John Calvin has been portrayed in many different ways throughout history. His work on The Institutes still casts a glorious shadow over the church; for indeed Calvin was able to ascend to theological heights that few before or after him could attain. Still others dislike Calvin the theologian, labeling him as mean and cold. This cannot be aided by that one picture that seems like it must be attached to anything that Calvin wrote. You know the one of him with a 13″ goatee, droopy eyes and a little skully hat on. But how many of you think about John Calvin the pastor? Maybe this new picture of Calvin with the fur coat and goatee is his pastor look…I don’t know.
Thankfully Steve Lawson has written this helpful little book entitled The Expository Genius of John Calvin. Lawson’s aim in the book is to put the pastoral ministry of Calvin on a billboard. In doing this he attempts to 1) arouse a new generation of fiery and faithful expositors, 2) expose a current generation of laziness in the pulpit. Given the brevity of the work (142 pages) I think Lawson does a good job at both.
After a brief historical snapshot, Lawson basically takes us through the homiletical process for Calvin. The chapters are jam-packed with quotes and antidotes from Calvin.
Here is the flow for the chapters:
-Approaching the Pulpit
-Preparing the Preacher
-Launching the Sermon
-Expounding the Text
-Crafting the Delivery
-Applying the Truth
-Concluding the Exposition
Lawson notes that Calvin had the 16th century equivalent of audio recordings in Denis Raguenier. Raguenier developed a shorthand formula that enabled him to capture the 6,000 words that Calvin would deliver in an average exposition. This written exposition greatly aided the spread and influence of Calvin’s preaching.
Calvin’s commitment to the holy purity of the church is encouraging for pastors today. Consider this account with Philibert Berthelier, a prominent libertine, who was excommunicated because of sexual sin. As a result of being put of the church he was forbidden from taking communion. Berthelier was in tight with the politicians who overrode the church’s decision to give him the boot. So on an evening service Berthelier and his crew came to Calvin’s church wanting to take communion. They came with swords drawn and blood boiling. “Calvin descended from the pulpit, stood in front of the Communion table, and said, ‘These hands you may crush, these arms you may lop off, my life you may take, my blood is yours, you may shed it; but you shall never force me to give holy things to the profaned and dishonor the table of my God.’ Berthelier and the Libertines withdrew, no match for such unflinching convictions.” (p. 16)
Lawson writes, “When he studied, it was to behold the majesty of God. Thus, his sermon preparation was not primarily for others; it was first and foremost for his own heart….The pastor, says Calvin, ‘ought to be prepared by long study for giving to the people, as out of a storehouse, a variety of instruction concerning the Word of God.’ That is to say, the preacher can preach God’s grandeur only to the extent that he understands the Bible.” (pp. 40-41).
Calvin saw his main job to be that of preaching. He gave himself to this task multiple times a week. “From his pulpit, he addressed real people who had real needs, so he spoke to them right where they lived. The goal was to bridge the gap from the text to everyday life by showing its practical relevance. Calvin rightly believed that he did not need to make the Bible relevant—it was relevant. To simply reveal its life-changing power and press it home to his listeners was his mandate….Thus Calvin did not fire over the heads of his people while answering the aberrations of other theologians. He did not misuse the pulpit to rebut his numerous critics. Instead, Calvin remained intent on nurturing the spiritual development of his people. He preached primarily to edify and encourage the congregation God had entrusted to him. In short, he preached for changed life…His objective was to build his congregation up in the things of the Lord, not to tear them down. As a caring pastor, he brought the Word of God to bear on his people’s lives, all for God’s glory and their good.” (104-105).
This book was a refreshing tonic for me as a pastor. I enjoyed Lawson’s writing style and his commitment to the basics and power of preaching, “As the Bible was opened, reformation was unleashed.” (p.32) Amen.
The Expository Genius of John Calvin is available at Westminster Books (and as is usually the case, this seems to be the least expensive option out there).
