“The Supremacy of God in Preaching” by John Piper (Book Review)

John Piper has served since 1980 as the Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.) and previously taught on the faculty of Bethel Theological Seminary at Minneapolis for six years before accepting the call to Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Piper is the author of 20 books, including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Multnomah, 1986; 2nd edition, 1996, 3rd edition, 2003), Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions (Baker, 1993; 2^nd edition, 2003), and Don’t Waste Your Life (Crossway, 2003). His online and radio ministries known as Desiring God demonstrate a commitment and a passion for expository preaching.

Summary

This book is comprised of two parts. Part I, entitled “The Supremacy of God in Preaching,” was originally delivered as part of The Harold John Ockenga Lectures on Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1988 (2). He asserts that the goal of preaching is the glory of God in the glad submission of His creation (27). He also states that that the “grand design of the preacher is to restore the throne and dominion of God in the souls of men” (23-24). The ground of preaching, according to Piper, is the cross of Christ that serves as “a past event of substation and a present experience of execution” (35). The preacher then preaches through the gift and the power via the vehicle of His inspired Word (39). As Piper deals with the gravity of preaching, he notes that “intensity of feeling, the weight of argument, a deep and pervading solemnity of mind, a savor of power of godliness, fervency of spirit, zeal for God” are the marks of the gravity of preaching (50). “Gladness and gravity should be woven together” in the preacher’s life and ministry (52).

Part II, entitled “Sweet Sovereignty: The Supremacy of God in the Preaching of Jonathan Edwards,” was delivered as part of The Billy Graham Center Lectures on Preaching, Wheaton College, 1984 (2). Piper shows how the crux of the life of Edwards was to keep God central through a submission to the sovereignty of God, a doctrine that Edwards calls “exceeding pleasant, bright, and sweet” (76). The center of the preaching of Edwards was God supremacy, by which the stirring up the “holy affections” served as the “spring of behavior” that must be transformed so behavior will follow suite (83). These affections must arise in a “reasonable persuasion or conviction” (85) and not simply based on Scripture but “saturated” with it (86). With this saturation comes the employment of analogies and images that help bring to bear the abstract truths of Scripture onto the heart (88). Edwards did not shirk from his responsibility of using the biblical example of threats and warnings. Piper notes that Edward’s knowledge of hell was great, but his knowledge and zeal for heaven was greater (90). He states, “Those who have the largest hearts for heaven shudder most deeply at the horrors of hell. . . . Edwards could not remain silent where Jesus was so vocal” (91). With this warning, Edward pleaded for a response from his hearers to hear and heed the Word of God: “We are not merely passive, nor yet does God do some, and we do the rest. However, God does all, and we do all. God produces all, and we act all” (94). Passionate preaching is, as Piper notes, “like surgery. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it locates, lances, and removes the infection of sin” (95). Piper shows that “the preacher must labor to put his preaching under the divine influence of prayer” (98) so that the preacher’s heart must be broken for the sin in his people (100).

Critical Evaluation

Seldom does a reader of any Christian work encounter a volume that is as God-centered and Scripture-saturated as Piper’s work on preaching. Piper approaches this work with a strong commitment to the authority of the Scriptures, to expositional preaching, and to bringing forth the greatness and the glory of God (10).

The vision of a great God is the linchpin in the life of the church, both in pastoral care and missionary outreach. Our people need to hear God-entranced preaching. They need someone, at least once a week, to lift up his voice and magnify the supremacy of God. They need to behold the whole panorama of his excellencies … what people need most is our personal holiness … the living out of a God-entranced worldview (11).

This quote encapsulates the passion of Piper’s life, calling, and ministry and its message is conveyed in this book from cover to cover.

