Preaching

Grace Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida (pastored by Tom Ascol) shares on its website the following list of recommended books on Preaching.

  • Preaching & Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon
  • Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today by John Stott
  • On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons by John Broadus
  • Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon by Bryan Chapell
  • Rediscovering Expository Preaching: Balancing the Science and Art of Biblical Exposition by John MacArthur, Jr.
  • The Art of Prophesying by Wiliam Perkins
  • The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
  • Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy
  • Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life by Robert Smith Jr.
  • Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching by Don Kistler (ed.)
  • Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching in Honor of R. Kent Hughes by Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson (eds.)

Simplicity – A Reading List

I recently read Jack Trout’s book The Power Of Simplicity: A Management Guide to Cutting Through the Nonsense and Doing Things Right and found its thesis and content to be very helpful. We make our lives, jobs, and ministries far too difficult – too complex. I recommend the book and offer for your benefit the following reading list which he shares in an appendix to the book.

The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle’s-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions, by Scott Adams

Laugh out loud funny but dead on when it comes to management fads and other nonsense.

The Practice of Management, by Peter Drucker

The Effective Executive, by Peter Drucker

Managing in a Time of Great Change, by Peter Drucker

[Drucker is] The fountainhead of common sense and sound advice. Read any one of his dozens of books and you’ll be the wiser for it. These are three of our favorites.

How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively, by Rudolph Flesch

The late Dr. Flesch staged a lifelong battle against muddy thinking and murky writing. This is one of his most significant books, packed with examples, exercises, and checklists.

The Witch Doctors: Making Sense of the Management Gurus, by John Micklethwait and Adrian Woodridge

Two staff editors of The Economist make sense of the management gurus and debunk a lot of loony thinking. Good sections on the prophets (Peter Drucker), the evangelists (Tom Peters), and the new age preachers (Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey).

Enterprise One to One, by Don Peppers

An overly complex but useful look at how to use technology to hang onto your customers.

Focus: The Future of Your Company Depends on It, by Al Ries

Our ex-partner, Al Ries, lays out the case in great detail for doing what a company does best.

Fad Surfing In The Boardroom: Managing In The Age Of Instant Answers, by Eileen Shapiro

Ms. Shapiro takes deadly aim at the fads that sweep through business like waves in the ocean. Just the “fad dictionary” is worth the price.

Data Smog: Surviving the Information Glut, by David Shenk

We’re being smothered by information, and it’s dulling our minds. An intelligent look at how to cope with that glut.

Up the Organization: How to Stop the Corporation from Stifling People and Strangling Profits, by Robert Townsend

The late Robert Townsend wrote a classic about the foibles of corporations and how to avoid them.

Marketing Warfare: How to Use Military Principles to Develop Marketing Strategies, by Jack Trout and Al Ries

The bible on how to cope with competition. It will turn you into a killer.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: Violate Them at Your Own Risk!, by Jack Trout and al Ries

As we say, violate them at your own risk.

The New Positioning: The Latest on the World’s #1 Business Strategy, by Jack Trout and Steve Rivkin

Important insights into differentiation and how to build perceptions in the ultimate battleground, the mind of your prospect.

Christian Ministry – recommended texts

Grace Baptist Church (Cape Coral, Florida), pastored by Tom Ascol, lists on its website the following list of recommended books in the area of “Christian Ministry”:

__________

Click here for other recommendations by Tom Ascol.

Pastoral Theology Texts – John Piper

Dr. John Piper used the following texts in a course he taught on Pastoral Theology:

Required Textbooks

* The Bible (Bring your GNT and NAS95 or ESV)

* Wayne Grudem and John Piper, eds., Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism, Crossway, 1991.

* John Piper, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, Multnomah Press, 2003.

* John Piper, A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer, Crossway Books, 1997.

* John Piper, The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:1-23, Baker Book House, 1993.

* John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad, Baker Books, 2003.

* John Piper, The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God’s Delight in Being God, Multnomah, 2000.

