Best "How To Preach" Resources

I think the best "How To Preach" improvement resource is your wife.

Gao Lu said:

I think the best "How To Preach" improvement resource is your wife.

For my ministry context, I've found value in Tim Keller's Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism

Michael Kinch said:

I want to improve my preaching skills.  What do you suggest as the best resources in Logos to learn how to preach or to improve your preaching skills?

It is written as a novel with a "master preacher" helping three younger preacher who are either just beginning to preach and/or tired of preaching and want to be revitalized. As the story unfolds, you find yourself becoming one of the students learning or relearning to focus on such things as context, history, illustration, etc., in a way that makes sermon preparation less of a task to be endured, but rather, looked forward to, because of the new focus. In the end, the older master allows/mentors one of the three to become the next sermon doctor. Who knows, you might be a sermon doctor yourself. I reread this book at least every other year. It takes about 3-4 hours to read (if you can read it straight through), I usually took a chapter a week and tried very hard to implement that sermon preparation principle into practice before moving on. I hope you can enjoy and learn from this very practical book on preaching.

It is available through Amazon at https://smile.amazon.com/Sermon-Doctor-Prescriptions-Successful-Preaching/dp/0595147860/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507649686&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Sermon+Doctor

Haddon Robinson's text is a great starting point - https://www.logos.com/product/41923/haddon-robinson-preaching-collection

I don't have this particular volume, but if it is a revision of Kaiser's "Toward an Exegetical Theology". I would highly recommend https://www.logos.com/product/5352/the-majesty-of-god-in-the-old-testament-a-guide-for-preaching-and-teaching

This would round out my trilogy.https://www.logos.com/product/39263/preaching-and-teaching-with-imagination-the-quest-for-biblical-ministry  

Yes, preaching is a form of public speaking (in that manner the toastmasters recommendation is valid), but if one's theology views preaching as distinct from other forms of communication (because of authoritative content and partnership with the Holy Spirit in accomplishing the purpose for which the Word was written). It may be helpful to view preaching as a craft that is closely related, yet distinct from public speaking as practiced in other forums.

I do not intend any disrespect to the Toastmasters recommendation (I personally have competed and won trophies in oratorical contests). But personally, I view preaching God's Word as a sacred task with unique requirements. I just offer this as another viewpoint for the original post to consider.

Kevin A. Purcell said:

I would agree. Also Haddon Robinson's Biblical Preaching, which is written by Bryan's mentor and teacher as well as mine. On a personal note, sadly Haddon just passed away recently. His text is still the gold standard for expository preaching.

In addition to Chapell's book, you can get his course by the same name. I'm going through it and plan to recommend it if it maintains the excellent quality it has so far.

 I’ve been watching some of Robinson’s videos and he’s a very humble expositor and funny too.   The kind of jokes only preachers understand ha ha 

QUESTION Kevin:

 I own Chapelle‘s book, do you think I need the course or would reading the book be sufficient?  After all his course is 50% off right now but then again it’s still $314 bucks and some change.

Come New Year’s  i’ll be teaching homiletics so Chapell‘s book will be the one I’ll be using. But  I was just wondering if his course would be better.

 Thanks for any feedback!

DAL

Ps. Anyone else familiar with the course feel free to throw in your 2 cents 👍😁👌 Thanks!

Kevin A. Purcell said:

I think the course is a great resource. I am one of those people who often needs repetition to get the best instruction. Reading the book is a great tool, but he course adds to that. I’d recommend it for a Homiletics professor. I’m not sure what Logos would say about you showing clips from it it your students, but if you could get permission or clarify that issue with them, there are plenty of things that I would show a class if I were still teaching a homiletics course and I knew I could legally. If nothing else, it’s a great resource to help guide you in teaching his book.

If you are th kind of person who reads and absorbs then the book alone might be good enough.

I agree with Kevin. Apart from the last few units of CM152, I don't think there's any additional information in the course, but it's presented in a different manner that you may find easier to process and remember.

Thanks Kevin, Mark and LMAM.

The book is easy to understand, so I think I’ll save my money.   I have Haddon Robinson’s book in Spanish and it comes with a workbook, so I’ll use that one along with some ideas from Chapell‘s book.

Thanks!

DAL