On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons

by John Albert Broadus

This book has been a great success, being used as a text book on Homiletics all over the U.S.A. It has passed through some dozens of editions, and has been adopted by numerous theological seminaries of various denominations. Besides this, thousands of ministers have bought it and used it in their service to God. In addition, it has been used in Protestant missions, in Japan, and China. It was translated into Portuguese for missions in Brazil. It is still very much used today. This work is very thorough. The comments are relatively brief, but the detail is still sufficient for the needs of ministers, whether beginners or experienced. After the introduction dealing generally with the subject, requirements for effective preaching, rules of rhetoric, etc., are 1. Selection of the text, importance of selection, and rules for same. 2. must be done strictly, some sources of error. 3. Various types of subjects that may be chosen; how to use them. 4. Sermons for Particular Occasions; text sermons, expository, etc. 5. Suggestions for materials, helps to freshness; avoid sensational. 6. The use of Argument in Preaching; how to choose, to proceed. 7. Illustrations, and their uses; sources, cautions in their uses. 8. Arrangement, its importance; study the effect desired, audience. 9. Parts to a introduction, discussion, conclusion. 10. General Observations on Style; how to improve style. 11. Importance of clearness in style, elegance, energy, uses. 12. The Use of Imagination in Preaching; how to cultivate it. 13. Delivery of Sermons; the history, reading, extemporaneous. 14. Instructions on Achieving Power in Voice, management of it. 15. The Conduct of Public Worship; its parts, its atmosphere. ''The great appointed means of spreading the good tidings of salvation through Christ is preaching; words spoken, whether to the individual, to the assembly. And this, nothing can supersede it. But printing can never take the place of the living Word. When a man who is apt in teaching, whose soul is on fire with the truth which he trusts has saved him, and hopes will save others, speaks face to face, eye to eye, and electric sympathies flash to and fro, all are borne on chariots of fire.''

Genres: Theology, Christian

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

John Albert Broadus was an American Baptist pastor, and a professor of New Testament interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

For a brief time during the Civil War, Pastor Broadus served as a chaplain to Robert E. Lee's army in Northern Virginia.

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fine book. I didn't read this edition, but rather a very old version published in 1882. I am assuming the one I read was unabridged. A standard work that preachers ought to be familiar with. You need to make adjustments for time and place, but there is a lot of horse sense here.

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book on preaching. I think I have read most of it somewhere else before, but that is my fault for reading too many books on preaching. It is very thorough, which I appreciated and will make a good reference tool.

Read in 2014 and again in 2023.

This is one of the best introductions to the mechanics of sermon preparation out there. It is not about exegesis or the theology of preaching. But rather about things like choosing a subject or passage, introductions, conclusions, transitions between sections, application, imagination, illustrations, types of sermons, etc. It is excellent resource for young preachers, but also a good book for more seasoned pastors to visit from time to time.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first—and this is a big one. This edition of this book is NOT the work of John A. Broadus ONLY. No, this particular "update" includes A LOT of material that Broadus simply did not and could not have written. Vernon Stanfield added a lot of stuff. I'd be much better with this if it was clear what was added and what is original. But it's impossible to know (except those sections dealing with modern conveniences of which Broadus could not have known). This does not ruin the book. But it is an important piece of information.

If you want to read Broadus's original work, it is available on Kindle.

Now—to the actual review. The parts on preaching are good, not great. I appreciate much of what is said. But there's a lot of preferences offered as strict rules in the book too. There's also A TON of sections that could be wholly omitted or at least shortened. I'd say about half this book is worthwhile and the other half could be left off.

Not the best book I've read on preaching. But hey—now I know.

[Mwansa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot better than I had expected. It has interesting and worthwhile thoughts on what a sermon is and what makes it powerful. Broadus does an impressive job.

[Ethan McCarter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want an in-depth work on homiletics then this is the book for you. I thought that it was a well thought out book for preachers or those training for the ministry. Obviously, I didn't agree with everything that Broadus wrote on, and I thought he wrote too much on certain portions of his book. The work is thick and could have used a bit less information on the topic I thought. For instance, the final chapter on constructing the worship service I found less helpful and needed than the rest of the work. I thought his section on the elements of the sermon was well done particularly the chapters on argumentation and application. It's a great work to consult if you're looking at honing your ability to preach from the pulpit. I do think I found Dabney's book Evangelical Eloquence better though, perhaps, this was a bit better written since Dabney's was a series of lectures at Union. I'd recommend this work to preachers and seminarians wanting to grow in their understanding and gifting when it comes to preaching.

[Ethan McCreary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book expanded my understanding of 1) Rhetoric and 2) Extemporaneous Preaching. I was fascinated by the exhortation to preach without any notes to the degree in which I am compelled to try.

