What do you think?
Rate this book
The Practices of Christian Preaching: Essentials for Effective Proclamation
Leading homiletician Jared Alcántara offers a practice-centered, collaborative, technologically innovative, next-generation introductory preaching textbook. The book breaks new ground by adopting a practice-based approach to teaching preaching and by using innovative technological delivery to enhance the educational experience of learners.
Alcántara introduces the basics of Christian preaching and emphasizes the skills preachers must cultivate throughout their lives. He shows that preachers can learn effective preaching by paying keen attention to five key conviction, context, clarity, concreteness, and creativity. Featuring the perspectives of a diverse team of collaborators, The Practices of Christian Preaching is designed to prepare effective communicators for the church's multicultural future.
Call-outs in the book direct readers to a companion website for further information or practice. The online resources include audio and video sermons, video responses from the author, and contributions from collaborators, enabling Alcántara to coach students by showing them instead of just telling them. A Spanish language edition is also available.
Alcántara introduces the basics of Christian preaching and emphasizes the skills preachers must cultivate throughout their lives. He shows that preachers can learn effective preaching by paying keen attention to five key conviction, context, clarity, concreteness, and creativity. Featuring the perspectives of a diverse team of collaborators, The Practices of Christian Preaching is designed to prepare effective communicators for the church's multicultural future.
Call-outs in the book direct readers to a companion website for further information or practice. The online resources include audio and video sermons, video responses from the author, and contributions from collaborators, enabling Alcántara to coach students by showing them instead of just telling them. A Spanish language edition is also available.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2019
2 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 19, 2022
This is an excellent intermediate resource for those who want to improve their preaching through regular practice. It skips over the basic elements of preaching and assumes a basic level of competency and knowledge.
His thesis is "preachers who cultivate life-giving preaching habits through deliberate practice will enhance their proficiency, grow in their commitment, and flourish in their homiletical ministry." The primary emphasis is placed on "deliberate practice." It is possible to preach weekly for twenty years and not grow. It is also possible to preach weekly for a year and grow tremendously with deliberate practice.
The five practices are centered around the idea of distinctly Christian sermons. The first chapter lays the groundwork for what makes a sermon not just generically Christian but filled with the gospel. The five practices are preaching "conventionally, contextually, clearly, concretely, and creatively."
This book is helpful and encouraging. It is nice to read a preaching book that doesn't focus on the basics, but on how to get better at preaching.
Anyone who wants to grow in preaching should read this. The emphasis on practices instead of the particular method makes this book applicable for preachers all over the theological spectrum. It is a book that I will return to again and again. The website mentioned in the book has some helpful questions along with sermon clips that demonstrate the practices mentioned.
His thesis is "preachers who cultivate life-giving preaching habits through deliberate practice will enhance their proficiency, grow in their commitment, and flourish in their homiletical ministry." The primary emphasis is placed on "deliberate practice." It is possible to preach weekly for twenty years and not grow. It is also possible to preach weekly for a year and grow tremendously with deliberate practice.
The five practices are centered around the idea of distinctly Christian sermons. The first chapter lays the groundwork for what makes a sermon not just generically Christian but filled with the gospel. The five practices are preaching "conventionally, contextually, clearly, concretely, and creatively."
This book is helpful and encouraging. It is nice to read a preaching book that doesn't focus on the basics, but on how to get better at preaching.
Anyone who wants to grow in preaching should read this. The emphasis on practices instead of the particular method makes this book applicable for preachers all over the theological spectrum. It is a book that I will return to again and again. The website mentioned in the book has some helpful questions along with sermon clips that demonstrate the practices mentioned.
January 28, 2023
I'm sure this was a useful writing exercise. To collect quotes and illustrations, to organize and state explicitly the convictions you've amassed in your field of practice. The kind of writing which helps to clarify your thoughts to and for yourself, something we should all do more often.
Whether that makes it a useful reading exercise...
Whether that makes it a useful reading exercise...
Read
January 31, 2023Better than expected if too long. Worth revisiting from time to time in thoughts and bullet point considerations. Readable and accessible which comes across as pedantic, patronizing, and superfluous to someone prepared to undertake stronger arguments.
February 6, 2023
please
no more preaching books i beg you
i have a family please
no more preaching books i beg you
i have a family please
June 16, 2020
I just finished Jared Alcantara's book, "The Practices of Christian Preaching," it and I am glad I took the time to read it because it is engaging and inspiring. Also, Alcantara is a New Jersey boy, just like me.
