3 MINUTE READ

From Luke’s Journal May 2025 | Vol. 30 No. 1 | MIMBY

Buffet dining requires a delicate balance of ambition, prudence, judgement and dexterity: loading a dish with just the right amount of flavour and variety without overwhelming either the physical limitations of the plate or the reasonable ingestion capacity of one’s own stomach. Similarly, writing a book as sweeping and varied as Topical Preaching in a Complex World was a bold undertaking, yet the authors have somehow managed to manoeuvre it all on to one plate for a very satisfying culinary result.

The book opens with a defence of topical preaching: the authors evidently anticipated a degree of scepticism from a readership who hold expository preaching to be the only acceptable approach. This presupposition might catch the reader by surprise if they come from a church tradition in which topical preaching is widely practised but it’s an interesting explanation all the same, and swiftly transitions into the main body of the book.

The richest parts of this book are found in the presentation of contrasts. The chapters alternate between the two authors who use their differing voices and distinct cultural backgrounds to highlight the importance of culture, worldview and the ‘interpretive lens.’ Sam Chan draws upon his finely-honed skills as a cross-cultural communicator and evangelist, pulling from the well of his own Anglo-Asian heritage, to give mischievously funny yet penetratingly clear examples of how culture and context impact upon communication and comprehension. Malcolm Gill plays with a straighter bat but is no less effective in conveying the importance of knowing and connecting with your audience, believers and nonbelievers alike.

“Although the book is nominally focused on topical preaching much of the content is applicable to preaching of any style or method…”

Although the book is nominally focused on topical preaching much of the content is applicable to preaching of any style or method, given the emphasis on ensuring faithful and contextualised communication of the Gospel in every situation. The book includes some simplified overviews of preaching paradigms and approaches, along with an assortment of practical tips about sermon structure and delivery style. Some of these are timeless truisms while others speak to our peculiar cultural moment, including hard-won practical lessons on how to preach effectively to a video-camera for an online audience.

Anyone familiar with Chan’s preaching or writing will know what to expect of this book: a clear evangelical voice seasoned by relatable humour, reflecting a rare and intimate understanding of how to broach a cultural divide and ensure that Christ is preached effectively no matter the audience.

Gill may be less familiar but his chapters sit credibly alongside and are no less impactful. The composite authorship and the breadth of content risks a sense of disjointedness or overreach, but the resulting compendium is easily navigated and will serve as a useful resource to which I know I will return. The book is of value to preachers of all levels of experience and will be well worth revisiting.

Topical Preaching in a Complex World.
by Sam Chan and Malcolm Gill
ISBN: 031010887X
Zondervan Academic, February 2022

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