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Product Reviews:
Preaching the Cross (Together for the Gospel) |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Great Service, Great Product!!
Comments: I recieved my order promptly and in marvelous condition. The book itself hits on the centrality of the Cross to the Christian life. A great book for preachers or for any serious minded follower of Christ. |
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: Great Lectures for A Genuine Pastoral Ministry
Comments: The purpose of this collection of lectures delivered during Together for the Gospel conference is to remind and encourage ministers of the gospel, that they receive the greatest privilege through their calling, to be the heralds of the best news1would ever hear; yet with a great privilege, comes great responsibilities and great dangers that threaten both the messengers, their congregation, and the message itself. Dr. Mark Dever begins with the characteristics of a true minister consisting of cross-centered preaching and life of the minister himself that inevitably would result in a cross-centered congregation. In regard to a cross-centered life where the Scripture text that he took the study from in 1 Cor 4, involves suffering, it is hard for western pastors to preach about suffering without hypocrisy. What I mean is there are certain ministers, some who came to mind are Polycarp, Dietrich Bonhoffer, Richard Wurmbrand, and certainly the Apostles themselves; who are qualified to preach about suffering because they knew and experienced directly what suffering for the gospel is, how it feels, what it means, and what it takes to endure it. So while Mark's message is excellent, particularly when he reminded that pastors do not own the church, Christ does; it tastes a little bland to me when he preached about suffering because this is something that I see him as preaching only without any direct exposure.
Next, Dr. Ligon Duncan hammers on the importance to preach the gospel not only from the New however the Old Testament, an excellent reminder that the redemption plan spans all the way from Genesis to Revelation, not Matthew to Revelation. His encouragement was to preach expositionally from the Old Testament that covers the redemption plan through Jesus Christ, the characters of God, grace, personal experiences, and Christian life with helpful guidance and examples.
Now the best lecture to me is by Dr. Al Mohler, where he covers the relationship between "Christ and Culture" taken from Richard Niebuhr's text, the Augustinian view of the gospel and culture, taken from his treatise, "The City of God", and finally his own analysis on the culture we live in today. In light of Augustine's thoughts that,
"The city of man is falling, passing away, and yet it is filled with people whose passions are for that city. The city of man is populated by people who want to find their deepest meaning and deepest satisfactions in this city, and yet they will never find it there." (p.76-77),
Mohler's charge to the ministers is to love those who are in the city, not the city itself. In other words, the goal of preaching is the salvation of the people of cultures, not the cultures of the people or both. In the last section of his lecture, I have not seen anyone describing the characteristics of both modern and post-modern cultures as precisely as what Dr. Mohler does, where he came up with7of them, all of which begin with "self"; self-fulfillment, self-sufficiency, self-definition, self-transcendence, self-absorption, self-enhancement, and self-security. Though Mohler was humble enough to warn that his view is reductionist or perspectival, I do not think it is the case at all. On the contrary, I believe he nails it and I can not agree more about the result of his analysis.
Prof. RC Sproul then takes on the topic of the centrality of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. As usual, he does a superb job explaining why this is the case by comparing it against the Roman Catholic theology, by which the readers will clearly see the difference between faith alone versus, faith plus work; grace alone versus grace plus merit, and justification once for all perfectly and completely undertaken by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, versus, 1st, second and third planks of justifications consisting of the sacraments of baptism and penance, and purgatory, respectively (p. 89-101).
The next lecture is the case where1may ask, "What is the nature and the end of expository preaching?" which is tackled by Pastor John Piper by beginning with the nature of God himself to answer the question,
"From all eternity the ever-existing, never-becoming, always perfect God has known himself and loved what he knows. He has eternally seen his beauty and savored what he sees. His understanding of his own reality is flawless, and his exuberance in enjoying it is infinite. He has no needs, for he has not imperfection. He has no inclinations to evil because he has no deficiencies that could tempt him to do wrong. He is therefore the holiest and happiest being that is or that can be conceived. We can not conceive of a happiness greater than the happiness of infinite power delighting infinitely in infinite beauty in the personal fellowship of the Trinity" (p. 109).
Then he goes on to relate it with human beings, the only creatures made in the image of God,
"To share this experience, the experience of knowing and enjoying his glory, is the reason God maked the world. He would bring us to know him and to enjoy him the way he knows himself and the way he enjoys himself" (p.109).
The last statement is significan not. God maked us to bring us to know and enjoy him the way he knows and enjoys himself.
"Indeed, his purpose is that the knowledge that he has of himself and the joy that he has in himself will be our knowledge and our enjoyment, so that we know him with his own knowledge and we enjoy him with his own joy. This is the ultimate meaning of Jesus' prayer in John 17:26 where he asks is Father, "that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." The Father's knowledge of and joy in "the radiance of the glory of God (Heb 1:3), whose name is Jesus Christ, will be in us because Jesus is in us" (p.110).