Immediately we see his passion in Chapter One, entitled “The Goal of Preaching: The Glory of God.” He relates how instrumental his contraction of mononucleosis was in God sovereignly bringing him from a pre-med student to a preacher of the Word. While in the infirmary, he heard Dr. Harold John Ockenga preach, and God used that to confirm the call to preach on his life. He goes on to say, “… and you can mark it down that if you are a preacher God will hide from you much of the fruit he causes in your ministry.” (19). Even so, Piper encourages the preacher as he continues in pursuit of his calling. This testimonial of what God’s call did in crafting his heart toward the preaching of His Word will inspire all who read this work for it rigorously takes the pressure of the preacher being all-in-all. His quote of the colonial minister Cotton Mather captures the heart of Piper with three simple words: “Our God reigns!” (23). Later in this work, Piper notes, “the goal of preaching is utterly dependent on the mercy of God for its fulfillment. Therefore, the preacher must labor to put his preaching under divine influence by prayer” (98). What a message for preachers, both the arrogant and brokenhearted alike!

Another wonderful aspect of this book is how Piper encourages preachers to find a godly model for ministry. Once accomplished, he is then to study that model diligently — which was advice given to him by his seminary professor (65). For Piper, that model is Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758). As Piper takes us through Edwards’ life and ministry, one sees why Piper is so blessed by this man’s example. “What Jonathan Edwards preached and how he preached were extensions of his vision of God” (75) — a theme that permeates this entire second part. This insight is needed for many preachers believe far and away that content drives the preaching while putting the how of delivery far in the background.[1] Yet, not just for this particular work by Piper but for all of his works, we see the influence of Edwards in this statement: “The duty of man is to delight in God’s glory. . . . Our duty toward God is that all our affections respond properly to his reality and so reflect his glory” (77-78).

Another amazing benchmark of this work is how Piper yearns for preachers to have a Spirit-empowered, Spirit-indwelt life that is given over to the glory of God based on the Word of God. The preacher’s life is to be steeped in humility, Piper states, and “glad submission” to the worth and glory of the sovereign God. This recalls the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (ESV). In humility, he exhorts preachers clearly to “get people to open their Bibles and put their fingers on the text” so they know where preachers get their ideas (41)! He insightfully reminds preachers that, “We are simply pulling rank on people when we tell them, and don’t show them from the text” (42). In relying on the Spirit’s power, we must saturate our preaching with the Word He inspired (42).

Piper relays how he uses the acronym APTAT to remind himself at the hour he is to preach that he does not preach in his own power. He says he must admit his utter helplessness, he must pray for help, he must trust in God for specific hope in that hour, he must act confidently that God will fulfill his Word, and then finally thank God for his sustaining power (45-46). Such a reminder of humility in our church’s pulpits and our pastor’s study desks would serve the evangelical churches well. His prayerfulness echoes the Apostle Paul’s desire for the Spirit to fill his preaching when he tells the Ephesian church to pray for him “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19, ESV). The heart of the Apostle Paul beats in the life and ministry of John Piper and in the message of this volume by his continual prayer for God to move him from his utter helplessness for the task of preaching to the complete dependence on Christ in every area that Piper does for the Kingdom work.

One slight weakness in this work is the lack of explanation in how to apply these principles he puts forth. Although a case could be made that no set formula exists for capturing the glory of God and gladly submitting to Him in all things. Also, to Piper’s credit, he does take us step-by-step through some of paths on which God led him, but he could have certainly helped the reader by extracting some principles from Scripture and even from his own experiences as to how one goes about this.

Conclusion

After reading through the entirety of this magnificent volume, I believe that every pastor should read and absorb its contents not just for the good of the pastor’s ministry but also for the good of the pastor’s soul. Piper sounds a clarion call for all pastors to shed the desire to preach simply for mass appeal or to preach simply as if it were another job at another place of employment. Piper bolsters the preacher’s aim in having the Bible as the standard from which to preach coupled with the passion of God’s glory and sovereignty. May this book encourage you as pastors and preachers of the Word as it has me!

[Piper, John. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990.119 pp. $6.95.]

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[1] McDill, Wayne. The 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1994. 14

Deficient Derelicts

Dr. Al Mohler of Southern Seminary has written a very compelling article dealing with what he calls “the deficit of doctrinal instruction” in many of our churches. He writes:

The church is faced in the postmodern age by several distinct apologetic challenges. Internally, the church must defend the faith against ignorance, against compromise, against doctrinal apathy, and against denial. The church now suffers from a breathtaking deficit of doctrinal instruction and biblical truth. In some churches, the great truths of the Christian faith are unknown, and in others, these truths are left dormant and untaught. Beyond this, the very real dangers of doctrinal corrosion and heresy threaten. (To read the rest of the article, click here.)

