Jonathan Leeman’s Reverberation just might be the best recent publication you haven’t heard of. Carl Trueman, whose endorsement is never glib, is right to say, “This book . . . should be read by pastors, elders, and, indeed, church members.”
Leeman’s burden is to show that “one thing is necessary in our churches – hearing God’s Word through preaching, reading, singing, and praying.” The book powerfully illustrates how the ministry of the Word begins in the pulpit and then reverberates throughout the life of the church as members echo back that word to each other in the ordinary elements of life.
5 RELIABLE STATEMENTS
Before unpacking the more practical realities of the life of the word in the life of the church Leeman offers “five statements that will be foundational for everything else in this book.” Theology before doxology is oh so right.
Because every pastor needs to continually remind himself that God’s word is sufficient for all faith and life – even the growth of a church – consider the five theses along with some choice quotes.
1. God’s Word is an Extension of God. “To hear His words that comprise the whole Bible is to hear Him. To obey His words is to obey Him. To ignore His words is to ignore Him.” “You can measure a person’s opinion of God by his or her opinion of God’s word. That’s why a person who loves God loves His word, and the person who hates God rejects what God has spoken. God’s word is an extension of Himself – His identity, purposes, affections, and power.”
2. God Acts through His Word. “God acts when He speaks. He acts in three ways: He creates, He sustains, and He both establishes and breaks relationships.”
3. God Acts through His Word by His Spirit.“God’s words have power because they move by God’s spirit and do exactly what the Spirit wishes.” “There is no greater power a church has at its disposal than preaching the Father’s Word of the Son working through the Spirit.”
4. God’s Word and Spirit Act Together Efficaciously. “Combined, the Word and Spirit make a difference.” “God’s word does not merely impart information; it creates life. It’s not only descriptive; it’s effective. It produces worship, obedience, communion, and disciples.”
5. God Speaks through Human Preachers and Human Words.“When sending seventy-two disciples out to preach, Jesus tells them, ‘The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). “God’s Word, working through God’s Spirit, is the most powerful force in the universe and in the church. Father, Son, and Spirit wonderfully conspire to pour forth their power through speech, to accomplish their single will through words.”
MINISTERS OF WHAT?
Dear pastor, remember what you are: a minister of the word. The Word that is able, in and of itself, to creates, sustain, and empower your church’s ministry. Give yourself over to the study of this word. Wash your congregation with the water of God’s word . . . and watch it grow.