Written specifically with the busy preacher in mind, Preaching Romans offers a discussion on the central issues of Romans to help preachers develop sermons their congregations need to hear in order to understand, appreciate, and commit themselves to the gospel for which Paul gave his life. While much of Romans is controversial and invites scholarly analysis, Bruce Shields maintains that the purpose of the word is not fulfilled until the people for whom God intended it hear it. Shields begins his discussion with Paul's understanding of preaching.
Shields' treatment of Paul's letter to the believers in Roam is that of looking through a window at how Paul approaches an early Christian Community for the Purpose of developing a good relationship to help advance his missionary journey westward to Spain and of helping them to deal with specific issues of how Christian should live in relation to one another and to the larger community. He looks at the historical setting of the letter and its sermonic from which Shields refers to as "gospel logic."
Shields provides exegetical help for preaching from singular passages of Romans dealing with particular issues, on texts for a series of issues-related sermons, and for a course of sermons through the book to communicate the whole gospel message as preached and taught by the apostle. He includes sample sermons on seven Romans texts and remarks on the importance of Romans for today.
