Preaching that Connects

by Mark Galli

Master the craft of effective communication that grabs attention and wins hearts. Like everyone else, preachers long to be understood. Unfortunately, the rules first learned in seminary, if misapplied, can quickly turn homiletic precision into listener boredom. To capture heart and mind, Mark Galli and Craig Larsen suggest preachers turn to the lessons of journalism. In Preaching That Connects, they show how the same keys used to create effective, captivating communication in the media can transform a sermon. Amply illustrated from some of today’s best preachers, Preaching That Connects walks through the entire sermon, from the critical introduction to the bridge to illustrations and final application. Key points include the five techniques for generating creative ideas, your six options for illustrations, and the ten rules for great storytelling—and why the transition sentence is the hardest sentence you’ll write. Preaching That Connects is for all who seek to hone their craft to communicate the truth of the gospel effectively.

Genres: School

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 1994

Reviews

[Levi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, logical

I was helped immensely by this book. Galli taught clearly how rhetoric works in biblical preaching. His chapter on specific rhetorical devices and their practical uses in a sermon was immediately useful to my sermon crafting.

[Pastorrobert Proctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

I found this book to be edifying and inspiring. I used some of the techniques in my sermons and felt I was communicating 10 better than before. This is a good read for all preachers - young and old.

[Craig Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Galli and Larson deliver endless practical and applicable techniques for taking your sermon to the next level. Five stars! Well done

[Eric Gilchrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, functional book on tips for preaching well. The kind of book you read through quickly grabbing what you need and moving on.

[Charisa Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and informative. If you are a preacher or want to learn more about public speaking, I would definitely recommend!

[Jelte · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book! A must read for every preacher.

[Benjamin]

This one considers the role of journalism techniques in drafting sermons and encourages a "hearers/listeners first" mentality. Accomplished well in the book. Think about what people hear and how they come to hear it and match what the Text desires to communicate through this awareness.

Favorite connection with the book: "Augustine, the Christian rhetorician, defines the preacher's task as *docere*, *deletare*, and *flectere* -- to teach, to delight, to influence. To touch the mind, the heart, the will" (p. 19). Reminded me of Dallas Willard's VIM: Vision, Intention, Means.

Recognize that preaching is an act of desired influence. This is uncomfortable for me to consider, but reality. Think about what you desire to influence people toward. Then, become as see-through and invisible as possible so eyes fix on something more vital than the preacher.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has many useful ideas. Ministers should write with excellence and strive to have captivating openings, researched and interesting body of information, and closings that will move people to act on what they have heard as they live out their lives. Certainly every minister who is boring, stalled, stagnated, "shoot from the hip", unable to write, not dedicated to the art of writing sermons, in the wrong field, SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tremendously helpful little book for pastors or anyone else who speaks publicly. Every pastor in America would do well to read and heed this one. And their congregations would benefit as well.

[Cisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good counsels and techniques

You can learn a few things from this book, about some methods and techniques in preaching and story telling. For the one who study the art of preaching it makes for good reading.

[Bruce Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

off the planet great

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few clinkers here and there, but this book has some really good advice for preachers in it.