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A Preaching Workbook
This is a book for all preachers (of any denomination), be they ordained, readers, students preparing for a preaching ministry, or lay people called on to deliver a sermon from time to time.
In his introduction, David Day describes the ambivalence in churches about preaching. He goes on to help preachers construct and deliver addresses that draw the practice closer to the high theology we hold of the sermon as the ‘word of God’. The author believes that the best and most effective preaching is biblical, and several chapters focus on how to draw our message authentically from scripture. He also gives plenty of practical help on the craft of preaching. And in doing so, he is courageous enough to expose some of his own sermons as examples of good or (occasionally) bad practice, as well as sermons from fifty or so preachers who are equally brave in offering their own efforts.
‘David Day is a superb communicator. His style is economical, vivid, subtle and clear, and he uses those gifts to help others discover their own voice.’
Anvil
‘This is perhaps the best book I have ever been asked to review. It is practical, packed with relevant exercises, clear, non-technical and often very funny.
The Reader
In his introduction, David Day describes the ambivalence in churches about preaching. He goes on to help preachers construct and deliver addresses that draw the practice closer to the high theology we hold of the sermon as the ‘word of God’. The author believes that the best and most effective preaching is biblical, and several chapters focus on how to draw our message authentically from scripture. He also gives plenty of practical help on the craft of preaching. And in doing so, he is courageous enough to expose some of his own sermons as examples of good or (occasionally) bad practice, as well as sermons from fifty or so preachers who are equally brave in offering their own efforts.
‘David Day is a superb communicator. His style is economical, vivid, subtle and clear, and he uses those gifts to help others discover their own voice.’
Anvil
‘This is perhaps the best book I have ever been asked to review. It is practical, packed with relevant exercises, clear, non-technical and often very funny.
The Reader
- GenresChristian
162 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1998
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
David Day
281 books263 followersDavid Day (b. 14 October 1947 in Victoria, British Columbia) is a Canadian author of over forty books: poetry, natural history, ecology, mythology, fantasy, and children's literature. Internationally he is most notably known for his literary criticism on J. R. R. Tolkien and his works.
After finishing high school in Victoria, British Columbia, Day worked as a logger for five years on Vancouver Island before graduating from the University of Victoria. Subsequently he has travelled widely, most frequently to Greece and Britain.
Day has published six books of poems for adults and ten illustrated children's books of fiction and poetry. His non-fiction books on natural history include The Doomsday Book of Animals, The Whale War, Eco Wars: a Layman Guide to the Environmental Movement, Noah's Choice and most recently Nevermore: A Book of Hours - Meditations on Extinction (2012).
His Doomsday Book was a Time Magazine Book of the Year and became the basis for the 100 part animated-short TV series "Lost Animals of the 20th Century".
David Days best-selling books on the life and works of JRR Tolkien include: A Tolkien Bestiary, Tolkien: the Illustrated Encyclopedia, Tolkien's Ring, The World of Tolkien and The Hobbit Companion.
Day's Tolkien's Ring was illustrated by academy award-winning artist Alan Lee, as was Castles, The Animals Within, Gothic and Quest For King Arthur.
After finishing high school in Victoria, British Columbia, Day worked as a logger for five years on Vancouver Island before graduating from the University of Victoria. Subsequently he has travelled widely, most frequently to Greece and Britain.
Day has published six books of poems for adults and ten illustrated children's books of fiction and poetry. His non-fiction books on natural history include The Doomsday Book of Animals, The Whale War, Eco Wars: a Layman Guide to the Environmental Movement, Noah's Choice and most recently Nevermore: A Book of Hours - Meditations on Extinction (2012).
His Doomsday Book was a Time Magazine Book of the Year and became the basis for the 100 part animated-short TV series "Lost Animals of the 20th Century".
David Days best-selling books on the life and works of JRR Tolkien include: A Tolkien Bestiary, Tolkien: the Illustrated Encyclopedia, Tolkien's Ring, The World of Tolkien and The Hobbit Companion.
Day's Tolkien's Ring was illustrated by academy award-winning artist Alan Lee, as was Castles, The Animals Within, Gothic and Quest For King Arthur.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 28, 2015
David Day has created a very practical book, in which various sermons are analysed and discussed after each bit of theory. The exercises in which he invites the reader are helpful to the reader in order to apply the theory to their own practice and sermons.
Some readers would have problems with Day as he states the, though the Bible should be referenced in every sermon, it does not need to make up part of every sermon. He is definitely not a proponent of expositional teaching all the time; believing instead in many varied approaches being the preferred option.
