Category Archives: Book Reviews

Preaching the Big Idea with Music and Underwear

“Don’t show your underwear.” That’s what one pastor-professor said when I sat in on a preaching workshop during my seminary years. What did he mean? “Underwear” refers to the fine details of the text and the laborious process the preacher engaged in to understand them. He was concerned that preachers may distract people from the Big Idea if they reveal all of their hard work behind the scenes to study the passage.

He advised us to address the exegetical elements of the biblical text only when necessary. Preachers must do the digging for themselves to discover the passage’s Big Idea and then build the sermon rigorously around it. He confidently proposed that preachers should prepare the hearers for the Big Idea with a careful introduction, support it with 2-4 complementary points, and write a conclusion that repeats and applies it. This is likely the dominant approach employed by most seminary-educated preachers today.

Who Taught Preachers to Hide Their Underwear?

The Big Idea approach was stimulated by a book that still remains a primary preaching course text in many seminaries: Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson. [1] Robinson taught that every Bible passage contains essentially one main point—a Big Idea which every interpreter ought to discover and stress in the message. The preacher, Robinson insisted, should toil to construct a single succinct sentence that clearly and cleverly states this Big Idea. The preacher should then construct the entire sermon to support this sentence and use it to drive the hearers’ personal and community application of the passage. Robinson’s ideas sound logical, and they are not altogether wrong. However . . .

A Message That’s Musical

For years, I’ve sensed the Big Idea approach was lacking something, even though I have largely followed it and seen others do so through much of my life. I was delighted to read an article in the latest Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society titled, “Time to Kill the Big Idea? A Fresh Look at Preaching.” In this article, Abraham Kuruvilla says that the Big Idea approach is a wrongful “distilling” of the Bible text down to what appear to be its essential elements. [2] This distilling often robs the hearers of essential elements in the text and causes us to pass over nuances that give a passage its punch.

Wouldn’t such “distilling” reduce the impact God intended for any given passage of Scripture? Wouldn’t it “result in significant loss of textual meaning, emotion, power, and pathos?” [3] Over the course of time, wouldn’t this method leave the hearers malnourished at best and impoverished at worst?

To illustrate his concerns, Kuruvilla compares the Big Idea approach to stripping the notes out of a musical masterpiece. Music theorists have demonstrated that most notes in a song can be left out of a tune and it will remain recognizable. Kuruvilla analyzed “Over the Rainbow” with this technique and came up with a few measures like the following:

If only the circled notes above were played, one would distinguish the tune “Over the Rainbow.” The problem is, this technique reduces the masterpiece down to something that the songwriter never intended, even if it still sounds nice or recognizable. A true artist would likely feel insulted by such reduction! If people only ever heard the distilled rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” it probably would never have been well-liked or become the influential classic that it is. Kuruvilla views sermons in much the same way:

Sermons should be faithful to the full range of a text’s power, and those preachers who carry away only main ideas … are traveling too light. [4]

The Master Musician

The Bible was inspired by a Master Musician, so often there truly are multiple threads of meaning, purpose, and punch in a single passage of Scripture. Sometimes a series of passages function like an ensemble of instruments, each adding their tones and tinges to the thrust of a book or section of Scripture. Hearers will be better nourished if preachers give every “instrument” God placed within a text its place in forming the overall song.

What does this mean in practical terms for the preacher? First, none of this suggests that readers/hearers should read into the Bible what they wish to see. The motive is to appreciate the complexity that God built into his Word. That means preachers have to show their underwear—at least some of it! They shouldn’t hoard the nuances of the text for themselves and give the hearers a mere summary of extracted principles. They must expose the hearers to the masterpiece that moved them to deep knowledge and reflection during private study and preparation.

Recovering from the Big Idea Syndrome

The world is presently bombarded with mind-numbing technology and oversimplifications. Everything is being done in the name of simplicity, efficiency, and ease of success. Christians should strive to recover depth of thought and reflection. Few books other than the Bible can induce such intense reflection on self, society, and spiritual realities. We should abandon the Big Idea approach if it means following these misguided patterns of the modern world. Instead of “stripping out” the details of a passage in order to get quickly to what supposedly matters, we should insist that all of it matters and all of it is worthy of our time and undivided attention.

Following the flow of the passage and its sophisticated signals may distract some hearers, but we are dealing with more than just hearers. Christians, aren’t we handling the precious Word of God? If God intentionally and artfully shaped his message with specific linguistic features, shouldn’t we expose them for our hearers? This can be done in a way that captures the imagination and interest of the hearer. Preachers need to figure out how to do so.

Must We Abandon the Big Idea?

We should abandon the Big Idea approach if it prevents us from treating Scripture as the divine masterpiece that it is. But contrary to Kuruvilla’s insinuation, we need not kill the Big Idea altogether. Many passages do build up to a single, prevailing point that should receive emphasis. What stands out in Kuruvilla’s analysis is the danger of allowing the main idea to control every step of sermon preparation. Surely those of us who preach must do a better job of illuminating all the colors of God’s Word when we preach or teach.

The next article will examine a Bible story that generates strong feelings (and sometimes controversy) due to the tension between the Big Idea and the details in the passage. I will also “retweet” some of Kuruvilla’s most stimulating quotes from “Time to Kill the Big Idea?”

 

_________________________________________

[1] Haddon W. Robinson, Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1980).

[2] Abraham Kuruvilla, “Time to Kill the Big Idea? A Fresh Look at Preaching,”  JETS 61, no. 4 (2019): 825-46. Kuruvilla begins his article by developing the history of the Big Idea. His research reveals a surprising list of notable Christian preachers and authors who subscribe to the Big Idea approach (825-828).

[3] Kuruvilla, 841.

[4] Kuruvilla, 836, quoting Thomas G. Long, The Witness of Preaching, 3rd ed. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2016) 116.

Adults Don’t Learn Like Kids Do

After sitting through a class lecture, I sometimes leave with the sense that something went wrong. Perhaps it was the speaker’s demeanor—maybe the lecturer talked down to us like we were incompetent children! Usually I just feel like something was missing. More could have been learned. Maybe I could have done something. Maybe others could have added to the learning experience.

What’s the Real Problem?

Our discomfort in such situations arises from the fact that adults don’t learn like kids do. Unfortunately, most teachers employ methods designed for children (pedagogy). That’s why the authors of the classic book The Adult Learner advocate methods for adults (andragogy). [1] The 5 principles below are derived from this influential work. I bet you will resonate with most of them.

Since many studies already confirm the principles, my goal is to briefly explain them and suggest how you could implement them in your learning environments. As far as I know, the authors are not professing Christians, so I will suggest a few caveats from a Christian perspective at relevant points . . .

Principle #1: Adults Need to Know That They Need to Know

Adults are busy. Jobs. Errands. Kids. More errands. The last thing they want is another obligation that might not add value to anyone’s life. A teacher may realize that a student will benefit by investing in a topic, even if the student doesn’t know it yet. To this, the Adult Learner authors say, “Facilitators can make an intellectual case for the value of the learners’ performance on the quality of their lives.”

So how can we do that? Illustrate the need. Convince the learners. Find out about their life situations and briefly explore how the learning experience might benefit them. Here’s one caveat: from a Christian standpoint, we need to be careful not to manipulate people simply to get more participants. Seek out those who really have a need and work to convince them if they aren’t already convinced.

Principle #2: Adults Should be Treated as Producers Who Can Self-Direct

In one way or another, adults already have a history of success and production. They want to apply themselves, problem-solve, and explore ways they can contribute. Unlike children who thrive on external rewards, they are internally motivated to improve aspects of their lives.

In addition, adults already have a sense of how they learn best. That’s why they struggle when others micro-manage their learning process. Knowles and his colleagues say, “Adults resent and resist situations in which they feel others are imposing their wills upon them” (63). I totally get this one. When possible, we should create learning conditions where adults can work toward an end-product with minimal limitations.

Now here’s the caveat: in a society that lusts after freedom and independence from authority, we still need to call people to humbly respect the leaders God has placed in their lives. Those leaders will sometimes err. They might even micro-manage. But God has provided them for our growth; that means we can learn from them even if they don’t follow adult learning principles to a tee.

Principle #3: Adults Learn When They Can Customize and Commune

Teachers shouldn’t just “teach”—they must facilitate learning. When an adult sees a course curriculum, they immediately begin to look for ways they can harness it for their benefit. Not all learners share identical life situations, so teachers need to use variety and present opportunities to accommodate different learning styles. In the seminary class I currently teach, I usually give the students options for their assignments. For example, they can do a formal presentation, deliver a sermon, or lead a group in a study. I let them choose an appropriate sub-topic to study or action to take grounded in the themes of the course.

Adults also like to hear from their peers and help their peers. They thrive when they can invest in others and vice-versa. I can hardly think of anything more biblical—people coming together, agreeing to patiently listen and help one another. God prescribes such mutual edification and he is honored by it (Eph 4:11-16).

