Customer Reviews

Preaching & Preachers

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I have been a pastor of a Presbyterian churches for 25 years and weekly preaching is my life's work. Others may tell you more about the 'how' of constructing a sermon from a Bible text. However, no one will tell you more about what the task of preaching really is than Lloyd-Jones, the finest English language preacher of the 20th century, without a doubt. Yes, he is 'old school'; but it is his kind of preaching that brings the power of the gospel to bear on people to truly change them -- not all the dramatic sideshow tricks of today's 'entertainment' churches. When we hear preaching again from hundreds of pulpits like that of Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the church will leap forward by the grace of God, into a new reformation! I tell younger pastors to read this once a year, until it becomes part of them.

The Doctor at his best! This is a warm and encouraging book for preachers. Dr. Lloyd-Jones delivered these lectures at Westminister Seminary in the sixties (I think), but they are still relelvant today for the preacher that is serious about his calling. Lloyd-Jones defends the primacy of preaching, showing that there is not any substitute for it. He delves into the preparation, shape, and form of the sermon and hits on such issues as humor, invitations, and the congregation. Best of all is the last chapter on "Demonstration of the Spirit and of the Power" which deals with the sacred anointing of the Holy Spirit in preaching. I am a preacher and if I could have only one book on preaching, this would probably be the one!

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones believed in expository sermons with substance. While the pastor of Westminster Chapel, London, he preached through entire books of the Bible, often delivering more than one sermon per verse. (His sermons from 1 John fill five volumes!) He believed that "the primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God."

In Preaching and Preachers, the Doctor urges preachers to take their calling seriously. "The most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching." With that in mind, he shares what he learned through his many years of pastoring and preaching. Chapters (there are 16 of them) deal with the character of the preacher, congregations, the preparation of the sermon (and the preacher), the shape and form of sermons, illustrations and humor, and the act of preaching itself. I particularly benefitted from a chapter titled, "What to Avoid."

Sometimes I'll enjoy a book enough to read it twice. This is one of the few that I've read three times--I've certainly benefitted from it more than any other book on the subject of preaching. The author's style is straightforward and enjoyable to read. He is dogmatic at times, and in a few places it is evident that these lectures were delivered several decades ago. (He lists the tape-recording of sermons as a "peculiar and special abomination" of the time.) However, the practical advice he gives will never be outdated.

This is the book on Biblical, theological, expository preaching. Preachers would benefit from reading it, but their congregations would benefit even more.

This book is a must read for discouraged preachers of the persuasion that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Lloyd-Jones had the ability to remove you from the valley of shadow of discouragement and lift to the top of Mount Hermon with all its precious dew.

I am reading it for the second time and am convinced that a semi-annual reading is essential to keep focus on "the work of preaching (which) is the hightest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called" (p. 9).

As a Pastor, I'm always looking for something to read. Actually, I came across this book doing what you're doing right now...surfing around on AMAZON! When I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Lloyd-Jones teaches Pastors how to be better prepared to prepare the people. He discusses such matters as sermon preparation, what to avoid while preaching, not letting the pew control the pulpit, how to deepen your study time, and much, MUCH more! Lloyd-Jones is much like Paul writing to young Timothy's everywhere.
Before I read this book I knew little of Lloyd-Jones. Now I want to read as much as I can from him! Very much recommended!

The greatest strength of this book is that it addresses such a wide range of topics relating to the preacher and sermon/message. The book is not an instruction book with lots of steps. It could be described as a "character" book. It discusses the character of the preacher, the congregation, the sermon, and "accessories". Most other books will dedicate themselves to just one of these topics, but Dr. Lloyd-Jones deals with all of them. In some ways, he weaves these four areas together like four separate threads, but he does so without losing the distinction each has.

A secondary strength of this book is that the author encourages his readers to allow for freedom for the Holy Spirit to take over. At times, he tells his readers to avoid doing something but then he shows how he did the exact opposite on an occasion or two. He emphasizes that his advice should not be taken as an unbending rule because the preacher doesn't know when God is going to take over.

The primary weakness of this book is that the required reading level is higher than most people read at today. Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses a much bigger vocabulary than most people possess today. Also the book is based on spoken lectures which does not come across the same when read. The book is also longer (325 pages) than most modern people read.

I would not recommend this book to those that don't bother reading "meaty" books. They would waste their money on a book that will only sit on their shelf. This book needs to be read by those that want or need to be challenged literarily and prepositionally. Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes many statements that come across as reactionary and I believe that these statements would challenge the thinking of so many people that get caught up in the latest fashion.

"I'd as soon preach undressed as unprepared" this is a quote applied to the man who occupied the pulpit of Westminster Chapel from 1938-1968.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a medical doctor turned preacher and many have said that if he had wanted to he could have become Prime Minister. Lloyd-Jones was a unique man indeed. However, it was not his high intellect that distinguished him as a preacher but rather his ability to communicate theological truth in an understandable, digestible, but not less than convicting manner. It is fitting then that we should have a book by Lloyd-Jones on the subject of preaching.

