Reading it, brought about a clash in thought. Firstly, I was so grateful to read such lofty, God-glorifying thought on Christ Crucified; yet I found myself saddened that in that brief first chapter I probably encountered more deep, solid, inspirational theology on the cross then I have stumbled upon in all the contemporary reading, and preaching I have been exposed to in the rest of the year.
Preaching the theology of the cross, the wonder of the cross, the fruits and effects of the cross seems to be a lost art. In fact it seems to be "out of vogue." There are so many other self-help topics out there. So much need to talk about who we are as churches and the difference we are going to make to society... but everything we preach is without foundation or meaning unless it draws us to and evokes in us a renewed fascination with Christ Crucified.
More and more I see that the teaching of men like Tim Keller & Edmund Clowney is of absolute importance for this generation of church leaders and particularly those who preach and teach. Their constant call is that we would preach Christ in all of Scripture; literally they would say that in every section of scripture there is a legitimate, necessary way to speak of Christ and Him crucified as its fulfillment.
I am challenged, even as I think upon a series on Joshua after Easter I am burdened that every sermon would draw my people from Joshua as the deliverer to the great deliverer.
The book is obviously written out of a desire to share the burden and passion of the Apostle Paul who writes these words in 1 Corinthians,
"For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
Let that be our fixation.
Simon
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