Principle #4: Adults Need to Be Ready for the Content

This principle is not complicated, but it is important. If learners are not ready for the level or amount of content, they will spin their wheels. Negative experiences due to under-preparedness can greatly discourage an adult and impact their desire to engage the material in the future. The teacher-facilitator basically has two options to address readiness:

  • Assure them that they are ready (if they really are).
  • Take steps to get them ready (which may require some creativity).

Principle #5: Adults Want to Solve Real Problems Now

This principle is closely related to #3. Adults want to learn things they can use now—or at least very soon. How can the learning content help them enhance a skillset, face a personal deficiency, improve their family life, or relate better to others in their community? In my classes, I tell the students they must ask their church leaders to provide them with opportunities to share their learnings. Ideally, they receive permission to do their presentations formally within 6 months of taking my class. This motivates them to study hard, work hard, and pay careful attention to comments from their peers.

So what could be wrong with any of that? Yep, there’s a caveat. The Bible teaches that to focus only on the here, the now, and the pragmatic is short-sighted and worldly. That means some methods spurned by The Adult Learner still have their place. Sermons, lectures, and other traditional teaching formats are still valid, good, and necessary. These formats settle in on us and influence us over time. Those who have sat attentively under solid biblical preaching for many years know that regular exposure to the Scriptures has deeply formed who they are. I think the authors of The Adult Learner underestimate the power of attentive listening in their noble quest for more interactive forms of learning.

Jesus Practiced These Principles First

To wrap up, observe that Jesus exemplified the above principles long before they appeared in The Adult Learner. For example, when groups were large, he taught them (Matt 5-7). He often let people go their way if they were not ready for his guidance (Matt 19:21-24). He involved his disciples actively in ministry—they did ministry alongside him and on their own (Luke 9:1-17). He engaged people over topics they broached and cared about, and he often let them arrive at their own conclusions instead of spelling everything out for them (Mark 13:3-8, Luke 10:36-37). Jesus—teacher par excellence—harnessed the right forms of learning, in the right amounts, for the right circumstances.

_________________________________

[1] Knowles, Malcolm S., Elwood F. Holton, Richard A. Swanson, The Adult Learner 7th ed. (New York: Routledge, 2012). Knowles, the original author passed away over two decades ago. His successors have continued to respectfully refine and update his ideas with new editions. The Adult Learner actually lists 6 principles. I have grouped principle 6 with principle 2 in this article.

9 Marks of a Healthy Church – by Mark Dever

9 Marks of a Healthy ChurchChristian communities are far from perfect, so most of us have a story or two about an unhealthy church situation. So how does a church become healthy and stay that way? 9 Marks of a Healthy Church offers far more than the latest band-aids. Mark Dever has presented indispensable correctives to contemporary church polity and practice. The book promotes fundamental principles to guide church practices in any age. I hope this review will inspire you to add it to your library or get one of its related resources. [1]

Faithful to History, Accessible, and Widely-Applicable

Dever’s familiarity with the subject of church health surfaces through his frequent citations of historical and modern resources. [2] The book is quite readable overall and suitable for church leaders and regular attenders. Some sections are a bit wordy, and Dever periodically includes more examples than necessary to prove his points. That said, 9Marks has developed a brief booklet and other smaller resources which condense the material for those seeking just the main thrust of each “mark.”

As many have noted, 9 Marks of a Healthy Church is written from a Baptist perspective. However, contrary to certain unreasonably prejudiced online reviews, informed Christian readers will heartily agree with the book’s main tenets, regardless of denominational affiliation. Anyone wishing to promote spiritual health and biblical faithfulness in their local church setting will resonate with most of the details Dever presents.

Valuable Chapters in 9 Marks of a Healthy Church

A few of the chapters are worth the cost of the book and deserve special consideration. Chapter 1 (Expositional Preaching) addresses the form and content of preaching. The necessity of expositional (or expository) preaching continues to be a hot topic in Christian circles, and Dever nicely exposes its indispensable worth. In a nutshell, expository preaching emphasizes a single passage in its historical, grammatical, and literary context. The preacher demonstrates careful interpretation of the text to the hearers, draws appropriate conclusions, and suggests pertinent modern applications. Typically, a preacher will move through a whole book or section of Scripture and deal with each passage as a series of messages.

