Why Johnny Can't Preach

Many people know modern preaching is in bad shape, but few can identify the problem. T. David Gordon shows us the symptoms, reveals their source, and—like any good critic—clearly points to a viable solution. Good preaching, he argues, illuminates the work and person of Jesus Christ and points to Him as the only source of salvation.

Bad preaching is hard to follow, includes too many points, doesn't deal directly with the text, and waters the Gospel down to moralism, introspection, and a call to cultural warfare. A good sermon has one point, follows the text at hand, and convicts the attentive listener through an emotional response evoked by intellectual stimulation.

A good sermon even commands attentiveness. How did we reach the present impasse? Why do preachers talk and talk and say nothing, much less anything profound or even particularly Christian? Gordon investigates many causes, but one of the biggest factors is the dominance of television and its reduction of significant topics to irrelevance. Preachers raised on TV and computers have lost two essential assets—an ability to read texts, and to write clearly and effectively.

Only by pastors trained in these essential skills can preaching be rescued. Gordon even encourages would-be pastors to study literature as undergraduates, to learn to read texts and gain an appreciation for the beauty of eloquent language. There are other factors—bad doctrine, a weak Gospel, ignorant congregations—but Gordon focuses on form rather than content.

This book isn't just for pastors: congregants are admonished to improve themselves, hold their preachers to a higher standard, and to not expect pastors to do what elders and deacons are supposed to do. Gordon (a former Presbyterian minister) does aim his remarks primarily at pastors, though—and we can only hope his message is heard and heeded, for the good of both individual congregations and Christ's entire Church.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.