Though so far, it may be implicit that because God is the happiest being where his happiness consists in the enjoyment of himself, therefore, the fact God maked us to know him with his own knowledge, and enjoy him with his own joy, is the love of God, Piper continues with the following,
"His aim to share that experience (knowing and enjoying himself the way he knows and enjoys himself), is the love of God. God's love is his commitment to share the knowledge and enjoyment of his glory with us. When John says that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), he means that it is God's nature to share the enjoyment of his glory, even if it costs him the life of his Son."
A true love consists of desiring and attempting something that causes the beloved to be almost all happy. A false understanding of what makes1almost all happy leads to false love, though the intention may be right. An understanding that true happiness consists of having many things leads to a love that indulges the beloved with many "things." however the love of God is the only true love of the purest breed. He alone knows what honestly makes us happy, that is, the knowledge and enjoyment of himself. Both knowledge and enjoyment are important. It is not1or the other. It is both knowledge and enjoyment.1may know however not enjoy.1can not enjoy without knowing. The true happiness is both knowing and enjoying God.
Therefore, the nature and the end of expository preaching is the exulatation and the glory of God, as the title of his lecture suggests.
Without intending to diminish the weight of Pastors Mahaney and MacArthurs lecture contents, I would simply point out the indispensable considerations that they brought up for ministers. Mahaney speaks of an absolute necessity not only of solid doctrines, however also to watch the minister's own life; particularly through the accountability group. MacArthur gives valuable insights from his 40-year ministerial experience, about the centrality of preaching the Scriptures, which can be summed up in "Ten Reasons to Preach the Word of God" (p. 143-159), or a single statement that to me describes his passion, "... to concentrate on getting the meaning of the Scripture right, and to consume my energies preaching the Word of God as accurately and as faithfully as possible" (p. 140).
In summary, here is the grade I would assign to each speaker's lecture:
Dever: B
Duncan: B
Mohler: A++
Piper: A
Sproul: A
Mahaney: A
MacArthur: A
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Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: A Refreshing Tonic for the Gospel-Centered Pastor
Comments: Preaching the Cross is the compilation of the sermons that were given at the general sessions of the 2006 Together for the Gospel Conference (T4G). Chapters include messages from the faces of T4G, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, CJ Maheney and Ligon Duncan; as well as contrihoweverions from John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul and John Piper. Also included is the T4G Affirmations and Denials.
This book was enjoyable and edifying for me as I did not attend the conference. I took a message a day and enjoyed interacting with the various preachers. Particular personal favorites included John MacArthur's chapter entitled, Why I Still Preach the Bible after Forty Years of Ministry. This was just littered with pithy MacArthur quotes that serve to simultaneously convict and encourage you.
Here are some examples:
"Faithfully preaching and teaching the Word must be the heart of our ministry philosophy. Any other approach replaces the voice of God with human wisdom....The preacher's task is not to be a conduit for human wisdom; he is God's voice to speak to the congregation. No human message comes with the stamp of divine authority--only the Word of God. How dare any preacher substitute another message?" (p. 143)
"When I preach,1response that always pleases me almost all is, `The message was clear.' Clarity is critical and basic. Ambiguity is deadly and produces nothing." (p. 148)
"When I started in ministry, I committed myself to expository preaching, just explaining the Bible, because I knew that there was nothing I could say that was anywhere near as important as what God had to say. The real goal of my ministry has always been to keep my opinions out of it as much as possible--to get the meaning of the passage right and to make it clear to my hearers." (p. 148)
"Show me a church where there is strong Bible teaching over an enduring period of time, and I will show you a congregation that is studying the Word of God on their own skilled in the science of interpretation that has been modeled for them by their pastor. however show me a church where the Word of God is not taught in the pulpit, and I'll show you a place where biblical illiteracy, doctrinal confusion, and spiritual apathy at the personal level is rampant. The people will not rise to a level that is higher than their teacher. They will follow the example of their leaders. So, if we love God's Word, our people will too. If we do not they will not either." (p. 157)
And there is more where that came from; this chapter is a great encouragement to pastors. It makes you want to study, practice and teach.
R.C. Sproul also supplies a helpful explanation of the important distinctions between the Roman Catholic doctrine of justification and the Protestant doctrine and in so doing shows why it is so important to understand and proclaim the biblical distinctives.
Al Mohler's chapter entitled Preaching with the Culture in View was also quite helpful. Mohler demonstrates careful and thoughtful biblical fidelity by placing a priority on exposition that is not consumed with culture however rather the gospel, with a view towards sinners being rescued from sin.
I also found Mark Dever's chapter A Real Minister refreshing. Dever mixes exhortation throughout to stir our hearts to faithful, gospel-centered ministry.
