How to Preach the Prophets for All Their Worth
A Hermeneutical, Homiletical, and Theological Guide to Unleash the Power of the Prophets
Foreword by Jeffrey D. Arthurs
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
The Old Testament prophetic books play a key role in revealing God's plan of salvation. They occupy a significant portion of the biblical canon, similar in size to the entire New Testament. Yet most believers stay clear of this part of Scripture. They avoid traveling through this forest of oracles and visions. Many preachers also struggle to navigate this unfamiliar territory. Preachers feel much more at ease unpacking the intricate arguments of the Pauline epistles or following the thrilling adventures of biblical narratives rather than exploring the prophetic books. The church, however, needs to hear and respond to the beauty, depth, and relevance of the prophetic message.
This book not only provides convincing reasons for preaching the prophets today but also offers concrete guidelines to empower preachers (small group leaders, youth workers, etc.) to communicate the message of the prophets with hermeneutical precision, theological depth, genre sensitivity, and pastoral pulse. This book motivates and equips preachers to travel with confidence through this uncharted territory and to help God's people enjoy the scenery of this part of God's word.
Andrew G. M. Hamilton is professor of preaching and Old Testament at the Italian Evangelical Biblical Institute. He is a pastor and is on the leadership team of the Bible Teachers & Preachers Networks at the European Leadership Forum. Andrew is originally from Northern Ireland but has lived most of his life in Italy. He is married to Ruth, and they have three children.
“Preaching the Old Testament prophets is an intimidating task. So, I’m thankful for Andrew Hamilton. He loves the prophetic genre and has provided us with a guide that is both substantial and practical. . . . This book is worth reading and then using as a reference the next time you preach the prophets. You and your listeners will be better for it.”
—Steven D. Mathewson, author of The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative
“I am delighted to recommend Andy’s book to preaching pastors and homileticians. His style makes him fun to read. But it’s his content that puts him in my ‘need to read’ category. I especially benefited from reading his insights on how prophetic genre works and how to move from the prophets to the Prophet.”
—Randal Emery Pelton, Capital Seminary & Graduate School
“This is one of the best books I have encountered on how to grasp and communicate the scope and passion of the prophetic books of the Bible. While rich in content and overflowing with wisdom, it is delightfully easy to read, absorb, and put into practice. It will be enormously helpful to anyone determined to ‘rightly handle the word of truth’ that comes to us through the wild profusion and transforming power of prophetic speech.”
—Christopher J. H. Wright, author of How to Preach and Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth
“Have any Bible books become as neglected as the Prophets? May this book change that! Our world desperately needs to hear the Prophets preached again. Where else can we get such a punchy presentation of how God really feels about sin and injustice or such a thrilling glimpse into the glorious hope of God’s salvation plan? Hamilton expertly leads us into this collection of unique preachers, and his gracious guidance will unleash their preaching through us!”
—Peter Mead, leader of the Bible Teachers and Preachers Network, European Leadership Forum
“The art of preaching prophecy demands balance, a different method of locomotion, and heightened awareness of one’s surroundings. Dr. Hamilton takes us through concrete steps on how to preach the genre gracefully, even beautifully, without harming bystanders.”
—Jeffrey D. Arthurs, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
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