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Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative
Southwestern Journal of Theology 2021 Book of the Year Award (Honorable Mention, Preaching/Ministry/Leadership)
A veteran pastor with thirty years of experience guides readers through a ten-step process to preaching Old Testament narratives from text selection to delivery. The first edition received a Christianity Today award of merit and a Preaching magazine Book of the Year award. This edition, now updated and revised throughout for a new generation, includes a new chapter on how to preach Christ from the Old Testament and an exemplary sample sermon from Mathewson. Foreword by Haddon W. Robinson.
A veteran pastor with thirty years of experience guides readers through a ten-step process to preaching Old Testament narratives from text selection to delivery. The first edition received a Christianity Today award of merit and a Preaching magazine Book of the Year award. This edition, now updated and revised throughout for a new generation, includes a new chapter on how to preach Christ from the Old Testament and an exemplary sample sermon from Mathewson. Foreword by Haddon W. Robinson.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
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173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 13, 2022
Most messages are from the New Testament because the Old Testament is challenging to both preachers and laymen. This book assists preachers, both new and seasoned, on their exegetical and homiletical approach to preach biblical expository sermons from the narratives of the Old Testament. For the seasoned preacher, there are many practical ideas that can immediately be put into practice, and a rubric for beginning preachers who need the most guidance. Overall, a must read for delivering Old Testament narratives.
May 15, 2023
Based on an Accelerate book summary. Based on the 40 page summary of the book that I read, this book came across as having a pretty superficial handling of the genre of old Testament narrative. I was not inspired to go and get the book itself, and I will be looking elsewhere for something that deals with the nature and purpose of old Testament narrative and how it Should be used in preaching.
December 2, 2025
Parts 1 and 2 are super helpful. Part 3 hit or miss. I’d prefer more Christocentrism and less content on 1st-person narrative preaching, even if you don’t need to wear a costume
January 23, 2015
With a Master of Arts Degree in Old Testament and a doctorate from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Steven Mathewson brings a learned approach to the topic of old testament preaching. He had the privilege of studying preaching under Dr. Haddon Robinson, one of the most noted authors of text-driven preaching. Mathewson presently serves as senior pastor of Crosslife Evangelical Free Church in Libertyville, Illinois.
Summary
Mathewson opens his book on the premise of our cultural fondness for storytelling. Especially in modern times, stories are used to convey ideas and philosophies, be it through books, movies, plays, YouTube clips, radio, or personal interactions. Mathewson says we are, "programmed to think in stories" (19). He presents this as both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge being that, as preachers, it takes more work and more preparation to stand before a captivated crowd and orate a complete story. The opportunity is obvious: people love to hear stories. Mathewson declares that, "good storytellers do not convey their stories through analytical outlines" (26). He takes his time respectfully arguing against what has become traditional preaching via analytical outlines. Comparing preaching preparation to food preparation and golf, he shares the input and result differences to the analytical outline method and the storytelling method.
Moving into the next portion of his book, Mathewson begins to tackle application of what he's encouraging preachers to grab hold of. He briefly touches on some history, explaining that deconstructionism (which says texts can have more than one meaning) led to the postmodernism of Generation X, and that understanding one's audience is a critical piece of the storytelling puzzle. He spends the majority of the book walking through the process of moving from Biblical text to concept, and from concept to sermon.
Critical Evaluation
With the numerous mentions of Haddon Robinson throughout the book, it is a wonder why Robinson's name isn't given part authorship credit for the entire book instead of just the foreword material. While it is understandable that Mathewson's studies under Robinson were very influential, as Robinson is an excellent author and teacher of preaching methods himself; however, the heavily weighted source material from Robinson—even while there is a host of other author cited information in this book—leaves one to question both the objective scope and personal philosophies of the author.
When it comes to studying the plot, Mathewson advises his readers to identify and study the archetypes (repeated patterns) that show up in the story. This is done to harness the "big idea" of the text. Again, the big idea is something directly from Robinson's teaching; nevertheless, Mathewson takes this further and offers that the big idea is made up of exegetical and theological ideas. These should be defined independently and then come together for the language of the big idea in the sermon exposition.
As Mathewson expounds upon the main point of the text, he gets dangerously close to confusing it with the plotline of the Bible story. Even though the overarching concern of the book is against an analytical outlining of the story, it seems as though Mathewson would derive the main point from the actions of the characters. For instance, if Mathewson re-told the classic story of Snow White, he might arrive at the conclusion that the main point of the story is: For a woman to marry the man of her dreams, she must live with seven small men and never eat apples given by strange old women. In actuality, the big idea of Snow White is to keep one's envy in check.
