Preaching with Biblical Motivation: How to Incorporate the Motivation Found in the Inspired Preaching of the Apostles Into Your

“I am excited about this study! Here are a few of the reasons. First, a student listened to something I said and picked a significant study. Second, it is a sound exegetical work that is clear, is well written, and does not tire the reader with unnecessary verbiage. Third, it is an excellent example of useful academic work that must not stay on the shelves of libraries, collecting dust. Fourth, it is saying something new, fresh, and needed. Fifth, it is significant for the church and not just the ivory tower of graduate school. Sixth, it helps preachers and preaching. Seventh, and most significant, it is God-centered and God-honoring. It sounds trite, but it is true: every preacher must interact with this books position. May God use it to help revive preaching so that the needed revival and reformation of the family, church, and state may become a reality before I die and go to glory.”

“Finallya book that builds its understanding of motivation in preaching squarely on the sermons found in the Bible itself! Dr.Heiple shows in detail how the apostles Peter and Paul sought to motivate their audiences, and how preachers today can follow in their inspired footsteps. Heiples work evidences careful scholarship, is very enlightening, and is deeply convicting. A much-needed antidote to emotion-heavy but truth-light preaching.”

“The modern church has been awash with various motivational theories, each claiming to hold the golden key to effective preaching. Dr. Heiple subjects them to insightful critique, and then offers a helpful explanation of human motivation informed by the Bible and Reformed theology. May the Lord use this book to encourage and equip preachers through whom he fulfills his promise to the church, And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free ( John8:32).”

“In Biblical Motivation: How Preaching Should Motivate according to the Word of God, Pastor Ray Heiple works to give his fellow pastors a kindly, firm rebuke. After examining scholarly views concerning the nature of motivation, Heiple provides representative quotes showing how preachers today place their faith in various motivational schemes, rather than Gods truth. The core of Heiples book is a careful analysis of five sermons in Acts, each demonstrating that apostolic preaching motivated listeners by declaring the truth. When I first started this book, I wondered whether it would develop into a typical Reformed harangue against the emotions. Not at all. Heiple never denigrates the emotions. Rather, he relegates them to their proper biblical place. The biblical preachers ... do not shy away from expressing passion and emotion, but all of their effort is concentrated on the truth and certainty of their message. We are not to work to elicit feelings about the truth, but to appeal to the truth, directly. The apostles never called for any emotions other than the fear ofGod. This book was helpful, and I commend it to other preachers. It got me to think carefully about whether my preaching is more dependent on my own ability to communicate than the truth of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.”