There are many problems with today’s preaching and Pasquarello in his book Sacred Rhetoric: Preaching as a Theological and Pastoral Practice of the Church examines how this can be fixed (vii). Preachers need to go back to the foundations of good preaching exemplified in those preachers of the past who practiced “doctrine, biblical exegesis, worship, spirituality and the moral life, and so forth” (vii). This book review will examine selected preachers that Pasquarello presents, with an emphasis on the importance of preaching through the ministry of God’s Word.
Summary
Sacred Rhetoric by Michael Pasquarello emphasizes the importance of the ministry of preaching (1). Today’s preaching consists of devising new techniques or strategies for better communication, drawing crowds, and appealing to the post-modern society. Pasquarello’s aim is to look at preachers in the past whose emphasis with the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word. Preachers need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ instead of trying to be relevant or successful. As Pasquarello states, “we reduce pastoral ministry to the acquisition of the latest ‘how to’ ideas and strategies, we quickly forget the mystery of divine revelation and the working of grace that are necessary to make sacred rhetoric truly sacred as the Word of God” (3). Preachers need to understand that preaching is dependent on God’s wisdom and power, not human cleverness (3). Preachers also need to understand the importance of doctrine. Teaching the truth with clarity is necessary and needed in the church today. Too many people are led astray by every wind of doctrine, which leads them to accept false doctrine and teaching. Instead, preachers need to expound and explain the truth of God’s Word to feed the flock of God (4). Pasquarello selects different preachers who have made significant contributions to renewal and reform in order to demonstrate the importance of preaching. The author begins with Augustine of Hippo and goes all the way to the reformation ending with Luther and Calvin. The method Pasquarello uses is to look at the history of the time of the preachers, followed by their mode and method of preaching. It is helpful to understand the history and time period the preachers were engaged in, because the reader has a better understanding of why the preacher used a particular mode and method when he preached. It is equally helpful to understand the mode and method of the preacher, because the reader can see what was effective, needed, and necessary during those specific time periods. In order for preachers to be effective today, they need to look at these giants of the past. In today’s post-modern preaching, there is no power in the pulpit because there is no true preaching of the truth. If there is one aspect that defines the preaching of the preachers that Pasquarello examines, it is their commitment to preaching the Word. One aspect that is related over and over again in the book is the emphasis on expositional preaching. The preachers expounded and explained the Word of God with clarity. Today, not much of the Word is preached which leads to ineffectiveness in the pulpit. Pasquarello is concerned about preaching today. The author examines the problem, and provides a solution—look at the giants of the past and learn from them. Of course, one not need to mimic everything that these preachers did, but we can certainly learn from them. Preachers need to get back to doctrinal preaching, good exegesis, proper application, and holy living. Pastors need to take seriously their calling to preach the Word of God, and to learn from those who have gone before them. Sacred Rhetoric is a …show more content…
Pastors must be servant-leaders and not lord it over their flock. Gregory presents important points with much wisdom that pastors would do well to follow as an example. There are some (many) who should not be in pastoral ministry because they lead their flock astray. This is due to the fact that there are pastors who do not have sound doctrine which leads to wolves invading the flock. One must be called into pastoral ministry by God in order to do this important work. Gregory provides helpful examples of what the preacher should be doing when caring for the flock of God that every pastor should be aware
Summary
Sacred Rhetoric by Michael Pasquarello emphasizes the importance of the ministry of preaching (1). Today’s preaching consists of devising new techniques or strategies for better communication, drawing crowds, and appealing to the post-modern society. Pasquarello’s aim is to look at preachers in the past whose emphasis with the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word. Preachers need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ instead of trying to be relevant or successful. As Pasquarello states, “we reduce pastoral ministry to the acquisition of the latest ‘how to’ ideas and strategies, we quickly forget the mystery of divine revelation and the working of grace that are necessary to make sacred rhetoric truly sacred as the Word of God” (3). Preachers need to understand that preaching is dependent on God’s wisdom and power, not human cleverness (3). Preachers also need to understand the importance of doctrine. Teaching the truth with clarity is necessary and needed in the church today. Too many people are led astray by every wind of doctrine, which leads them to accept false doctrine and teaching. Instead, preachers need to expound and explain the truth of God’s Word to feed the flock of God (4). Pasquarello selects different preachers who have made significant contributions to renewal and reform in order to demonstrate the importance of preaching. The author begins with Augustine of Hippo and goes all the way to the reformation ending with Luther and Calvin. The method Pasquarello uses is to look at the history of the time of the preachers, followed by their mode and method of preaching. It is helpful to understand the history and time period the preachers were engaged in, because the reader has a better understanding of why the preacher used a particular mode and method when he preached. It is equally helpful to understand the mode and method of the preacher, because the reader can see what was effective, needed, and necessary during those specific time periods. In order for preachers to be effective today, they need to look at these giants of the past. In today’s post-modern preaching, there is no power in the pulpit because there is no true preaching of the truth. If there is one aspect that defines the preaching of the preachers that Pasquarello examines, it is their commitment to preaching the Word. One aspect that is related over and over again in the book is the emphasis on expositional preaching. The preachers expounded and explained the Word of God with clarity. Today, not much of the Word is preached which leads to ineffectiveness in the pulpit. Pasquarello is concerned about preaching today. The author examines the problem, and provides a solution—look at the giants of the past and learn from them. Of course, one not need to mimic everything that these preachers did, but we can certainly learn from them. Preachers need to get back to doctrinal preaching, good exegesis, proper application, and holy living. Pastors need to take seriously their calling to preach the Word of God, and to learn from those who have gone before them. Sacred Rhetoric is a …show more content…
Pastors must be servant-leaders and not lord it over their flock. Gregory presents important points with much wisdom that pastors would do well to follow as an example. There are some (many) who should not be in pastoral ministry because they lead their flock astray. This is due to the fact that there are pastors who do not have sound doctrine which leads to wolves invading the flock. One must be called into pastoral ministry by God in order to do this important work. Gregory provides helpful examples of what the preacher should be doing when caring for the flock of God that every pastor should be aware