The Word of This Salvation in the Mouths of Christ's Ministers: Retrieving a Theology of Preaching as Reflected in the Sermons and Writings of Benjami - Hardcover

by Michael R. Jr. Cooper (Author), Matthew F. McKellar (Foreword by)

In a post-Christian culture marked by shifting societal trends and technological advancements, only a stable foundation can sustain the weight of Christian proclamation. The Word of This Salvation in the Mouths of Christ's Ministers meets this challenge through homiletical retrieval within the Baptist tradition. Following the model of historical ressourcement, the study ensures continuity with the Baptist heritage while fostering renewal in contemporary preaching. The book centers on Benjamin Keach, an early English Particular Baptist, whose sermons and writings provide the primary sources for constructing a systematic theology of preaching. By situating Keach within his historical context, his theology of preaching can provide a theo-homiletical framework for contemporary expressions of Baptist preaching. This theology comprises six interconnected elements: epiphanical as its basis, expositional as its object, experiential as its subject, effectual as its means, ecclesial as its context, and evangelical as its goal. Each element is carefully derived from Keach's published works and evaluated against timeless homiletical questions. The purpose is to equip Baptist preachers and teachers with a theologically coherent, historically grounded framework that bridges past convictions with present practice, enabling faithful and transformative proclamation in today's context.

Author Biography

Michael R. Cooper Jr. holds a PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the Lead Pastor of Grace Community Church in Mabank, Texas, and an Adjunct Professor in Preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.