I found the organization of the book very helpful. I thought it would be a basic preaching primer with chapters on context, exegesis, outlining and delivery. But he aims higher. I appreciate his assumption that those topics have been covered elsewhere and that I probably already knew about them. He wanted to move on to the next level and that is what I found so motivational. He reminded me of the art of preaching without getting bogged down in rhetorical abstractions. He modeled Biblical preaching by reminding us of how to return to the text and how to express its central idea well.
His opening chapter on preaching Christian sermons manages to draw together Christ-centered preaching, big-idea preaching and topical preaching without raising any tensions between the methods. His description of the false gospels we are tempted to preach was basic but still helpful. As he moves into his five “C’s” of preaching I found treasure in each chapter. I was moved by his reminder that we are called to preach in his chapter on conviction. His chapter on context was practical and offered great guidance especially his reminder to “listen.” His chapters of being clear and concrete were the ones that will send me back to my desk to re-work my sermons. How can be clear? How can I express what I want to say with less words? In this season when we are all preaching into cameras for on-line broadcast, brevity is a virtue and his emphasis on word choice and “moving down the ladder of abstraction” were great reminders. Finally, we can all be more creative. I have been preaching for 25 years, and that is not counting youth ministry. It is easy to fall into a rut. Alcantara did not suggest using media to spice things up. He reminded me of the power of language, description, image, and observation. It moved me and motivated me.
His conclusion was a call to keep producing, keep working, keep practicing and to keep up the good work. I appreciated the affectionate and warm tone of the book, the way it challenged me and encouraged me at the same time.
I found the organization of the book very helpful. I thought it would be a basic preaching primer with chapters on context, exegesis, outlining and delivery. But he aims higher. I appreciate his assumption that those topics have been covered elsewhere and that I probably already knew about them. He wanted to move on to the next level and that is what I found so motivational. He reminded me of the art of preaching without getting bogged down in rhetorical abstractions. He modeled Biblical preaching by reminding us of how to return to the text and how to express its central idea well.
His opening chapter on preaching Christian sermons manages to draw together Christ-centered preaching, big-idea preaching and topical preaching without raising any tensions between the methods. His description of the false gospels we are tempted to preach was basic but still helpful. As he moves into his five “C’s” of preaching I found treasure in each chapter. I was moved by his reminder that we are called to preach in his chapter on conviction. His chapter on context was practical and offered great guidance especially his reminder to “listen.” His chapters of being clear and concrete were the ones that will send me back to my desk to re-work my sermons. How can be clear? How can I express what I want to say with less words? In this season when we are all preaching into cameras for on-line broadcast, brevity is a virtue and his emphasis on word choice and “moving down the ladder of abstraction” were great reminders. Finally, we can all be more creative. I have been preaching for 25 years, and that is not counting youth ministry. It is easy to fall into a rut. Alcantara did not suggest using media to spice things up. He reminded me of the power of language, description, image, and observation. It moved me and motivated me.
His conclusion was a call to keep producing, keep working, keep practicing and to keep up the good work. I appreciated the affectionate and warm tone of the book, the way it challenged me and encouraged me at the same time.
February 14, 2023
A good and practical book on how to preach effectively!
January 26, 2023
The practical considerations for how to deliberately practice the art and skill of preaching are extremely concrete and helpful.
This is a huge step up from his dissertation Crossover Preaching, which was punishing to get through. I still his style grating at times, but writing a slightly more focused and concise introduction helped his writing overall.
I still think I hate preaching books.
This is a huge step up from his dissertation Crossover Preaching, which was punishing to get through. I still his style grating at times, but writing a slightly more focused and concise introduction helped his writing overall.
I still think I hate preaching books.
July 4, 2019
What has a jazz musician got to do with a Christian preacher? Is there any connection between playing music and the preaching of the Bible? Yes there is, says author and professor Jared Alcántara. That one key word in common: Practice. Anticipating objections with regard to human-centered efforts in the ministry of the Word, the author makes a case for spiritual growth via spiritual practices and bearing fruit. He boldly claims that: "preachers who cultivate life-giving preaching habits through deliberate practice will enhance their proficiency, grow in their commitment, and flourish in their homiletical ministry." The reason for advocating constant practice is three-fold. First, without deliberate practice, no matter how skilled or knowledgeable one is, deterioration would happen over time. Second, talking about practice is different from actually doing it. Thus, the book is arranged in a practice-oriented approach. Third, there is a consistent focus on both the what and the how of preaching. Using the 5Cs to alliterate the practices of Christian preaching, Alcántara proceeds with using a chapter each to elucidate the practices.
