Book Review: Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism By Tim Keller

Written by: Dominic Silla

 

How does one go about preaching? Even then, how does one do so in a Biblical manner that upholds Scripture, and yet still remains relevant to each generation? How does one preach the Gospel? You preach to the heart, and that is what Dr. Keller focuses heavily on in this great book! The book itself was published in 2015 by Viking (Penguin) Publishers and is roughly 309 pages long, including an introduction, prologue, and a wonderful set of notes and an appendix focusing on how to craft an expository message. Dr. Keller has also included a list of his other works toward the front of the book, which I am grateful for as I intend to read more of them. The reason I have chosen to read this particular book is because of my “Expository Preaching” class at the Seminary and for that purpose it is great!

I found the book to be very helpful and well thought out and well crafted for the preacher just starting out or even for the layman to help them craft a proper exhortation of the Gospel message. I did at times find it complex and deep, so it is definitely a book I will find myself reading again in the future. The book’s main points itself however are broken up into three parts. The first part focuses on “Serving the Word” with three distinct chapters on what, at its heart, Biblical preaching is. It is preaching from the Bible, from Holy Scripture, with a Gospel centered message, the need for a savior. And it is preaching Christocentrically, “preaching Christ from all of Scripture”. What this last one means is that all of Scripture points forward to Christ, and in that way He can be found in them! The second part of the book focuses on “Reaching the People” or better stated, making the Gospel understood in our context. This does not mean changing the Gospel, but “Preaching Christ to the Culture”, to the “Late and Modern Mind” and finally “Preaching Christ to the heart of people.” All of this with the last part focusing on the necessity of the Spirit being in the preacher.

These are an overview of the various sections and focuses of the book, but the thing that really makes the book worth reading is in the details! I would highly encourage you to delve into the book itself and grab a copy, especially if you find yourself possibly preaching, exhorting, or expounding upon the word of God. I do not feel I have done a great job of describing what is in the book itself, but I do recommend it to you and I think it is a must have for anyone planning to go into ministry!

 

 

P.S. If you liked this and want to see more from me feel free to peruse my other posts here on my blog! If you want to talk about it or just to say hello feel free to email me at dsilla@student.wts.edu

P.S.S. If you are so inclined please donate or share my fund raising campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/2bj6tvn9) to help me be able to continue my work at Westminster Theological Seminary, that I might faithfully learn to preach the Gospel and draw ever nearer to my Lord! Blessings!