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Calvin's Preaching
This rare and important study of John Calvin's sermons gives a complete review of Calvin's preaching activity, purpose, method, and style. Included are the theological considerations that moved Calvin to preach the way he did; his view of the preacher's office, his duty, and the congregation's active participation; a historical account and the preservation of his preaching; Calvin's expository method and the way he applied scripture to the needs of the congregation; and the form of the sermons and the "familiar" style that was employed.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 31, 2023
Wonderful little book on Calvin's preaching
October 14, 2016
This cursory look at Calvin as a preacher is thorough, insightful, and offers sound assistance & encouragement to preachers especially, and believers in general. The historical context surrounding Calvin as preacher is very useful in understanding the man. Also, there are a few remarkable lessons learned; Calvin preached with either a Hebrew or Greek Bible and "translated on the fly" as he preached on his selected text; also, he was not afraid of preaching "politics" or of addressing sin.
Wonderful to see that his habit was to almost exclusively preach to "us" and "we" rather than "you guys". He included himself in his exhortations. Further, whereas in his theological writings (i.e. Institutes) you see the sharp, orderly, and cogent logic, in his preaching he is free (as Lloyd-Jones often exhorted preachers). It is in this that we are reminded that thorough systematic theology and Gospel preaching ought to serve each other, but also ought to give way to the other depending on the task at hand (defending the faith vs. proclaiming the faith).
Calvin was a immensely gifted man, and though trained as a lawyer, Parker shows that in his preaching he often leaves the lawyer behind and clearly wears the mantle of the prophetic/apostolic. Parker strings together wonderful quotes, primarily from Calvin's sermons, and demonstrates (as much as is possible) how Calvin prepared his sermons, his primary method, and his clear habits and patterns. A very helpful companion to Institutes, and I think would be a very useful read for folks who love Christian history, or to help shape one's understanding and approach to preaching. I would heartily recommend this make it on to your reading list.
Wonderful to see that his habit was to almost exclusively preach to "us" and "we" rather than "you guys". He included himself in his exhortations. Further, whereas in his theological writings (i.e. Institutes) you see the sharp, orderly, and cogent logic, in his preaching he is free (as Lloyd-Jones often exhorted preachers). It is in this that we are reminded that thorough systematic theology and Gospel preaching ought to serve each other, but also ought to give way to the other depending on the task at hand (defending the faith vs. proclaiming the faith).
Calvin was a immensely gifted man, and though trained as a lawyer, Parker shows that in his preaching he often leaves the lawyer behind and clearly wears the mantle of the prophetic/apostolic. Parker strings together wonderful quotes, primarily from Calvin's sermons, and demonstrates (as much as is possible) how Calvin prepared his sermons, his primary method, and his clear habits and patterns. A very helpful companion to Institutes, and I think would be a very useful read for folks who love Christian history, or to help shape one's understanding and approach to preaching. I would heartily recommend this make it on to your reading list.
February 24, 2021
Really enjoyable book that impressively weaves together excepts and paraphrases from many of Calvin’s sermons, giving us behind-the-scenes view of Calvin himself and his view of preaching. A few takeaways:
1) Calvin knew that before a preacher had the authority to preach anything, he must apply it to himself first.
2) The preacher’s words are also God’s word, in that they should convey the truth of the Bible directly to his hearers.
3) Calvin used a “familiar style” in his preaching - he didn’t want anyone to be unsure of what he was saying. We often find his language puzzling because, Parker says, “[we] are mostly ignorant of the Bible.” Savage but true. NB: a familiar style is not the same thing as Veggietales.
1) Calvin knew that before a preacher had the authority to preach anything, he must apply it to himself first.
2) The preacher’s words are also God’s word, in that they should convey the truth of the Bible directly to his hearers.
3) Calvin used a “familiar style” in his preaching - he didn’t want anyone to be unsure of what he was saying. We often find his language puzzling because, Parker says, “[we] are mostly ignorant of the Bible.” Savage but true. NB: a familiar style is not the same thing as Veggietales.
November 18, 2018
Really good overview of Calvin's sermons. He shows that Calvin was not merely a skilled theologian but a faithful pastor who really believed God's Word changed people.
January 2, 2011
This book is a highly revised second edition of a book Parker wrote several decades ago. He calls it a new book because it has a different focus and uses some different material. The book is a great introduction to Calvin's theology of preaching, his method of preaching, and the content and style of his sermons. Parker has a very easy way about his writing, which made the book a quicker read than most academic books. I'd recommend this to any pastor interested in improving his understanding of preaching (hint, hint John, if you haven't read it).
September 2, 2010
Excellent summary of Calvin as preacher. He considered his pulpit work to be very different from his commentating and instituting. Very practical, familial style, coupled with an almost sacramental view of preaching itself, made for powerful, affective sermons.
The book is a little weighed down by Parker's research summaries, which will probably be of use only to scholars. But don't let that detract from the stellar evaluation of Calvin's preaching ministry.
The book is a little weighed down by Parker's research summaries, which will probably be of use only to scholars. But don't let that detract from the stellar evaluation of Calvin's preaching ministry.
July 21, 2010
A very good book on Calvin's preaching. Parker outlines Calvin's reasons for preaching and his view of preaching, as well as his method. Calvin's high view of the preached word and his notion that the preacher must also be a scholar particularly struck me. The more I study the motives and manner of Calvin's pulpit work the more impressed I am.
April 30, 2015
He makes a few good points early in the book, but the second two thirds of the book seemed rather pointless.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews