Preaching Bundle, L (24 vols.)

The art of preaching is one of the most important acts of ministry. The sermon teaches, challenges, and convicts. This handbook will serve as an invaluable resource helping the pastor, minister, and preacher prepare and deliver effective sermons. The Handbook of Contemporary Preaching is perhaps the most encyclopedic text on preaching in any language. Michael Duduit has compiled the finest counsel from many of the acknowledged grand masters of the contemporary pulpit, including Calvin Miller, Joel Gregory, Stuart Briscoe, James Cox, Elizabeth Achtemeier, Thomas Long, James Earl Massey and many more.

My Favorite Illustrations is gleaned from over eighty volumes of Dr. Hobbs’ Studying Adult Life and Work Lessons. Ronald Brown has compiled these illustrations into many categories, including age, atonement, evangelism, family life, praise, thanksgiving, and work.

Hamilton offers a primer for those who are called to preach. It is intentionally simple in its explanation of the homiletical task and straightforward in getting to the point. Solid in its theology and biblical in its approach, students, ministers, and teachers will appreciate and welcome this text. Homiletical Handbook explains the subject in three parts: understanding the homiletical task; developing homiletical technique; and utilizing homiletical treasury.

Preachers are under the biblical mandate to preach with conviction, passion, and in a way that the Word of God engages the audience and grips their hearts. Preaching with Bold Assurance will equip preachers to do just that. York and Decker provide preachers with a practical tool to help them use their minds, mouths, and beings to communicate effectively. Preachers will learn the tools for powerful and effective communication based on biblical truth and proven concepts from the business world so they can preach boldly and skillfully. The authors present three elements for effective preaching: understand the text; build the sermon; and engage the audience.

Principle preaching, defined as preaching life-changing principle-based sermons, is the style of preaching that John Bisagno, recently retired pastor, has been using for nearly 50 years in ministry. Principle preaching takes biblical principles and infuses them into the narrative preached. As a result, the listener obtains life application principles they can put into practice in their daily life—immediately. Principle Preaching includes over 40 chapters featuring principle sermons from both Old and New Testament characters such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Mary and Joseph, Peter, Pilate, and Timothy.

The messages contained herein are richly illustrated and warmly spiritual in tone. Pastors and Sunday school teachers will find these sermons (originally preached in evangelistic campaigns) helpful for sermon preparation, and the layperson will find them well-suited for personal reading.

One of the great dangers that faces today’s preachers is the problem of an over intellectual approach. Careful, meditative, and painstaking exegesis brings a potential liability, that of losing the vitality, which must accompany exposition.

The Puritans called it “that certain unction;” Martyn Lloyd-Jones called it “an access of power;” others have called it “the anointing.” If you desire that your preaching be lifted up to a position in which you are being used by the Spirit as a channel, then Arturo Azurdia can help you.

The insights in this book are gained from Art’s careful study and practical experiences of being used by the Holy Spirit in his ministry. Art seeks a balance between the Holy Spirit and the Word. He proceeds to show the need for the unction and describes the work of the Holy Spirit in preaching, and impresses upon his readers the benefits of being Spirit-filled ministers. His main points are supported by the New Testament and by those people considered to be great evangelical preachers of the past. He shows that the empowering of the Holy Spirit is a sovereign work of God, and that the minister of the Word should be a person of constant prayer. His last chapter, “Pray me full” affirms this and is helpful to all ministers.

Two trends are to be avoided in preaching. On the one hand a subjectivism and entertainment orientation for the crutch of popularity; on the other, an intellectualism, a zimmer frame encouraging impressions of depth and thoughtfulness. We need guidance and help for our preaching that doesn’t send us skittering down the road of the latest fad adapted from the world.

Richard Baxter is regarded as one of the Christian church’s models of pastoral practice, many books have been written about his pastoral skills and methods to aid the modern pastor, but Baxter was also an effective preacher. It is one of the reasons why his ministry showed that spark of vitality that changed his surrounding community for the better.

Murray Capill set out to discover Baxter’s secret. From a thorough study of Baxter’s preaching ministry he has constructed a useful framework for us to follow. Not theoretical or historical in orientation, this volume seeks to inspire and assist pastors to greater preaching vitality.

The premise of this book is simple: preachers can improve their preaching significantly by strengthening specific skills used in the preparation of expository sermons. 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching concentrates on 12 tasks that are necessary to the most effective sermon preparation:

• Diagramming the text structure
• Noting the text details
• Asking research questions
• Naming the text idea
• Bridging from text to sermon
• Writing sermon divisions
• Balancing persuasive elements
• Exploring natural analogies
• Drawing pictures, telling stories
• Touching human experience
• Aiming for a faith response
• Planning the oral presentation

Recent seminary graduates and seasoned pastors alike will easily identify skills that need personal improvement, and McDill encourages readers to address those areas at their own pace and in whatever order they feel is best. Every chapter of this new edition is revised and updated; also included are immensely helpful worksheets and real sermon examples.

Live up to your God-given gospel-sharing potential with 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching.

In this concise and compelling handbook, Ryrie writes to Bible students and practicing pastors alike about the importance of communicating the doctrines of Scripture. He clearly explains why doctrinal truth from the Bible must be a key part of every preacher’s message. Using practical illustrations and applications, Ryrie offers helpful ways of embracing doctrine through the use of major Bible passages, systematic theology, biblical theology, concordances, and more.

Seasoned pastor and educator James Shaddix presents pastors and listeners with a philosophical and theological argument for encountering God’s voice with integrity. He gives special attention to theological subjects such as the nature of revelation, the role of persuasion, and the effectual work of God’s Word. Crucial areas Shaddix focuses on are the biblical foundation, philosophical framework, and practical implications for shaping individual listeners and congregations into the image of Jesus. He also addresses numerous neglected subjects such as the purpose of the Bible, the unique roles of the pastoral preacher and his listeners, and the responsibility of preaching and listening for community development. For Shaddix, the preaching event is not primarily about sermon-making, but about proclaiming the Word of God rightly so that He gets the glory.

McDill helps preachers discover how to make the maximum impact on their congregation from the pulpit, how to reach out to them with love and authority, and even how to fine tune the sermon “on the fly.” Using the unique method he has taught for over 20 years, McDill presents detailed steps for understanding how to read an audience by studying their faces and body language, how to respond to their subtle reactions, and get the sermon’s message across with power and confidence. His simple, yet specific techniques will help any preacher cultivate a dynamic, compelling preaching style that will penetrate and persuade even the toughest audience member. Theologically based and filled with practical applications, The Moment of Truth teaches preachers at every skill level how to make their special moment in the pulpit a profound moment of truth, turning people’s hearts to the glory of God.

Whether you have decades of preaching experience or just started your first course in homiletics, this guide can help you add power to your preaching by communicating your messages more clearly and effectively. Among the subjects Fasol addresses are: answers to the ten most commonly asked questions about sermon delivery; exercises to add depth to your preaching; and tools to help you evaluate your communication skills—everything you need to add power and conviction to your preaching.

In recent years a new buzzword has appeared on the church scene: Revitalization. Unlike marketing buzzwords this concept carries with it real substance and stands to make a lasting impact on the church. This idea, used specifically about the local congregation, carries with it the hope of renewed vigor; redirected purpose; restoration of healthy growth and the refreshments of the Holy Spirit over the entire life of the church.

It is Mike Ross’s premise that churches in need of revitalization need revitalized pulpits. The challenge is for Pastors to lead the revitalization of declining congregations through the primacy of the pulpit. Why?—because Church revitalization can never be maintained unless it is the product of a Biblical pulpit.

Mike perceptively examines historic and contemporary preaching and assesses which changes are necessary for church revitalization. He then proposes practical steps that can be taken to “rebirth” the local church through revitalized preaching.

In the years since the original publication of Steps to the Sermon in 1963, audiences have become more sophisticated, preachers have learned to adjust their styles to reach today’s media saturated mindset, and sermon styles have shifted from deductive to inductive. In view of these changes Steps to the Sermon has been revised to help preachers communicate to the present generation. It will also prove to be an effective tool for college and seminary level courses in preaching. Its step-by-step approach to sermon development, coupled with features such as chapter outlines and an extensive updated bibliography, make it a practical resource for experienced preachers.

Benedictions, invocations to depart with God’s blessings, are a feature of the church—every liturgical structure ends with them. They were a feature of the synagogue in Christ’s time—indeed Christ himself uses them when he dismisses his disciples on a new task. The word benediction derives from two Latin words that mean “to speak well of.”

Benedictions are pronounced by ministers at the close of worship services as an expression of hope and encouragement to God’s people to face whatever their future might hold. This makes them a Biblical norm for the end of worship—something we should consider doing each time we leave God’s presence and go out into the world. If you are involved with leading worship in the church or in the home your next question will be ‘Where do I go to find them?” Fortunately, Robert Vasholz has done the legwork for you. He has collected in this one book the benedictions found in scripture along with some additional scripture enriched blessings for use during worship. Use them to help Christians have a greater effect on the world.

