Preaching With Spiritual Vigour (Book Review)

This is the best book I have ever read on the subject of preaching, hands down!  There now you know how I feel about Preaching with Spiritual Vigour: Including Lessons from the Life and Practice of Richard Baxter by Murray A. Capill.  Why is this the best read on preaching?  It is because he approaches the subject from a Biblical perspective.  The life of a preacher is more a part of his preaching than the actual preparation and delivery for even Paul tells Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely to save his hearers.  For Capill, preaching is not only about getting into the original languages, doing exegesis, and coming up with a good outline, but it is about the life, spirituality, and the heart of the Pastor.

One main point that Capill makes is that preaching today is commonly cold and mechanical.  Yes, even in the seeker-sensitive churches.  What is needed is spiritual fervor and depth. The common solution is to run to another conference, seminar, read another book, or watch a new video series. "The one thing most necessary - a revitalized communion with the Lord - is the thing most easily neglected. Anything else, however, is but a short-term remedy."

Throughout most of the book, Capill looks at the life and ministry of Richard Baxter, the Puritan who was the author of the famous book The Reformed Pastor, for insight into one's preaching ministry.  To every Pastor, seasoned or young like me, I would highly recommend this book.  This is a book that goes beyond all others for it does not just investigate different varieties of sermons and the methods of constructing a sermon.  "Capill is really writing about the pastoral ministry of Richard Baxter, but it doesn't come across as a biography; nor does he imply that Baxter did everything perfectly. He has taken some of the best from the life of a great pastor and tried to make it useful to preachers of this age."  If you are a Pastor or think you might be called to be one, this book is for you!

Table of Contents

1. A Model for Preachers
2. Preaching to Yourself
3. Shepherding Souls
4. Preaching Purposefully
5. Speaking to the Heart
6. Driving the Message Home
7. Passion and Power
8. The Reformed Preacher
9. Appendix: Baxter's Farewell Sermon

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