Broadus on the relationship between prayer & extemporaneous preaching - “And here let it be asked, What of dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and prayer for his help in preaching? How can a man pray that God will guide him through a forest, when he has already blazed the entire path, and committed himself to follow it? Of course one should seek help in preparing his discourse, and if he reads, should pray that he might be enabled to feel aright in reading. But how much more natural is such prayer, how much more real the dependence upon divine assistance, how much freer the opening for the Spirit really to help, if the sermon is not already cast in moulds, but the material which has been gathered is now molten in the mind, and the ultimate process remains to be performed.”

[Dustin Karzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book. On the philosophy of preaching and worship, it was pretty flat and not super helpful, more of a survey of different views. But regarding the actual nuts and bolts of preperation and preaching, this book is invaluable. Deals with mechanics but also with the personal aspects of preaching—of the necessity of deep thought, prayer, emotional connection, and awareness of the message and audience of a sermon. Really great material.

[Deb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While as a woman I will not be preaching sermons, I do teach other women. Putting together a formal talk or lecture on Scripture for ladies has some similarities to preparing a sermon. I did like how this book broke out and talked about different elements, such as arrangement and delivery. It was much more on the process of homiletics and not a tutorial for hermeneutics. Preachers may find it useful.

[David Bruyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the most comprehensive treatments of sermonising, from exegesis through to public speaking. Broadus' sense of propriety and dignity is lovely to read and a corrective to preaching that cares only about manipulating listeners for results.

[Austin Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive. I was especially helped by his instruction on being natural in the pulpit for the sake of doing the most spiritual good.

“To forget self, because full of living desire to do men good, is the great means of being natural.”

Ole Johnny is pretty good!

[Charles Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read until I saw that he criticizes the Puritan practice of giving applications in sermons, and then I read no further.
J.W. Alexander's Thoughts on Preaching is a lot more profitable.

[Coleson White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Thomas Fromke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, I will be reading this one again!

[Ezequiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno, fundamental. En varias ocaciones se nota que es del siglo pasado.

[Gavin Breeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bet this book *used* to be really good. It's been updated four times, by different authors throughout the twentieth century during a time in which the South Baptist Convention was changing A LOT. So the book contradicts itself quite a bit. One section says that preaching should always be an exposition of a passage, but just a few pages later it says sometimes you can just find a topic you want to address and then find a verse to go with it. What?? Confusing.

I read this the way liberal scholars read the Old Testament, thinking and wondering about different authors and editors constantly adding, subtracting, and combining sections.

There are some great things in here though. I love the comparison of a sermon to a river. It ought to begin as a trickle, but by the time you hit the conclusion it ought to be a mighty river emptying into the ocean. That image has always stuck with me. You just have to read carefully. Keep the wheat, discard the chaff.

It's actually interesting to read this book and observe how SBC preaching radically changed from the 1880s to the 1980s. Kinda sad, really.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure any review given to this book would be able to convey the value found in this treasure. Built upon the stellar intellect of Broadus & modernized by Stanfield, there are few books on preaching that will ever come close to the profundity of knowledge, simplicity of style, and range of information contained in this work. This book has been used in seminary classes for the last 135 years, and now I know why! Every element in preaching is thoroughly covered with discussion given to various methods within each element. Any student who calls themselves a growing & learning preacher that has not read this book is seriously cheating themselves out of a great opportunity to sharpen their skills in proclaiming the truth of the Word of God. Definitely worth the 20 dollar book price, I might even pay triple that

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loads of helpful stuff. His balance on the issue of memorize/manuscript/extemp was encouraging and challenging. Gave the usual underthought answer concerning humor, which costs him a star. His instructions on the public reading of the word were quite helpful. Somewhat repetitious, with quotes or anecdotes appearing twice, but there is a reason this book was so well thought of by so many for so long.

[Chris Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skimmed much of this book, but read carefully many sections as well. His chapter on the 4 types of sermon delivery was excellent, and persuaded me to take the leap of faith that I've been wanting to attempt for some time: preaching without notes (after having done extensive preparation).

[Chuck Bonadies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm praying that my former professor of homoletics does not read this review:). The late Southern Baptist professor, John Broadus, is a fine scholar. I've enjoyed some of his other work. Put simply, I found this book of little value.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic from a cultured gentleman and master pulpiteer. Whether discussing choosing between words derived from Anglo-Saxon or Latin roots or extolling the need for imagination, Broadus proves they don't make them like they used to.

[David Van Brakle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's the classic text on preaching. It should be required of anyone in their homiletics class. I don't think it should be used as a handbook for a modern sermon, However, I think it's important to familiarize one's self to the rules, so you know how to break them.

[Tong Fatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, even though it is so old. I do not find any contradiction within its pages, as the author is very careful and circumspect.

[Isaac Barton]

I read a reprint of the 1870 edition.