There are many things in life that are difficult to know and
understand without attempting them for oneself. Preaching is like that. It
seems to me that, until one has grappled with a text and wrestled with the sermon
writing process, and stood behind a pulpit and preached to a congregation, the
whole process can seem a little mysterious or even down right scary. As a new
preacher, I am finding the process of learning and growing as a Scripture
expounder, sermon writer, and a pulpit preacher, to be a fair amount of work. And
for that reason, I am usually quick to avail myself of any resources that can
help me become a better preacher. Preaching
with Accuracy: Finding Christ-Centered Big Ideas for Biblical Preaching is
just that type of resource. This book by Randal E. Pelton is a powerfully
helpful work that I found to be beneficial in some very practical ways along
the lines of exactly what the title suggests; determining Scriptures meaning in
light of the Gospel with preaching in view.
Before looking at the practical help this books provides,
here is an overview of the entire book. This overview is derived from a
thorough introduction which outlines each chapter of the book. I find these
overviews useful and supportive for non-fiction reading. Chapter 1 is a
mini-apologetic for expositional preaching that seeks to show from 1
Corinthians 14 that an “insider-directed message reaches both insiders and
outsiders” (10). Chapter 2 discusses the presence of multiple meanings in
passages and how preaching different meanings has different results. Chapters
3-7, the chapters I found extremely helpful in a very practical way, focus on
finding Christ-centered big ideas for the purpose of preaching. More
specifically, Chapter 3 indicates ways that preaching portions should be
determined. Chapter 4 explores how various-sized ideas are recognized and how
the textual big idea is determined. Chapter 5 progresses from textual big ideas to contextual big ideas; the big idea
formed by the immediate context. Chapter 6 moves one step farther with the
search for the canonical big idea which takes the core of Scripture–the gospel–and
applies it to the passage in question. Chapter 7 elucidates two benefits of the
process of finding the various big ideas of the passage.
The practical nature of this book is suggested in the
introduction’s final section entitled Suggestions for Pastors Using This Book.
The three main ways in which this book is and will continue to be useful to me
as a pastor who preaches are 1) its pursuing of the various “big ideas” through
the many genres in Scripture, 2) its step-by-step approach to many of the
techniques, and 3) the try-it-for-yourself examples (with the authors answers)
which occur throughout the book.
The first way in which the book provides helpful instruction
is by not limiting its lessons to only certain genres of Scripture, but by
demonstrating how techniques can be applied to many different types of passages.
For example, when choosing a preaching portion, the author discusses how one
“cuts the text” in didactic passages, narratives, parables, poetry, proverbs,
prophecies, and visions. Similarly, Pelton describes the process for finding
the textual big idea in narratives, didactic literature, wisdom literature,
parables, and prophetic-type sections. I found this thoroughness brought
clarity to the processes described and confidence in attempting some of the
book’s suggestions. Adding to the practical usefulness of this book is the
step-by-step approach offered for many of its techniques.
For a new preacher like myself, or for an experienced preacher
who is new to theses concepts, breaking the techniques down into simpler steps
makes the work accessible and far less intimidating. As an example, from the
fourth chapter, the steps for identifying the textual big ideas are as follows:
1) Locate and write the broad subject, 2) write the narrow subject, 3) write
the complements (answers to questions arising out of the narrow subject), and
4) write the textual big idea which is the narrow subject + complement. This
gradual approach makes comprehending the author’s strategy accessible to all
levels. And again, the author does not just formulaically run through the
steps, but discusses the steps in each genre mentioned above. Additionally, the
author is helpful in a third very practical way through the use of
do-it-yourself examples with answers.
Pelton employs examples for many of his suggested
techniques. Following an example of how he might use a technique, he then
offers a different portion of Scripture and encourages the reader to try the
technique themselves. He even provides space in the book to respond. I cannot
emphasize how helpful this process was. I found it brought clarity to what the
author was teaching, but also helped “cement” the ideas. I will certainly have
to review the book regularly as I preach through various books of the Bible,
but the hands-on examples did help key ideas stick. These do-it-yourself
opportunities make it abundantly clear that Pelton wants this book to be of
real, practical value for the preacher. In my opinion, he succeeds in that
regard.
As a new preacher, barely into my second year of preaching,
I found this book to be a very helpful resource that I am confident I will continue
to use in the future. Pelton provides many useful tips and techniques that I
have already used and expect to continue to use. The awareness of the need for
teaching to various genres will help support other pastors as they work towards
being a better preacher. The simple step-by-step approach to most of the methods
presented in Preaching with Accuracy
makes it accessible. And the do-it-yourself examples make the skills memorable
and reproducible. I recommend this book to new preachers like myself, or
experienced preachers who want to hone their skills in regards to preaching
with accuracy.