Day deals with communication theory, and the idea that listeners interpret things in different ways based on their previous understandings of concepts and words, and he reminds us that, as preachers, it is good to try and be aware of these; to know our congregation.
This book is helpful for thinking through some of the contemporary issues facing the sermon, Day has dealt with communication theory and the work of David Norrington (briefly) and attempts to address the discoveries, or questions raised, by both of those contemporary ‘objectors’ to the common Sunday sermon. His book will be helpful to all those in the preaching, or Christian communicating ministries, as well as those in seminary or Bible college studying these things. Even to the pastor who has been preaching for many decades, this book is a good read as it will help bring the sermons of the pastor into the contemporary realities of the congregation, as a whole and as individuals.
Finally, I would encourage at least some engagement with the exercises found throughout the book bordered in black lines. Normally there is little work involved, sometimes merely reading over old sermons, but the benefits will out-weigh the workload.
Some readers would have problems with Day as he states the, though the Bible should be referenced in every sermon, it does not need to make up part of every sermon. He is definitely not a proponent of expositional teaching all the time; believing instead in many varied approaches being the preferred option.
Day deals with communication theory, and the idea that listeners interpret things in different ways based on their previous understandings of concepts and words, and he reminds us that, as preachers, it is good to try and be aware of these; to know our congregation.
This book is helpful for thinking through some of the contemporary issues facing the sermon, Day has dealt with communication theory and the work of David Norrington (briefly) and attempts to address the discoveries, or questions raised, by both of those contemporary ‘objectors’ to the common Sunday sermon. His book will be helpful to all those in the preaching, or Christian communicating ministries, as well as those in seminary or Bible college studying these things. Even to the pastor who has been preaching for many decades, this book is a good read as it will help bring the sermons of the pastor into the contemporary realities of the congregation, as a whole and as individuals.
Finally, I would encourage at least some engagement with the exercises found throughout the book bordered in black lines. Normally there is little work involved, sometimes merely reading over old sermons, but the benefits will out-weigh the workload.
April 25, 2008
David Day says at the beginning of this book that "workbooks" often don't get used as such, that readers skip over the exercises and press on with the text, and so miss out on the opportunity to actually learn more. I have to admit that I am one of those readers: I read the evercises included in boxes in the main text, and then went straight on to David Day's own answers or suggestions. Because of this I probably got less out the book than I would if I had sat down at a desk with pen and paper and worked steadily through it. On the other hand, some of the exercises were clearly aimed at people who have been preaching for a while ("look at six of your recent sermons"), and so didn't really work for me as someone reading this as an introductory text. On the other hand, there were parts of the book that I found helpful or illuminating, particularly ideas about considering how different parts of what you say may be heard (part of an excellent section on communication theory) and looking at techniques ("rhetoric is not a dirty word").
This book would be useful for someone who wants to improve his/her sermons; I might come back to it in a year or so and actually go through the exercises!
This book would be useful for someone who wants to improve his/her sermons; I might come back to it in a year or so and actually go through the exercises!
December 16, 2015
Not particularly brilliant but nevertheless good as a beginner/refresher textbook on Preaching. It covers most of the bases of preaching, its ideas are agreeable and will sure ruffle a few modern faddish feathers in places.
January 27, 2026
This book started well - the first half suggested some excellent ideas for studying/looking at the Bible…some that will stay with me.
It did give a range of exercises to try - some helpful, others not so much.
The book was published in 1998 but at times it felt like it was written in the 1950’s with stereotypical illustrations about men/women and the frequently mentioned ‘black churches’ or ‘black ministers’.
If you’re after a step by step guide as to how to write a sermon, this isn’t it.
My main frustration was that in all the author’s advice on tone, relevant examples, humour etc he so often breaks or goes against his own advice with poorly chosen, irrelevant or dull examples; frequent mentions of art galleries, museums, ballet, classical music etc felt v middle class.
Would I wholeheartedly recommend it? No but as part of wider reading there are still some interesting and helpful points.
It did give a range of exercises to try - some helpful, others not so much.
The book was published in 1998 but at times it felt like it was written in the 1950’s with stereotypical illustrations about men/women and the frequently mentioned ‘black churches’ or ‘black ministers’.
If you’re after a step by step guide as to how to write a sermon, this isn’t it.
My main frustration was that in all the author’s advice on tone, relevant examples, humour etc he so often breaks or goes against his own advice with poorly chosen, irrelevant or dull examples; frequent mentions of art galleries, museums, ballet, classical music etc felt v middle class.
Would I wholeheartedly recommend it? No but as part of wider reading there are still some interesting and helpful points.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews