Customer Reviews

Preaching with Spiritual Passion: How to Sustain the Fire (Pastor's Soul)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This small book is one of my library treasures. There are times when I feel spiritually dry and need reminded of where to seek "Living Waters." At least twice a year I turn to this book to renew the fire in my belly for preaching God's Word. Somehow, I simply relate to the author and find reassurance in knowing that I am not alone on this sometimes lonely pathway.

This book is not about how to preach a sermon. Rather, it is about the emotions and thoughts arising from his role that a preacher has to face. The author describes it as "mostly about the amalgam of sacred and selfish motives that compel people to preach and be passionate about preaching."

Rowell compares the feelings of being in the moment of truth when adrenaline is charging to that of a bull ride. Minus the physical dangers, all the other elements are nevertheless the same; especially the emotions. Rowell said that preaching does not start with our strengths. Rather, God works through our weaknesses to minister to people and at the same time strengthens us from within.

Rowell then went on to describe the cynicism that preachers have concerning whether their sermons are actually serving any purpose. This is where preachers need to identify with the apostle Paul and have faith that the Word of the Lord will not return to Him void.

All preachers face the temptation to use their pulpits for purposes other than delivering God's message to the people. In all human interactions, there will be conflicts whether we like it or not. Pastors will feel the pains of negative actions or words from some of their congregational members. During such moments it is easy to use the pulpit to hit back at these people. The call to die to self cannot be truer than in moments such as these. Preachers can demonstrate true godliness in loving all the people publicly no matter how they are feeling.

Rowell then speaks about the reality of weariness. We drive ourselves to physical and emotional weariness because of the way that we size up our responsibilities. Often we would just have to sit back and take things easy.

Preachers in preparation of their messages should struggle through some pertinent questions in the week leading up to the preaching of the sermon. Questions such as the relevancy of the message to the congregation should be thought through. At the end of it, when the sermon is preached the congregation must see the spiritual passion of the preacher for the topic being dealt with.

There are also the inevitable spiritual drought that preachers would face from time to time. These are moments when the passion to preach seems to have dissipated. Using the slogan of Nike, Rowell said "just do it." The passion to know Christ which the apostle Paul expounded on must be the motivating factor for us all in moments such as these.

Prayers is the key to all successful ministries. Rowell said that it is an activity that we must be engaged in all the time and through all the processes of the sermon preparation till its delivery.

Preachers have also to be watchful that they maintain the right motives all the time. It is easy for us to be prideful especially when we are very well received as a preacher. However, the applause of people must never be the motivator for our ministry.

The real test whether a pastor is fulfilling his role is whether the congregation feels loved by him. Rowell said that when they do, you can preach and readily be accepted. In fact, they will feel that you preach than you personally do.

The need to feel in control of oneself and our situation is common to all men. That need sometimes is a motivating factor for people. Rowell said that we need to be like Jacob and allow God to take control not only of us but our ministries.

Edward Rowell has been very candid in this book. He wrote what he feels. Principles are interjected with stories of his experiences. He is also frank about what he feels. I wonder how some of the people mentioned by him would feel about his candidness.

This is a book which is worth the while for all preachers to take note of. All of us have gone through the same situations as what Rowell has mentioned. We made the same mistakes. Either we learn through our own mistakes or we learn from a book such as this. For me it has been a combination of both. Sometimes we are blinded to ourselves and we do need someone to share their own experiences before we can learn the truths about our own situations. Preaching is an awesome responsibility and we must indeed handle it with all the spiritual passion that we can tap from the Lord.

I was present at Ed's rookie sermon, described in Chapter 8. I was amazed each of the following weeks as his sermons got better and better. My wife and I considered him to be one of the best preachers we ever had the privelage of hearing. Now I am pastoring and his words are helping me to find ways to preach with the spiritual passion that is so needed in today's churches.

Chris D Madsen

Pastor Edgerton KS So Baptist Church