Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching [Paperback]

Graeme Goldsworthy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2000

While strong, gospel-centered preaching abounds, many Christian pastors and lay preachers find it difficult to preach meaningfully from the Old Testament. This practical handbook offers help. Graeme Goldsworthy teaches the basics of preaching the whole Bible in a consistently Christ-centered way.

Goldsworthy first examines the Bible, biblical theology, and preaching and shows how they relate in the preparation of Christ-centered sermons. He then applies the biblical-theological method to the various types of literature found in the Bible, drawing out their contributions to expository preaching focused on the person and work of Christ.

Clear, complete, and immediately applicable, this volume will become a fundamental text for teachers, pastors, and students preparing for ministry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sidney Greidanus
"A solid contribution to the challenge of preaching Christ from the Old Testament."

Pulpit Helps
"Preachers will find this a rich resource for sermon preparation. Highly recommended."

Clergy Journal
"Goldsworthy contributes to an improved expository preaching that hones in on the person and work of Christ. This book is well thought out and a pleasure to read."

About the Author

A lecturer in Old Testament, Biblical theology, and hermeneutics at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802847307
• ISBN-13: 978-0802847300
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Preaching
  • #76 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts > Ritual

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful help for preaching biblical theology January 20, 2003

By Gontroppo VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I bought this book to help me with preaching on the Psalms and have found it very useful. I was also intrigued by the problem of relating the book of Esther, especially the last few chapters, to our Christian lives today.

While I was disappointed to find there was not a single reference to Esther in the book, I have appreciated the way it makes you think through such issues as:
What is the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?
What is the central message of the bible?
How does each passage relate to the central message about? Christ? What does this mean to us as we seek to preach it?

The book has stimulated my thinking. It is one that would be worth reading a couple of times, and then consulting as you preach on particular biblical passages.

Goldsworthy has some interesting things to say about expository preaching, even sometimes using humour to get his message across.

A couple of the interesting things he says:
It is easy to preach about the exhortations to holy living in such a way that you ignore grace and bind yourself and your congregation with law again!

Preaching from the gospels must be done realising that the message Jesus preached to his first disciples needs to be nuanced in the light of his death, resurrection and ascension.

Goldsworthy explains these things much better than me!
Highly recommended.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Biblical Basics! September 13, 2002

By Notgnostic

Format:Paperback

In seminary a professor warned fledgling preachers, "Never, ever preach the Old Testament through Christian eyes." Such nonsense can take the wind right out of a baby preacher's sails in a hurry. Goldsworthy eloquently and seamlessly draws together all Scripture into a coherent whole testifying to Jesus Christ -- typologically, prophetically, and as ultimate fulfillment. This is one of the best and most relevant books I have ever read as a pastor and preacher.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Towards a Biblical Theology for preachers October 18, 2002

By Scott Kimbrough

Format:Paperback

While many good books exist on preaching, many of which I have read, this one goes the extra mile. Goldsworthy's main premise is that the Christian Bible is the One Word Written of the One God about salvation in Jesus Christ. While indeed, we do need to be careful in how we approach the Old Testament within its own historical and literary context (in agreement with OT Theologians), Goldsworthy makes the important point that the apostolic testimony about Christ, from the Hebrew Scriptures, is the model that we have from the New Testament. There is a lengthy treatment of his understanding of Biblical Theology (similar to According to Plan). His Biblical Theology attempts to clearly see the continuity and discontinuity between the Covenants, while affirming the central subject matter of both: Jesus Christ. The second part of the book then puts a biblical theological approach to the Scriptures into practice. There are sections on HOW to preach the Law, the Psalms, the Prophets, Historical Narrative, etc. Interstingly, he even shows how Biblical Theology applied to preaching the New Testament must result in some changes in our use of the texts. There is something for everyone here: for the interested Bible study leader, some clear tips on how to understand the Bible; for the seminarian or pastor, a great theological resource as well as hands on help from an outstanding evangelical theologian.