Advice for young ministers: teach verse-by-verse through whole books rather than purely topical studies

Verse-by-verse study of whole books forces the preacher to deal with what the text actually says; topical preaching is easier to do poorly because proof-texted verses can be assembled into a talk without real engagement with context. Teaching a book forces you to confront contradictions with your theology. Mike's first serious teaching was Galatians — reading commentaries, extensive study — and it grounded him in the gospel and in Old/New Testament relationship. Galatians is highly recommended as a starting point.