It is sadly true that not every book does what it says on the cover. You can’t say that about Steven Lawson’s ‘Famine in the Land’ which is subtitled ‘A passionate call for expository preaching’ - and it is exactly that - passionate. Based on previously published articles, Lawson sets out to “fortify the allegiance of all who proclaim the Word…..to rally all who are in the trenches faithfully preaching and teaching the Scripture…..to encourage those in the pew who love the faithful preaching of God’s Word, challenging them to support those who feed them a steady diet of the Scripture.”

I especially liked Lawson’s approach in setting out his stall. The chapters are actually expositions of Scripture “modeling what they call for, namely a God-centered message extracted from a biblical text.” Not all written exposition read well but these four certainly do, and the strength of this approach is that, as in faithful preaching, the authority for what Lawson is calling for is clearly rooted in Scripture itself for all he does is draw out what God himself says on the subject.

After an introductory chapter in which he identifies the current drought in the land, he then examines four biblical passages to show that the famine resulting from the drought is best remedied by a return to clear and bold expository preaching such as demonstrated in God’s Word.

1. The Priority of Biblical Preaching is based on New Testament examples and especially the practice of the apostles and the early church in Acts 2:42-47. Lawson clearly demonstrates that expository ministry was central to the life and practice of the early church, they themselves following the example of Jesus. He draws out the centrality and authority of the preached word but also the impact on the church and the response to that ministry. “….this ‘evangelism explosion’ was the result of their teaching, not the stated purpose of it. They gathered for edification; they scattered for evangelism……When this priority becomes reversed and the church meets primarily to save the lost, the apostles’ teaching soon becomes compromised and diluted.”

2. The Power of Biblical Preaching centers on the ministry of Jonah. Lawson stresses the need for a clear and personal call of God on the life of the man who would be a preacher and then characterises Jonah’s ministry as courageous, compelling, confrontational and compassionate and asks “Where are such men today who will preach the Word as did Jonah?” Lawson also highlights the effects of such faithful preaching as seen in the Ninevites and pleads for a renewed confidence in the preached Word as the God-ordained means of bringing sinners to salvation.

3. The Pattern of Biblical Preaching is an exposition of Nehemiah 8:1-8 and the example of Ezra as given in Ezra 7:10. I personally found Lawson’s handling of this one verse powerfully searching and humbling as he stressed Ezra’s ‘preparation in the word’ and ‘personalisation of the Word’ ever before he began the ‘proclamation of the Word’. “The one who brings the Word must bow first before the Word and fully keep it. Selective obedience is no obedience. Partial obedience is nothing more than disguised disobedience. To be compelling in the pulpit, preachers must be complete in obedience. Thus, Ezra was given to an obedience that was personal, prompt, passionate, and plenary. Biblical expositors today must follow in the pursuit of personal holiness.

4. The Passion of Biblical Preaching unpacks and forcefully applies 1 Timothy 4:13-16 and Lawson opens with a call from John MacArthur that was influential in his own life - “Now is the time for the strongest men to preach the strongest message in the context of the strongest ministry.” The ministry of the Word demands an all-consuming approach, says the author and must have unchallenged priority in the attention of the pastor. “Biblical preaching is as much perspiration as it is inspiration. Biblical preaching is like giving birth to a baby every week or sometimes, twice or three times a week, given that great pain is associated with the delivery of both. The demands of preaching is much like a graduate student living in final exam week - every week. The rigors of exposition drain the entire man - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

Lawson is clearly a man who practices what he preaches. This marvelous volume is not only a call to passionate expository preaching - it is also a great lesson in the art. It is brimming over with rich word pictures as he exegetes texts and brings them alive. The clear and memorable outlining and structure is exemplary and totally faithful to the passages he is dealing with. If you are feeling a bit battered and discouraged in the work - this is the book for you. If you are tempted to ‘bottle out’ because other methods appear to deliver bigger and better results - and quicker - this is the book for you. If you want Biblical foundations for the expository approach to preaching - this is the book for you. In fact - if you are a preacher or a lover of God’s Word - this is the book for you.