This book is a must read for all who stand in the pulpit and preach God's Word in our day. In fact, it should be read at least twice, which is what I've done now with this book.
This is not a manual for preaching and communication (though perhaps more can be learned about both from this book than most other so-called manuals). Rather, this is an urgent plea by a man of God who has been a faithful preacher of the Supremacy of God over all things for decades to preach with passion, clarity, gladness, and God centered weightiness .
I remember sitting in my seminary preaching course and hearing my professor tell us to find another preacher we respect and study their preaching style. In terms of preaching passionately and with depth, John Piper is that man for me (admittedly, I have a very very long way to go to emulate him).
This short plea to fellow preachers is divided into two sections. In the first, Piper makes his case for Preachers to bring back the Supremacy of God in their preaching. In section two, Piper examines the preaching methods and content of Jonathan Edwards. Like me, in seminary Piper was encouraged to study a great preacher, he chose Edwards. This part, while still good, was not as captivating for me as Piper's plea. Though it was insightful to see Edwards passion to reach both the head and the heart for the glory of Christ in preaching.
I'll leave you with just a few 'nuggets' of wisdom from the book:
Laughter seems to have replaced repentance as the goal of many preachers.
It is not the job of the Christian preacher to give people moral or psychological pep talks about how to get along in the world.
Preaching is public exultation over the truth that it brings. It is not disinterested or cool or neutral. It is not mere explanation. It is manifestly and contagiously passionate about what it says.
People are starving for the greatness of God. But most of them would not give this diagnosis of their troubled lives.
All genuine preaching is rooted in a feeling of desperation.
I urge you to rely on the Holy Spirit by saturating your preaching with the Word he inspired.