Theology Is for Preaching: Biblical Foundations, Method, and Practice
Is it right to “just preach the text”?
Why do we preach and do theology? How do we relate them? And how do they relate to God’s word?
Theology Is for Preaching helps preachers with theology and theologians with preaching. Though diverse in contexts and disciplines, the contributors share a commitment to equipping the saints to “rightly handle the word of truth.” Through essays on foundations, methods, employing theology for preaching, and preaching for theology, this volume will equip preachers and theologians to engage deeply with the text of the Bible and communicate its meaning with clarity.
Praise for Theology Is for Preaching
For thoughtful preachers, reading Theology Is for Preaching is like donning a warm sweater on a cold evening. ... Devotion to Scripture, sound thought, and pastoral discernment characterize the book and will provide the like-minded with heart-warming assurance of the Lord’s blessing upon, and provision for, the pastoral calling in a secularizing world.
–Bryan Chapell, Pastor Emeritus, Grace Presbyterian Church, author of Christ-Centered Preaching
This book is a treasure trove of sound instruction from wise mentors for anyone who dares to open up the Bible in front of others seeking to teach it faithfully and effectively.
–Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher and author, host of the Help Me Teach the Bible podcast
Theology Is for Preaching argues every context, every text, every doctrine, and every true exegesis employed in preaching should be grounded in biblical theology and is a necessary study for preachers seeking to understand the relationship between theology and preaching.
–Robert Smith, Jr., Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
This is an irenic, practical and at times doxological book that will help readers come to a clearer understanding of the preached word and the God who speaks through it. Highly recommended.
–Carl R Trueman, Grove City College
Top Highlights
“Third, because God’s word is the substance of what is preached, there is an appropriate mode of delivery in proclamation.” (Page xx)
“Finally, it is the evangel that we preach, and so there is an appropriately Christological focus to proclamation” (Page xxi)
“our theology informs our reading of Scripture, and our reading of Scripture continues to refine our theology.” (Page 10)
“Although the intellect which educes consequences is fallible, it does not follow that the consequences themselves are false and uncertain … The possibility of being deceived is different from being actually deceived; the being at fault sometimes from being so always.’23 Therefore, if the theologian reaches conclusions (consequences) from Scripture, these conclusions are not necessarily tainted. The purity of the foundation—the word of God—ensures the purity (or possibility of purity) of the product.” (Page 7)
“Theology does not spring from the mind of man, but instead works from the revealed word of God. Theology ‘is not invention but referral.’29 Good theology is that which demonstrates ‘a prompt eagerness to hearken to God’s voice.’” (Page 8)
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology is a peer-reviewed series of contemporary monographs exploring key figures, themes, and issues in historical and systematic theology from an evangelical perspective.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
- Foundations
- “Theology for Preaching, Preaching for Theology” by Chase R. Kuhn
- “The Declarative God: Toward a Theological Description of Preaching” by Mark D. Thompson
- “‘Preaching:’ Toward Lexical Clarity for Better Practice” by Claire Smith
- “Preaching and Revelation: Is the Sermon the Word of God?” by Timothy Ward
- “Who Can Tell? Preaching, Giftedness, and Commissioning” by Christopher Ash
- Methodology
- “Hermeneutics and Preaching: Theological Interpretation and the Preaching Task” by David I. Starling
- “To Them, For Us: The Bible’s Continuing Relevance” by Paul R. House
- “Old Testament Challenges: Christocentric or Christotelic Sermons?” by Daniel Y. Wu
- “New Testament Clarity: The Presence of Christ in the Proclamation of the Word” by Peter C. Orr
- “The Centrality of the Cross in Proclamation” by Will N. Timmins
- “Expositional Preaching in Historical Context: Tracing the Development of Preaching Method” by Peter Adam
- “Preaching in Pastoral Context: The Significance of Relationships and Personality in the Pulpit” by Graham Beynon
- Theology for Preaching
- “Salvation by Preaching Alone? The Sermon in Soteriology” by Edward Loane
- “Sanctified by Word & Spirit: A Theology of Application” by Andrew M. Leslie
- “Now is the Time to Preach: Preaching in Eschatological Context” by Peter F. Jensen
- “The Priority of Proclamation: Preaching in Liturgical Context” by David G. Peterson
- Preaching for Theology
- “Theological Formation Through the Preached Word: A Biblical-Theological Account” by Simon Gillham
- “The People Who Listen: The Corporate Task of Hearing God’s Word” by Jane Tooher
- “Letting the Word Do the Work: A Constructive Account of Expositional Preaching” by Paul Grimmond
- Theology Preached
- “Listening Before Speaking—Jeremiah 23:16–32” by Simon Manchester
- “Meeting Jesus—Luke 5:1–11” by Phillip D. Jensen
- Title: Theology Is for Preaching: Biblical Foundations, Method, and Practice
- Editors: Chase R. Kuhn & Paul Grimmond
- Series: Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2021
- Pages: 416
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 6x9
- ISBN: 9781683594598
Chase R. Kuhn (PhD, Western Sydney) is coordinator of the John Chapman Preaching Initiative, director of the Centre for Christian Living, and lecturer in theology and ethics at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia.
Paul Grimmond is dean of students and lecturer in ministry at Moore Theological College, in Sydney, Australia. He is the author of Suffering Well: The Predictable Surprise of Christian Suffering and coauthor of The Archer and the Arrow: Preaching the Very Words of God.
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Mc. Donald Richards
1/10/2022
Rohintan Mody
8/25/2021
