Call number
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Publication
Reformation Trust (2006), 139 pp
ISBN
1567690858 / 9781567690859
Description
In The Expository Genius of John Calvin, Dr. Steven J. Lawson delves into the practices, commitments, and techniques that made John Calvin, the great Reformer of the sixteenth century, such an effective preacher during his long pastorate at Saint Pierre Cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Lawson identifies thirty-two distinctives of Calvin s preaching, providing comments from Calvin s writings, quotations from Reformation scholars, and examples from Calvin s own sermons to reinforce his points. In the end, Dr. Lawson finds in Calvin a strong model for expository preaching and calls on modern pastors to follow the Reformer s example.
User reviews
LibraryThing member BookAlert
A wonderful book that plumbs the depths of Calvin's love for expository preaching.
LibraryThing member moses917
The Expository Genius of John Calvin by Steven J. Lawson, who is senior pastor at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. This is the first volume from the series "Long Line of Godly Men Profiles" published by Reformed Trust the publishing arm of Ligonier Ministries. As I understand
Lawson here has given us a wonderful book which is written as a plea to modern-day preachers to return to the practice of expository preaching. That pastors would preach the Word as Calvin did from behind the sacred desk. This is made clear when Lawson speaks on the current state pulpit. "Exposition is being replaced with entertainment, preaching with performances, doctrine with drama, and technology with theatrics. Desperately does the modern-day church need to recover its way and return to a pulpit that is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and life-changing" (p. xi).
There has been a lot written about Calvin the theologian as often the focus is on his Institutes or the controversies over his leadership and politics during the Reformation. In this book Calvin the preacher is worthy of our attention indeed. The book is a quick read but very weighty in content.
Lawson at first lays down a brief overview of Calvin's birth, early life, conversion and then begins to examine in great detail the reformers approach to preaching. Throughout the pages we gain an overview of his sermon introduction, interpretation, his preparation, his method of expounding the text, the way he crafted his delivery, his application of the truth, concluding statements and final intercession. In all he discusses 32 recognizable distinctives of Calvin's preaching ministry. What an exploration through the distinguishing marks of Calvin's expository genius.
As a reader you begin to take in the statement Lawson makes when he says, "Calvin stands today as the most influential minister of the Word of God the world has ever seen. No man before or since has been so prolific and so penetrating in his handling of Scripture." (p. 4) Throughout the book, Lawson sprinkles quotations from scholars like Alister McGrath, James M. Boice, Charles Spurgeon, B.B. Warfield and others in support of his observations of Calvin's preaching. He also provides bite-size snippets of Calvin's sermons as examples of his preaching.
I see that Calvin saw his main calling to that of a preacher as it was mad clear as he gave himself to this task multiple times in a week. His desire was to bring the words of living water to a thirsty flock in a dry land. He did not preach over the heads of his sheep but showed the everyday relevance of God's Word. This why he studied was to clearly and thoroughly teach and explain expositionally every verse of the Bible.
Lawson captures Calvin's essence in this book which I found refreshing. I delighted in Lawson's writing style and his commitment to the power of preaching, I understand a great deal more of Calvin's preaching now. My excitement and anticipation for this series is high and I am sure Lawson will not disappoint.
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it, future volumes will cover Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther and other giants of the faith. Each volume will focus on an aspect of that preacher's man's ministry and legacy. Lawson here has given us a wonderful book which is written as a plea to modern-day preachers to return to the practice of expository preaching. That pastors would preach the Word as Calvin did from behind the sacred desk. This is made clear when Lawson speaks on the current state pulpit. "Exposition is being replaced with entertainment, preaching with performances, doctrine with drama, and technology with theatrics. Desperately does the modern-day church need to recover its way and return to a pulpit that is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and life-changing" (p. xi).
There has been a lot written about Calvin the theologian as often the focus is on his Institutes or the controversies over his leadership and politics during the Reformation. In this book Calvin the preacher is worthy of our attention indeed. The book is a quick read but very weighty in content.
Lawson at first lays down a brief overview of Calvin's birth, early life, conversion and then begins to examine in great detail the reformers approach to preaching. Throughout the pages we gain an overview of his sermon introduction, interpretation, his preparation, his method of expounding the text, the way he crafted his delivery, his application of the truth, concluding statements and final intercession. In all he discusses 32 recognizable distinctives of Calvin's preaching ministry. What an exploration through the distinguishing marks of Calvin's expository genius.
As a reader you begin to take in the statement Lawson makes when he says, "Calvin stands today as the most influential minister of the Word of God the world has ever seen. No man before or since has been so prolific and so penetrating in his handling of Scripture." (p. 4) Throughout the book, Lawson sprinkles quotations from scholars like Alister McGrath, James M. Boice, Charles Spurgeon, B.B. Warfield and others in support of his observations of Calvin's preaching. He also provides bite-size snippets of Calvin's sermons as examples of his preaching.
I see that Calvin saw his main calling to that of a preacher as it was mad clear as he gave himself to this task multiple times in a week. His desire was to bring the words of living water to a thirsty flock in a dry land. He did not preach over the heads of his sheep but showed the everyday relevance of God's Word. This why he studied was to clearly and thoroughly teach and explain expositionally every verse of the Bible.
Lawson captures Calvin's essence in this book which I found refreshing. I delighted in Lawson's writing style and his commitment to the power of preaching, I understand a great deal more of Calvin's preaching now. My excitement and anticipation for this series is high and I am sure Lawson will not disappoint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member joshrskinner
Great book focused on how and why John Calvin preached the way he did. Fun read and pretty short
LibraryThing member lachlanp
I thought this book was a great introduction to John Calvin as a pastor. Above all of his other accomplishments, he was first-of-all a servant to his congregation, and he poured his heart, soul, and mind into teaching them the will of God for their salvation.
It was inspiring, reading of a man who
It was inspiring, reading of a man who
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gave himself to God's Word and wanted to proclaim it as accurately and clearly as possible. I'd like to go read some of his sermons, when I get the chance. Show Less