Preach Convictionally: to let our words reflect the truth of the Bible;
Preach Contextually: to be faithful to the meaning behind the texts;
Preach Clearly: to ensure our message can be easily understood;
Preach Concretely: to remain connected with our listeners;
Preach Creatively: to learn how to break through any barriers.
In our modern age, it is increasingly tempting to bring the world instead of the Word into the pulpit. As God gets mentioned less and less, the world of self-motivation and self-fulfillment takes center stage. Preaching is a call for a return to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Otherwise, we will see more churches closing down and worshipers content only in shallow messages that hardly scrape the meaning of the gospel. Recognizing the need to swim against the tide of worldliness, Alcántara urges preachers to know the gospel that we preach; to describe the gospel that is "transformative, offensive, hopeful, prophetic, and eschatological,"; and to resist the temptation to preach "pseudo-gospels." He points out five such dangers. First, beware the "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" that teaches us to act good and feel good from a power that is less about God, but more about human efforts. Second, we must be careful not to ally the gospel too closely to political ideologies. Otherwise, people vote according to the political preferences instead of gospel principles. Third, do not use the gospel for preaching prosperity and worldliness. Fourth, avoid the use of the gospel to preach legalism. Fifth, do not preach the gospel of grace without discipleship. The way forward is to preach the Word; preach redemption in Jesus; preach both lament and hope; preach as reminders of the truth; and preach the narrative content of the text. In fact, the best antidote to any preachers' preaching would be the critique that it's not Christ-focused enough. The gospel redeems and it is important that this truth be communicated across by the preacher. Alcántara shows us the way of practicing the 5 Cs of Christian preaching.
In Preaching Convictionally, we are reminded that preaching is powerful when the preacher is convicted about the message. It inspires one to rise above oneself. Using models of conviction from Scripture, tradition, and a growing preaching life, we learn that conviction is not about the removal of doubt but a sincere belief regardless of the doubts. The author also cautions us against letting conviction tempt us toward negative traits such as workaholism; vanity; arrogance; inauthenticity; and prayerlessness. Preaching Contextually keeps us grounded in the original messages. We are reminded that the preparation before one preach is crucial. Through prayer, study, reflection, and detailed preparation, we learn to connect the past to the present, with an orientation toward the future. Alcántara gives some helpful tips about what contextualization is and what it is not. In Preaching Clearly, we learn about the importance of simplicity. Alcántara uses the example of Leonardo da Vinci's world famous painting of Mona Lisa to point out the beauty and sophistication of a simple village girl. Many of the famous preachers in the past are well-known for clarity and simplicity in their messages. The key is to put forth a memorable main idea from start to finish. I like the reminder not to count the minutes that we preach but to make every minute count. That is worth the price of the book! His imagery of a tour guide that shows guests highlights instead of everything is a great reminder about focusing on the main point. This is by far my favourite chapter. In Preaching Concretely, we learn about specificity and the importance not to become too abstract with our thoughts and words. Using the imagery of a ladder, we need to learn to climb down from a high tower to where the people are. He suggests strategies such as focusing on the details of a text; using illustrations; and showing specific applications. Finally, Preaching Creatively contains ideas, tips, and many suggestions on how to make the message come alive in the minds of both the preacher and the listener.
My Thoughts
This is a really helpful book not just for beginner preachers but for all preachers. The 5Cs of Christian Preaching are not only easy to remember, it is a message in itself for preachers and preachers to be. I like the way Alcántara stresses the importance of preaching Christian sermons, and to remind us not to become too influenced by the world of entertainment and showbiz. TV, movies, YouTube, and all the sensational staff may thrill listeners for a while. However, it is the Word of God that would last eternally. For the Word of God is eternal. That is why preachers must not only preach the Word, but to do so with conviction, with contextual understanding, with clarity, with concrete communications; and with creative mindset. In fact, if preachers could just do one of the Cs very well, it would have made a major impact on the overall sermon.
The strengths of this book is in its clarity and ease of remembering the concepts. In fact, throughout the book, Alcántara has put his very words into practice. For instance, he opens up with conviction about the very title of the chapter, using focused quotes from well-known individuals to give readers a big introduction. he then describes the contexts of the chapter with conviction. The examples and illustrations are relevant and poignant. Alcántara not only talks about the need to be concrete. He shows us. I like the many images and illustrations used which highlight the key concepts of each chapter. Reading this book alone energizes the reader and the preacher not only to preach well, but to want to preach well.
If there is a weakness, I would say there is a lack of visual images, tables, or symbols throughout the book. Perhaps, the copy I have is not a final edition. I would hope that the final version would have some visual art to bring across the point, such as Leonardo da Vinci's works. Just saying.
I am happy to recommend this book to anyone interested in preaching or are involved in the ministry of preaching.
Jared E Alcántara is associate professor of preaching at George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Baylor University. He is also the holder of the Paul W. Powell endowed chair of preaching. He has also served as youth pastor, associate pastor, and teaching pastor various states such as Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Jersey.
Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Preach Convictionally: to let our words reflect the truth of the Bible;
Preach Contextually: to be faithful to the meaning behind the texts;
Preach Clearly: to ensure our message can be easily understood;
Preach Concretely: to remain connected with our listeners;
Preach Creatively: to learn how to break through any barriers.
In our modern age, it is increasingly tempting to bring the world instead of the Word into the pulpit. As God gets mentioned less and less, the world of self-motivation and self-fulfillment takes center stage. Preaching is a call for a return to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Otherwise, we will see more churches closing down and worshipers content only in shallow messages that hardly scrape the meaning of the gospel. Recognizing the need to swim against the tide of worldliness, Alcántara urges preachers to know the gospel that we preach; to describe the gospel that is "transformative, offensive, hopeful, prophetic, and eschatological,"; and to resist the temptation to preach "pseudo-gospels." He points out five such dangers. First, beware the "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" that teaches us to act good and feel good from a power that is less about God, but more about human efforts. Second, we must be careful not to ally the gospel too closely to political ideologies. Otherwise, people vote according to the political preferences instead of gospel principles. Third, do not use the gospel for preaching prosperity and worldliness. Fourth, avoid the use of the gospel to preach legalism. Fifth, do not preach the gospel of grace without discipleship. The way forward is to preach the Word; preach redemption in Jesus; preach both lament and hope; preach as reminders of the truth; and preach the narrative content of the text. In fact, the best antidote to any preachers' preaching would be the critique that it's not Christ-focused enough. The gospel redeems and it is important that this truth be communicated across by the preacher. Alcántara shows us the way of practicing the 5 Cs of Christian preaching.
In Preaching Convictionally, we are reminded that preaching is powerful when the preacher is convicted about the message. It inspires one to rise above oneself. Using models of conviction from Scripture, tradition, and a growing preaching life, we learn that conviction is not about the removal of doubt but a sincere belief regardless of the doubts. The author also cautions us against letting conviction tempt us toward negative traits such as workaholism; vanity; arrogance; inauthenticity; and prayerlessness. Preaching Contextually keeps us grounded in the original messages. We are reminded that the preparation before one preach is crucial. Through prayer, study, reflection, and detailed preparation, we learn to connect the past to the present, with an orientation toward the future. Alcántara gives some helpful tips about what contextualization is and what it is not. In Preaching Clearly, we learn about the importance of simplicity. Alcántara uses the example of Leonardo da Vinci's world famous painting of Mona Lisa to point out the beauty and sophistication of a simple village girl. Many of the famous preachers in the past are well-known for clarity and simplicity in their messages. The key is to put forth a memorable main idea from start to finish. I like the reminder not to count the minutes that we preach but to make every minute count. That is worth the price of the book! His imagery of a tour guide that shows guests highlights instead of everything is a great reminder about focusing on the main point. This is by far my favourite chapter. In Preaching Concretely, we learn about specificity and the importance not to become too abstract with our thoughts and words. Using the imagery of a ladder, we need to learn to climb down from a high tower to where the people are. He suggests strategies such as focusing on the details of a text; using illustrations; and showing specific applications. Finally, Preaching Creatively contains ideas, tips, and many suggestions on how to make the message come alive in the minds of both the preacher and the listener.
My Thoughts
This is a really helpful book not just for beginner preachers but for all preachers. The 5Cs of Christian Preaching are not only easy to remember, it is a message in itself for preachers and preachers to be. I like the way Alcántara stresses the importance of preaching Christian sermons, and to remind us not to become too influenced by the world of entertainment and showbiz. TV, movies, YouTube, and all the sensational staff may thrill listeners for a while. However, it is the Word of God that would last eternally. For the Word of God is eternal. That is why preachers must not only preach the Word, but to do so with conviction, with contextual understanding, with clarity, with concrete communications; and with creative mindset. In fact, if preachers could just do one of the Cs very well, it would have made a major impact on the overall sermon.
