Arturo Azurdia's book, Spirit Empowered Preaching, is one that you can tell is written by one that is both learned and learning this thesis that he has set forth. This I find to be something I enjoyed as I read. I have mixed feelings on the book, as I did like the information put forth, but felt as something was missing and yet I am not sure what it was.
What Dr. Azurdia's book is centered around is really the operation of the Spirit in the life of the pastor and in the Spirit's role when pointing to Christ. Dr. Azurdia shows this in many ways, whether it is through the prayer of the preacher to preaching Christ in the Old Testament. One of my favorite aspects of the book is the continual reliance on quotes from other notable pastors and their thoughts on the different subjects that were brought up.
In the end, I think the reason that I felt like it came up a little short is because I believe that Dr. Azurdia tried to cover too much, so when the reader was done with the book it is like getting nailed with a fire hose. I might just think that it came up short because it was more theology than practice, so I was waiting for Dr. Azurdia to say, "here is what I do." But, it didn't come to that. I could also be taking this from too much of an elementary look at this book and not at a book where its intent is not application or orthopraxy but merely orthodoxy. Nevertheless, I believe the strongest part of the book was when he set forth the ministry of the Spirit and why He is here for us. I strongly encourage reading the book for that alone. Either way, I felt like the book could have really used some practical thoughts on the subjects set forth.
There are some great reminders in the book, and it isn't that I wouldn't recommend the book, but I just found myself ready for more, but it never came. I strongly recommend to listen to Dr. Azurdia's preaching because the application of this book is found in his preaching, I just wish he could have put that down in words. If one wants a great practical book on this same matter I would encourage one to take a look at "Preaching that Changes Lives."
Don't skip this book on this review though, pick it up and glean from this great pastor, his thoughts on preaching and the Spirit, and you will definitely get great things out of it. Recommended. Link to Buy
