The Heart of Preaching

Foreword

(wrote the foreword)

D. A. Carson

“I know many people whose minds were expanded and whose hearts were thrilled as they heard Mike Bullmore teach about the functional centrality of the gospel. That very teaching is at the heart of Mike’s life, ministry, preaching, and, of course, his book. It proves the ideal foundation for this book and all the wisdom it teaches. I can gladly recommend that The Heart of Preaching take its spot in every pastor’s library.”

Tim Challies

“Too often, the gospel becomes an accessory in our preaching—something added rather than something essential. In this new volume, Mike Bullmore calls pastors back to what we all too easily forget: The gospel must be the very center of our preaching ministry. This wonderful work reminds us that the gospel sustains, shapes, and powers every sermon we preach. I heartily commend this book to every pastor who longs to keep the good news central in the lives of his people.”

Sean DeMars

“In The Heart of Preaching , Mike Bullmore gives the church a much-needed reminder that faithful preaching begins with a faithful preacher. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by the gospel, this book offers clarity on expositional preaching, practical guidance for the task, and wise counsel for the long haul of ministry. Bullmore’s warmth, honesty, and pastoral insight make this a resource that will strengthen preachers, their preaching, and the church itself. Every pastor will benefit from its encouragement, instruction, and gospel-centered vision.”

Tony Merida

“Whenever I’m asked which pastors have had the most profound influence on my ministry, one man immediately comes to mind. Through Mike Bullmore, God fanned into flame a passion in me to preach and shepherd his people in a way that is grounded in and shaped by the functional centrality of the gospel. Mike’s clarity, faithfulness, and determination to “aspire to excellence without making praise for that excellence the goal of [his] aspiration” are the reasons so many of us who have experienced his mentorship long to follow in his footsteps. I am delighted that a new generation of pastoral leaders around the world will now be able to receive the wisdom we have treasured through the pages of this book.”

David Sunday

“The importance of this book on preaching lies in its essential and often-neglected focus, but the force of it lies in Pastor Mike’s decades of faithfulness in living out that focus and training many like myself to do the same. Expository preaching that extols the functional effects of the gospel of grace must come out of rigorously reinforced biblical convictions, and Pastor Mike has articulated those convictions in this book with fantastic clarity for our benefit. May the Spirit infuse this glorious discipline into each communicator of God’s word through this incredibly helpful resource.”

Adam Bailie

“What kind of book on preaching does an aspiring (or a mature) pastor need? Above all, he needs a book that grounds the task of preaching, the goal of preaching, and the hope of preaching, as well as the life of the preacher and the methodology for preaching, in a marveling grasp and a deeply insightful functional application of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ideally, such a book would provide discernment for the preaching task, guidance for the preaching process, and encouragement for the preaching life—and it would be written by a man whose integrity of life has modeled the truths contained therein for decades. That’s the book that is before you, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

Jeff T. Purswell

“I have heard thousands of good sermons and forgotten most, but I vividly recall a sermon Mike Bullmore preached in 2005 on the functional centrality of the gospel. It was a landmark sermon in my life, and I’m delighted to see its essence on the opening pages of The Heart of Preaching, a crisply written book that will bless seminary students and pastors alike. If you are a beginner at preaching, dive into this book and learn from a veteran pastor who can help you establish fruitful preparation and preaching habits worth keeping. If you are an experienced preacher, the wisdom on these pages will kindle afresh the gift of God within you and make you a better preacher of God’s word.”

Milton Vincent

“The Heart of Preaching is a gift for any preacher who feels as if he’s trying to cut down trees every week with a dull ax. Like his sermons, Mike’s iron-sharpening instruction in these pages—distilled from nearly two decades in the classroom and four in the pulpit—is marked by genuine insight, expressed in just the right words and the right number of points, and centered on the preacher’s only hope in life and death. Over the years, Mike has taught these lessons to hundreds of aspiring preachers, who have done their best to pass them on. Thanks to The Heart of Preaching, our job is now easier than ever.”

Jared Compton

“Mike Bullmore’s The Heart of Preaching should be standard reading for those who expound God’s word. His decades of faithful ministry, coupled with his shared commitment to train men to better handle God’s word, are things I have witnessed firsthand over many years. I am thrilled to commend this book to you.”

David R. Helm