Lewis Allen's newest book is a catechism written specifically for preachers. In the introduction he shares three convictions that led him to write the book:

"Conviction 1: The church needs preachers who last and thrive. Conviction 2: Preachers must understand how preaching works, and how their own souls work. Conviction 3: The Westminster Shorter Catechism is an outstanding resource for the heart needs of every preacher."

It is loosely structured on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Emphasis on loosely. It is in a question and answer format. The subject matter is similar. But it is 43 questions and NOT 107 questions. And it isn't just a light or slight rewording. It is a new catechism. The catechism is needed, Lewis believes, because preachers need reminders to minister to their own souls daily.

Here are a few of my favorite questions and answers:

1. Q. What is God’s chief end in preaching? A. God’s chief end in preaching is to glorify his name.

6. Q What is the preacher’s chief end? A. The chief end of the preacher is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

30. Q. What does the ninth commandment teach us? A. You shall not say anything untrue in your ministry.

42. Q. What’s the worst sin we might commit in a sermon? A. We preachers can be the greatest sinners by failing to proclaim God for who he is. So pray.

There is an explanation or commentary for each question and answer. The commentaries provide clarity and context. Without the commentary, the questions and answers would be a little lacking in helpfulness. I liked the questions and answers--I did. But I loved the commentary.

I would recommend this book. It is a substantive read with a lot of food for thought.

One of my favorite quotes: "Our first calling is not to preach him but to love him and to walk with him. In the words of Samuel Rutherford, “Look up to Him and love Him! O love, and live.”"

I am grateful to netgalley.com and Crossway for an advance review copy of this book. This is a great little book covering some 200 odd pages and sets out for preachers the questions which they ought to be asking themselves week by week as they preach.

This book follows the traditional style of catechism with a question and answer. The questions themselves are largely taken from the Westminster Shorter Catechism with the answers and sometimes the questions slightly altered to reflect that this book is primarily written for preachers.

There are 43 questions in the book split into four sections and each chapter would take maybe five minutes to read but those five minutes do pack quite a punch. I have been preaching now for around 10 years and each of the questions spoke to me and challenged me. Who am I preaching for? Who do I want people to see? Me or God? Do I sometimes use the pulpit? Do I sometimes abuse the pulpit?

The most helpful thing in all of this book was for me the emphasis first and foremost the preacher himself must know God and must remember that he is loved by God regardless of the sermon that he has just preached. He must remember that the sermons he preaches however good or bad make him no less or no more loved in the eyes of God than if he weren't a preacher at all.

One slight issue I did have with the book came towards the end of the book when the author talked about the supper and how often we come to the LORD's table at the end of the service when people are full of the word. Whilst I can see the point that he is making my understanding would be that we come to the sacrament through the word, the sacrament without the word has no meaning and would just be an empty symbol. That however is nit picking in an otherwise excellent book.

Who would benefit from reading this book? Young ministers who are perhaps setting out on the journey to give them a realistic expectation of what ministry will be like. Slightly older ministers who have been preaching for a while and are perhaps becoming weighed down by the day to day of sermon prep. Even ordinary church members in the pew week by week will get something out of reading this book.

Whilst I read this book over one or two sittings I think the book would be better enjoyed perhaps once a week with time to mull over and think about the things the author says.