Practice
The Art of Preaching Old Testament Poetry Steven D. Mathewson Preachers often struggle with preaching Old Testament poetry. They are uncertain how to preach the highly emotive poems in Psalms, the one-liners in Proverbs, the tedious conversations in Job, the esoteric observations about life in Ecclesiastes, and the confusing love poems in the Song of Songs. The Art of Preaching Old Testament Poetry instructs and inspires preachers to preach some of the most challenging—and some of the richest—material in the Old Testament. A companion to Steven Mathewson’s successful The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narra- tive , this book guides readers through preaching the oft-neglected Old Testament poetic books. Mathewson introduces foundational issues and offers basic methodology and preaching strategies that are faithful to the text and attuned to listeners. Highlighting Mathewson’s skill at bringing the riches of the Old Testament to bear on the life of the church, this book makes scholarship on the poetic books accessible for pastors and pastors-in-training. It also includes six sample sermons.
CONTENTS
Introduction
1.
Preparing to Preach Old Testament Poetry
NOVEMBER 2024 • 256 pp. • paper • $27.99 • 9781540967626
2. Preaching Psalms 3. Preaching Proverbs 4. Preaching Job
Steven D. Mathewson (PhD, Stellenbosch University; DMin, Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary) serves as adjunct professor of preaching and biblical studies at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Moody Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor for over thirty-seven years in Montana and in the north suburbs of Chicago. Mathewson is the author of several books, including The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative and Risen: 50 Reasons the Resurrection Changed Everything.
5. Preaching Ecclesiastes 6. Preaching Song of Songs 7. A Final Word
Appendix A: Sample Sermon on Psalm 87 Appendix B: Sample Sermon on Psalm 137
Appendix C: Sample Sermon on Proverbs 31:1–19 Appendix D: Sample Sermon on Job 28:1–28 Appendix E: Sample Sermon on Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:14 Appendix F: Sample Sermon on Song of Songs Appendix G: A Categorization of the Psalms Indexes
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR THE ART OF PREACHING OLD TESTAMENT NARRATIVE, 2ND ED. 9781540962027 • $29.99p
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