Devers argues that expository preaching serves as an essential control upon abuse of authority and misuse of the Scriptures. He confidently proclaims its value for the spiritual maturation of a church: “Let a good expositional ministry be established and watch what happens. Forget what the experts say. Watch hungry people have their lives transformed as the living God speaks to them through the power of His Word” (54).

Chapter 9 (Biblical Church Leadership) explains the precedent in Scripture for elder-directed church communities within a congregationalist framework. Most people think of ecclesiastical structure as predetermined, biblically-mandated, and static for every church community. However, Dever is not necessarily advocating for a single rigid system of church government. He emphasizes the processes needed to gradually make thoughtful adjustments to church structure. Dever encourages that specific expressions of leadership be cultivated as a church body develops and matures. For these reasons, this chapter contains valuable applications for most church denominations.

Chapter 7 (Biblical Church Discipline) may seem offensive to an individualistic, consumerist Western culture, where authority and imposed consequences are often considered an infringement upon freedom. Yet while society clamors for churches to exercise less authority in the lives of their members, it simultaneously decries the hypocrisy of Christians that do not live according to their own stated belief in the Bible. That is exactly why Jesus and the apostles take the purity of the church so seriously and prescribe steps to ensure it.

Furthermore, contrary to popular opinion, church discipline is not punitive—the goal is always to restore members to healthy relationships with God, church members, and the community. Dever pleas for the resolute recovery of church discipline done out of love for straying members. For these reasons and others, I recommend 9 Marks of a Healthy Church to anyone who seriously longs for positive transformation in their church.

_________________________________

[1] My comments in this review are based upon the New Expanded Edition. Though the book is a bit dated, I have reviewed it to encourage people who may never have read it to do so.

[2] I found Appendix 2 to be an extremely useful survey of the main marks of a healthy church as presented in a host of other published works since the mid-1980s.

Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel – by Russell Moore

This book won a Christianity Today “Book of the Year” award for a reason. Christians ought to read and reflect upon it well. Here’s why…

Rarely does one encounter an author capable of recasting our worst nightmares as dreams come true. Christians in America have long feared losing the “culture wars” as the Bible Belt’s stronghold diminishes and secularism drowns out Christian voices. In Onward, Russell Moore argues that losing may be winning. Secularization is creating a fresh opportunity for the gospel to be seen as “strange” and as unacceptable to the world as it always has been.

The time is ripe for God’s church to go through a purification, casting aside perverted partnerships with world systems and distorted Western politics and values. The end result may not be more Christians in name but a stronger church that is drawn to Jesus himself and able to represent him afresh to America. Many Christians have been longing and striving for such purification, which explains the book’s popularity.

A Book with Great Counsel

Augmenting his pointed tone with a sincere pastoral sensitivity, Moore provides detailed counsel for how the church can re-engage issues including human sexuality, church-state relations, religious freedom, life issues, and the meaning of family. He not only asks us to concede our strangeness within the broader culture, but he implores God’s people to capitalize on it by embracing a richer kingdom perspective. If God is indeed preparing his people for a more profound mission in America, Moore’s plea to let the “good ole’ days” be bygones and reassess is a timely one.

Throughout Onward, Moore advises Christians to learn from the past, let go of the fear of man, live with conviction within the culture instead of quarrelsomeness, and genuinely love our neighbor as Christ intends.

A Book with Great Quotes

Here are a set of notable quotations from Onward that illustrate why this book, though not lengthy, is certainly a gem:

“Jesus came…to wreck our lives, so that he could join us to his. We cannot build Christian churches on a sub-Christian gospel. People who don’t want Christianity don’t want almost-Christianity” (5).

“We must learn to be strange enough to have a prophetic voice, but connected enough to prophesy to those who need to hear. We need to be those who know both how to warn and to welcome, to weep and to dream” (45).

“Worldliness means that we acquiesce to the priorities and the agenda of the systems now governing the world, in many cases because we don’t even question them” (53).

“A mission of redemption that leaves untroubled our place in unjust systems is far too safe, as is a mission of social activism that leaves untroubled our guilt before a holy God” (93).

“Any Christian witness that doesn’t start and finish with the gospel is unspeakably cruel and, in fact, devilish” (110).

“A Christianity that doesn’t prophetically speak for human dignity is a Christianity that has lost anything distinctive to say” (115).

“If we really believe the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, we don’t need bureaucrats to herd people into cowering before it” (145).

“Preachy propaganda doesn’t arrest the conscience. We, as ambassadors of Christ, are dealing with the aroma of life and the stench of death (2 Cor. 2: 15-16)” (199).