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Persuasive Preaching
Public Speaking Book from 9Marks Helps Pastors Deliver Messages That Are Instructive, Moving, and Christ-Exalting
Should pastors attempt to captivate listeners? Isn't it enough to let the gospel speak for itself? The goal of preaching is to humbly proclaim the glory of God. But in an unbelieving world that is fighting for your audience's attention, it is essential to communicate the gospel passionately and effectively.
This companion book to 9Marks' Expositional Preaching shows you how to deliver sermons with persuasive power. David Helm and Jeremy Meeks offer practical, Scripture-based tips to build compelling arguments, simplify your sermons so they're easy to follow, contextualize your message to reach more people, and cultivate a godly ethos in your ministry. Apply these public-speaking basics in your preaching, evangelism, and outreach, and let the Holy Spirit move mightily in your church.
Practical Learn effective communication that appeals to different audiences so more people can hear and embrace the gospel This book is clear and concise, with a conversational tone and engaging examples Excellent Resource for Pastors and Church Ideal for individual or small-group study, this book is a complement to David Helm's book Expositional Preaching
Should pastors attempt to captivate listeners? Isn't it enough to let the gospel speak for itself? The goal of preaching is to humbly proclaim the glory of God. But in an unbelieving world that is fighting for your audience's attention, it is essential to communicate the gospel passionately and effectively.
This companion book to 9Marks' Expositional Preaching shows you how to deliver sermons with persuasive power. David Helm and Jeremy Meeks offer practical, Scripture-based tips to build compelling arguments, simplify your sermons so they're easy to follow, contextualize your message to reach more people, and cultivate a godly ethos in your ministry. Apply these public-speaking basics in your preaching, evangelism, and outreach, and let the Holy Spirit move mightily in your church.
Practical Learn effective communication that appeals to different audiences so more people can hear and embrace the gospel This book is clear and concise, with a conversational tone and engaging examples Excellent Resource for Pastors and Church Ideal for individual or small-group study, this book is a complement to David Helm's book Expositional Preaching
Audible Audio
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
David R. Helm
30 books42 followersDavid R. Helm, along with Arthur Jackson, serves as Lead Pastor of the Hyde Park Congregation of Holy Trinity Church Chicago. David is Chairman of The Charles Simeon Trust, a ministry devoted to equipping men in expository preaching.
A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.
David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.
David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Persuasive Preaching is an excellent, practical book on preaching. I especially appreciated its breadth. Helm and Meeks address everything from the heart of the preacher to the actual work of crafting and delivering a sermon. The result is a book that is both focused and highly useful.
One of the strengths of the book is its use of the metaphor of an archer and his target. That image gives the various elements of persuasive preaching a memorable framework and helps make the material stick.
This would be a perfect book for someone new to preaching, but there is plenty here for experienced preachers to glean as well. It is a fast read without being a shallow one. I also appreciated the emphasis that faithful preaching must do more than explain the text. It should aim to persuade hearers of its truth and press it upon them.
For years, I have given Helm’s earlier volume, Expositional Preaching, to those in our church who are learning how to study and teach the Scriptures. I will now include Persuasive Preaching alongside it. The first helps establish how to handle the text faithfully, while this volume helps carry that work through the shaping and delivery of the sermon. Taken together, the two books provide an excellent and accessible introduction to preaching.
One of the strengths of the book is its use of the metaphor of an archer and his target. That image gives the various elements of persuasive preaching a memorable framework and helps make the material stick.
This would be a perfect book for someone new to preaching, but there is plenty here for experienced preachers to glean as well. It is a fast read without being a shallow one. I also appreciated the emphasis that faithful preaching must do more than explain the text. It should aim to persuade hearers of its truth and press it upon them.
For years, I have given Helm’s earlier volume, Expositional Preaching, to those in our church who are learning how to study and teach the Scriptures. I will now include Persuasive Preaching alongside it. The first helps establish how to handle the text faithfully, while this volume helps carry that work through the shaping and delivery of the sermon. Taken together, the two books provide an excellent and accessible introduction to preaching.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is an excellent compliment to Helm’s earlier work “Expositional Preaching.” Whereas the first book focused on the work of sermon prep this volume focused on sermon delivery.
Review of advance copy
Concise and useful. My favorite kind of book!
Bulleted list at the end is worth the price of admission.
Will be part of required reading for the FBC interns
Bulleted list at the end is worth the price of admission.
Will be part of required reading for the FBC interns
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There's some good advice that I appreciate, although I'm not sure there was much in here that hasn't been written in other preaching books I've read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews