The Supremacy of God in Preaching (& Expanded)

Piper has struck me anew at the privilege it is to exposit the Word of God for Christ’s church. This book has been a gem for me, and though I wasn’t expecting such a big focus on Jonathan Edwards and his preaching, I found it exceptionally helpful to look at the life and teachings of this man, especially how much he made of Christ. While it may have been teetering on the verge of hagiography, I didn’t see this as too much of a problem, as the main points Piper was making were less biographic and more centred around preaching.

Overall, this wonderful book reminded me of how important it is for us to preach faithfully from the text, rather than considering only how we can entertain and engage with winsomeness. The power of the Bible and the weakness of the preacher was a powerful argument that will stick with me.

This book was simple and to the point. I read the third edition. \\nPeople do not know their need for God, and the way (ordained by God) to show them, is through the preaching of God's word with a focus on proclaiming God's glory and beauty and thus enjoying him because of his greatness and splendour. \\nPiper is purposefully Trinitarian in the first part about preaching, showing where the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have their particular roles. \\nIn the second part, he draws from the example and teaching of Edwards to show the heart and emphases that preaching should have. \\nIn the third part, Piper gives some final words of exhortation and wisdom from his 33 years of pastoral ministry challenging the next generation to not be drawn in by the whims of culture and society but to be so """"tethered"""" to God's word. \\nPiper makes good and important points and the book's brevity makes it worth reading.

I went into this book thinking about how I could preach better sermons. I came out of reading this thinking about how I could 'be' a better preacher. Not in the sense of following tips or '7 steps to a great message'- but how can I see and experience the supremacy of Christ, to then bring that before others and offer it to them. I really learned through this book that God's strength is most clear when I'm weak and get out of the way.

In The Supremacy of God in Preaching, John Piper argues that God should be supreme in preaching. This book focuses very much on a theology of preaching and not on the technical side of preaching. The structure of his argument for the supremacy of God in preaching, is Trinitarian: (1) The Goal of Preaching: The Glory of God; (2) The Ground of Preaching: The Cross of Christ; (3) The Gift of Preaching: The Power of the Holy Spirit. \\r\\n\\r\\nA secondary part of Piper's argument is that the ministry of preaching stands alone in the way it fills people's heads with the knowledge of God and fuels their hearts with a passion for God . Based on the ministry, writing, and preaching Jonathan Edwards, Piper outlines ten very helpful points on how to preach (i. e. 'Stir Up Holy Affections' and 'Plead for a Response'). \\r\\n\\r\\nThis book is a must-read for all preachers because it lays down the fundamentals of why, what, and how to preach. Piper's brevity and simplicity will make this book accessible to beginners. His zeal for the glory of God, his commitment to the Word of God, and his belief in the power of God through preaching will inspire every preacher.