Four Voices of Preaching, The: Connecting Purpose and Identity behind the Pulpit

by Robert Stephen Reid

Pastors often feel bombarded with an array of options for how to implement their craft. In this helpful book, Robert Reid argues that pastors will be more faithful and effective in their preaching when they understand exactly what they are trying to accomplish when they enter the pulpit. Do they want to encourage? Offer wisdom? Persuade folks to take up a particular course of action? Prophetically criticize the church or society? Reid contends that preachers tend to generally adopt one of four possible "voices" for their teaching, encouraging, sage, or testifying. He shows how these four voices differ, helps pastors understand which voice is predominantly theirs, and helps them sharpen the appropriate preaching skills. Sample sermons of each type of voice are included.

Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While many books on homiletics discuss style and method of speaking, this book asserts that each preacher has a "default" rhetorical voice--which falls into the general category of Teaching, Encouraging, Sage, or Testifying--that profoundly affects the agency of communication with an audience. The author discusses authenticity of voice, the speaker/listener interaction, explains historical developments that have contributed to the use of these types of rhetorical voices, consolidates a wealth of information from homileticians who name the pros and cons of rhetorical voices and their methods of persuasion, and provides sample sermons in each voice for the reader. This is an illuminating book that gives laser focus to what can sometimes be an area of ambiguity for speakers. It also helps preachers discover their own voices (which is accomplished by answering one important question), and provides ways to sharpen effectiveness in each voice. Valuable research and insight contained in these pages--excellent read.