Letters to My Students: Volume 1: On Preaching

by Jason K. Allen

Few books have more influenced those called to gospel ministry than Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. This influence of this book, like the Prince of Preachers himself, reverberates to our present age.
 
Carrying forward this tradition is Jason Allen’s Letters to My Students. Dr. Allen serves as president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College, the former ranking as one of the largest and fastest growing seminaries in North America. Dr. Allen has also served in multiple pastorates. His passion to serve the church by equipping a generation of pastors, missionaries, and ministers for faithful service is reflected in Letters to My Students.
 
Letters to My Students is a biblical, accessible guide for ministers and ministers-in-training. It brings both biblical and practical wisdom to bear on the minister’s three main responsibilities: preaching, leading, and shepherding the flock of God.
 
Martin Lloyd-Jones famously described the call to ministry as the highest, greatest, and most glorious calling to which one can be called. If this assessment resonates with you, you’ll want every available tool to strengthen your ministry. Letters to My Students is one such resource.
 

Genres: Christian, Theology

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2019

About the author

DR. JASON ALLEN is the fifth and youngest president of Midwestern Baptist Seminary. He has served as pastor and interim pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Alabama and Kentucky over the past fifteen years. He currently serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries, including his own website www.jasonkallen.com, where he writes on various topics including higher education, theology, preaching, and cultural and local church issues. He and his wife, Karen, have five children: Anne-Marie, Caroline, William, Alden, and Elizabeth.

Reviews

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Letters to My Students: Volume 1: On Preaching by Jason K. Allen

1.75 stars

“To be a preacher is to be a pleader, a persuader, a beggar.”

Allen’s newest novel is an ode to Charles Spurgeon’s letter to his students and Allen (a seminary professor and Baptist pastor) embarks in writing a series of letters on the subject of preaching. It is important to preface that this is Allen’s own personal preferences and go-to tricks of preaching. Allen makes a wide variety of points from the importance of sermons being exegetical to sermons being predominantly focused on teaching a book or letter of the Bible as a series instead of a series of topics. Allen has some good points. Particularly towards the end when I was beginning to continuously regret opening this book up daily because I was over the drawn out inconsistency of his writing on the page. Allen delivered some key points that I could stand behind and even applaud instead of questioning. Of course it was very simple stuff like avoiding the word “things”, staying away from timid “just my opinion” preaching, and not allowing hearers to be comfortable with sin while not condemning them to the point of them hating you. All good points that I found to be important and necessary.

I don’t have anything personal against this novel. I just don’t think it’s something I would personally use a resource. However, I do think there are a handful of people that can benefit greatly from this novel and if you are in the category and feel like this is the novel for you, then pick it up.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 1.5

Plotastic Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: *shrugs*

Thank you, B & H Books, for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[David J. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only disadvantage of the book is its compositional character: because it is made up of separate entries (i.e. letters) Dr. Allen does not dive down into any one contemporary challenge or question about the nature of preaching. This same feature is its advantage. The author is free to explore what he sees are the most important elements in preaching that are often missed in classrooms and textbooks. Like its inspirational counterpart (Spurgeon's lectures) this freedom allows the personality of the author to shine through. This is no mere mechanical explanation of a sermon, but a series of thoughts from a preacher to a new generation of preachers regarding whom Allen has both concern and excitement.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read , short, and very practical. The president of Midwestern Baptist Seminary has done a fine job of speaking to the subject of preaching. Jason Allen has written from an obvious passion of and for preaching. Great lessons peppered throughout the book.

I appreciate the conservative tone of the book. I’m already looking forward to the 2nd of his Letters to My students series. Keep up the good work.

[Andrew Bondurant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Allen has provided a helpful little book for aspiring preachers with some helpful tools for veteran preachers. The first section offers guidance in preparing to be a preacher. Especially helpful here was Allen’s chapter on developing a theology of preaching. This is a step I did not take until after beginning to preach, but have found it very helpful.

