Pastoral Preaching , livre ebook

Precious few contemporary ministry resources offer any real help or encouragement for pastors who know that their primary calling is to “labour in preaching and teaching” (1 Tim 5:17). Frankly, preaching the Word has been out of season for decades (see 2 Tim 4:2–3).
But Pastoral Preaching: Building a People for God by Conrad Mbewe is a welcome sign that the tide may be turning. Here is a truly valuable book about the pastor’s preaching ministry – from the pen of a man who is supremely qualified to write on the subject.
Pastor Mbewe has faithfully served one congregation for nearly three decades, devoting himself “to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Tim 4:13) with steadfast patience and sound, biblical doctrine. He is, in my judgment, one of the finest biblical preachers anywhere, known for his clarity, accuracy, thoroughness, courage, keen insight, and uncompromising faithfulness to the text of Scripture. This excellent book embodies all those qualities. It will fill a gaping void on the list of essential pastoral resources.
John MacArthur
Pastor, Grace Community Church, Los Angeles
President, The Master’s College and The Master’s Seminary, Los Angeles, USA
Conrad Mbewe has provided us with a most useful book, written from within an African context for preachers everywhere. The problems prevalent in churches and preaching today are brought to light and shown for what they are.
His concern is with how we “shepherd God’s flock through God’s Word,” that is, how we preach in order to build the faith of those who have already been brought into the local church. He looks at why we preach, what we preach and how we preach, giving useful guidelines, encouragement and direction. The English is simple and straightforward, making this book an interesting and informative read which will benefit pastors of all ages and of all denominations in their study. If all pastors and churches were to follow the teaching in this book, then surely the life of the church would grow in numbers and in the faith!
Rev Benjamin A. Kwashi, PhD
Anglican Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria
Drawing on his decades-long experience in pastoral ministry in Africa, Conrad Mbewe has offered us an immensely readable book on what it takes to be a faithful minister of the gospel. Though grounded in Africa, his insights are applicable in all six continents and will come in handy for all who are called to pastoral ministry.
Pastoral Preaching is full of biblical insight to equip pastors for what must be one of the most crucial, and yet challenging, leadership callings in Africa today – the pastor in the local church. His adept treatment of the role of pastoral preaching is a good contribution to both church health and church growth. The church in Africa is growing very fast, and the growth often outpaces the development of new leaders to manage the growth. The result is that growth is often attended by errors of diverse sorts. Mbewe’s book provides timely help for those at the coalface of managing the rapid spread of African Christianity. With the centre of gravity of Christian presence in the world shifting away from the West, it is all the more vital for African church leadership to be thoroughly equipped for their task. The future of Christianity, its integrity and credibility will be shaped in important ways by how African Christians steward it for future generations.
Not only does Mbewe make a compelling case for biblically sound pastoral preaching in the church, his eye goes beyond the walls of the church and envisages pastoral preachers who equip believers to be salt and light in their community. Africa is one of those places in the world where the charge could be made that “there are so many Christians and yet so little Christianity,” judging by the limited impact of the faith on the vital indices that measure human flourishing in African societies.
Pastoral Preaching is for those who wish to take their ministry calling seriously and acquit themselves well as faithful servants of the Lord. I heartily commend it to fellow labourers whose charge is to feed the Lord’s flock.
Rev Moss Ntlha
Pastor and General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa

Pastoral Preaching
Building a People for God
Conrad Mbewe

Copyright © 2017 by Conrad Mbewe
Published 2017 by Langham Preaching Resources
An imprint of Langham Publishing
www.langhampublishing.org
Langham Publishing and its imprints are a ministry of Langham Partnership
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9WZ
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-78368-180-8 Print
978-1-78368-181-5 ePub
978-1-78368-183-9 PDF
Conrad Mbewe has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-78368-180-8
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth, and works referenced within this publication or guarantee its technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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To the people of God at Kabwata Baptist Church who have authenticated everything I have written in this book by their own response to my pastoral preaching over the last thirty years.
Contents

Cover


Acknowledgements


Introduction


Section A


1 Pastoral Preaching and Evangelistic Preaching


The Call to Evangelistic Preaching


The Call to Pastoral Preaching


The Call to Both Evangelistic and Pastoral Preaching


Discussion Questions


2 Pastoral Preaching and Shepherding


Pastors and Elders as Shepherds


Spiritual Shepherds Promised in the Old Testament


Shepherding through Pastoral Preaching


Discussion Questions


3 The Focus of Pastoral Preaching


The Glory of God


The Health of the People of God


Discussion Questions


Section B


4 Pastoral Preaching Depends on the Church


The Church Nurtures Future Pastors


The Church Calls Pastors


The Church Pays Pastors


The Church Provides Working Teams


The Church Provides Good Role Models


Discussion Questions


5 Pastoral Preaching Benefits the Church


It Gives the Church a Sense of God


It Enables the Church to Face Its Corporate Sins


It Gives Worship Services a Great Crescendo


It Gives the Church Unity in Doctrine


It Gives the Church Stability in Storms


It Causes Church Growth by Attracting Older Believers


It Gives the Church a Sense of Purpose


Discussion Questions


6 Implications of the Church-Pastor Relationship


Implications for the Pastor


Implications for the Church


Discussion Questions


Section C


7 Pastors Model Pastoral Preaching


Balancing Sermon Preparation with Other Duties


Preaching Sermons That Grip Hearers


Preaching Sermons That Build Believers and Churches


Preaching Sermons with Freshness and Depth


Preaching Sermons That Meet Spiritual Needs


Combining Preaching and Practice


Supporting Pastoral Internships


Discussion Questions


8 Pastoral Preaching Sharpens through Training


Biblical Studies


Systematic Theology


Church History


Other Courses


Further Benefits of Training


Discussion Questions


9 Pastoral Preaching Matures through Fellowship


Reading Books on Preaching


Learning from Others in Pastors’ Fraternals


Listening to Good Preaching


Attending Conferences and Seminars


Listening to Constructive Criticism


Discussion Questions


Section D


10 Preaching and Praying as Spiritual Warfare


Fallen Human Nature


Supernatural Power


Preaching


Praying


Discussion Questions


11 Studying How to Preach Well


Mastering the Use of Words


Crafting an Introduction, Body and Conclusion


Using Illustrations and Applications


Modulating Your Voice and Gestures


Maintaining Eye Contact


Discussion Questions


12 Practising Double Listening


Being a Student of the Word


Listening to the World


Discussion Questions


Section E


13 Preaching from Narrative Passages


Stories about God and His Ways


Finding the Start and End of the Story


Finding the Big Idea


Developing the Big Idea


Four Common Errors to Avoid


Exposing the Inner Workings of the Heart


Discussion Questions


14 Preaching from Didactic Passages


Didactic Passages Teach about God Directly


Finding the Expository Unit


Digging Deeper into the Didactic Passage


Constructing a Sermon from a Didactic Passage


Making Sermons from Didactic Passages Captivating


Discussion Questions


15 Preaching from Poetic and Prophetic Passages


Poetic and Prophetic Passages of the Bible


Handling the Poetic Passages


Handling the Prophetic Passages


Discussion Questions


Section F


16 The Pastor’s Study Life


Loving God with