Preaching and Preachers is a compilation of lectures given by Lloyd-Jones to the students of Westminster Theological Seminary in the spring of 1969.

Personally, I found the book to be a refreshing tonic to me, a young preacher. I felt like I was visiting with him in a coffee shop and just talking shop with him. I asked a lot of questions in the margins took notes and spent a considerable time pondering many of his pregnant quotes.

"To love to preach is one thing, to love those to who we preach quite another"

"What is preaching? Logic on fire! Eloquent reason!"

"Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire"

"Preachers are born, not made."

"...true preaching does deal with personal problems, so much so that true preaching saves a great deal of time for the pastor."

There is little doubt that Lloyd-Jones was both scripturally and experientially convinced of the primacy of preaching. He beat the drum over and over again about the need for the preacher to do his work in the study and then communicate the truth to his people that they might grow. His chapters entitled The Primacy of Preaching, No Substitute, The Preparation of the Preacher, and Demonstration of the Spirit and of the Power clearly display this.

In addition, there were a couple of things that stuck out from the pages as repeated themes to me.

First was Lloyd-Jones' continued emphasis upon the need to effectively communicate. He did not reduce preaching down to only being able to being able talk in front of people, but he did emphasize the need for the preacher to thoughtfully, prayerfully, and intentionally craft his sermon in such a way that he, as much as he is able by the grace and Spirit of God, may have a maximum impact on his hearers.

Secondly, Lloyd-Jones repeatedly emphasized the need for a preacher to preach expositionally, that is to bring out the meaning from the text rather than to have a theme or topic and impose it on the text. Coming from a guy who did this faithfully for numerous decades I come away encouraged from his high resolve for biblical and theological exposition.

As with any intriguing fellow Lloyd-Jones has his quirks; he said and did things that I would not do. But I am in no position to here to say anything except my own thankfulness for the grace of God in the life of Lloyd-Jones and the benefit of others like me.

Covers the topic of preaching in a systematic and comprehensive manner. The author sets up his arguments on solid biblical reasonings and illustrates them with appropriate real-life examples. Fervent love for God and long experience are stamped on every page. Never fails to convince - the only danger being it might be too convincing. Keep in mind that other viewpoints might be valid as the author also admits at the beginning of the book.

Lloyd Jones book on preaching is the best I have read. Of the over 50 books that I have read on preaching, his book is definitely the best. This book is not necessarily a how-to, its more a philosophy book - something that preachers today need to think more about. Too many are concerned with the method and not the man. Being the right man, filled with the anointing, is crucial before you can use the right method. This is what the book is all about. If you don't have it buy it, it will be a valuable investment for not just your library, but also your life.

Preaching and Preachers by Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is a wonderful book that emphasizes the man more than the art of preaching and spiritual preparation more than sermon preparation. The author contends that the most urgent trend in the church and world is true preaching. While the book was published in 1971, I believe the Doctor would cling to his original statement if he were alive today.

The author discusses the reason for preaching's decline and makes the case for the priority of preaching based on Scripture and church history. The Doctor contends that the primary task in preaching is to put man into a right relationship with God, to reconcile man to God. Everything else in ministry flows from being faithful to the primary purpose, namely - preaching.

The author distinguishes between the kerygma - evangelistic preaching from the didache, or preaching that deals primarily with the edification of believers. Either way, preaching must always be based on a theological foundation and must not violently impose a theological system upon the text. Rather the system of theology should be used as a filter to check a particular interpretation.

All sermons should be expository. Dr. Lloyd-Jones begins with the initial text and walks the reader through his exegetical procedure. Once a doctrine is thoroughly explored, the preacher must consider the relevance of the doctrine and the people who will be listening. He writes, "You are to show that this message is vitally important for them and that they must listen with the whole of their being, because this is really going to help them."

"The chief end of preaching is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence." The preacher must therefore stand in the pulpit with authority and exude a sense of seriousness, warmth, urgency, persuasiveness and power.

The author discusses how the preacher must prepare himself. He contends that preachers must maintain a general discipline of life and an attitude of prayer. He adds that serious preachers need to regularly read the Bible systematically and maintain good reading habits that include a study of theology, church history, biographies and apologetics.

This book has many strong points. First, it is immensely personal. The author truly shares from the heart. Second, the section on "calling" is very helpful, especially to younger preachers. Next, Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages preachers to beware of extremes in our post-modern era. Further, the author's passion for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ rings true on every page which motivates this preacher to do the same. Finally, I especially appreciate the repeated emphasis on relying on the Holy Spirit.

With the rise of the so-called emergent church, watered-down teaching and preaching, doctrinal compromise, and the downplaying of authoritative proclamation, Preaching and Preachers is welcome and needed reminder of the necessity of Christ-saturated, uncompromising preaching. Soli Deo Gloria!

4.5 stars