It seems that our churches by and large have handed off the theological instruction to our seminaries — not something I believe Paul nor Christ intended. Our churches are to be theological and missiological training grounds for all congregants, and especially ministers-in-training. Our churches must not only be afraid of commitment to serve but also of committing to think through their belief systems. Are we on target in our biblical thinking?

Prayer in the Life and Ministry of the Pastor

By Mark Dever of 9 Marks Ministries

Prayer is a matter that most of us readily endorse but, in reality, think of too little. I’m not talking about prayer in general, but prayer in the life and ministry of the pastor.

In the only letter we have from Jesus’ brother Jude, we find a passionate warning against false teachers who were invading and beguiling the church. Jude writes scathingly of them. After he describes and dismisses them, he turns in verse 20 to contrast the true Christians, and true leaders of the church, with these unspiritual men.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Highly Questionable Methods

by Robert Reymond

“The problem in our day, which gives rise to highly questionable church growth methods, is twofold:

On the one hand, we are seeing a waning confidence in the message of the gospel. Even the evangelical church shows signs of losing confidence in the convincing and converting power of the gospel message. That is why increasing numbers of churches prefer sermons on family life and psychological health. We are being overtaken by what Os Guinness calls the managerial and therapeutic revolutions. The winning message, it seems, is the one that helps people to solve their temporal problems, improves their self-esteem and makes them feel good about themselves. In such a cultural climate, preaching on the law, sin and repentance, and the cross has all but disappeared, even in evangelical churches. The church has become “user friendly,” “consumer oriented,” and as a result evangelical churches are being inundated with “cheap grace” (Bonhoeffer). Today’s “gospel” is all too often a gospel without cost, without repentance, without commitment, without discipleship, and thus “another gospel” and accordingly no gospel at all, all traceable to the fact that this is how too many people today have come to believe that the church must be grown.

On the other hand, we are seeing a waning confidence in preaching as the means by which the gospel is to be spread. As a result, preaching is giving way in evangelical churches to multimedia presentations, drama, dance, “sharing times,” sermonettes, and “how to” devotionals. Preaching is being viewed increasingly as outdated and ineffective. Business techniques like telemarketing are now popular with the church growth movement. Churches so infected also look to the multiplication of programs to effect their growth. They sponsor conferences and seminars on every conceivable topic under the sun; they subdivide their congregations down into marrieds and singles, single parents and divorced, “thirty-something” and “twenty-something,” teens, unemployed, the child-abused and the chemically dependent, attempting to arrange programs for them all. And once a person joins such a church, conventional wisdom has it, the church and the minister must meet his every felt need. Accordingly, ministers have become managers, facilitators, and motivators—everything but heralds of the whole counsel of God—and this all because they have lost confidence in the preaching of God’s Word as the primary means for the growth of the church and the individual Christian.

What is the answer? A restored confidence in the Reformed doctrine of the sovereignty of God in salvation!”

— Robert L. Reymond, in A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith

Lessons on effective leadership from Harry Truman (PreachingNow.com)

In a recent edition of his TIPS newsletter, Philip Humbert writes, "Harry Truman didn't find a career until late in life. He didn't marry until well into his thirties, and before that he tried a variety of jobs and ventures, including farming and selling men's clothing. His clothing store went bankrupt and he referred to himself as a 'failed haberdasher' for the rest of his life. Because of poor eyesight, he barely made it into the Army, but served with distinction and courage in World War I. In his 40's and 50's he drifted into politics and served as a county commissioner, mainly dealing with road repair.

"He never had money and he and his wife spend most of their married life living upstairs in his mother-in-law's home. When he was elected to the U.S. Senate, he was seen as a party hack and given little respect. In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt selected him to run for Vice President after the 'better' candidates were all rejected. FDR thought so little of him, they never had a serious conversation and Truman was told nothing about the atomic bomb until several days after he was sworn in as the new President.

