Dennis E. Johnson - Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney

No effort is more dear to my heart than Christ-centered preachingand 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, President, Covenant Theological Seminary (PCA)

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 Gods Word to Gods 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, Eds 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 Eds passion, his heart and soul. And only a few have shared Eds 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 Gods grace and share it with others.

John Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary

Edmund Clowney made a significant impact on the revival of biblical theology in preaching that cannot be assessed from his writings alone. Here we are given an insight into this impact on a number of his students who pay tribute to his spiritual and practical influence. It is a rare treat for all of us who value Christ-centered preaching. This collection of sermons, each prefaced with a statement of the preachers own estimate of Clowneys influence as a teacher, provides us with clear hands-on evidence for the richness of preaching that is informed by Clowneys perspective on biblical theology. This is a volume that will encourage and inform those who desire to preach Christ from the whole Bible.

Graeme Goldsworthy, Visiting Lecturer in Hermeneutics, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia

To know Ed Clowney, even a little, was to delight in him, his friendship, his unassuming ways and wisdom. As Tim Keller writes in his introduction to a wonderful exposition on The Girl Nobody Wanted (Jacobs unattractive Leah!), to be encouraged and spurred on by Ed was special joy.

Dick Lucas, Rector Emeritus, St. Helens Church, Bishopsgate, United Kingdom, Founder of Proclamation Trust

Heralds of the King is written to honor the memory of Dr. Edmund P. Clowneys teaching of preaching. Eleven of his former students present their individual reflections on his teaching and one of their sermons that best exemplifies his influence. Eight elected to submit sermons based on Old Testament texts. All contributors are mindful of Clowneys profound distinction that the Christian proclamation of an Old Testament text is not the preaching of an Old Testament sermon. The sermons move from the message in the Old Testament to Christ in the New Testament in a variety of ways: mostly promise-fulfillment, typology, or biblical-theological themes, but also redemptive-historical progression, analogy, and once contrasteach frequently supported by New Testament references. The three sermons based on New Testament texts reach back into the Old Testament in order to better understand the New Testament passages. The book contains some exceptionally memorable sermons. It will be helpful for preachers in modeling legitimate ways to move in the sermon from the periphery of Scripture to its center, Jesus Christ.

Sidney Greidanus, author of Preaching Christ from the Old Testament and Preaching Christ from Genesis

Christ-centered (or redemptive-historical) interpretation of the Bible, Old Testament as well as New, ought always to be in the interests of Christ-centered preaching, but the two are not the same. Considerations essential for preaching are not necessary for interpretation. In a time of increased interest in a Christ-centered approach to all of Scripture, due in no small part to Edmund Clowneys influence, but also when there is some confusion about the meaning of the Old Testament and its relevance in the life of the church today, present and future preachers urgently need various models of sound and compelling Christ-centered sermons from both Testaments. This volume makes an excellent contribution toward meeting that need. It succeeds in its aim to be a fitting addition to the high standard of such preaching set by Clowney.

Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary

Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney

Copyright 2009 by the Edmund P. Clowney Legacy Corporation

Published by Crossway Books
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Design and typesetting by Lakeside Design Plus
Cover design: Cindy Kiple
First printing 2009

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations from the American Standard Version of the Bible.

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Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible.

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Scripture quotations from The New King James Version. Copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Copyright 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.