Unleashing the Word: Preaching with Relevance, Purpose, and Passion

by Adam Hamilton

Imagine announcing a new series of sermons and seeing worship attendance increase by 1,000 people on the first Sunday of the new series. Or consider a pastor developing sermon plans two to three years out. What kind of pastor sits in a bar with a notepad just looking for ideas for sermons? Or has as his aim to preach the best prepared, best researched sermons his congregation has ever heard? All of these and more explain part of the reason the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people to over 10,000 in just thirteen years. In Unleashing the Word, Adam Hamilton helps pastors and church leaders consider the purpose, planning, and execution of excellent preaching. He offers detailed descriptions of the sermon planning, writing and preaching process behind one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. He includes numerous personal anecdotes and enough sermon ideas to keep the average pastor busy for years! Finally, after you have read how sermons are planned and prepared at the Church of the Resurrection you can watch the included DVD which features four full-length sermons and other resources to help you apply what you’ve read in the book. If you only buy one book on preaching this year, this is the book you must buy! Praise for Unleashing the "I wish I had read this book early in my thirty-eight year pastoral ministry. If so, I would have done a better job." --J. Ellsworth Kalas, Professor of Preaching, Asbury Theological Seminary. “ Unleashing the Word will be around a long time to help preachers preach the Word with power and conviction!” --Tyrone Gordon, Senior Pastor, St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas “Hamilton offers a goldmine of practical advice…Pastor-preachers will benefit greatly by adopting and adapting Hamilton’s approach.” --O. Wesley Allen, Jr. Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Lexington Theological Seminary “Anyone wanting to discover something about the art of preaching and its relationship to the life of a thriving congregation would be hard put to find any better reading resource.” --Charles Killian, Professor of Preaching and Storytelling, Asbury Theological Seminary

Genres: Religion, Church

176 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful advice from Adam Hamilton.

[Karen Bordner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few books on preaching and this is by far one of the best. Lost of good, practical advice.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton shares some practical pointers for preaching from his own experience. He starts where every textbook about preaching should start by establishing the purpose for preaching. He makes the compelling point that every preacher should be conscious of what preaching is supposed to be and what it is supposed to do. He wisely insists that preaching should be interpreting and translating what God is saying to people in a way that they can understand and apply to their lives. Effective preaching moves people to think and act in the way God wants them to.

In the rest of the book, Hamilton shows how he prepares and delivers his sermons to achieve the purpose he has identified. He identifies five different types of sermons and sermon series that help achieve the stated purpose and gives some helpful examples of each kind. The five types of sermons are evangelism, discipleship, pastoral care, equipping/sending, and institutional development. He points out that even though the primary purpose of a sermon might be one of those five areas, there will be elements of the others in the sermon as well. For example, an evangelism sermon is obviously aimed toward the unchurched, but there will be elements of the sermon that will speak to discipleship and so on. He also gives practical tips on preaching for Advent and Christmas, prophetic preaching, and weddings and funerals.

I think beginning preachers will find this book helpful, and even veterans will find a few nuggets that will rekindle their creative fire.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really an excellent guide to the philosophy of preaching, particularly from traditions that utilize lectionary preaching. Hamilton's strengths are his guide to long-term sermon planning. The downside is little technical input on the preparation of individual messages. But there are myriad books on that topic. I recommend this to anyone ministering in a mainline or evangelical church not chained to lectionary preaching, but not opposed to seasonal and planned sermons.

[Donald Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and helpful book, but it seems more of a strategy for opening up a hipster restaurant or a retail store than a church. If all we are is ultimately consumers then this consumerist with some prayer and Jesus thrown in will work I guess. Of course...if the marketing works out...why all the prayer or Jesus anymore?

[Cara Spaccarelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good creative sparks for people who have been preaching for awhile and need their imaginations inspired.

[Terri Milstead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read with good tips and tricks for writing and planning sermons, as well as a helpful chapter on weddings and funerals.

[Sarah Speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly one of the most helpful books I’ve read as a pastor. It is practical, quick, and so helpful!

[Thom Kohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book covering the importance of a good sermon and how to plan and execute effective sermons throughout the year. I found the different purposes of sermons and when to preach each type during the year particularly helpful. The author has developed a wonderful discipline that seems almost excessive - but you cannot deny the results he has achieved. Every pastor should read this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some helpful information, especially for folks who are open to preaching series rather than always using the lectionary. Much of what is here is in summary form in Leading Beyond the Walls, and some of the series/sermon ideas can be gleaned from the COR website. But it's still helpful information, and a quick read, if not life-changing.

[Keith Beasley-Topliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Hamilton shares his method for sermon planning and preparation and working with a worship team. It's all good stuff. Just a little dated since video presentation possibilities have expanded over the dozen-plus years since it was written. It inspired me to do some long-range sermon planning and try to begin a worship team, so hooray!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for preachers

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ideas on preaching and sermon prep!