When God’s Voice is Heard: Essays on Preaching Presented to Dick Lucas

Written by Chiristopher Green and David Jackman (eds) Reviewed By David Johnston

This book is a collection of essays on preaching prepared for the 70th birthday of Dick Lucas, whose ministry at St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate, in the city of London, may soon, if the Lord should spare him, span four decades. At the heart of that ministry is biblical preaching arising from a conviction that it is through his Word that God speaks with a living voice to his people in each and every generation.

The essayists are drawn from across the globe and represent the wider evangelical constituency within which the preaching ministry of Dick Lucas has become known. The contributors include well-known names like James Packer, Don Carson, Ed Clowney and Roy Clements, with a significant contribution from Dick’s Australian friends who include Philip Jensen, Peter Adam and John Chapman. Like any collection of essays, each stands on its own as an individual work, yet the contributions are grouped into three categories. These are not given specific titles but in broad terms examine first, the relationship between the preacher and the Bible, secondly, the preacher himself as theologian, prophet and pastor, and thirdly, the function of preaching both in the church and in the world.

The choice of contributors ensures that there is a good balance between the theology of preaching and its pastoral practice and the limits imposed by the editors upon each contributor have ensured that there is very little overlap between the various essays. This is, however, a book for preachers and, in particular, for those who are committed to expository preaching as the primary means of opening up the Scriptures. For those who are not actively engaged in such a ministry, the book may not have quite the same appeal. It is, nonetheless, very readable and with its helpful insights should stimulate all who read it to a renewed confidence in the Word of God as the means by which God’s voice is heard in every age and generation.

I particularly enjoyed the opening essay by Christopher Green which gives a rare biographical sketch of Dick Lucas himself and is both amusing and moving. In some parts of the book there is, perhaps, a slight tendency on the part of those contributors who are a step removed from the demands of preaching, week in, week out, in a parish setting, to be a touch idealistic as to the amount of time the busy preacher will have available to read, study and theologize. That said, however, the book closes with an insightful chapter by David Jackman which is well-grounded in the realities of biblical preaching in a world (and a church!) which is largely unaccustomed to it.

All in all, this is a very readable book written by those who believe passionately in the power of the preached word. I am delighted to have this opportunity to commend it to as wide a readership as possible.


David Johnston

Bangor, N. Ireland