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Simplicity in Preaching
J.C Ryle says in this book, "I ask all my readers to remember that to attain simplicity in preaching is of the utmost importance to every minister who wishes to be useful to souls. Unless you are simple in your sermons you will never be understood, and unless you are understood you cannot do good to those who hear you." This book helps the preacher (and hearer) to understand what makes both "a ready preacher", and "a willing hearer."
Ryle always emphasizes that it is the Holy Spirit alone that can open the heart. However there must be an effort, on the part of the preacher, to be clear and understandable.
Ryle always emphasizes that it is the Holy Spirit alone that can open the heart. However there must be an effort, on the part of the preacher, to be clear and understandable.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1888
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About the author
J.C. Ryle
825 books481 followers(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
February 21, 2025
Practical help for preaching - typical Ryle. He's always good!
Read again in 2018.
Read again in 2025.
Read again in 2018.
Read again in 2025.
May 15, 2025
Love Ryle. This was an exquisite little treatise on the importance of simplicity in preaching. This is especially important for those who are in Reformed churches.
August 21, 2018
Excellent little lecture on the importance of simplicity (also, perspicuity) in Preaching.
Four prefatory remarks: 1) simplicity is of utmost importance, 2) simplicity is not easy, 3) simplicity is not childish, 4) simplicity is not vulgar/unrefined.
Five key points: 1) have a clear view of the subject, 2) use simple, common, everyday words, 3) maintain simple - even proverbial - composition, 4) be direct (you and I), 5) use illustrations and stories
Key application - “you will never attain simplicity in preaching without plenty of trouble.”
Four prefatory remarks: 1) simplicity is of utmost importance, 2) simplicity is not easy, 3) simplicity is not childish, 4) simplicity is not vulgar/unrefined.
Five key points: 1) have a clear view of the subject, 2) use simple, common, everyday words, 3) maintain simple - even proverbial - composition, 4) be direct (you and I), 5) use illustrations and stories
Key application - “you will never attain simplicity in preaching without plenty of trouble.”
October 4, 2023
Good little read. Many good thoughts on preaching messages that are simple, direct, & effective. The goal isn’t to preach beautiful sermons but to preach messages that speak to the hearts of men & women. Communication of the truth is vital. Being understood is key
October 24, 2025
This is a great little treatise on the importance of simplicity in preaching. I can feel the temptation to be clever or to be seen as an “intellectual” in my sermons, but that’s more about me than what people actually need. Keller was a master of this, making really big and difficult ideas understandable for his listeners. Give people something they can actually remember and understand.
“In fact, to use very long words, to seem very learned, to make people go away after a sermon saying, ‘How fine! how clever! how grand! all this is very easy work. But to write what will strike and stick, to speak or to write that which at once pleases and is understood, and becomes assimilated with a hearer’s mind and a thing never forgotten—that, we may depend on it, is a very difficult thing and a very rare attainment.” - J.C. Ryle
“In fact, to use very long words, to seem very learned, to make people go away after a sermon saying, ‘How fine! how clever! how grand! all this is very easy work. But to write what will strike and stick, to speak or to write that which at once pleases and is understood, and becomes assimilated with a hearer’s mind and a thing never forgotten—that, we may depend on it, is a very difficult thing and a very rare attainment.” - J.C. Ryle
March 27, 2018
I found the book to be convicting. Since I desire to be a pastor/teacher at some point, I could really feel the need to make topics clear and simple. I ought to start aiming to do so now for I am not as clear as I ought to be to begin with. I’d recommend this to any man who desires to preach so that he might be encouraged to minister simply to the congregation that God has given him to steward over.
March 9, 2023
A short, but excellent little book on how to preach simple sermons. There is a lot of wisdom in Ryle's suggestions. What I like most his desire for the congregation to understand and grow. He knows that ornate sermons may impress the listener, but they will not help them grow in sanctification.
A good book for preachers to read every couple of years or so.
A good book for preachers to read every couple of years or so.
