Issue 13 Preaching across CulturesBlog | Books for Life
Books for Life
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 24.12.17
John Stott tells the story of a minister who boasted about his ability to prepare a sermon during the walk from his house to the church on the Sunday morning. The congregation decided to take action: they sold the manse and bought a new one quite a bit further away.
I think he got the message. I meet many people who wish their regular preachers would spend more time preparing their sermons. But I also meet others who would quite like their preachers to work a bit harder at their delivery.
It’s such a shame when you know someone has laboured so hard to understand a Bible passage, spent time thinking about its application in the lives of Christians, and yet the journey of the message from the mind and heart of the preacher to the minds and hearts of the listeners doesn’t quite work. It is surely better than those who only pay attention to the communication or who rely on natural communicative abilities, they are all show and no substance. But for many diligent and capable preachers the challenge is communication not commitment.
The four books I am recommending here are books that will challenge us all to take our communication to the next level. I don’t believe there is one perfect style of preaching for our times, so each one comes from a very different perspective. Yet even if, as you read these books, you don’t agree with their conclusions, merely wrestling with the questions they pose will help you become a better communicator.