The second section focused on preparing the sermon. Allen is very helpful here and this section is one to revisit. The call to familiarization was extremely helpful as Allen calls the preacher to get familiar with (1) the audience, (2) the context of the passage, (3) knowing yourself, and (4) the culture. The call to self-awareness was especially helpful here.

The third and final section on growing in your preaching was also very strong. The final checklist before you preach that Allen provides is helpful for growing regardless of your level of experience.

The brevity of the chapters make this book ideal for an accessible development tool for preachers. The new or aspiring preacher will benefit from a slow reading of the text. slow reading will allow for application of the twenty brief chapters. The more experienced preacher will likely find it beneficial to skim some sections, while settling in on sections that are new or areas of weakness. I highly recommend this book for both new and experienced preachers. It is a book that I plan to read alongside those aspiring to become preachers from the youth group and young adults at the church I serve to help better understand the call to preach.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Primer for the Rookie and a Reminder for the Veteran

Jason K. Allen's Letters to My Students, Volume 1: On Preaching is the first of a proposed series of "letters" to his students at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) and Spurgeon College in Kansas City, Missouri. Allen was called to be president seven years ago and is leading an amazing turnaround. Having been mentored by the president of The Southern Baptist Theological, Dr. Albert Mohler, and the well-known expositor, Dr. Steven J. Lawson, Allen is well-equipped to both lead a seminary and train young men in the spiritual skill of preaching. MBTS is home to Charles Spurgeon's personal library and is the college's namesake. Following in the footsteps of Spurgeon's classic, Lectures to My Students, Allen provides a simple primer on preaching that even seasoned preachers will benefit from reading. Periodic Spurgeon quotes will tether the reader to the "Prince of Preachers" along the way.

Allen writes in a simple style that offers scriptural, sound, and sane advice on preaching and being a preacher. This biblical balance is reflected in the three short sections of the book: Section 1 - Preparing to Be a Preacher; Section 2 -Preparing Your Sermon; and Section 3 - Growing in Your Preaching. Rookie students will gain the most from Sections 1 and 2, while veteran pastors will gain the most from Section 3 though the previous sections will be a refreshing reminder. Any pastor with a humble heart and teachable spirit will profit from this easy read.

Four characteristics of Allen's primer stand out:

First, his approach is unashamedly biblical. Allen is unafraid to affirm the inerrancy, authority, clarity, sufficiency, and necessity of the Bible in life and ministry. These affirmations play out in his advice to preachers and application to preaching. "When it comes to preaching, and one’s stated beliefs about Holy Scripture, actions speak louder than words. How we handle and preach the Bible reveals what we truly believe about it" (41-42).

Second, his approach to preaching is theological and gospel-centered. He grounds the need for preaching in the depravity of mankind and the power of the gospel to save, which are essential to his "theology of preaching" (10-17).

Third, his approach is Christological. Here is where Allen's balanced approach is on display. "In short, be expositional first and Christological second" (93).

Fourth, his approach is practical without being pragmatic. Allen exhibits the wisdom of a balanced approach that remains anchored to strong convictions. The reader will benefit from his practical wisdom in relation to the following issues that can attract extreme positions: 1) defining expositional preaching [Chapters 5-6]; 2) connecting your sermons on Christ [Chapter 12]; 3) engaging cultural concerns [Chapters 14-15]; giving a pubic invitation [Chapter 16]; and preaching without ranting [Chapter 17]. You may not always agree with Allen's approach to these issues but it won't because his advice is extreme or agenda-driven.

Are you a rookie who desires to grow as a preacher in your preaching? Read this book. Are you a veteran who needs a refresher on being a preacher and preaching? Read this book. Are you mentoring the next generation of preachers? Read this book together. Do have a few trusted people who help you improve your preaching? Have them read this book. You'll be a better preacher for it and "move forward with a greater sense of stewardship to preach the gospel that as been entrusted to you" (167).

