An Interview with Dr. Dennis Johnson on the Nature and Role of Preaching

When the apostle Peter preached his sermon during the feast of Pentecost, some three thousand souls were saved and added to the church. It is amazing to consider, however, that most of those pilgrims had likely already arrived at Jerusalem to witness the historical crucifixion of Christ during Passover. None had understood the significance of the cross through their eyes. But when the gospel was explained and proclaimed through the Spirit of the resurrected Christ, this same audience was cut to the heart, repentant, converted—the gospel is indeed the power of God unto salvation. Even as God once created the world through his word, the rest of the narrative in the book of Acts demonstrates that He creates the church through his word as well, the growth of the church being marked by the phrase "the word of God grew" (see Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20). Peter himself would later write that Christians are given birth through the incorruptible seed of the word of God, adding the admonishment that we should, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of this word that we might grow thereby (1 Pet. 1:23-2:3). In other words, spiritual birth and maturity both require the word of God.

These reflections underscore the primacy of preaching as the "chief means" of grace in the life of the church, and help to explain why the Ligonier Academy Doctor of Ministry program includes a course on Preaching, even for seasoned pastors. Dr. Dennis E. Johnson, Professor of Practical Theology for Westminster Seminary in California, recently visited us here in central Florida to teach this intensive week-long course on preaching for our D.Min. program. Dr. Johnson and I had the opportunity to discuss the nature and role of preaching in the studio, and we offer that interview to you here.