Preaching as Reminding - by Jeffrey D Arthurs (Paperback)

About the Book

We know of the preacher's roles as both teacher and proclaimer, but Jeffrey Arthurs adds another assignment: the Lord's remembrancer. With decades of preaching experience, he explains how to stir the memory of Christ-followers, fanning the flames of faith through vivid language, story, delivery, and ceremony. When knowledge fades and conviction cools, the church needs to be reminded of the great truths of the faith.

Book Synopsis

Christianity Today 2019 Book of the Year Award, The Church/Pastoral Leadership

We know of the preacher's roles as both teacher and proclaimer, but Jeffrey Arthurs adds another assignment: the Lord's remembrancer. The remembrancer stirs the memory of Christ-followers, reminding them of the truths they once heard and fanning the flames of faith.

We live in an age of forgetfulness, so when knowledge fades and conviction cools, the church needs to be reminded of the great truths of the faith. When done well, preaching as reminding is not empty, perfunctory repetition. Rather, it is the work of soul-watchers. Preaching as Reminding describes the dynamic role of the remembrancer, who prompts thankfulness and repentance, raises hope, fosters humility and wisdom, exhorts obedience, and encourages community.

With decades of preaching experience, Arthurs explains how to stir memory through vivid language, story, delivery, and ceremony. He urges preachers to take up this task with buoyancy and hope because the Lord God has commissioned and equipped them to serve as the Lord's remembrancers.

Review Quotes

"A preacher is more than just a teacher of God's Word. Included in this heralding is the task of reminding. Jeffrey Arthurs's Preaching as Reminding calls preachers to be the Lord's 'remembrancers, ' backing this designation with sound biblical theology and solid neuroscientific studies on how memory works. While people are prone to wander and forget God, Arthurs offers preachers practical guidelines for stirring memory through the use of rhetorical style, story, non-verbal delivery, ceremony, and symbols. Seasoned and starting soul-watchers who are serious about their sacred craft should heed Arthurs's call and sit under him."--Desmond Soh, CT Pastors, July 3, 2018

"Arthurs' contribution to the field of homiletics cannot be ignored. His unique and important discovery of this lacunae of homiletical study is worth acknowledging and celebrating."--Scott M. Gibson, Africanus Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1

"Good preachers do three things with any sermon idea: explain, prove, and apply. Jeffrey Arthurs has added one more: remind. Preaching as Reminding is a careful examination of memory in the Bible, and it skillfully applies that biblical theology to the preaching craft. In a world that conveniently forgets God's truths, this book persuades and practically points preachers back to the task of being God's remembrancers. Seasoned and novice preachers who are serious about their craft should heed Arthurs's call."--Desmond Soh, senior director of strategic development, associate professor of preaching, Singapore Bible College

"I wholeheartedly recommend this timely book to every pastor who faces the challenge of preaching in this e-generation. With the massive amount of information on the Internet, the price of easy accessibility is the sense of priority or focus--listening to Sunday sermons included. To preach with deeper impact, Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs reminds us of the importance of reminding: skillfully evoking memory in the listeners. He first expounds a theology of remembering and then provides practical tools to stir memory in sermon preparation and delivery. Preaching as Reminding, an excellent know-why and know-how textbook, will definitely enrich your pulpit."--Henry Chan, senior pastor, The Rutgers Community Christian Church, Somerset, New Jersey

"Jeffrey D. Arthurs's Preaching as Reminding is a remarkable contribution to the field of homiletics, ably synthesizing and integrating insights from biblical theology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, media studies, the classical rhetorical tradition, and contemporary cultural analysis. Arthurs equips today's preachers to stir the hearts, minds, and memories of their listeners to obedient and joyful action. He shows that 'memory' in the Bible is not merely a matter of cognitively recalling the past, but rather reengaging existentially with the great redemptive events of the faith. I heartily recommend this book to seminarians, pastors, and all those who are called to proclaim the gospel."--John Jefferson Davis, professor of systematic theology and Christian ethics, chair of the division of Christian thought, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Preachers, as 'remembrancers of the Lord, ' are to do what Jeffrey Arthurs beautifully and evocatively does in these pages. Offering practical guidelines, he recalls the biblical and recent past, not just to bring it to memory, but to reactualize faith now. In so doing, one could say he remembers the present and future as well, and they take the shape of the gospel."--Paul Scott Wilson, professor of homiletics, Emmanuel College, University of Toronto

"Preaching as Reminding by Jeffrey Arthurs has good advice for composing sermons: Use concrete language with verbs and nouns rather than adverbs and adjectives. Arthurs amusingly quotes typical opening sentences of a worship service and suggests alternatives."--Marvin Olasky, World Magazine, May 12, 2018

"Preaching as Reminding by Jeffrey D. Arthurs should be required reading for every seminarian. Gordon-Conwell's professor of preaching and communication practices what he preaches. Like a good sermon, he anchors his message that preachers are 'remembrancers' in sound doctrine, enriched by modern science; he then gives that truth wings to fly on the wind of know-how. Arthurs persuaded me to be a remembrancer, freed me from the chains of novelty, and told me how to be a good remembrancer with lightning words that strike the heart. Blessed are those who read him, for they will be rewarded a hundredfold."--Bruce Waltke, professor emeritus of biblical studies, Regent College, Vancouver, distinguished professor emeritus of Old Testament, Knox Theological Seminary

"Preaching as Reminding is more than just a book expounding on the riches of the art of preaching. It is, rather, a timely reminder of the responsibility of preaching in calling men and women back to the remembrance of the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension. Dr. Arthurs examines the seemingly inherent predisposition in mankind to forget and the preacher's role in awakening memory of God's covenant with man in an age that is often counterproductive to that end. He masterfully guides the reader through the utilization of style, story, delivery, and ceremony as effective tools in guiding the heart toward a singular posture concerning God. Leading from a construct that all biblical preaching is a performance of reminding, Dr. Arthurs skillfully reminds us of the hope of our calling and its preeminence in a day when forgetfulness seems to be a growing trend."--Craig L. Oliver Sr., pastor, Elizabeth Baptist Church, Atlanta

"With characteristic rhetorical skill and engaging style, Arthurs has gifted preachers with a biblically saturated and theologically robust vision for preaching that cultivates the church's memory. His biblical rationale is thorough, addressing the cognitive, affective, and volitional dimensions of remembrance both from a divine and human perspective, and his practical suggestions guide the preacher toward implementation. Arthurs's discussion of symbol and ceremony is particularly instructive in helping preachers integrate proclamation with other elements of liturgy to serve the church's corporate memory. In an age of forgetfulness, I commend this book to preachers as a valuable resource that fills a modern 'homiletical hole' and challenges them to recognize and embody more fully their role as 'remembrancers.'"--Laurie Norris, associate professor of pastoral studies, Moody Bible Institute

"In Preaching as Reminding, Jeff Arthurs gives an in-depth study of the functions and grace of memory in the human person. In our fast-paced age that values innovation and novelty, the preacher draws us back time and again to remember the 'old, old story.' With practical advice and personal experience, Arthurs empowers today's preacher to use this great gift to draw us intimately toward God's great work among us."--Dwight Longenecker, speaker, poet, pastor, author of The Mystery of the Magi

About the Author

Jeffrey D. Arthurs (PhD, Purdue) is professor of preaching and communication at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. A past president of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, Arthurs has taught preaching and communication at a dozen colleges and seminaries, served as a teaching pastor, and continues an active ministry of pulpit supply and conference speaking. He is the author of Preaching with Variety and Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture.

John Ortberg is teaching pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and author of many books, including God Is Closer Than You Think.