Nathan James Norman
  • Blog
  • Writer
  • Pastor
  • Bookshelf
  • Links
  • Contact

Nathan James Norman

Husband. Father. Pastor.
Storyteller. Reader. Comic Fan.
Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Orchard Church

Review: Preaching With Accuracy

6/21/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Summary: Randal E. Pelton presents a concise textbook for "Big Idea" preaching, which focuses on connecting the big idea to Christ-Centered sermons.

Review: In general, I agree with Pelton's preaching philosophy. I am a "Big Idea" preacher from the school of Haddon Robinson. Much of Pelton's book interacts with Robinson's philosophy of preaching, and like minded persons. He uses slightly different terminology, but at its core (or big idea) it flows from that same school of thought.

For this reason alone, I must commend it as a solid work on homiletics.

The book itself, however, is conflicted with what it wants to accomplish. On the one hand, it wants to present itself as an introductory, one-stop shop, for preaching sermons from the text. But on the other, it is trying to make an argument for bringing Christ into every sermon and how to do that. The book is fairly short, but in comparison to the other sections the chapter on "Canonical Big Ideas" is rather long. But it is too short to make a winsome argument, or equip the homiletician with the various options of Christ-centered preaching that Pelton offers.

The book is built off of the "Big Idea" preaching philosophy, and adds onto it this Christ-focused concept of a "Canonical Big Idea." There is simply not enough time spent on this concept, though. In this extended chapter Pelton juggles the tasks of arguing the need for this step, while simultaneously trying to teach how to do this. He doesn't quite succeed in either.

I would like to see his thoughts on this "Canonical Big Idea" presented in a longer work on its own. There just didn't seem to be the space to present what needed to be presented.

Finally, Preaching with Accuracy felt much more abstract than a book like this should feel. There certainly needs to be a philosophy presented, but the suggested big ideas, and sermon help never felt concrete. I looked at the suggested big ideas and without thinking began working on them to simplify their wording. To move them to a more concrete place.

So, while I agree with Pelton's preaching philosophy overall, I feel this book had dual foci which shifted the attention away from the concept of "Canonical Big Ideas" Pelton wanted to present.

Rating: 3/5 (I Liked It)

Find it at Kregel here.
Find it at Amazon here.

You know the Qwaridians beat-up Superman, right?
Note: I received a physical copy of this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Adoption
    Art
    Axiom
    Beowulf
    Christmas
    Comics
    Drabble
    Flash Fiction
    Foster Care
    Good Friday
    Humor
    Infertility
    Interviews
    Memes
    Music
    Politics
    Practical
    Preaching
    Reviews
    Speculative
    Theology
    Tragedy
    Trinity Watch
    Untold Podcast
    Video
    Writing

    Blog Roll

    Albert Mohler
    Breakpoint
    Christian Humanist
    Christian Geek Central
    Critical Press Media
    David N. Alderman
    Doug Geivett

    Good Book Blog
    Living With Cogan
    Open Biola
    Project Rooftop
    Reasonable Faith
    Running Slowly w/ Kids
    Spirit Blade Underground
    Strangers and Aliens
    The Table Podcast
    This Old Farmhouse

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012