With his insistence upon returning to the art of storytelling, Mathewson's reminiscence of introductory drama courses restates the elements in all stories: plot, characters, setting, and point of view. He argues that this is present in all Old Testament narrative literature. However, this insistence seems to be funneling an understanding of the Scriptures though a modern, man-made system of storytelling and literary definitions. I think he does a satisfactory job explaining and defending his point of view, however it could be repeated around teaching such as this.
Conclusion
Sometimes the best kinds of work are those who cite, assimilate, summarize, and correct the statements and research of others. Mathewson's book seems to fall in that category. No unlike a professor who uses other texts to formulate the basis of his or her teaching, Mathewson brings the best of many works (ten pages of bibliographical citations are located in the back of the book) together to make a point—much like the editors of the Old Testament books—that good storytellers use discourse analysis rather than analytical outlines. The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative is a handy book that any preacher should have in his collection, and is especially helpful when approaching the less-frequented text of the Old Testament for sermon preparation.
Summary
Mathewson opens his book on the premise of our cultural fondness for storytelling. Especially in modern times, stories are used to convey ideas and philosophies, be it through books, movies, plays, YouTube clips, radio, or personal interactions. Mathewson says we are, "programmed to think in stories" (19). He presents this as both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge being that, as preachers, it takes more work and more preparation to stand before a captivated crowd and orate a complete story. The opportunity is obvious: people love to hear stories. Mathewson declares that, "good storytellers do not convey their stories through analytical outlines" (26). He takes his time respectfully arguing against what has become traditional preaching via analytical outlines. Comparing preaching preparation to food preparation and golf, he shares the input and result differences to the analytical outline method and the storytelling method.
Moving into the next portion of his book, Mathewson begins to tackle application of what he's encouraging preachers to grab hold of. He briefly touches on some history, explaining that deconstructionism (which says texts can have more than one meaning) led to the postmodernism of Generation X, and that understanding one's audience is a critical piece of the storytelling puzzle. He spends the majority of the book walking through the process of moving from Biblical text to concept, and from concept to sermon.
Critical Evaluation
With the numerous mentions of Haddon Robinson throughout the book, it is a wonder why Robinson's name isn't given part authorship credit for the entire book instead of just the foreword material. While it is understandable that Mathewson's studies under Robinson were very influential, as Robinson is an excellent author and teacher of preaching methods himself; however, the heavily weighted source material from Robinson—even while there is a host of other author cited information in this book—leaves one to question both the objective scope and personal philosophies of the author.
When it comes to studying the plot, Mathewson advises his readers to identify and study the archetypes (repeated patterns) that show up in the story. This is done to harness the "big idea" of the text. Again, the big idea is something directly from Robinson's teaching; nevertheless, Mathewson takes this further and offers that the big idea is made up of exegetical and theological ideas. These should be defined independently and then come together for the language of the big idea in the sermon exposition.
As Mathewson expounds upon the main point of the text, he gets dangerously close to confusing it with the plotline of the Bible story. Even though the overarching concern of the book is against an analytical outlining of the story, it seems as though Mathewson would derive the main point from the actions of the characters. For instance, if Mathewson re-told the classic story of Snow White, he might arrive at the conclusion that the main point of the story is: For a woman to marry the man of her dreams, she must live with seven small men and never eat apples given by strange old women. In actuality, the big idea of Snow White is to keep one's envy in check.
With his insistence upon returning to the art of storytelling, Mathewson's reminiscence of introductory drama courses restates the elements in all stories: plot, characters, setting, and point of view. He argues that this is present in all Old Testament narrative literature. However, this insistence seems to be funneling an understanding of the Scriptures though a modern, man-made system of storytelling and literary definitions. I think he does a satisfactory job explaining and defending his point of view, however it could be repeated around teaching such as this.
Conclusion
Sometimes the best kinds of work are those who cite, assimilate, summarize, and correct the statements and research of others. Mathewson's book seems to fall in that category. No unlike a professor who uses other texts to formulate the basis of his or her teaching, Mathewson brings the best of many works (ten pages of bibliographical citations are located in the back of the book) together to make a point—much like the editors of the Old Testament books—that good storytellers use discourse analysis rather than analytical outlines. The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative is a handy book that any preacher should have in his collection, and is especially helpful when approaching the less-frequented text of the Old Testament for sermon preparation.
November 20, 2025
Like a ton of preaching books, this one is a mixed bag of really good, sensible-but-helpful, and scattershot advice that can be taken or left. I generally liked the chapters near the beginning best, especially when Mathewson is unpacking concepts like "subject-complement," and his very-helpful guidance on the whole tension of "Christotelic" preaching versus respecting the intentions of the original OT authors. I also like his advice regarding preserving narrative form in preaching, and his practical guidance regarding studying plot and characterization in Hebraic terms.
There's some helpful things here, and I do recommend it as a "toolbox" of sorts for those looking for a thoughtful approach to OT stories, but it wasn't a game-changer for me.
