The Challenge of Preaching by John Stott ($1.99 for the Kindle edition on Amazon) is an abridged and updated version of Stott’s earlier work Between Two Worlds:The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century ($2.99 Amazon). As of the date of this review, both books are bargain-priced treasures that feature the insights of a man Billy Graham once called “the most respected clergyman in the world today.” In addition, Stott was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2005, and he is the founder of the Langham Partnership, an organization dedicated to “help the church grow to maturity by equipping a new generation of preachers and teachers.”
Challenge #1: The Distrust of Authority
Stott begins by observing that hostility toward authority is nothing new. “Ever since the Fall, people have been . . . unwilling to ‘submit to God’s law.’” However, Stott admits that today, the rejection of authority and objective truth is “particularly pronounced.” “Distrust of authority makes people unwilling to listen.” Therefore, Stott insists, “We need to remember the relevance of the gospel. When we present the gospel in a way that shows that it is reasonable and relevant, it carries its own authority and authenticates itself.” Here is a bit of his coaching for truly relevant preaching:
We need to remember that a true sermon is not a monologue. True preaching is always a dialogue . . . it involves a silent dialogue between the preacher and the hearers. The preacher should provoke questions in their minds, and then proceed to answer them. The answer should raise further questions, which should also be addressed. One of the greatest gifts a preacher needs is a sensitive understanding of people and their problems so as to be able to anticipate their reactions.
Challenge #2: The Electronic Age
Stott argues that the electronic age has had a number of serious effects on our listeners. He writes,“people have become physically lazy and question why they need to go out to church when they can worship at home . . . intellectually uncritical, wanting to be entertained, rather than made to think . . . (and) morally disordered. . . conned into thinking that the type of behavior we see on the screen is acceptable, and that ‘everybody does it’.” Stott suggests we make wise and judicious use of technology as a tool, but cautions, “We must trust God, not our computers, projectors, and amplifiers.” Therefore, Stott champions better preaching as the real solution.
Our worship is poor because our knowledge of God is poor; our knowledge of God is poor because our preaching is poor. But when the word of God is expounded in all its fullness, and the congregation begins to glimpse the glory of the living God, they bow down in solemn awe . . . But if our preaching is dull, drab, dowdy, slow or monotonous, we cannot compete in today’s world. We have to make our presentation of the truth attractive through variety, color, illustration, humor and fast-flowing movement.
Challenge #3 A Loss of Confidence In The Gospel
Stott insists, “There is no chance of a recovery of preaching without a prior recovery of conviction. We need to regain our confidence in the truth, relevance and power of the gospel.” However, Stott observes that we must also exercise godly wisdom and understanding.
The first step in recovering our Christian confidence involves being able to distinguish between assurance, conviction, presumption and bigotry. Conviction and assurance indicate that one is convinced by adequate evidence or argument that something is true. Presumption is a premature assumption of a truth, a confidence resting on inadequate or unexamined foundations. Bigotry is both blind and obstinate; bigots close their eyes to the data and cling to untested and unproven opinions. Presumption and bigotry are incompatible with any serious concern for truth and with worship of the God of truth . . . We need, secondly, to recognize that the questions others ask about our faith are real and important. They cannot be thoughtlessly dismissed, but must be carefully faced and answered. We may not agree with all the suggested answers, but we have no quarrel with the questions.
Practical Advice For Better Preaching
The majority of the book is devoted to the “how-to’s” of becoming a better preacher. Stott discusses theological foundations, “preaching as bridge-building,” the necessity of study and preparation, and the needed qualities of sincerity, earnestness, courage and humility. Below is a sample of his thoughtful discussion concerning “preaching as bridge-building.”
Preachers who are theologically conservative tend to make the mistake of living only on the Bible side of the gulf. That is where we feel comfortable and safe . . . But we are not at home in the modern world on the other side of the gulf. It bewilders and threatens us. So our bridge is firmly rooted in the Bible but never reaches the other side . . . We must ask God to make us Christian communicators who are determined to bridge the ravine. We must struggle to relate God’s unchanging word to our ever-changing world without sacrificing truth or despising relevance.
I enjoyed The Challenge of Preaching. It is a quick read at only 145 pages. However, It both challenged and encouraged me. “John Stott’s preaching and writing have always been characterized by three things: faithfulness to the Bible as the Word of God, relevance to the contemporary world in which we live, and remarkable clarity of expression.” These are qualities I want to develop and model in my own ministry, and I urge you to strive for the same characteristics in your preaching. I recommend The Challenge of Preaching as a great read – especially at the current $1.99 bargain price for the Kindle edition.