September 7, 2021
This little work from J. C. Ryle caught my eye, and was a worthwhile and easy read. Will definitely seek to cling to the truths in here.
“All the simplicity in the world can do no good, unless you preach the simple gospel of Jesus Christ so fully and clearly that everybody can understand it.”
“All the simplicity in the world can do no good, unless you preach the simple gospel of Jesus Christ so fully and clearly that everybody can understand it.”
November 23, 2021
4.0 Stars
"Simplicity in Preaching" by J.C. Ryle is in extremely short treatise on the importance of simplicity in preaching. This book is about the length of an online article, which does not diminish it's excellence at all. Ryle's brief advice is sound and significant. He reminds preachers of the importance of being simple to reach the hearts of listens, and the ways that a preacher can preach simply. I think this is a good book for preachers to pick up once a year as a reminder of how important it is to preach simply.
"Simplicity in Preaching" by J.C. Ryle is in extremely short treatise on the importance of simplicity in preaching. This book is about the length of an online article, which does not diminish it's excellence at all. Ryle's brief advice is sound and significant. He reminds preachers of the importance of being simple to reach the hearts of listens, and the ways that a preacher can preach simply. I think this is a good book for preachers to pick up once a year as a reminder of how important it is to preach simply.
December 17, 2024
Pure Gold.
If you want simplicity, you must have (1) clarity on your text and communicate with (2) simple words, (3) simple sentences, (4) direct speech, and (5) abundant illustrations and anecdotes.
If you want simplicity, you must have (1) clarity on your text and communicate with (2) simple words, (3) simple sentences, (4) direct speech, and (5) abundant illustrations and anecdotes.
June 15, 2019
Very helpful
December 27, 2024
Excellent! Those of us in the reformed, evangelical, expository-preaching sphere will do well to heed Ryle's counsel.
March 15, 2024
Ryle is, as always, a clear and effective writer. I would suggest to anyone who endeavors to communicate clearly read this booklet. He who speaks above his hearers ought not be heard at all.
April 18, 2023
Que livreto espetacular! Que o Senhor me ajude a pregar as Escrituras de modo cada vez mais simples!
April 8, 2024
This is a helpful little booklet. Ryle outlines five reasons why simplicity is a mark of healthy preaching and why it is so edifying. Simplicity is key to preaching and Ryle demonstrates this clearly.
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This booklet is extremely helpful.
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This booklet is extremely helpful.
February 9, 2023
I didn't realize (as is often the case with Kindle versions of books) that this was more of a booklet - it's not very long and I read it in one sitting. Yet, I would advise ministers of all ages to give it a read and hear the good messages here. They will be reminders for some ... and new advice for others. But it is worth the time.
Noted Bible Scholar of another generation offers up advice for preaching, and on how to keep it simple.
"And now bear in mind that if you want to attain simplicity in preaching, my five points are these: Understand your subject. Use simple words. Aim for a simple style of composition. Use a direct voice. Use anecdotes and illustrations."
If you are a preacher, read it!
Noted Bible Scholar of another generation offers up advice for preaching, and on how to keep it simple.
"And now bear in mind that if you want to attain simplicity in preaching, my five points are these: Understand your subject. Use simple words. Aim for a simple style of composition. Use a direct voice. Use anecdotes and illustrations."
If you are a preacher, read it!
April 29, 2018
A worthy wake-up call for young preachers or aspirants like me. Read it and take heed.
September 16, 2019
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it. Tips from a master on how to speak the truth plainly.
February 26, 2021
Very helpful booklet on being clear in preaching for the sake of the audience who is hearing the sermon. Like all of Bishop Ryle’s material, he is deep, clear, and the subject is well thought through.
January 8, 2022
Short and very good in a practical way.
June 29, 2022
Good for any verbose person.
March 1, 2023
I've been criticized for using '$200 words' in my preaching, so I found this book helpful. Advice, opinion, and tips from a great preacher of the past.
March 12, 2023
Excellent.
May 20, 2023
The secret to effective preaching
The author expounds on the method of preaching that he himself used. History confirms that his preaching was effective in reaching multitudes for Christ.