In the common practice of Christian churches, across many traditions, a call to worship is typically a few lines of Scripture (or a combination of Scripture texts) expressed at the beginning of a church service. The call to worship exhorts God’s people to turn from worldly distractions and to focus hearts, minds and actions on revering him.

If you are involved with leading worship in the church or in the home your next question will be ‘Where do I go to find them?” Fortunately, Robert Vasholz has done the legwork for you in this book.

The first section is designed to address specific events common to the Church such as Christmas or Easter. The second section pertains to calls to worship that ask for an audible response from God’s people. The third part offers a number of calls to worship from the minister alone. It is my honest desire that this will serve as a proper and dignified way to enhance public corporate worship and to invite God’s people to be attentive to the service that follows.

Ben Awbrey focuses on the most neglected parts of the sermon—where it all begins! Gain help in the following stages of your sermon:

• Must hear preaching
• Introducing the sermon
• Getting attention
• Securing interest
• Stating the purpose
• Setting the context
• The sermon proposition

This volume on preaching is suitable for all levels of experience!

Prepared to Preach offers an accessible and concise aid for all those who have been challenged to preach or feel a growing compulsion to do so. This is an essential read for all those who are wondering precisely where to start in preparing to expound God’s word, whether it is for the Divinity Student, the layperson, the parachurch worker, or the short-term missionary. This is a comprehensive yet digestible guide. Scharf focuses on the attitudes and skills those inexperienced in preaching need to develop, whilst at all times re-enforcing that although there are a number of things you, the preacher, must do, it is what God does that is at the heart of preaching. This book illuminates to us how to prepare our minds to preach, how to prepare the congregation to hear and obey God’s word, how to prepare the message God gives you to preach, and also how to deliver the message you have prepared.

Throughout it all Scharf is motivated by a tremendous concern to equip preachers so that they might clearly express God’s word.

In the words of author Greg Heisler, “Spirit-led preaching is a call issued to preachers, pastors, and teachers of homiletics to recover the Holy Spirit for expository preaching in the same way we have recovered the biblical text. . . . My plan for doing this is to recover the doctrine of pneumatology (the study of spiritual beings/phenomena) for our theology of preaching, resulting in a renewed emphasis on the powerful combination of Word and Spirit working together as the catalyst for powerful expository preaching.”

Heisler thoroughly examines how the Holy Spirit illuminates and empowers the preacher, opens the hearts of the hearers, and applies the message to their lives. Indeed, to ignore the Holy Spirit’s role in sermon preparation and delivery would be a considerable oversight.

Stephen Olford and David Olford, both widely respected preachers in their own right, define “expository preaching” as preaching that exposes Scripture instead of imposing upon it. In Anointed Expository Preaching, the authors teach its technique and equip and encourage preachers of all kinds to respect their calling and minister God’s inerrant Word. The Olford’s methodology of preaching makes this a deeply spiritual and intensely practical book, offering specific instructions to help preachers write, review, and rehearse their sermons, exposing the eternal truths of Scripture and clarifying the themes of their message.

Jones offers a lifesaver for the busy preacher, teacher, public speaker and writer. In this vast resource are 50 categories of illustrations ranging from Action to Youth. Each section is highlighted by appropriate Scripture references and quotations. The text also includes indexes to persons and subjects.

Whether preaching or witnessing, speaking is a critical communication tool in almost all facets of Christian life. This book brings the Bold Assurance concept to Christian leaders and laypeople, giving them the tools they need to communicate effectively. Topics covered in this book include: the three myths of communication, building trust in the messenger, nine behavioral skills, six content skills, and means for applying bold assurance.

The authors ask the poignant question: What is the point to preaching? There are so many agendas competing for pulpit time these days, it can be easy to forget the exact purpose of one’s calling to preach, which is to proclaim God’s salvation through Jesus who died and is now resurrected. Preaching Evangelistically looks at the different elements of gospel preaching and how they are best used to effectively proclaim Jesus. These elements include: sermon setting, text selection, preparation, preaching with biblical authority, giving an invitation, and “Hiding Behind the Cross As You Preach.” The book also provides examples of evangelistic sermons from selected preachers. Fasol, one of the co-writers, states, “The purpose of our book is to provide information on preaching evangelistically with integrity, with biblical accuracy, with appeal to contemporary listeners, and absolutely for the glory of God.”