There's some helpful things here, and I do recommend it as a "toolbox" of sorts for those looking for a thoughtful approach to OT stories, but it wasn't a game-changer for me.
October 2, 2019
Decent read, although it draws much from Haddon Robinson's seminal work Biblical Preaching. For such reason, it would best if this is book is read after Robinson's. The book has many valuable insights, it is academic in nature, and offers some pushback to certain tendencies within respectable preaching circles (e.g., John MaCarthur's overemphasis on the NT letters or, more important, the tendency to preach narrative passages via deductive methods, rather than inductive methods).
Nevertheless, the book seemed at least 100 pages too long. The bulk could have been kept in a shorter amount of space.
Nevertheless, the book seemed at least 100 pages too long. The bulk could have been kept in a shorter amount of space.
October 1, 2020
There were lots of helps for a pastor wanting to grow in understanding in preaching through Old Testament Narrative. He just appeared to be too much of a fan boy of Haddon Robinson and using lots of his sayings and writings instead of his own more. They come from a much stronger Egalitarian position of preaching and it shows in this book several times. The book is a bit outdated with the illustrations and resources that can be used. I will take some things I learned here and put them into practice especially as I prepare to pray on Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9. Would be best used now as a textbook to read excerpts out of only, probably not reading the entirety.
October 16, 2020
This has probably been the most helpful out of all the OT narrative books I've gone through. The author is succinct, helpful, and dives deep into several examples of OT narrative preaching, tying in the inductive approach.
July 3, 2020
This is an excellent resource for anyone who plans to preach the Word or is currently preaching. This book has challenged me in how I prepare and deliver a sermon from the Old Testament.
January 26, 2023
Great walkthrough of preaching a narrative text from the OT. Lot's of ideas (not all are for me or my congregation) and lots of examples of how to apply the ideas.
September 17, 2023
A great overview of how to preach narrative effectively
January 1, 2025
Often simple, but still filled with insights for preaching the Old Testament. A good read for any preacher seeking to improve their craft
July 27, 2014
There are many preaching books, but only a handful I recommend wholeheartedly. This is one of them. Mathewson’s passion for the many narrative passages in the Old Testament is contagious. His passion for the effective preaching of these passages is greatly needed today. This is especially the case while significant preachers continue to view Old Testament narratives as primarily illustrative material, rather than preaching texts.
Mathewson’s work is widely researched, with significant influences including Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Narrative and Haddon Robinson’s Biblical Preaching.
The first of the three sections in the book is concerned with hermeneutics – how to move from the selection of a text to a focused central concept. The second section is more focused on the homiletical process – how to move from the central concept to the sermon. This section is strongly influenced by Robinson’s methodology and serves as a very helpful clarification on that method. While Robinson’s book is succinct and well-written, Mathewson’s presentation of the ten-stage approach with a specific focus will help the reader understand Robinson’s methodology more fully.
Mathewson’s explanation of biblical narrative forms support his central idea of developing sermons using the flow of the story, rather than a forced and rigid analytical presentation.
The third and final section of the book contains five example sermons from Mathewson, Donald Sunukjian, Paul Borden, Haddon Robinson and Alice Mathews. These are helpful in a variety of ways, although no example sermon can ever be perfect. There are also a couple of appendices – one on Hebrew plot analysis (for Hebrew trained preachers with a lot of time on their hands) and one on helpful commentaries.
There are many books on preaching, but I’ve yet to find one that can match Mathewson in terms of dealing with Old Testament narratives. This book is worth buying, reading and considering carefully. Having read this, you might also be inspired to read Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Narrative, if you have not done so already. Two strong recommendations in one review – I would apologize to your bank balance, but these two books would be money well spent.
Originally posted on www.biblicalpreaching.net
Mathewson’s work is widely researched, with significant influences including Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Narrative and Haddon Robinson’s Biblical Preaching.
The first of the three sections in the book is concerned with hermeneutics – how to move from the selection of a text to a focused central concept. The second section is more focused on the homiletical process – how to move from the central concept to the sermon. This section is strongly influenced by Robinson’s methodology and serves as a very helpful clarification on that method. While Robinson’s book is succinct and well-written, Mathewson’s presentation of the ten-stage approach with a specific focus will help the reader understand Robinson’s methodology more fully.
Mathewson’s explanation of biblical narrative forms support his central idea of developing sermons using the flow of the story, rather than a forced and rigid analytical presentation.
The third and final section of the book contains five example sermons from Mathewson, Donald Sunukjian, Paul Borden, Haddon Robinson and Alice Mathews. These are helpful in a variety of ways, although no example sermon can ever be perfect. There are also a couple of appendices – one on Hebrew plot analysis (for Hebrew trained preachers with a lot of time on their hands) and one on helpful commentaries.
