As a preacher to a divided church, I had much to gain from Preaching to a Divided Nation. The past few years have exposed cracks and divisions in the church that we didn’t know we had.
Matthew Kim and Paul Hoffman take those divisions straight on by addressing them in the pulpit. The best part of the book is their practical advice. They are practical to the extent that they suggest you prepare a manuscript if you are preaching on a divisive topic so you can get every word right. They give several exercises pre-sermon, mid-sermon, and post-sermon to help the preacher be clear and stay helpful on divisive topics.
Their emphasis on the gospel and on the discipleship of the congregation was refreshing. The reality of the challenge, though, is overwhelming. “We must resist Cable News Discipleship. I learned that the average Christian spends an hour or two a week under the teaching of their local church but as many as thirteen hours a day consuming other forms of media: listening to podcasts, scrolling through Twitter, or watching cable news.” (Kindle location 3323)