"And yet this 'common man' is often viewed as one of the greatest Presidents of the 20th century. How can this be? Truman himself often said that there 'are probably a million people more qualified than me to be President, but I'm the one with the job, and I'll do my best.' Throughout his life, he was always known for doing his best, and often astonished people by exceeding their expectations. Here are some of my observations about how he did it.

1. First, he out-worked everyone around him. FDR rarely got to work before 10:00 AM, but Truman was usually up by 5:30 and worked all day long. In his first days as President, the change caught the White House staff off-guard. From the butlers to members of the Cabinet, they had never seen anyone who worked so hard and demanded such from them. One key to his amazing success was simple hard work.

2. Second, he was decisive. Where FDR delayed and avoided decisions, Truman listened to advice, read the reports, made decisions promptly, and once they were made, he rarely changed his mind. He made bold decisions and once made, he knew how to hold a steady course.

3. Third, his personal integrity was beyond reproach. At the Potsdam Conference after the war, he went into Berlin and a staffer suggested they could go drinking or get some 'women of easy virtue,' to which Truman coldly responded that he loved his wife and didn't mess around on her. He kicked the staffer out of his car and never spoke to him again.

4. Fourth, he knew the value of loyalty. He was famous for his life-long friendships and personal warmth. He knew the names of staffers in the White House, and remembered their families. When members of his staff came under political fire, he ignored the newspapers and kept his team together.

5. Fifth and most important, he knew who he was. In the face of enormous pressures and criticism, Truman knew his goals and purposes, remained firm in his beliefs and seldom wavered. He had enormous personal courage and quiet confidence in his own judgment.

"Sooner or later, life confronts each of us with problems that seem beyond our abilities and asks us to meet them anyway. Whether from illness or business gone bad, or in some other form, eventually we must dig deep to see what we are made of. These 'impossible' challenges reveal our character and give us the opportunity to surprise ourselves. President Truman did it, and so can we." (Copyright © 2006, all rights reserved. Contact Humbert at www.philiphumbert.com or email to Coach@philiphumbert.com)

Studying The Bible … Carnally?

In the March 9 edition of his Turning Point Daily Devotional, David Jeremiah talks about a well-known Old Testament scholar who spent the summer in Jerusalem as part of a team of scholars working on a new translation of the Bible. When he returned to the classroom in September, he told his students it had been a carnal, spiritually dry summer. His students were shocked. Weren’t they studying God’s Word all day? He replied, “It became a project instead of a passion. We became so familiar with the intricacies of the text that we stopped seeing its grandeur.”

Jeremiah adds, “Is it possible to study the Bible in a carnal fashion? Apparently so. Maybe when you read the professor’s testimony, you said to yourself, ‘That’s happened to me.’ You don’t have to be a scholar or translator to lose sight of the inestimable privilege of reading God’s Word. It can happen when you become so faithful with your quiet time that it becomes a routine — something to check off your ‘to-do’ list for the day.”

This is a danger pastors and church leaders face on a constant basis. As we dig through God’s Word developing sermons, lessons and other presentations, it is all too easy to begin treating Scripture as a resource to use in our work, losing sight of the incredible treasure God has given us in His Word. As you pick up your copy of God’s Word today, take time to meditate on its power and its unique value. Take time to thank God for allowing you to handle His precious Word, and ask Him to help you discover new riches in those remarkable pages.

As A.W. Tozer said, “The sacred page is not meant to be the end, but only the means toward the end, which is knowing God Himself.”

Michael Duduit, Editor
michael@preaching.com
www.michaelduduit.com

(From MRP: “Oh God, forgive me when the Bible simply becomes fodder for my sermons rather than a way for me to know You more and proclaim you best! Revive me again, O Lord.”)

Membership Matters

Periodically, I will republish a blog entry from a former blog I had. Enjoy!

"Membership Matters" by Chuck Lawless

Dr. Chuck Lawless, the new Dean of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Missions, and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, KY, has written a wonderful volume entitled "Membership Matters: Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation." This is a wonderfully practical book! Included are:

* Survey findings with charts and graphs, accompanied by real stories from churches of all sizes;

* Appendicies which provide practical resources on church covenants, intivation letters, ministry opportunities checklist, etc.

* A pastors' forum gives firsthand insights into making membership matter.

