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From Pew to Pulpit: A Beginner's Guide to Preaching
A down-to-earth, practical introduction to the ins and outs of preaching for lay preachers, bivocational pastors, and others newly arrived in the pulpit.
Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the amount of financial resources required to support a full-time pastor in the local congregation. In addition, large numbers of full-time, seminary trained clergy are retiring, without commensurate numbers of new clergy able to take their place. As a result of these trends, a large number of lay preachers and bivocational pastors have assumed the principal responsibility for filling the pulpit week by week in local churches. Most of these individuals, observes Clifton Guthrie, can draw on a wealth of life experiences, as well as strong intuitive skills in knowing what makes a good sermon, having listened to them much of their lives. What they often don't bring to the pulpit, however, is specific, detailed instruction in the how-tos of preaching. That is precisely what this brief, practical guide to preaching has to offer.
Written with the needs of those for whom preaching is not their sole or primary occupation in mind, it begins by emphasizing what every preacher brings to the an idea of what makes a sermon particularly moving or memorable to them. From there the book moves into short chapters on choosing an appropriate biblical text or sermon topic, learning how to listen to one's first impressions of what a text means, moving from text or topic to the sermon itself while keeping the listeners needs firmly in mind, making thorough and engaging use of stories in the sermon, and delivering with passion and conviction. The book concludes with helpful suggestions for resources, including Bibles, commentaries, other print resources and websites.
Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the amount of financial resources required to support a full-time pastor in the local congregation. In addition, large numbers of full-time, seminary trained clergy are retiring, without commensurate numbers of new clergy able to take their place. As a result of these trends, a large number of lay preachers and bivocational pastors have assumed the principal responsibility for filling the pulpit week by week in local churches. Most of these individuals, observes Clifton Guthrie, can draw on a wealth of life experiences, as well as strong intuitive skills in knowing what makes a good sermon, having listened to them much of their lives. What they often don't bring to the pulpit, however, is specific, detailed instruction in the how-tos of preaching. That is precisely what this brief, practical guide to preaching has to offer.
Written with the needs of those for whom preaching is not their sole or primary occupation in mind, it begins by emphasizing what every preacher brings to the an idea of what makes a sermon particularly moving or memorable to them. From there the book moves into short chapters on choosing an appropriate biblical text or sermon topic, learning how to listen to one's first impressions of what a text means, moving from text or topic to the sermon itself while keeping the listeners needs firmly in mind, making thorough and engaging use of stories in the sermon, and delivering with passion and conviction. The book concludes with helpful suggestions for resources, including Bibles, commentaries, other print resources and websites.
- GenresNonfiction
135 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
55 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 28, 2019
Presents some simple concepts. Will require a second read, working through the "assignments".
November 25, 2020
I bought this book for a UMC lay speakers course. Excellent information and encouragement, right from the introduction.
Some reviewers have disparaged the author's "liberal" views. Maybe they object to women in the pulpit, which the author strongly encourages. I'm in favor of women accepting their call to preach (been doing it occasionally myself for 20 years), so that aspect of the book didn't bother me. I mildly disagreed with a couple of minor things Guthrie recommended, but that made for lively discussion in the class.
Some reviewers have disparaged the author's "liberal" views. Maybe they object to women in the pulpit, which the author strongly encourages. I'm in favor of women accepting their call to preach (been doing it occasionally myself for 20 years), so that aspect of the book didn't bother me. I mildly disagreed with a couple of minor things Guthrie recommended, but that made for lively discussion in the class.
April 25, 2025
A practical guide with insights for even a semi-experienced lay preacher ;) I appreciate the frameworks to dive deeper into study, pitfalls to avoid, and different storytelling formulas to try. This is sacred work, and learning the art of this craft only deepens the impact of the words that fall on our hearts.
November 18, 2023
So well written and such a great guide for me as I pursue a role in lay ministry. This book provided a clear outline and sense of direction for undertaking my first sermon. The process is very rewarding.
March 30, 2025
Got lots of good information and some fun stories for preacher types or there grown kids…in fact for anyone who has grown up in churches! I got multiple good ideas for how to prepare future sermons and just general presentations!