* John Piper, The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in FUTURE GRACE, Multnomah Press, 1995.

* Alexander Strauch, Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, Lewis and Roth Publishers, 1995.

* T.U.L.I.P. What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism, Bethlehem Baptist Church Staff, 1985 (available from DGM or online at www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/doctrines_grace/tulip.html)

Textbooks used to illustrate positions not held by Dr. Piper included:

* Clark Pinnock, ed., The Grace of God, The Will of Man: A Case for Arminianism, Zondervan, 1989;

* Clark Pinnock, ed., The Openness of God, InterVarsity Press, 1994

* Gregory Boyd, God at War: the Bible and Spiritual Conflict, InterVarsity Press, 1997

* Greg Boyd, Satan and the Problem of Evil, InterVarsity Press, 2001

* John Sanders, The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence, InterVarsity Press, 1998

* Norman Geisler, Chosen But Free (Bethany, 2001).

* Gilbert Bilezikian, Beyond Sex Roles : A Guide for the Study of Female Roles in the Bible, 1985

* Stanley J. Grenz with Denise Muir Kjesbo, Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry, 1995

* Rebecca Merrill Groothuis, Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality, 1997.

And, here is a portion of the course description:

This course is designed to acquaint students with the practical application of Christian doctrine to a wide variety of issues. The course addresses such issues as fighting personal sin, prayer and fasting, roles of men and women, suffering, worship, God’s sovereignty, eldership, inspiration of Scripture, and motivation for life and ministry. Students will be urged not only to consider the biblical underpinnings for these issues, but how to apply them to every-day life.
Course Objectives

Practical Theology aims to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples. We pray that honest, humble, rigorous interpretation of Biblical texts, as well as God-centered discussion of theological and practical ministry issues will kindle this passion and equip students to spread it winsomely to others.

Thus it is our aim that the student who successfully completes the course in Practical Theology will be better equipped to:

* savor, strengthen, and spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all of life and ministry;
* meet a wide range of needs in people’s lives with a loving and powerful application of Biblical truth;
* apply Biblical doctrine to the nitty-gritty of life and ministry

Recommended Books on Preaching

Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has recommended the following books on Preaching.

Azurdia, Arturo. Spirit Empowered Preaching: Involving the Holy Spirit in Your Ministry. Fearn: Christian Focus, 2000.

Broadus, John A. On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons. Revised by Vernon L. Stanfield. 4th ed. New York: Harper, 1979.

Chapell, Bryan. Christ-centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.

Clowney, Edmund. Preaching Christ in all of Scripture. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003.

Goldsworthy, Graeme. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.

Heisler, Greg. Spirit-Led Preaching: The Holy Spirit’s Role in Sermon Preparation and Delivery. Nashville: Broadman, 2007.

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn. Preaching and Preachers. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971.

MacArthur, John., Jr. Rediscovering Expository Preaching. Dallas: Word, 1992.

McDill, Wayne. The 12 Essentials for Great Preaching. 2nd. ed. Nashville: Broadman, 2006.

_______. The Moment of Truth: A Guide to Effective Sermon Delivery. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.

Olford, Stephen F. with David Olford. Anointed Expository Preaching. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998.

Piper, John. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

Richard, Ramesh. Preparing Expository Sermons. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.

Robinson, Hadden W. Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.

Rummage, Stephen. Planning Your Preaching: A Step-by-Step Guide for Developing a One-Year Preaching Calendar. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002.

Shaddix, James L. The Passion Driven Sermon. Nashville: Broadman, 2003.

Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to My Students. repr. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1954.

Stott, John R.W. Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982.

Vines, Jerry. Power in the Pulpit: How to Prepare and Deliver Expository Sermons. Chicago: Moody, 1999.

York, Herschel W. and Bert Decker. Speaking with bold Assurance. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.

The Faithful Preacher

The Faithful Preacher

(Preview the book here.)

