Why Johnny Can't Preach

by T. David Gordon     |     Book Summary


Author: T. David Gordon
Publisher: P&R Publishing
Date: 2009
Pages: 108

Book Summary of Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon


"I've always feared to state publicly that, in my opinion, less than 30 percent of those who are ordained to the Christian ministry can preach an even mediocre sermon, lest I appear to be ungrateful or uncharitable. On the other hand, to sit in the kettle as it rises degree by degree toward the boiling point, while doing nothing to alert others, concerns me also." (p. 11)

The decisive event that ultimately motivated the writing of this book was a cancer diagnosis. Stage three cancer with only a slight chance of survival resulted in the following conviction: "Before I die, I must express my opinion on this subject" (p. 13).

That opinion centers on the thesis that few sermons have any discernible unity, and most sermons lack any recognizable order. This sad state of preaching affects believers in churches who are subjected to sub-par sermons week after week. Additionally, this sad state of preaching has been brought about by massive societal changes. These include the widespread inability to read texts and the widespread inability to write effectively. 

Simply put, this book aims to answer the following question: "How has the movement from language-based media to image-based and electronic media altered our sensibilities, and how, in turn, has this change in sensibility shaped today's preachers?" (p. 16).





Why Johnny Can't Preach

by T. David Gordon

[ Book Summary ]



Book Summary of Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon

Author T. David Gordon
Publisher P&R Publishing
Date 2009
Pages 108


Overview:

"I've always feared to state publicly that, in my opinion, less than 30 percent of those who are ordained to the Christian ministry can preach an even mediocre sermon, lest I appear to be ungrateful or uncharitable. On the other hand, to sit in the kettle as it rises degree by degree toward the boiling point, while doing nothing to alert others, concerns me also." (p. 11)

The decisive event that ultimately motivated the writing of this book was a cancer diagnosis. Stage three cancer with only a slight chance of survival resulted in the following conviction: "Before I die, I must express my opinion on this subject" (p. 13).

That opinion centers on the thesis that few sermons have any discernible unity, and most sermons lack any recognizable order. This sad state of preaching affects believers in churches who are subjected to sub-par sermons week after week. Additionally, this sad state of preaching has been brought about by massive societal changes. These include the widespread inability to read texts and the widespread inability to write effectively. 

Simply put, this book aims to answer the following question: "How has the movement from language-based media to image-based and electronic media altered our sensibilities, and how, in turn, has this change in sensibility shaped today's preachers?" (p. 16).