December 27, 2018
Textbook for homiletics class during my Ministry/Theology degree. It certainly has a 20th century slant; it's old-school, but some of the fundamentals were helpful.
March 21, 2020
Helpful book for the lay person on preaching.
September 18, 2023
Read this for a class on lay speaking. Some good insight and tips.
December 20, 2013
An absolutely wonderful read. Though this book is targeted to lay preachers or newly licensed pastors, and not necessarily ordained ministers or old-hats, the book is worth reading by anyone and everyone who is preaching or ever will preach.
First of all, I wish I had Guthrie as my preaching professor in seminary. The practical advice on how to preach is better, better-said, and more lively than anything that I heard from my professor in two entire semesters. Guthrie never teaches all his advice and experience to the reader by saying, "I'm the expert, listen to me." Instead he helps the reader remember what it's like sitting in the pews listening to a sermon, and from there everything he says makes a whole lot of simple sense. On top of that Guthrie is very straight-forward about how we can better understand our own preaching styles and methods, and even who we are as persons that happen to preach. It's all rather lovely.
Aside from the practical helpfulness of the book, it was somehow fun to read. The cover image is probably a good representation of the writing. It's not necessarily that Guthrie is more honest or more open than other pastors that have written books. In fact, I can't really say why this book was fun to read. Part of the reason for that is that I finished reading the book many days before writing this review. I can't remember all that well.
All I know is that if you pick up this book, or are told to read it by an UMC annual conference, or are studying it in class, or whatever, take your time reading it because it is both lovely and helpful.
First of all, I wish I had Guthrie as my preaching professor in seminary. The practical advice on how to preach is better, better-said, and more lively than anything that I heard from my professor in two entire semesters. Guthrie never teaches all his advice and experience to the reader by saying, "I'm the expert, listen to me." Instead he helps the reader remember what it's like sitting in the pews listening to a sermon, and from there everything he says makes a whole lot of simple sense. On top of that Guthrie is very straight-forward about how we can better understand our own preaching styles and methods, and even who we are as persons that happen to preach. It's all rather lovely.
Aside from the practical helpfulness of the book, it was somehow fun to read. The cover image is probably a good representation of the writing. It's not necessarily that Guthrie is more honest or more open than other pastors that have written books. In fact, I can't really say why this book was fun to read. Part of the reason for that is that I finished reading the book many days before writing this review. I can't remember all that well.
All I know is that if you pick up this book, or are told to read it by an UMC annual conference, or are studying it in class, or whatever, take your time reading it because it is both lovely and helpful.
July 17, 2012
This book was fabulous. I say book but perhaps more appropriately, I should say manual. The author details how to go from lay person to preaching person in just a few steps. It is a practical, invaluable guide to preaching, and I gleaned many tips that I currently utilize in my preaching today. Thank you licensing school for recommending this book!
July 7, 2017
A surprising read...
Since I have been teaching and preaching for 30 years, at first I thought this book was too basic. But as I got into it I found it very helpful, and I'm sure that it will improve my preaching and teaching abilities. I highly recommend this book, both for beginning and seasoned preachers.
Since I have been teaching and preaching for 30 years, at first I thought this book was too basic. But as I got into it I found it very helpful, and I'm sure that it will improve my preaching and teaching abilities. I highly recommend this book, both for beginning and seasoned preachers.
January 4, 2013
Very informative....having only preached once and not having any formal training, this book was a big eye-opener, mind-expander, and pressure-reliever.
March 18, 2017
Required
This should be a requirement for all preachers. I've never heard preaching broken down so well. From now own, it will something I recommend to all aspiring preachers.
This should be a requirement for all preachers. I've never heard preaching broken down so well. From now own, it will something I recommend to all aspiring preachers.
November 13, 2023
Great book
I would recommend this book to every person starting to prepare for the pulpit. The book lays out how to prep and deliver a quality sermon and do it time and again.
I would recommend this book to every person starting to prepare for the pulpit. The book lays out how to prep and deliver a quality sermon and do it time and again.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews