in Preaching, Piper has not only displayed a Biblical precedent for such a concept, but also illustrates it through the examination of the ministry of a man that God used mightily. By examining passages out of Romans, Isaiah, and Matthew, Piper clearly builds his case that preaching should seek to give glory to the Father by focusing on the Son and being empowered by the Spirit.

One of the most helpful sections in demonstrating his points through the ministry of Jonathan Edwards comes in the final chapter. Piper does not make the mistake of just exhorting one to adhere to a theological concept. Instead, he gives the reader ten specific ways in which to make God supreme in preaching. Such advice as "saturating" sermons with Scripture, being broken and tenderhearted, and being intense allow the reader to make particular changes to their approach to preaching that will enable one to make God supreme in their preaching.

Piper's writing style is also worth mentioning. Unlike other some books and articles by various well-educated men who have difficulty relating their knowledge in writing, Piper does not suffer from this problem. His writing style is very fluid and almost conversational in nature. Yet, he still leaves the reader feeling as if he has read something that has some theological depth to it. Piper is able to communicate the message of his book and at the same time convey his passion for the subject. One of the best examples of this comes in the retelling of his call to ministry in the first chapter.

The most obvious choice for the readership of this book would be pastors. The writer of this paper would recommend that anyone who preaches read this book. It will help to focus the speaker's priorities in preparation and presentation of God's Word. As noted above, Piper also gives examples of how this is worked out in the everyday life and weekly preaching of the pastor through Jonathan Edwards. In presenting the material this way, Piper allows the pastor to see the impact of carrying out this mindset in one's ministry.

I believe Piper has succeeded in his goal of showing God to be supreme in preaching. He has done so both in prescription from the Scriptures and in description from the ministry of Jonathan Edwards. Through the Biblical soundness and passion of his writing, Piper presents an irrefutable case for the supremacy of God in preaching.

Rating:
Summary: Passion in the Pulpit!
Review: John Piper is the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here he expertly and passionately brings together belief and practice. The Supremacy of God in Preaching is divided into two major sections. The first section is entitled "Why God Should be Supreme in Preaching." Within this section, Piper has written four chapters. These chapters present what he considers to be, "The Goal of Preaching," "The Ground of Preaching," "The Gift of Preaching," and the "Gravity and Gladness of Preaching."

Within this first section, Piper shows God-centered preaching in a Trinitarian way. The first three chapters focus on the role of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in preaching. The first chapter exhorts the preacher to exhort the Scriptures for the glory of God alone. Through the submission of the expositor to the faithful handling of the Word, Piper exhorts that all should be done to bring glory to God. Piper is quick to point out in the next chapter, however, that the "most fundamental problem of preaching is how a preacher can proclaim hope to sinners in view of God's unimpeachable righteousness." The solution to this problem is Jesus Christ. The Cross is God's solution to the sin of man and problem of revealing His glory to him. Piper goes on to demonstrate that the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is the only way in which the preacher can accomplish his goals. The fourth chapter presents the bittersweet aspect of presenting God's Word from the pulpit. In the chapter called the "Gravity and Gladness of Preaching," Piper acknowledges that the preacher should take great joy in his pulpit ministry. However, if he preaches without earnestness for his people, he has failed. Piper looks to great expositors of the past and concludes that their success was not dependent on their style of delivery, but rather on their "blood-earnestness."

The second major section of the book focuses on observing a practical outworking of the principles that Piper set forth in the first section of the book. In "How to Make God Supreme in Preaching: Guidance from the Ministry of Jonathan Edwards," Piper examines the pulpit ministry of the famous American Theologian Jonathan Edwards. From Edward's messages, Piper develops three principles: "Keep God Central," "Submit to Sweet Sovereignty," and "Make God Supreme." Here, Piper examines in brief detail three areas of Jonathan Edwards: his life, his theology, and his preaching. In all of these things, Piper shows where he drew the basis for this book. For it was Edwards himself who was the model for the advice and exhortation that Piper provides here. This section allows the reader to see the first four chapters in the life of a real person. It allows the reader to go deeper than the theoretical and see the impact of implementing the principles in "real life."

One can present nothing but high praise for the work he has seen. In his pursuit to demonstrate the Supremacy of God in Preaching, Piper has not only displayed a Biblical precedent for such a concept, but also illustrates it through the examination of the ministry of a man that God used mightily. By examining passages out of Romans, Isaiah, and Matthew, Piper clearly builds his case that preaching should seek to give glory to the Father by focusing on the Son and being empowered by the Spirit.

One of the most helpful sections in demonstrating his points through the ministry of Jonathan Edwards comes in the final chapter. Piper does not make the mistake of just exhorting one to adhere to a theological concept. Instead, he gives the reader ten specific ways in which to make God supreme in preaching. Such advice as "saturating" sermons with Scripture, being broken and tenderhearted, and being intense allow the reader to make particular changes to their approach to preaching that will enable one to make God supreme in their preaching.

Piper's writing style is also worth mentioning. Unlike other some books and articles by various well-educated men who have difficulty relating their knowledge in writing, Piper does not suffer from this problem. His writing style is very fluid and almost conversational in nature. Yet, he still leaves the reader feeling as if he has read something that has some theological depth to it. Piper is able to communicate the message of his book and at the same time convey his passion for the subject. One of the best examples of this comes in the retelling of his call to ministry in the first chapter.

The most obvious choice for the readership of this book would be pastors. The writer of this paper would recommend that anyone who preaches read this book. It will help to focus the speaker's priorities in preparation and presentation of God's Word. As noted above, Piper also gives examples of how this is worked out in the everyday life and weekly preaching of the pastor through Jonathan Edwards. In presenting the material this way, Piper allows the pastor to see the impact of carrying out this mindset in one's ministry.

I believe Piper has succeeded in his goal of showing God to be supreme in preaching. He has done so both in prescription from the Scriptures and in description from the ministry of Jonathan Edwards. Through the Biblical soundness and passion of his writing, Piper presents an irrefutable case for the supremacy of God in preaching.

Rating:
Summary: Calls us to the highest standard
Review: Piper applies his basic theology - "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him" - to the realm of preaching. He pleas for glad preaching from pastors who have been ravished by the glory of God through the cross of Christ and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. And he presents as a wonderful model the New England pastor-theologian, Jonathan Edwards. This is not the most technical book on preaching you will ever read. But it may be the most passionate call for power in the pulpit that you will ever consider. If I was training pastors, this would be required reading for every student!

Rating:
Summary: The Most Inspiring Book On Preaching I Have Read
Review: This is a thrilling book, which should convince those called to preach of the importance and joy of such a call. Here are a few quotes from the book which will give you a small indication of its helpfulness:

"People are starving for the greatness of God ... The majesty of God is an unknown cure ... Preaching that does not have the aroma of God's greatness may entertain for a season, but it will not touch the hidden cry of the soul..."

"God saves people from everlasting ruin through preaching."

"No man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save." [a quote from James Denney]

"Don't strive to be a kind of preacher. Strive to be a kind of person."

The book has only 102 pages of text, but contains much more help than any number of longer books.

Buy one for yourself and one to give to friends in the ministry.
Highly recommended.