Many preachers steer clear of the Old Testament because they feel it is outdated in light of the New Testament and difficult to expound. On the other hand some preachers will preach from the Old Testament frequently but fail to handle it correctly, and end up preaching nothing but legalistic rules or symbolic lessons for our spiritual life. In this book, Christopher J. H. Wright encourages preachers not to ignore the Old Testament! It is the Word of God, it lays the foundation for our faith and it was the Bible that was read and used by Jesus. It is the first part of the great biblical story, from creation to new creation. And because it is the journey that leads to Christ, it is, in fact, part of our story too.
Looking first at why we should preach from the Old Testament, the author then moves on to showing the reader how to handle different kinds of literature in it. He guides us through the History, Law, Prophets, Psalms and Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. Interspersed with detailed checklists, suggested exercises and specimen sermons, this is a very practical handbook for anyone committed to authentic Biblical preaching.