Saving Eutychus—Millar & Campbell

INTRODUCTION

Preaching should change lives—not induce sleep. Yet, the latter happens far too often. Snoozing during the preacher’s monotone soliloquies is usually not lethal. However, the Act’s 20 narrative reveals one occasion of a sleep-induced death by preaching. Young Eutychus is slain by the drone of Paul’s late-night message. Was Paul really that boring? If he was, what does that mean for my preaching? Surly, the blame for “killing” the young man precariously perched on the windowsill cannot rest exclusively on Paul’s preaching that night. Whether the fault of the preacher or not, every minister since Acts 20 has caught bobbing heads in his audience, if not outright snoring. Some congregants do not get enough sleep or plainly do not care about the sermon. Nevertheless, preaching that saves lives must not be boring.

Gary Millar and Phil Campbell team up to resource-improved exposition in their book Saving Eutychus. The authors recognize that the potency of preaching is not the rhetorical abilities of the preacher but the power of the Word of God. From this foundational conviction, they encourage preaching that applies “what the text actually says” while doing “best to keep [the listener] fresh and alert so he can hear the truth of the gospel and be saved (19). A focus on engaging preaching is not novel. However, Saving Eutychus’ deep conviction and insights for engaging expository preaching that is faithful to the text uniquely emphasize the perfect marriage of the two.

The potency of preaching is not the rhetorical abilities of the preacher but the power of the Word of God.

PRACTICAL COUNSEL FOR PREACHERS

Building on many years of ministry experience, Millar and Campbell are strikingly practical. Saving Eutychus is less a manual on preaching and more a book of sage advice for exposition that delivers. Millar begins with a chapter explaining that preaching that grips the heart first and foremost must be bathed in prayer. Chapter one is a beneficial look at the place of prayer for the preacher’s health, the church’s life, and the moment of exposition. The author states, “God doesn’t use people because they are gifted. He uses people (even preachers) because he is gracious. If we believe that, then we will pray” (25). Apart from God’s work, all skillful sermon rhetoric is vanity.

Additionally, the two-author dialogue style in the book is engaging and effective. Readers will enjoy the witty humor between Millar and Campbell. The authors’ dialogue has the same energy as the skillful exchange of a two-person podcast. From the title to the closing chapter, this book is enjoyable. Saving Eutychus delivers a memorable and intensely practical refresher for those who handle the Word of God weekly.

INSIGHTS FOR ENGAGING PREACHING

Another contribution of Saving Eutychus is the authors’ list-form suggestions for engaging preaching in chapters three and five. In chapter three, Campbell lists ten tips for preventing exposition from being “deadly, dull, and boring” (47). Each insight for compelling preaching contains practical advice for improvement. For example, he advocates that a message is improved by what you leave out—aim towards a shorter, more focused message. He gives a suggested sermon time length and then recommends stopping “before the listeners stop listening” (55). Campbell’s ten tips for preaching clarity also address the message’s big idea, shorter words and shorter sentences, repetition, and manuscripts written for speaking. Campbell pushes back on the idea that a deliberate moderate speaking pace is ideal. He acknowledges that a slower pace may be natural for one preacher but not another. The author sees no problem with faster preaching. However, he cautions that too many “ideas per minute” is far more dangerous than too many words. People need time to process ideas. The goal should be preaching at a pace natural to one’s personality.

Stop before the listeners stop listening.

In chapter five, Millar provides a second noteworthy list on preaching Christ from the Old Testament. With the widespread and growing conviction for Christ-centered preaching, Millar resources expositors with suggestions for preaching the Old Testament using a biblical-theological approach. This practical list encourages approaching Christ-centered preaching by unfolding where each text fits in the plan of redemptive history. Another method he shares is to determine how the text exposes the problem of sin, in which Christ provides the answer. Millar’s fourth suggestion on the list is to consider highlighting “the (divine) attribute” (98). By explaining how God is both “willing and able to handle [our] problems” when we mess up, the character of God can be easily connected to the ultimate illustration of His divine perfections in redemption—in Christ (99). He ends the list by explaining how to preach Christ by “describing the ideal human character” and how Jesus “satisfies the longings” of the Old Testament (101-102). Millar is not the only one to suggest a multifaceted approach to Christ-centered preaching. However, I found his list understandable and actionable.

CRITIQUES AND CONCLUSION

I found Saving Eutychus extremely readable, practical, and enjoyable. My critiques of Millar and Campbell’s works are few. Before reading their book, I was unfamiliar with both authors. When I finished the book, it was obvious that these two men were articulate, experienced, and intentional in their homiletic approach. Their contribution to the narrow subject they chose was profoundly enjoyable. Saving Eutychus does not directly address the exegetical process, outline development, or big idea discovery. I would be delighted if the authors would follow up this book with another volume addressing the sermon development process.

Also, I found the dynamic delivery diagram unhelpful. Indeed, the variance of tone, speed, and volume is essential. However, this diagram communicates a potentially harmful emphasis on variance that, if relied on heavily, could lead to unnatural deliveries. If the diagram is included in the next edition, I would suggest warning readers to be watchful of applying variance unnaturally with a counterproductive result.

Critiques aside—and they are few, Millar and Campbell’s book Saving Eutychus impacted me. I found it engaging, fresh, and immensely practical. Without hesitation, I recommend this book to all growing expositors.