Top 5 Books on Preaching That Will Never Be Assigned
I was talking with a friend recently about all the great books on preaching that will never be assigned in a preaching class, or at least it wasn’t in any that we took.
From my own reading the last couple of years, here’s what I think are the top 5 books on preaching that will never be assigned in a class on preaching:
5. How Can The Bible Be Authoritative by N.T. Wright
Ok, my first one isn’t technically a book, although N.T. Wright did write a book specifically on this later, but I’m still a fan of this lecture personally. The way we approach the Bible in our messages teaches the people who listen to us how to approach the Bible. Many of us are missing the mark maybe not in how we read it, but in how we preach it, and are falling into one of Wright’s Authority Problems.
4. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont or On Writing by Stephen King
I’m having a hard time deciding between these two. They both are books about writing that have given me some great insight into preaching regularly. I read them both originally at the same time, so in some ways they both blur together for me. But, what I learned is that there is a lot of crossover between what it is to write regularly and what it is to speak regularly. There’s some great inspiration as well as great practical advice.
3. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
This book isn’t about speaking or communicating, but instead about creativity and the battle to release creativity. So much of what he talks about regarding “The Resistance” can easily be applied to crafting a message. I have a few books on my need to read every year list, and this has become one of them.
2. Communicating for Change by Andy Stanley
I’m honestly not sure why this one isn’t included more often at least in introductory courses to preaching. Maybe it’s because it’s a simple read, but it’s some great thoughts by one of the leading communicators in the church today. While he gets a little too systematic at times for me, I think he provides a really helpful framework in what makes an effective sermon.
1. Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
One of the best books written on why some messages resonate with people and others don’t. While it’s more directed towards marketing, it easily applies to what makes an effective sermon. Understanding the “Curse of Knowledge” alone makes this book worthwhile.
Those of you who regularly speak in front of audiences, what other books would you recommend that would probably never get assigned?
i just re-read that N.T. Wright article you gave me years ago. i just found it last week in my college stuff. that was a good discussion.
I'm a big fan of reading and knowledge and all that, but when it comes to preaching I try to avoid what everybody else is saying and doing. Not that I think I know all I need to know, but I think it's one area where I prefer to develop my own understanding and style, to discover for myself what works with my audience. There have been a couple times when I've jumped on the band-wagon of what somebody else says is a great way to preach or communicate and looking back from where I stand now I don't think they were very good ideas. I try to find out what my audience is thinking by talking to folks and doing the occasional survey and I like to listen to other speakers online or in person but it allows me to draw my own conclusions about how they communicate as opposed to them telling me what I should or shouldn't do. If I see something valuable, I use it. If I were brave enough I would listen to myself preach more and self-critique, but I almost never do.
i think the thing about most of these though is that other than stanley's book, they're not necessarily advocating a specific approach. made to stick uses research to display what makes one message more \”sticky\” than another. the books on writing talk about the discipline of forcing yourself to write.
i think that you're right, that it still takes a lot of hard work and your communication style needs to fit your personality and your context, but there's still ways to improve that from outside helps without it becoming about fitting into someone else's style.
next time you start a message with \”this is my bible…i am who it says i am…\” i promise i won't think you stole it from someone else…
Great post by the way and in spite of what I just said about avoiding books on communicating, I also just ordered Made to Stick from my library. What's the use of having a rule if you don't break it every now and then?
curious to hear what you think of it after you read it
I love that I actually have read 4 of those…you know because I'm such an awesome preacher :)
Not to protest your use of absolute language, but the Andy Stanley book was assigned to me in my infamous preaching class…so props to Bethel :)
foiled by absolutes again!