My chapter journals of this book on ‘Preaching practical application from every text’. Murray Capill: THE HEART IS THE TARGET Presbyterian and Reformed, Phillipsburg, 2014. INTRODUCTION Inspired by Murray’s own preaching that I’ve heard on a dozen occasions since moving to Geelong, I grabbed hold of his book on preaching with much enthusiasm. I have noted that his preaching has always had the most penetrating and thoughtful application. I jumped out of bed this morning to read for 20 minutes and found that I couldn’t put the Introduction chapter down. I started highlighting bits and found one page was one-third highlights so had to revert to scribbles in the margin [the only way to read a book]. He challenged my view of what’s preaching all about and the goal of preaching. He demonstrated that in reformed evangelical circles the weakest link was application and showed my flawed view of application. It’s confronting and scary because the book is addressing my weakness in preaching. If I want to be a better preacher, not for my name sake but because I want God’s word to penetrate into the hearts of my listeners, I have to address this problem in my own preaching. I need to avoid the all too common teaching and lecturing mode and integrate application rather than bolt it on the end. Capill points out the imbalance of training at theological colleges and the rarity of books on application alone. He says what is needed is a holistic approach to application where the entire message is applicatory in thrust and the whole message is addressed to the whole person. And then he is brave enough to invite me to take up the challenge with the aid of his book. I’m in. What is striking about this book so far is the thorough research. I’ve only read the introduction and already he refers to eighteen other books on preaching and one article. Moreover, thirteen of these are post 2000! We have up to date research. But these are smoothly woven into his material and integrated into his central thesis. Moreover, Murray has done his own doctoral studies on the Puritans who are renowned for applying the bible. The first book he wrote was on Preaching with Spiritual Vigour: Including Lessons from the Life and Practise of Richard Baxter, 2003, which was challenging enough itself. Murray has had another decade of thinking and researching on preaching poured into this book. I was privileged to be at the book launch last Friday by David Jones. David is past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, spearheaded church plants in Hobart for 20 years and now ministers in Brisbane. He said to me afterwards, “On every occasion I have heard Murray preach I have thought to myself, the way this man applies the biblical text needs a much wider audience.” You are now that wider audience.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 01:13:56 +0000
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