Books on Preaching

About 10 years I determined to do an intense study on homiletics. Up to that point, I had not devoted myself to the study of sermon delivery and preparation and no one was surprised when I told them. I picked up a few recommended books and then would seek out the books that these authors mentioned or recommended and on and on I went on this bibliophile rabbit trail. I read and studied many books on preaching and homiletics that first year and realized that the study of the art of preaching and homiletics would be a lifetime pursuit. Ever sense, I am constantly reading books on preaching, public speaking, and writing. Some of the best thoughts I have found on homeltics have been in books on writing. There are many similarities to writing and preaching and preachers ought to write.

All that to say this; I'm constantly reading books about preaching. Instead of doing full reviews on these books, I thought I might, every now and again, give a quick shout out to some of the books I’ve read. I’ll begin this little foray of book summary merriment by letting you in on the books I’ve read on the subject thus far 2014, duds and all.

Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson. If you do not preach expositional sermons or are unsure if that is the way to go, I commend this book. If you are on the fence and want some encouragement to get off on the side of a long line of godly preachers who were also expositors, pick up the short book and be encouraged.

Saying it Well by Chuck Swindoll. I had a boss in Kentucky who listened to Christian radio all day in the shop and heard Insight for Living every weekday for three years. Swidoll could capture and keep your attention as a communicator. I found this book in the bargain rack and it was worth the $3 I spent. It is mostly an autobiography and while that was interesting enough, it was lacking in the "saying it well"department, though I did pick up a few tips. 

Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists by Cornelius Plantinga. The bad thing about book recommendations is that sinners recommend them. I wish I could remember who recommended this to me. There were some good suggestions and nice thoughts, such as " Where else in life does a person have to stand weekly before a mixed audience and speak to them engagingly on the mightiest topics known to humankind — God, life, death, sin, grace, love, hatred, hope, despair, and the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Who is even close to being adequate for this challenge?" Nice. But, in the preface he also says "Christian preachers today are both men and women; accordingly I will alternate by chapter in my use of masculine and feminine pronouns for preachers."

Falling flat on your face in a race is bad. Falling flat walking to the starting line is worse. I may have enjoyed chapter one more if I hadn't been thinking the whole time "is he really going to say she/her in chapter two?" Then when I read about the 'pastor and her study' and it was more than I could bear.

Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers by James C. Hunt. On the front cover of my edition, there is a recommendation from MSNBC's Chris Matthews. My expectations were very low, to say the least. But I had just read about women pastors, so even Chris Matthews couldn't dampen the Newell spirit at this point. In all seriousness, I really enjoyed this one. There were some chapters that would have no applicable information for the preacher, but there was a lot of insight into public speaking. I learned a lot about how great political orators put so much time in crafting their presentation with the purpose of influencing people. I learned a lot about what I NEVER want to do as a preacher as some of the techniques were manipulative and dishonest (manipulative and dishonest politicians? SHOCKED! Shocked, I say!). There were a few useful hints about writing an outline or preaching from a manuscript. The illustrations were both numerous and entertaining. Fun read and I'm glad I picked it up.

On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons by John Broadus. I try to read this one every couple years. Each time I read it, I pick up something new. This time, I was reading the annotations I made in the margin last time I read it and that was fun. Last time, I disagreed with Broadus on a point he made, and as I read it through this time, I found myself agreeing with Broadus but now disagreeing with my own annotations. Good times.