Review of REWIRING YOUR PREACHING by Richard H. Cox

Rating: 4 out of 5
 
Lately I’ve been really interested in what scientists have been discovering about the brain, and especially about neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to develop new neural pathways. This goes a long way in understanding how people change, specifically how people change in relation to principles and teachings that are communicated by God specifically to people. Richard H. Cox explores how the Christian sermon specifically impacts the human brain in his new book REWIRING YOUR PREACHING: HOW THE BRAIN PROCESSES SERMONS.
 
Cox both delves into the science and the theology behind behavioral change. What both discover is that a changing or renewing of the mind is the key to behavioral change. Basically, what the gospel does is transform people, and the job of the preacher is to communicate the life-changing message of the gospel in the best ways possible to help people embrace it and have their minds renewed or transformed.
 
Cox is careful to remind people who preach that God is ultimately the one who changes people, but preachers have a responsibility as carriers of the most important message to use the best communication methods possible. This means understanding how the brain processes Christian communication. Cox is committed to using the word sermons over messages, though I think this book applies to all sorts of Christian communication theory. One of the important concepts is communicating by opening up as many brain gateways as possible, which means appealing to as many of the five senses you can because it helps people retain what you’re communicating better.
 
REWIRING YOUR PREACHING contains some very important information for people who have been given the responsibility to communicate the life-changing message of the gospel.
 
Review copy provided by InterVarsity Press