The Expository Genius of John Calvin
Overview
Looking to the past for outstanding Bible-based, Christ-centered, and life-changing preaching, Dr. Steven J. Lawson focuses on sixteenth-century Geneva, Switzerland. It was there that John Calvin ministered for decades as a faithful shepherd to a flock of believers.
Here is an intimate portrait of Calvin the preacher—the core beliefs that determined his preaching style, the steps he took to prepare to preach, and the techniques he used in handling the Word of God, interpreting it, and applying it to his congregation. In the pulpit ministry of the great Reformer, Dr. Lawson finds inspiration and guidance for today’s church and calls on modern pastors to follow the Reformer’s example of strong expository preaching.
With the Logos edition, The Expository Genius of John Calvin is fully integrated with the other resources in your digital library, including Bibles, maps, dictionaries, and numerous other Bible study tools. All Scripture references are linked directly to the text of your favorite Bible translation, making your Bible study and teaching preparations more effective and rewarding. You can also explore Scripture on a deeper level with powerful search features, Passage Guides, and all the other interactive features in your Logos library. That makes this important book more useful than ever before for pastors, teachers, Bible study leaders, and anyone else desiring to get deeper into the truth of God’s Word.
Key Features
- Preface by the author
- Investigation of the preaching of John Calvin
- Guidance for today’s church
Top Highlights
“The aim of a good teacher, [is] to turn away the eyes of men from the world, that they may look up to heaven.’29 Likewise, ‘The theologian’s task is not to divert the ears with clatter, but to strengthen consciences by teaching things true, sure, and profitable.” (Page 31)
“Through the underhanded influence of the Libertines, the City Council overrode the church’s decision, and Berthelier and his associates came to church to take the Lord’s Supper with swords drawn, ready to fight. With bold audacity, Calvin descended from the pulpit, stood in front of the Communion table, and said, ‘These hands you may crush, these arms you may lop off, my life you may take, my blood is yours, you may shed it; but you shall never force me to give holy things to the profaned and dishonor the table of my God.’17 Berthelier and the Libertines withdrew, no match for such unflinching convictions.” (Page 16)
“As Calvin resolutely stated, ‘We owe to the Scripture the same reverence which we owe to God because it has proceeded from Him alone, and has nothing of man mixed with it.’” (Page 27)
“The Reformer’s drivenness can be seen in his letter to one Monsieur de Falais in 1546: ‘Apart from the sermons and the lectures, there is a month gone by in which I have scarce done anything, in such wise I am almost ashamed to live thus useless.’15 It should be noted that Calvin had preached a mere twenty sermons that month and given only twelve lectures. He was hardly the idle servant he imagined himself to be.” (Page 45)
“When he studied, it was to behold the majesty of God. Thus, his sermon preparation was not primarily for others; it was first and foremost for his own heart.” (Page 40)
Praise for the Print Edition
I heartily recommend this book by Steven Lawson as an impetus to the recovery of expository preaching. It is an especially good gift for pastors and seminary students.
—R. C. Sproul
Product Details
- Title: The Expository Genius of John Calvin
- Author: Steven J. Lawson
- Publisher: Reformation Trust
- Publication Date: 2007
- Pages: 160
Reviews
1 rating
Michael Conn
12/1/2019
This was my first specific look at the life and ministry of John Calvin, and I wasn't disappointed. Though this focuses more specifically on his pulpit ministry, a role that was not foremost in my mind, I came away cherishing the practical, expository outpouring of a theological giant. As a young preacher myself, I was encouraged by how a master expositor like Dr. Lawson unpacked Calvin's craft for my own edification. Dr. Lawson's book would be a great companion in a series on the multifaceted life and ministry of John Calvin.