Preaching by the Book

by R. Scott Pace

A Review

“A sermon is the communication of divine and eternal truth.” This is the sacred basis for preaching on which this book is built.

The compact, concise volume will be a valuable resource for rookies and seasoned professionals.  It is detailed enough to establish new preachers in the pattern of biblical preaching and broad enough to challenge older pastors to sharpen their focus on the fundamentals.

Pace believes “we should follow a guided process that humbly yields to the Spirit, faithfully interprets the scriptures, and grateful honors our Savior.”  The book outlines seven strategic steps to accomplish that.

Three sections underpin the process- the foundation, the framework, the finishing touches. (I have often thought the trademark of a well-prepared preacher is unforced alliteration. This book does not disappoint.) I am in the category of older pastor, but I want my preaching to stay fresh. Two subsections are especially relevant.

Chapter 3 discourses on Interpretation.  Pace’s discussion of authorial intent, page 34, was a confirmation of the need for a contextual presentation of every biblical passage. “The meaning of the text (is) an objective reality.” “Every text has a primary, fixed meaning, and a passage can never mean what it never meant.”  Contextualization becomes more relevant as the church moves further into the “fast food” model of preaching.

Sermon introductions have not been my strong suit. The author has listed some helpful points in Chapter 5 that I plan to review regularly.