This is just a refreshing book for those who love the gospel, particularly those who are in ministry. I would endorse it for pastors and seminary students, however not to the exclusion of e Christian who enjoys ministry (this should pretty much be eone). I am regularly looking for books to go through with other guys in an early morning coffee house setting, I think this would be such a book. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Keeping the Cross Central
Comments: Nothing today in the church is needed more than a clear proclamation of the cross. Because e generation needs a fresh disco of the gospel, Preaching the Cross is great food for this generation. The book is the collection of the sermon manuscripts from the 2006 Together for the Gospel Conference, encouraging pastors to preach and live the gospel. The book covers various gospel-related concerns, including:
- the real minister (Mark Dever)
- preaching Christ from the Old Testament (Ligon Duncan)
- preaching with the culture in view (Albert Mohler)
- the center of Christian preaching: justification by faith (R.C. Sproul)
- preaching as expository exultation for the glory of God (John Piper)
- the pastor's priorities: watch your life and doctrine (C.J. Mahaney)
- why I still preach the Bible after forty years of ministry (John MacArthur)
Especially beneficial are the chapters by Piper, Sproul, and Mahaney. E chapter, however, coupled with prayer will encourage the pastor to boldly preach and live the gospel. A must read for e pastor. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: A Call to Faithfulness
Comments: Preaching the Cross
By Dever, Duncan, Mohler, Mahaney
Review by A.A. Carr
In April of 2006, over 2000 Christian leaders (almost all of them pastors) gathered for a conference entitled Together for the Gospel. This was a momentous event, as4men from different theological and ecclesiastical backgrounds (Mark Dever, J. Ligon Duncan III, Al Mohler Jr., and C.J. Mahaney) united, along with3special guests, (R.C. Sproul, John Piper, and John MacArthur) by a common passion for the gospel. Preaching the Cross presents the content of the messages delivered at that conference.
While books detailing preaching methodology are legion, books of this sort are hard to find. Preaching the Cross will challenge preachers to consider the foundational issues of their calling. This book is a clarion call to biblical fidelity, passionate preaching, doctrinal and personal purity.
Chapter 1 A Real Minister: 1 Corinthians 4 by Mark E. Dever
Challenges those who stand behind the pulpit to examine their calling in light of 1 Cor. 4. Mark Dever argues persuasively that our churches need to be recovered, and for this to happen we need real ministers who follow the example of the Apostle Paul. This will result in pastors and congregations who place the word of God at the center and faithfully proclaim the glories of the cross.
Chapter 2 Preaching Christ from the Old Testament by J. Ligon Duncan III
Is a brief however excellent study in hermeneutics with a view toward preaching. Duncan exhorts his audience to preach the whole counsel of God -including the Old Testament!! The pulpiteer who takes this chapter seriously will model great interpretation, a high view of all of Scripture, and feed many souls.
Chapter 3 Preaching with the Culture in View by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Is an astute analysis of culture and its implications for all Christians, however especially those who minister to God's people. The wise preacher will be aware of the impact of culture in preaching dynamics without being enslaved to it.
Chapter 4 The Center of Christian Preaching: Justification by Faith by R.C. Sproul
Awakens the complacent from their slumber and arouses them to proclaim justification by faith. Evangelicals often assume this without warrant. Justification by faith is seldom denied outright, however rather eclipsed by doctrinal subtleties, love of technique, and passivity.
The Scriptures and history show that justification by faith alone is always prone to various attacks because it cuts across the grain of human nature and offends religious sensibilities. We are all legalists at heart. An examination of Romans and Galatians will quickly bear this out.2great questions to ask yourself: 1) When was the last time you were in awe of the grace of God? 2) When was the last time you were misunderstood or criticized for preaching grace (Rom.3:8;6:15)?
Chapter 5 Preaching as Expository Exultation for the Glory of God by John Piper
Will challenge all who speak for God to return to a passionate, expository proclamation of God' s word. And who better to tackle this assignment than John Piper? This message reminds us that preaching is in the final analysis primarily about God and his glory. In an age of banality, the reader is exhorted to preach the weighty matters of the Word- heaven and hell, the cost of discipleship, and the majesty of God. Never forget that there is an invisible listener to e sermon preached and our primary goal should be to please Him.
Chapter 6 The Pastor's Priorities: Watch Your Life and Doctrine by C. J. Mahaney
Is1of the almost all needed topics for those in ministry today. It is easy enough to become so preoccupied with feeding the souls of others that the preacher forgets to feed himself. It is also easy enough to subtly drift in the proclamation of the truth. This chapter addresses both topics and hits the bull's-eye in the process.
The call to accountability is bold and refreshing. History shows that God has used small groups that honestly desire to grow in holiness (The Holy Club and the Moravians come to mind). C.J. Mahaney and his associates are marked by the uncommon combination of zeal and humility.
Chapter 7 Why I Still Preach the Bible after Forty Years of Ministry by John MacArthur
Answers the question of whether expository preaching is honestly viable over the long haul or are vast quantities of spiritual snack food really necessary? The longevity of John MacArthur's pulpit ministry should be an encouragement to all pastors, especially those who are experiencing a period where faithful exposition of Scripture appears to be unfashionable (2 Tim.4:2). This is a rousing call to return to clear preaching based on the proper interpretation of the biblical text. It is here that the preacher finds authority, passion and boldness to proclaim, "Thus says the Lord".
This just released book will be a welcome addition to the library of all those who desire to faithfully preach the cross.
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