Preaching Christ from Psalms: Foundations for Expository Sermons in the Christian Year

by Sidney Greidanus

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2016

Overview

In this final volume of his series on preaching Christ from the Old Testament, Sidney Greidanus offers expert guidance for busy pastors on preaching Christ from Psalms.

Beginning with a general introduction on how pastors can interpret and preach from the biblical psalms—and why they should—Greidanus proceeds by discussing twenty-two psalms in the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, supplying the building blocks necessary to preach from Psalms at Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and other major days and seasons of the church year. In addition to laying out basic homiletical-theological approaches suitable for each selected psalm, these chapters also provide verse-by-verse exposition, bridges to Christ in the New Testament, and ideas for placing the psalmist’s words into contemporary context.

Key Features

• Provides instruction on preparing expository messages
• Addresses foundational issues such as the date, authorship and audience
• Contains building blocks for constructing expository sermons and lessons

Contents

Top Highlights

“David Bartlett observes, ‘Preaching on the Psalms will usually not … end with imperatives.… Preaching on the psalms will end with praise or with repentance. Praise or repentance will well up among the people in the presence of God. We will not need to enjoin what the psalm will induce.’” (Page 42)

“The goal of Psalm 51, then, is to assure God’s people that God, because of his steadfast love and abundant mercy, will forgive even the most heinous sins if people but ask with a contrite heart.” (Page 252)

“The sermon goal, then, is to persuade people to walk in the way of the righteous by delighting in the teaching of the Lord.” (Page 58)

“Analogy notes the similarity between the teaching or goal of the psalmist and the teaching or goal of Jesus.” (Page 35)

“Clinton McCann writes perceptively, ‘What is so unsettling about all of this is that what Psalm 1 and the rest of the Psalter call ‘wickedness’ is perhaps what North American culture promotes as the highest virtue—autonomy,’⁴⁵ being a law unto oneself, self-made people, sovereign, subject to none. The introduction to the sermon can illustrate this need in order to focus attention on hearing this specific word of the Lord.” (Pages 58–59)

Endorsements

No one has been more influential in this generation of preachers, and in my life personally, than Sidney Greidanus on the necessity of Christ's purposes pervading all biblical exposition. I welcome this latest contribution to his extensive body of work that has so blessed Christ's church.

—Bryan Chapell, Grace Presbyterian Church, Peoria, Illinois

The Lord is accomplishing a great work of gospel resurgence in our generation. Sidney Greidanus in particular has contributed by helping us pastors preach the Christian gospel accurately and confidently from the entire Bible. Now Greidanus has increased our debt of gratitude with Preaching Christ from Psalms. I expect this book to have a lasting impact not only because of the perennial appeal of the Psalms but also because of the insightful ways Greidanus connects the Psalms with Jesus and his gospel.

—Ray Ortlund, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee

I have long admired Sidney Greidanus's writing on preaching from the Old Testament. The Old Testament is often neglected in the pulpit because many think it to be irrelevant to Christians. In this book Greidanus reveals the richness of the Psalms and helps us discover their theological and Christological significance.

—Tremper Longman III, Westmont College

In Preaching Christ from Psalms, Greidanus has taken on a massive project and has executed it with the rare mix of breadth and depth that makes this sort of endeavor a success. Unsurprising for anyone familiar with his previous work, Greidanus compiles and presents a staggering amount of scholarship in a lucid and accessible way. As the title indicates, this volume is geared toward preachers. However, much of the material will be of interest to teachers and students of the Bible who desire a hermeneutical framework that sees Christ as the fulfillment of the psalms.

—Stephen M. Coleman in Bulletin for Biblical Research

Greidanus offers exegetical and literary observations, theological analysis, and expository material that will be a treasure chest of valuable content for any preacher or teacher. He has given yet another gift to his colleagues in the church through this book that will find a valued place on the shelf of many a preacher.

—Michael Duduit, Preaching

Product Details

• Title: Preaching Christ from Psalms: Foundations for Expository Sermons in the Christian Year
• Author: Sidney Greidanus
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2017
• Pages: 615
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. Psalms › Sermons; Jesus Christ › Sermons; Typology (Theology) › Sermons
• ISBNs: 9780802873668, 0802873669
• Resource ID: LLS:PRCHNGCHRSPSLMS
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:20:54Z

About Sidney Greidanus

Sidney Greidanus is professor emeritus of preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.