I am encouraged by the trend of seeing churches training their congregants to the fact that church membership is more than a name on an roll. Southern Baptists need to learn this most of all, when only five million out of sixteen million members attend church on any given Sunday. Where are the other eleven million? They are likely resting in the fact that they "made a decision" many moons ago. But God saved us to bear fruit and be involved in a worship lifestyle made evident in ministry. Membership classes help every member everywhere to understand this necessity.

This is a great book! I also recommend Dr. Lawless' other work called "Discipled Warriors."

John Ortberg’s 3 points of ministry to difficult people

by Rebecca Barnes, Editor, Church Central Today

After Maureen began attending our small group Bible study she began telephoning us nearly every day to discuss her problems. We soon learned every detail about her failed marriage, her wayward child, her overbearing boss, her health problems. It was usually a one-sided conversation that involved little more than several uh-huhs from me. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about her, I just didn’t want to have to care every day, and for someone who apparently gave no thought to reciprocating that care.

You probably have a Maureen in your life, too. If you are in ministry you probably have several Maureens. Difficult people seem to gravitate toward churches. That’s a good thing. Jesus said it is the sick who need a doctor.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Missing the Mark in Ministry to Gays (PreachingNow.com)

Missing the mark in ministry to gays

Tim Wilkins was once involved in a homosexual lifestyle. Today he is a Christian and has a ministry (www.CrossMinistry.org) to persons struggling with homosexuality. In his most recent newsletter, he writes: “Society in general and churches in particular mistakenly believe freedom from homosexuality is marrying, having 2.3 children and a dog in the back yard. A 2001 secular study on the possibility of change shows the depth of this ingrained ‘doctrine’. Dr. Robert Spitzer, a Columbia University professor, interviewed men and women who said they used to be homosexual; I was one of many he questioned. As beneficial as his study was and as much as I appreciate the visibility it gave to change, his study measured heterosexual function of the former homosexual — again missing the real issue.

“But” you ask, “don’t homosexuals need to become heterosexuals?” No! Scripture never states nor implies all people must be heterosexual; it does say explicitly, however, that we are to avoid all forms of sexual immorality, which includes homosexuality. With that in mind have we not at times given the impression that homosexuals must “convert” to heterosexuality? Jesus did not say “Go and make heterosexuals”; He said, “Go and make disciples.”

“But” you ask, “isn’t heterosexuality the opposite of homosexuality?” No! The opposite of homosexuality is holiness!

The term “former homosexual” is inadequate if not inappropriate. We mistakenly think a person who has found freedom from same-sex attractions is now heterosexual. The former homosexual man or woman may now experience heterosexual feelings, but heterosexuality should never be his or the churches’ goal. Heterosexuality is in many cases, but not all, a byproduct of the homosexual’s dealing with the primary issues — a distorted self-image and faulty thinking — both of which Satan uses to “gain control.”

The church will do well to remember that singleness is not a sin, immorality is. What all this means is that most of churches’ advice to the homosexual misses the mark entirely!

(Tim will be leading his “More Than Words” conference at First Baptist, Dallas, on May 6 and at First Assembly of God, Raleigh, on August 12. Visit his website, www.CrossMinistry.org for information)

(Produced in the PreachingNow Newsletter from http://www.preaching.com, March 21, 2006).

ABC Moments in Breakout Moments

The ABC Moment in breakout churches is often the make or break in pastorates. Here it is:

Awareness. Leadership and key persons become aware that the church is not nearly all God intended it to be. At this stage it is common for church leaders to seek some type of outside perspective, such as attending a conference, zealously reading about issues related to the church, or hirign outside consultants. There is a keen desire to learn and improve.

Belief. This is where a leader confronts the brutal reality of the church. The facts serve as a wake-up call to make needed changes. This does not cause despair, but rather a strong belief that God can do something great even in these situations.

Crisis. When the change takes place, there’s a crisis in the heart of the leader, in the members of the church, and even in the attitudes of the members toward the leader. This is often a painful stage and is the time when many pastors leave. (p. 72).

This shows the strength needed in the leader and the prayer that must take place to change hearts so the church goes from where they are to where God needs them to be.