Never Once

Book Review: The Priority of Preaching

This little book derives from the author’s spoken contributions to the 2008 Evangelical Ministry Assembly. The Biblical focus is on parts of Moses’ addresses recorded in Deuteronomy. Its origins as Assembly material mean that it is more a structured defence of consecutive expository preaching than an example of it. It also has the style of a transcript but has good readability.

The reader can well imagine how the arguments graciously delivered here would have encouraged listening preachers. There are many insightful moments that will certainly elevate the preacher’s sense of responsibility while, hopefully, keeping him humbled by the Word.

Valuable distinction is made between teaching and preaching.  They are not the same thing and teaching, for all its discipling value, cannot be the main agency for winning hearts to the Lord Jesus.  The book also offers a strong defence of local church ministry – all over the world the local church is a counter-cultural sign in a fragmented world that reassembly is taking place . . .  The podcast is not the point.

Anyone – inside or outside the faith - who has wondered why so many often small local assemblies of believers and enquirers sit listening on a Sunday to a man speaking what appears to be a monologue and puzzle as to its value should read Christopher Ash’s book. It matters more than the world can imagine, more than the world can know (unless it listens).

The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash is published by Christian Focus Publications 122pp £7.99

"Pardon?"

The telephone is a boon to people who are deaf, I've been told.  I know friends who find a voice on the telephone easier to hear than one in real life.  But there comes a point where this is no longer true because the deafness is profound.  I had to give on on such a call this past week and it brought to mind one of the most difficult pastoral conversations I have ever had.

Few if anyone who reads this blog would ever have met the lady but I'll call her Mary.  Mary lived on her own but had a son David living locally who never came to our Church.  I had never seen her there either but I had met her in hospital and her husband when he'd been alive so had kept, so to speak, in touch.  She had another son, John, in South Africa.  And that's where the call headed:

"Hello, Mary"

"Hello.  Hello, who's that? Is that you, John?"

"It's John Roberts from the Church"

"How are things with you, then?  I hope everyone's well"

"Yes, thank you.  But how are you?"

"Yes, the leaves are falling here.  What's the weather like there?"

"IT'S JOHN FROM THE CHURCH, MARY"

"It's getting colder now too.  The night's are drawing in.  I expect it's warm there already, is it?"

"I'M JOHN ROBERTS FROM THE CHURCH, MARY, I'M RINGING TO SEE HOW YOU ARE."

"Yes, it will soon be winter now.  The leaves are beginning to fall, you know.  How is everyone anyway?"

(Giving up) "We're fine, thank you"

"David's very good, you know.  He does all that needs doing" (Oh dear.  Was that a pointed comment?  I didn't know.  I didn't like being a surrogate telephone son).

The phone call eventually ended - though that wasn't easy to achieve given that I was cast in the role of ringing from South Africa to check on my mother.  I hoped that John's wife and family were indeed alright as I had answered for them! 

And I realised what my prayer times must seem like from heaven's perspective.