“Thabiti Anyabwile introduces us to past African-American voices calling pastors to faithfulness in life and doctrine. This is the kind of book we pastors need.”
—C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

So there will be surprises. But what should be no surprise is that there are treasures of biblical wisdom in centuries before our own and in cultures not our own. I love the blow this book makes against chronological snobbery and ethnocentricity. May the Lord of the Church, for the good of his people, and the ingathering of his lost sheep, and the glory of his name, give this book good success.
— John Piper, from the Foreward

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Faithful Preacher and am glad to recommend it. It is an interesting read and one that focuses some long-overdue attention on men who were faithful preachers and who have much to teach the church even today (and perhaps it would be better to say especially today).”
— Tim Challies, (Click here for the full review)

“Do yourself a favor; read this book, and share it with others.”
— Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church

“Reading The Faithful Preacher is like being introduced to three long-lost spiritual grandfathers and their legacy of pastoral fidelity.”
— Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS; Adjunct Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Stories of faithful men of God—puritans of the richest kind. This book is a splendid achievement.”
— Derek W. H. Thomas, John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Minister of Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS; Editorial Director, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

“As an African-American I welcome this book with great enthusiasm. It reminds the broad evangelical world of the provocative, deeply theological, missional, and culturally engaging tradition of African-American gospel preaching. A must read for all church traditions.”
— Anthony Bradley, Assistant Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology, Covenant Theological Seminary

“With biblical and historical insight, Thabiti would have us admire and thank God for the labors and lives of three men—clear demonstrations of what the pastoral ministry should be, regardless of race, color, or nationality.”
— Anthony Carter, Assistant Pastor of Southwest Christian Fellowship; author of On Being Black and Reformed

“At last a great book that taps the fresh water that flows from the heart of three great African-American preachers of the past! We have much to learn from them.”
— Joseph M. Stowell, Teaching Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel; former President, Moody Bible Institute

Pastoral Reading – Alister Begg

Alister Begg offers the following book suggestions in his bookletPreaching for God’s Glory.” (HT: Adrian Warnock)

“READ YOURSELF FULL
The pastor should read widely and regularly. There are certain books we should return to routinely. Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor, Augustine’s Confessions, and as daunting as we may find it, Calvin’s Institutes. I also find great profit in reading biographies. The two volumes on Lloyd-Jones should be a prerequisite for all pastors, as well as at least the first volume on Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore.”

Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition, by Calvin Miller

Calvin Miller. Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition Baker Books, 2006. 288 pages

Austin B. Tucker has reviewed Calvin Miller’s book, Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition. I have not yet read the book, but the review certainly makes it sound like a book I would enjoy. One sentence is his review in particular caught my attention.

“Some homiliticians want hearers to be free to draw their own moral from a story; Miller insists that the point be crystal clear.”

That sentence made me think of the following video (HT: Michele) which provides additional thoughts on pathos and ethos for consideration by homiliticians.

And here is Eugene Peterson’s endorsement:

“A lifetime of preaching and teaching the art of preaching crackles and pops in this bonfire of a book. In sentences of heat and light–blazing passion, luminous intelligence–Calvin Miller, one of our best preachers and writers, tells us what he does best–and why and how.”

The Christian Pastor’s Manual, edited by John Brown

In the September 2006 edition of the Journal of Dispensational Theology, Paul Martin Henebury highly recommended for pastors and ministerial students the The Christian Pastor’s Manual: A Selection of Tracts on the Duties, Difficulties, and Encouragements of the Christian Ministry. The book, edited by John Brown, is a retypset edition of the 1826 original. Henebury writes, “It provides an urgently needed tonic to the newer books on the subject, which seem more geared towards producing wafer-thin Christian talk-show hosts than real men of depth who will make true shepherds of God’s flock.

Book  Cover

Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Leadership

The following books on Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Leadership are recommended in the publication Beginning Your Theological Library published by the Criswell College.

Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover

Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors, by W. A. Criswell

Pastoring the Smaller Church, by John C. Thiessen

The Art of Management for Christian Leaders, by Ted Engstrom and Edward Dayton