There are many books on preaching, but I’ve yet to find one that can match Mathewson in terms of dealing with Old Testament narratives. This book is worth buying, reading and considering carefully. Having read this, you might also be inspired to read Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Narrative, if you have not done so already. Two strong recommendations in one review – I would apologize to your bank balance, but these two books would be money well spent.
Originally posted on www.biblicalpreaching.net
March 12, 2009
The best work I have read on preaching the Old Testament thus far.
The deductive preaching method (this is what I will tell you, I am telling you, this is what I just told you) so popular in most of our preaching is much less effective with narratives. For this reason many preachers stick to the New Testament, especially the Gospels and Epistles, but is this really the best way to demonstrate our belief that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16)?
Mathewson asserts that an inductive approach is called for that relates the story and allows tension to build until the main idea is revealed at the point where the crisis of the story is resolved. But Mathewson does not just leave us with a description of this approach. He includes 5 narrative sermons from preaching notables like Haddon Robinson and Donald Sunukijian. Sunukiajian's dramatized sermon "The Cripple" is simply outstanding.
Mathewson also summarizes the main points of Robison's "Biblical Preaching" and Bryan Chapell's "Christ-Centered Preaching" (my favorite preaching text thus far) enroute to laying out his methodology. I would probably still recommend Christ-Centered Preaching as the first book you read on expository preaching, but this would be the second and is the best book I have read thus far on how to move the ideal of preaching the entirety of Scripture from concept to practice.
The deductive preaching method (this is what I will tell you, I am telling you, this is what I just told you) so popular in most of our preaching is much less effective with narratives. For this reason many preachers stick to the New Testament, especially the Gospels and Epistles, but is this really the best way to demonstrate our belief that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16)?
Mathewson asserts that an inductive approach is called for that relates the story and allows tension to build until the main idea is revealed at the point where the crisis of the story is resolved. But Mathewson does not just leave us with a description of this approach. He includes 5 narrative sermons from preaching notables like Haddon Robinson and Donald Sunukijian. Sunukiajian's dramatized sermon "The Cripple" is simply outstanding.
Mathewson also summarizes the main points of Robison's "Biblical Preaching" and Bryan Chapell's "Christ-Centered Preaching" (my favorite preaching text thus far) enroute to laying out his methodology. I would probably still recommend Christ-Centered Preaching as the first book you read on expository preaching, but this would be the second and is the best book I have read thus far on how to move the ideal of preaching the entirety of Scripture from concept to practice.
January 1, 2021
So far I have read two books on preaching on Old Testament narratives, and this is by far the best of the two. An assignment has been given to me concerning the historical books of the OT, and I am concerned about doing it the best that I can, and this volume has encouraged me tremendously. Just finished reading it through this morning, and I am going to go back through and construct some worksheets on the preparation and handling of the text in the historical books. It's been years since I read Haddon Robinson's book on "Biblical Preaching," but this book has motivated me to go back and re-read it (along with Alter's book "The Art of Biblical Narrative"). I would encourage anyone that wants to do a better job of communicating Biblical Narrative from the OT, to read this book. You will be glad that you did.
May 30, 2008
An excellent work on the topic and much needed in the homiletical library of the world. In places you can tell that it's based on his doctoral dissertation, but that doesn't really interfere with the message at all. Mathewson goes deep in the subject, as you'd expect, from the shape of story to Hebrew thought and methods of preaching. He's in the expository preaching camp, but doesn't promote the traditional didactic method from the OT narratives. This book is a step-by-step guide; very useful.
March 4, 2016
Wished this book had been assigned in my preaching class in seminary. It assisted me in shifting my approach to Old Testament narrative. I now feel free to allow the plot of the story to shape my sermon, instead of forcing a propositional outline on the text. Not so sure however, about there being only one main idea in each narrative. I think Tim Keller is more accurate in his discussion of the "big idea" (Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism).
March 10, 2014
read on;y pages 11-90 as required according to a course syllabus for study. However of the sections read it was an enjoyable book to read and the use of illustration and narrative to teach the audience concerning narrative was a marvellous technique. I will highly recommend upon the sample that I have read and look forward to sitting down and reading the rest at some point. :)
September 18, 2018
Unique volume, include O.T. Sermon Manuscripts written by “masters of the craft," also do not skim Appendix A, it is useful, especially regarding identifying the main story line of typical O.T. narrative [Verb-Subject -Object construction, and wayyiqtol forms].
November 19, 2010
This is an excellent book on narrative preaching from the Old Testament. Mathewson is clear and helpful. His ideas can be readily adapted to NT narrative as well.
August 10, 2011
An excellent resource for preaching Old Testament Narrative.
July 2, 2015
Lacked addressing preaching Christ in the OT
October 24, 2016
One of the best book on preaching I have ever read, and it focuses on the Old Testament!! Mathewson's volume is a must read for any preacher or pastor who seek to expose OT narratives
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews