Sugel Michelén, From & Before God: A Practical Introduction to Expository Preaching (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2019), 270 pp.
From & Before God: A Practical Introduction to Expository Preaching is a book designed to train and equip beginning preachers. The author, Sergei Michelén is senior pastor of Iglesia Biblica del Señor Jesucristo in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is hailed as one of the leading preachers in Latin America. As such, he has much to offer by way of practical instruction and personal insight.
Part One: The Theological Anchor
Pastor Michelén begins by addressing the nature of revelation by presenting three fundamental realities: 1) God has spoken, 2) God speaks through his written word today, 3) God commands us to preach his word. Part one lays the foundation for what is to follow. It is filled with biblical anecdotes and convinces readers of the importance of the preaching task.
Part Two: The Nature, Form, and Content of the Expository Sermon
The author convinces readers that expository preaching is true preaching and spends an extended amount of time focusing on the role of the Holy Spirit in preaching. This important element is too often missing from preaching books. Also, the author shows why Christ should be at the center of every sermon. Numerous citations are included to help bolster his case.
Part Three: Step-by-Step Preparation of an Expository Sermon
The mechanics of the sermon are set forth in the final section and gives beginning preachers a workable outline or the “how to’s” of sermon preparation – from passage selection to the conclusion and everything in between.
Overall, From & Before God is a solid offering. Men who are learning to preach will benefit from this basic introduction. Seasoned preachers will also benefit from Pastor Michelén’s fine work but may choose to turn to other resources for greater detail. A few examples include Reformed Preaching by Joel Beeke, Invitation to Preaching by Donald Sunukjian, Preach: Theology Meets Practice by Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert, and Expository Preaching: Balancing the Science and Art of Biblical Exposition by John MacArthur and the Master’s Seminary Faculty.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Veritas et Lux 