The strengths of this book is in its clarity and ease of remembering the concepts. In fact, throughout the book, Alcántara has put his very words into practice. For instance, he opens up with conviction about the very title of the chapter, using focused quotes from well-known individuals to give readers a big introduction. he then describes the contexts of the chapter with conviction. The examples and illustrations are relevant and poignant. Alcántara not only talks about the need to be concrete. He shows us. I like the many images and illustrations used which highlight the key concepts of each chapter. Reading this book alone energizes the reader and the preacher not only to preach well, but to want to preach well.
If there is a weakness, I would say there is a lack of visual images, tables, or symbols throughout the book. Perhaps, the copy I have is not a final edition. I would hope that the final version would have some visual art to bring across the point, such as Leonardo da Vinci's works. Just saying.
I am happy to recommend this book to anyone interested in preaching or are involved in the ministry of preaching.
Jared E Alcántara is associate professor of preaching at George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Baylor University. He is also the holder of the Paul W. Powell endowed chair of preaching. He has also served as youth pastor, associate pastor, and teaching pastor various states such as Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Jersey.
Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
October 3, 2019
I do not give out 5-star ratings lightly, which is why every preacher and teacher of preaching should devour this volume! Alcantara approaches preaching from a direction that few have, but more doing -- that of preaching as an art that must be practiced.
Drawing on the example of Charlie Parker, the famed jazz saxophonist who practiced for hours a day, Alcantara walks the reader through 6 "practices" that can improve one's preaching. Of these practices, two stood out to me. First, Alcantara challenges preachers to preach "Christian sermons" (chapter 1). This may seem strange, as I still remember a college peer who once stated "What else would we preach?" when I told him I was reading Bryan Chappell's book Chris-Centered Preaching for one of my preaching classes. Alcantara argues that we can too easily stray away from the Bible, the gospel and the God whom the Bible speaks of. We must strive to keep our sermons "Christian" rather than cool.
Second, Alcantara challenges preachers to preach "concretely" (chapter 5). Sermons should connect to the real world around the listener, not simply float up into the sky. Alcantara is probably at his finest here as he unpacks ways to illuminate the scriptural teaching of the sermon. My only real complaint about this volume does come in this section, as I think he misses the true meaning of an application, however the rest of the book is fantastic.
Drawing on the example of Charlie Parker, the famed jazz saxophonist who practiced for hours a day, Alcantara walks the reader through 6 "practices" that can improve one's preaching. Of these practices, two stood out to me. First, Alcantara challenges preachers to preach "Christian sermons" (chapter 1). This may seem strange, as I still remember a college peer who once stated "What else would we preach?" when I told him I was reading Bryan Chappell's book Chris-Centered Preaching for one of my preaching classes. Alcantara argues that we can too easily stray away from the Bible, the gospel and the God whom the Bible speaks of. We must strive to keep our sermons "Christian" rather than cool.
Second, Alcantara challenges preachers to preach "concretely" (chapter 5). Sermons should connect to the real world around the listener, not simply float up into the sky. Alcantara is probably at his finest here as he unpacks ways to illuminate the scriptural teaching of the sermon. My only real complaint about this volume does come in this section, as I think he misses the true meaning of an application, however the rest of the book is fantastic.
March 19, 2024
Book was 4 stars. Alcantara covers the basics of preaching, blending both techniques (preaching contextually, clearly, and creatively) with givens (preaching Christianly and convictionally). But the resources given online introduced me to so many wonderful and diverse preachers outside of the conventional white evangelical reformed bubble that it made my heart sing. Of course, preaching is something you can't learn from reading alone, so seeing examples of how preachers from different cultures, denominations, and backgrounds do it pushed this up to 5 stars.
Resource: https://bakeracademic.com/p/The-Pract...
Resource: https://bakeracademic.com/p/The-Pract...
June 7, 2021
Excellent book to listen to. Comes with supplimentary online materials. Broad perspective from a diverse range of traditions.
Read
July 9, 2021Excellent textbook. Less of a how-to book. I appreciate how it includes a wide range of voices and includes cultural awareness and sensivitiy in preaching
September 9, 2025
A good how to book on the subject of preaching and I can say that I understood it more the second time through.
June 12, 2019
Alcántara knows how to write a book. The prose is helpful, but rarely dry – it feels like a preaching textbook in how much material is presented, but it never reads like a textbook. For that, I am very thankful. He also uses good tools to help us remember what he is saying, using alliterations (in English and Spanish!) to drive home his five categories of growing in preaching: conviction, contextualization, clarity, concreteness, and creativity. Thankfully, all of these concepts are explained well, with definite handholds given that teach us how to move forward in our practice of these categories. (Sometimes preaching textbooks feel so esoteric they are unhelpful – thankfully, not the case here!)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews