Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney
Overview
Eleven preachers with different gifts, backgrounds, and personal emphases show how they proclaim Christ from all the Scripture in a variety of contexts.
Edmund P. Clowney (1917-2005), the late president and professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, was a trailblazer of Christ-centered, redemptive-historical preaching. Through his classroom instruction, his publications, and his example as a preacher, he ignited in many seminary students and pastors a passion to preach Christ from all the Scriptures as the fulfillment and climax of God’s plan of redemption.
This collection of sermons is intended to illustrate how various preachers with different gifts, backgrounds, and personal emphases are working out in practice the homiletic principles they learned from Dr. Clowney. The volume, which includes sermons and introductory comments by editor Dennis Johnson, Tim Keller, Joseph “Skip” Ryan, and eight other contributors, enables readers to carry away both models and practical advice for preparing sermons that proclaim Christ across a broad spectrum of congregations and people groups.
- Part 1: The Law
- “Living with a Gap: Genesis 17:1–14,” by Joseph V. Novenson
- “The Girl Nobody Wanted: Genesis 29:15–35,” by Timothy J. Keller
- “Lord and Servant: Genesis 43,” by Brian Vos
- “Rock of Ages: Exodus 17:1–7,” by Julius J. Kim
- Part 2: The Prophets
- “Surprising Love: 2 Samuel 9,” by Charles D. Drew
- “Thorns and Fir Trees: Isaiah 55:13,” by Harvie M. Conn
- “No Condemnation: Zechariah 3,” by Iain M. Duguid
- Part 3: The Psalms
- “Beauty in the Sand: Psalm 90,” by William Edgar
- Part 4: The New Covenant
- “When God Promises the Impossible: Luke 1:5–25,” by Dennis E. Johnson
- “Soul-Ravishing Sightings: Luke 9:28–36,” by Joseph F. Ryan
- “The Greatness of God’s Ultimate Word: Hebrews 1:1–3,” by Arturo G. Azurdia III
Top Highlights
“It’s the repeated theme permeating the entire sermon to the Hebrews: God’s Son is better—better than the prophets, better than Moses, better than Joshua, better than the priests, better than the animal sacrifices, better than the old covenant. He is better than everything and everyone.” (Page 210)
“Moralistic sermons worked only on the will, but Christ-centered preaching clarified the gospel and changed the heart.” (Page 55)
“Leah as not only someone pointing us to Christ (as the rejected one through whom salvation came into the world) but also as someone looking to the Lord as her true Spouse.” (Page 55)
“any command without gospel-given grace can never, ever be kept by a sinner, even a redeemed one.” (Page 38)
“Many Christ-centered sermons are hermeneutically sound and uplifting but leave you without knowing what difference it will all make to how you live your life on Monday.” (Page 55)
No effort is more dear to my heart than Christ-centered preaching-and no person has been more valiant in the cause than Edmund Clowney. This collection of sermons reflecting his principles includes messages I have my students read, and it will be a sure blessing to many more.
—Bryan Chapell, pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Peoria, IL
Our churches desperately need Christ-centered preaching today. But how do we preach in a way that exalts Christ? How can we preach Christ and still give sermons that speak to the hearts of those who hear us? What a wonderful gift, therefore, to read sermons from gifted and experienced pastors where Christ is proclaimed. Often we learn most effectively by watching experts at work. The passion of Edmund P. Clowney lives on in the sermons of his students, and what a joy it would bring him to see Christ glorified by a new generation of preachers.
—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
I can think of no list of contributors who could better honor the work and legacy of Edmund Clowney than those who have been brought together in this volume. Their skills at understanding and interpreting the presence of the grace of Christ in all of the Scripture serve as both model and encouragement to all whose calling and task it is to open God’s Word to God’s people.
—Robert M. Norris, pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD
Edmund Clowney was one of my most valued friends and mentors and perhaps my very favorite preacher. Ed advocated and exemplified what is called the redemptive-historical approach to preaching. Although I have had some reservations about the theory of redemptive-historical preaching, Ed’s sermons moved my heart more than most any others. For his preaching was not just the application of a theory; it was born out of his love for Christ and his passion to bring Christ to people and they to him. Others have advocated the same theory, but only a few have captured Ed’s passion, his heart and soul. And only a few have shared Ed’s great gifts of knowledge, clarity, persuasiveness, and understanding of human nature. Many of those are here, in this volume. May God use this book to raise up a new generation of preachers filled with his Spirit, to honor his Son, and may he use it to raise up Christians who passionately embrace God’s grace and share it with others.
—John M. Frame, emeritus professor of systematic theology and philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary
- Title: Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney
- Authors: Arturo G. Azurdia III, Harvie M. Conn, Charles D. Drew, Iain M. Duguid, William Edgar, Dennis E. Johnson, Timothy Keller, Julius J. Kim, Matthew V. Novenson, Joseph Ryan, Brian Vos
- Publisher: Crossway
- Print Publication Date: 2009
- Logos Release Date: 2011
- Pages: 224
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Reformed Church › Sermons; Sermons, American
- Resource ID: LLS:F073235E5B5865AE52582BFA5997A39C
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-01-07T00:10:40Z
Dennis E. Johnson (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of practical theology at Westminster Seminary California and associate pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church in Escondido, California. He is the author of several books and contributed to the ESV Study Bible.