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9781462781232

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Exhortations to believe and obey the Word of God saturate the Scriptures. How then is it that exhortation is so often absent from our preaching? Josh Smith makes a compelling argument that exhortation must accompany our exposition and application. This is not an option. It is a must! This book is baptized in Scripture, convincing in its argument, and practical in its instruction. We have needed a book like this. I am glad we now have one. --Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Many preachers mistakenly view the endgame of the sermon to be application. In Preaching for a Verdict, Josh Smith reminds us of an important biblical point often overlooked today in preaching: the need for exhortation. Preachers are under mandate from God to call people to respond to the text. The sermon is not complete without this dynamic. This book fills the void in the literature on preaching by providing every preacher with a biblical and theological foundation for exhortation, followed by practical models of how to put it into practice. Take up and read! --David L. Allen, distinguished professor of preaching, dean, School of Preaching, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary J. Josh Smith is one of his generation's leading preachers and, in this book, has touched on a topic many preachers need to hear. What is most helpful about this book is the theological and practical clarity he brings to an aspect of preaching often overlooked or misunderstood. If you preach, you should read this book. --Jason G. Duesing, provost and associate professor of historical theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary In every sermon the preacher should present the gospel of Jesus Christ and invite lost people to repent of sin, believe savingly in Jesus and receive him as Lord and Savior then and there. The gospel demands a response! That's why I'm grateful for Josh Smith's new book, Preaching for a Verdict. Josh is a veteran preacher with a keen mind and a Spirit-filled heart. While avoiding manipulation, he encourages biblical exhortation. This book is a breath of fresh air for every gospel preacher. I highly recommend it. --Steve Gaines, senior pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN, and former president, the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors ought to be calling people to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ rather than just disseminating biblical knowledge. Josh's book makes a compelling, biblical argument as to why that is the case and gives practical ways to make effective exhortation part of your preaching. Any pastor would benefit from putting Preaching for a Verdict into action. --Robby Gallaty, senior pastor, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN The verdict is in! This new book by Josh Smith is a needed call in this generation to join Peter 'with many other words' in calling people to respond to the gospel message. Read it and reap and you will find yourself . . . preaching for a verdict. --O. S. Hawkins, president and chief executive officer, Guidestone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention I love to study preaching and my spiritual gift is exhortation, Josh Smith speaks right from his heart to ours. His sermons illustrating exhortation and their personal appeal in the gospel are worth more than the price of the book. This book is rich for any preacher or teacher. --Johnny Hunt, senior vice president of evangelism and leadership, North American Mission Board, pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA, and former president, the Southern Baptist Convention How foolish would it be for a lovestruck young man to purchase an expensive diamond ring, get down on one knee before his beloved, declare his love for her, explain all the reasons he delights in her, present a litany of benefits and blessings of the two of them spending their lives together, and yet never ask the question, Will you marry me? Josh Smith rightly believes such an absurdity is escalated when it comes to preaching the gospel. To declare the wonders and riches of God's truth to both believers and unbelievers without exhorting them to decide rightly for it is an inexcusable irony and a perversion of preaching. Preacher, read and heed his words if you truly desire to be the living mouthpiece of the Divine Exhorter. --Jim Shaddix, W. A. Criswell Professor of Expository Preaching, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary In the 2,000 year history of Christian instruction on preaching, there has been a shift in focus; a significant shift away from exhortation and toward application. The latter is essential of course, but so is the former! I've come to believe that everything we say in a sermon can fall broadly under the categories of explanation and exhortation. We say what the text says through explanation, illustration, and argumentation; we encourage people to respond with exhortation and application. My thinking on this has been shaped by conversations with Josh. And, I'm grateful. --Steven Smith, pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, AR, and professor of preaching and pastoral ministry, senior preaching fellow, Spurgeon Library, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary If you were trained as a preacher--as I was--to develop your sermon text by means of the classic tripartite division of explanation, illustration, and application, then you need to have your education in homiletics developed--as I did--by reading this book. Josh Smith will persuade you that biblical preaching requires exhortation to be added to that homiletical triad. --Donald S. Whitney, professor of biblical spirituality, associate dean, School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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Josh Smith is senior pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, GA.

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