Top 5 Books on Preaching: Recently I taught a course on preaching to a number of Bible Seminary students. In the process of teaching this course, I recommended several preaching books to them so that they could build a collection of preaching books for their library.
I have been preaching for twenty-five years or so and I have studied preaching at under-graduate level and post-graduate levels. However, my greatest learning curve has come from the practice of preaching – putting into practice what I have learned.
I have not read every book on preaching but I have read several good books that have help me to be a better preacher. The top 5 books on preaching below are the books that I consider to be most helpful for budding preachers.
1. Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell
If you are starting out in preaching and if you want to learn how to structure preaching sermons, this preaching book is for you. There are several key insights in this book but two that stand out are FCF (Fallen Condition Focus) and TML (Traditional Mechanical Layout).
2. How To Preach Without Notes by Charles W. Koller
This is another excellent preaching book for those who are starting out in preaching. This book will help you understand how to structure your preaching sermons so that you can preach without notes. There are several key insights but two that stand out are TKW (The Key Word) and SCS (Structural Components of the Sermon).
3. How To Prepare Bible Messages by James Braga
This preaching book focuses on two subjects – the principal types of biblical sermons and the mechanics of sermon structure. If you want to know the different types of biblical sermons (topical, textural and expository) and how they are constructed, this book will certainly give you the necessary insights.
4. Biblical Preaching – The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages by Haddon W. Robinson
Haddon W. Robinson is one of the best authorities on biblical preaching. I have read his books and sat under his teaching and he has much to offer budding preachers. This book will help you understand how to find and develop the big idea. This book will help you understand the differences between, deductive development, inductive development, inductive-deductive development and subject-completed development.
5. The Homiletical Plot – The Sermon As Narrative Art Form by Eugene L. Lowry
This preaching book will show you how to develop and preach inductive sermons using Lowry’s Loop. There are five stages to Lowry’s Loop. He explains these stages fully in his book.
Concluding Comments: The reason I consider these the top 5 books on preaching is because these books help you understand how to structure sermons so that you can deliver them effectively to your congregations.
Top 5 Books on Preaching
Braga James, 1981, How To Prepare Bible Messages, Multnomah Press, Portland, Oregon.
Chapell Bryan, 1994, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Lowry Eugene L, 2001, The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form, Westiminster John Know Press, Louisville, Kentucky.
Robinson Haddon W, 2001, Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages Baker Academic, Grand Rapids Michigan.
Koller Charles W, 1995, How To Preach Without Notes, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids Michigan.