The author expounds on the method of preaching that he himself used. History confirms that his preaching was effective in reaching multitudes for Christ.
July 20, 2023
Incredibly simple book on preaching that every preacher should read. It’s short too so quick read. Read this if you haven’t, assess your preaching, simplify it if needed.
July 1, 2025
Simple, helpful, and absolutely necessary for anyone in the ministry to read if you’re preaching or have the desire to preach.
October 29, 2025
This guy certainly leads by example. His book is very down to earth and direct in its defense of and advice for simplicity in preaching. Though its age is beginning to show, it is still a worthwhile read, especially when he said you should write the sentences of your sermon as though you were asthmatic and had not the breath to sustain too great a length.
January 26, 2013
Excellent little booklet on the discipline of crafting and delivering concise, powerful sermons--of an appropriate length. The author's points are themselves concise, very clear, and for the most part, readily applicable.
There are aspects diminish this book's force: a discussion that includes reference to word origin that has little force to me (an American English speaker) such as, "In saying this I admit freely that words of French and Latin origin are generally inferior to Saxon; and, as a rule, I should say, use strong pure Saxon words if you can." There is certainly a clear application to be drawn for such advice, but it must be one filtered through a very different culture in which the author lived. Also, there is a tendency for Ryle to refer to the differences of understanding/education between those educated folks of the university, and those of an agricultural background to whom he preached to in the country. Drawing such distractions today, and openly speaking of them, might alienate listeners more than win them to hear what one says. While he writes against stuffy theological condescension from the pulpit--he seems to mention the issue too often.
Ryle strongly commends developing a solid outline of the text, applied to the sermon, and he insists on an a solid work-ethic in sermon preparation. Amen!
There are, of course, absolute GOLDEN NUGGETS to found here:
"If you do not wish to be understood, you deserve to be neglected."
"...to make hard things seem easy and intelligible is a height attained by very few speakers."
"If you pause in your sermon, and say, "Now I will tell you a story", I engage that all who are not too fast asleep will prick up their ears and listen."
"People only tolerate vulgarity and coarseness, as a rule, when they can get nothing else."
Here's a great one: "We must talk to our people when we are out of church, if we would understand how to preach to them in the church."
All in all, this short little book is a great read for preachers.
There are aspects diminish this book's force: a discussion that includes reference to word origin that has little force to me (an American English speaker) such as, "In saying this I admit freely that words of French and Latin origin are generally inferior to Saxon; and, as a rule, I should say, use strong pure Saxon words if you can." There is certainly a clear application to be drawn for such advice, but it must be one filtered through a very different culture in which the author lived. Also, there is a tendency for Ryle to refer to the differences of understanding/education between those educated folks of the university, and those of an agricultural background to whom he preached to in the country. Drawing such distractions today, and openly speaking of them, might alienate listeners more than win them to hear what one says. While he writes against stuffy theological condescension from the pulpit--he seems to mention the issue too often.
Ryle strongly commends developing a solid outline of the text, applied to the sermon, and he insists on an a solid work-ethic in sermon preparation. Amen!
There are, of course, absolute GOLDEN NUGGETS to found here:
"If you do not wish to be understood, you deserve to be neglected."
"...to make hard things seem easy and intelligible is a height attained by very few speakers."
"If you pause in your sermon, and say, "Now I will tell you a story", I engage that all who are not too fast asleep will prick up their ears and listen."
"People only tolerate vulgarity and coarseness, as a rule, when they can get nothing else."
Here's a great one: "We must talk to our people when we are out of church, if we would understand how to preach to them in the church."
All in all, this short little book is a great read for preachers.
April 8, 2024
J.C. Ryle is an under appreciated British pastor that deserves more attention today. His short work on preaching is a great model for any aspiring preacher on the intentional steps to be engaging, direct, and spirit-led all at the same time. This work has molded my preaching in numerous ways for the better and I am always eager to learn from such a wise, humble man of God.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews