Choosing to Preach: A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and Structures

by Kenton C. Anderson

Today, traditional forms of preaching are being scrutinized and challenged. The biblical sermon is not immune to the pressure to evolve or even fall by the wayside, leaving pastors and seminary students confused over how best to communicate to today’s listeners. In this forward-looking textbook, Kenton Anderson delivers a strong call to current and future ministers to indeed choose to preach biblical sermons, despite the obstacles to doing so. While preaching itself is non-negotiable, the exact form it takes can be much more flexible, allowing people to hear from God as they hear his Word preached. Rather than presenting one model or process for preparing a sermon, Anderson explains several available options. As you discern your message from the Bible, will you begin with the text (deductive) or with the listener (inductive)? Will you focus on the idea (cognitive) or the image (affective)? The choices you make lead to five possible sermon • DECLARATIVE―make an argument • PRAGMATIC―solve a mystery • NARRATIVE―tell a story • VISIONARY―paint a picture • INTEGRATIVE―sing a song Each model is described in detail and related to well-known contemporary preachers, including John MacArthur, Rick Warren, Eugene Lowry, and Rob Bell. This book equips you with a variety of tools for your preaching tool kit.

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Kenton C. Anderson, PhD, is dean of Northwest Baptist Seminary, and associate professor of homiletics of the Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) of Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. He is a columnist for PreachingToday.com, a contributor to The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching, author of Preaching with Conviction and Preaching with Integrity, as well as a past president of the Evangelical Homiletics Society.

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anderson's book considers the options of particular sermon styles/forms. The instruction on the content and organization of each form is useful and addresses the learning preferences of listeners. I certainly will consider these options in future sermons.

Where the book faltered for me was in Anderson's excessive development of the metaphors for types of sermons. So, there's multiple pages on the mystery novel, painting, and song--each standing for a comparable sermon style. These might be good metaphors, but the multi-page establishment of what each item entailed got quite boring for me.

[Mark Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

My biggest takeaway from this book is that I come to a sermon first as a listener - I listen with mind and heart to what God is saying and then share what God is gripping me with. And that is all based not on me making the text say what I feel, but on devotionally applied exegesis. Good stuff - especially the emphasis on preaching as prayer and how every sermon essentially moves to mobilize people towards mission.

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like a time capsule showing us the conversation on preaching in the world influenced by the emerging church. Now nearly 15 years later, some of the conversation continues to be profitable.

[Earl Pestano · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST BOOK ABOUT PREACHING I HAVE EVER READ!

[Радостин Марчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Признавам, че донякъде съм раздвоен от тази книга. Във всяка глава трябваше да се боря с известно отегчение и скука и накрая останах с впечатление, че поне 1/3 може да се отреже без това изобщо да повлияе на съдържанието. От друга страна авторът определено знае за какво говори и предава много практическа мъдрост. Разделянето на видове проповеди е едно от най-интересните и полезно, които съм срещал - макар че обяснението им, според мен, е доста лошо. Не по-малко важно е, че човекът много сериозно се опитва да черпи едновременно от традиционните концепции за проповядване и да се анагжира сериозно с новите нужди и средства на слушателите с постмодерно мислене и изразяване - при това със значителна симпатия и без каквато и да е осъдителност (Роб Бел, който той използва като пример без съмнение е спорна фигура, но до голяма степен се превръща в такава след като книгата вече е написана).
В крайна сметка мисля, че има доста полезни и практични неща, които могат да се вземат. Давам 4 звезди просто защото не мога да дам 3 1/2.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me see the different styles of preaching and the importance of including all elements in a sermon

[Wayne Presnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent survey of various forms of preaching. It is filled with great illustrations. Very challenging and though provoking. Recommended.