In Review

by Darrell Moore

Holiness Preaching
From Text to Sermon, Vol. 2, H. Ray Dunning (083-411-4658), Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City.

In his anthology of essays, Ray Dunning has provided an excellent resource for holiness preaching. This book fills a definite need of the Wesleyan-Holiness Movement in its sound studies of biblical texts relating to holiness of heart and life. The thrust of each essay points away from the pragmatic call of cultural pressures for external signs of success. Instead, they call the church to be a counterculture of holy love, and to a biblical understanding of the holy life.

Herein lies the strength of this volume; these 30 studies explore key biblical passages on holiness. Although most of the writers are (or have been) teachers of Bible, theology, church history, and/or homiletics, be assured that these presentations are developed for the pastor, not the classroom. They lay the groundwork for the shaping of sermons.

The book contains eight sections, with a minimum of three studies in each. The same general format is followed through each study. Exegesis, careful listening to the Spirit speaking through the Scripture, comes first, as commitment to the integrity of Scripture marks every study. Countering the prevailing tendency to ground holiness in experience, these presentations will guide the preacher to a solid exegetical base for the message. In exegesis the setting of each biblical passage is crucial, because what the text meant to its original audience is a key to its meaning for us today. Indeed, "a text can never mean what it never meant."1

The focus of each study then moves to the theological implications in the text. This is crucial, for the theological affirmations of the text (not the preacher's ideas or opinions) should drive the sermon. These writers recognize the key question of theology: "What is God doing or saying in this portion of Scripture?" One vitally important theological advantage of this publication is that each presentation comes from a thoroughly Wesleyan perspective.

Preaching suggestions figure next in the form of lists of ideas or brief outlines. Others offer sermon synopses. A few writers lay out suggestions for a series of sermons from a particular passage.

It would be difficult to exaggerate the richness of this book as a resource for preaching holiness. In fact, reading good books on holiness is imperative for improving the preacher's desire and ability to proclaim that biblical message. This is one of the best!2 Each study is filled with exposition that can broaden and deepen your preaching and the lives of your people.

Soaking in these biblical studies will foster in the preacher an increased "hunger and thirst for righteousness" that is a mark of the holy life (Matthew 5:1-12). The preacher is part of the message, and our preaching of holiness must be livable, or it has no place in the pulpit!

This volume belongs in the working library of every Holiness preacher.

Darrell Moore is retired professor of homiletics at Nazarene Theological Seminary.
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1. Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Academie Books, 1982), 27.
2. Along with its predecessor, Volume 1, by the same title.