THE PREACHER’S CATECHISM
By Lewis Allen
Crossway. 216 pages. £16.99
ISBN 978 1 433 559 358
In this new book on preaching, Lewis Allen sets out to prove three basic convictions: that the church needs pastors who last and thrive; that preachers must understand how preaching works and how their own souls work; and that the Westminster Shorter Catechism is an outstanding resource for the heart need of every preacher.
Allen adopts a cate chetical format using a series of 43 questions and answers. This makes it easy to read and to use devotionally.
In the first two parts, he engages with the preacher’s relationship with God and with the people he is called to serve. He is incredibly honest about Christian ministry. Sometimes our faith wavers or we struggle with our wayward hearts. Sometimes there seems to be little visible fruit and our ser-mons lack power. Lewis Allen understands this – he has been there. He knows our hearts and ministers to us just where we are. It is easy to fall into a kind of unhelpful professionalism – we become sermon-pro-ducing machines. What will sustain us? The enjoyments of preaching or an abundance of skill or the affirmation of others are not enough. He writes: ‘Love only the work, and the work will crush us’. It is our love for Christ and our love for His people that will enable pastors to last and to thrive. We need to know and love the people we serve. Our preaching will be authentic when we minister to the real need of real people.
Ten Commandments
In Part Three he unpacks the Ten Commandments and applies them to the preacher’s task. Part Four covers the chal-lenge of the preacher’s prayer life and the call to do everything for our King.
There are many books about exegetical accuracy or homiletical skill, but this book deals with the preacher’s heart. The Preacher’s Catechism will search and strengthen the preacher. Coming from an experienced pas-tor it gives nourishment and inspiration for pastors in the battlefield of ministry. To do this Allen engages with time-honoured voices from the past – John Calvin, Richard Baxter, CH Spurgeon and many others.
It is a good book to read with other pas-tors or young men who aspire to ministry. However, it would also be helpful to the general reader, giving an insight into the nature of true preaching.
Ever since I began my ministry almost 40 years ago I have tried to read at least one book about preaching every year. Some have been treasures and some have best been for-gotten. This one is a treasure.
