I just finished reading the book “Why Johnny Can’t Preach” which is about what has happened to preaching over the last 50 years. The main point the author makes is that most preachers don’t have the sensibilities to appreciate art and therefore do not preach mentally stimulating messages that challenge and encourage.

One thing I never understood about seminary is why they didn’t make Aristotle’s book on Rhetoric a required reading in the 1st semester. Seminaries often assume that their students have already read plenty of good classical literature. However, in my case, I had an undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems and didn’t spend much time if any reading the classics.

The best or most thought provoking books I had read prior to seminary included: The Knowledge of the Holy, Screwtape Letters, and the Pursuit of God. Also having read much of the Bible helped. I’m so thankful for the reading I had done and I think it just goes to show that if we are faithful with a little we will be blessed and rewarded for that. I had not read very many of the classics prior to seminary if any but I would say the few that I had read made a difference. Although, one can easily from my blog that I have a lot of work to do and am not even close to where I will be.

Therefore, I agree with the author, many preachers today don’t have the sensibilities to appreciate the greater arts. This leads preachers to preach boring sermons based more on emotional mechanisms (guilt, shame, not being good enough) rather than the awe inspiring Christ.

I read this book in less than an hour. I encourage those who are interested in preaching to have a gander.