[Joseph Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

*One disclaimer: Allen holds fast to his intended audience (“his students”), so expect it to be tailored to them. If you’re looking for controversy, liberal/leftist takes, or non-evangelical viewpoints—look elsewhere. This book is good *insofar as* it's read and applied by those typical of Allen's students. In short, don't be surprised by Allen's various presuppositions.*

Jason K. Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, is a clear and compelling author. He writes with concision and force, rarely wasting a word. Letters to My Students: On Preaching is no exception. In under 200 pages, Dr. Allen discusses nearly everything a beginning preacher ought to know.

Before cracking open the book to scan the table of contents, I assumed—because of Allen’s position of prominence in a mega-denomination like the Southern Baptist Convention—that it would be vanilla: a typical, evangelical/southern baptist overview of how to write and deliver a sermon. While the book contained no less than helpful direction on writing and delivering sermons, it was replete with much more, and dare I say pleasantly unexpected, content. It is as if Allen surveyed the landscape of typical preaching-for-beginners textbooks, jotted down what was missing in all of them, and then wrote a book to fill in the gaps. I might be overstating my case a tad (this text didn’t rock my world like, say, Tim Keller’s Preaching), but nevertheless Allen’s work is crucial for beginning preachers.

The untold number of (good and helpful!) books in print demand that the preacher pick and choose his reading shrewdly; Letters to My Students ought to be on the short list.

[Daniel Ligon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feels much more like a series of conversations than it does a traditional book. Of course, this was the author's intention, as evidenced by the title. This structure (or lack of it) prevents in-depth, detailed breakdowns of specific areas of preaching, but it also makes the book very easy to read. I took my time with this book and read it a chapter or two at a time. It contains quite a bit of content that I find helpful as a young preacher. Those seeking a how-to manual for the preparation or delivery process should look elsewhere, but if you are looking for accessible, practical advice from one preacher to another, this is a great resource.

I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

[Ryan Akers · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a man nearing the end of the ordination process, this book has been helpful and encouraging. I look forward to the coming volumes on this series.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book for me right now. Starting out as a pastor, preaching semi-regularly, it met a need for me. Thank you Dr. Allen.

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Spurgeon is remembered even still as being the most popular preacher of his era, but his fingerprint upon the Kingdom of God goes even further because of his influence upon ministers and theological students down through the ages. While pastoring he organized a college for ministers and invested in them. On Fridays he would be more informal with his lectures and over time those messages were recorded and put into book form. From that we get Lectures to My Students, a wonderful collection of subject matter that covers everything from preaching, to prayer, and to ministry.
This review, though, is not of Charles Spurgeon’s work but rather of Jason Keith Allen’s work by the same title. The book to which I’m referring to is volume 1 of a series where the author desires to mentor ministers and future ministers just as Spurgeon had done many years ago.
Allen is the president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was influential in bringing that seminary from near death to a thriving and growing seminary. He serves as an associate professor for preaching and pastoral ministry, has his own weekly podcast entitled “Preaching and Preachers”, and is the author of several books, including The SBC and the 21st Century, Discerning Your Call to Ministry, Being a Christian, and Portraits of a Pastor.
I have read some of his pastor works by this is my favorite. Over the past several years I’ve attempted to be a student of the preaching process in hopes of improving my own efforts to preach. This first volume which occupies its attention squarely on preaching I have found to be one of the most refreshing and practical works that I have had the privilege to read.
In this work he has broken down the topic into three sections: preparing to be a preacher, preparing your sermon, and growing in your preaching. In these sections Allen is true to keeping the focus upon the Word of God while at the same time navigating a preacher through the events that we face that might tempt us to deter from that.
I love this book! I would encourage every pastor to read it. You will find it just as refreshing as I did. I look forward to future volumes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

[Cory Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when authors format books like this. We absolutely need larger volumes on these subjects, but books like this are super helpful for men in the trenches. Reminds me of the 50 Things preaching book and HB Charles book I read recently. Dr Allen writes in an approachable way and hits often on much needed topics reinforcing the biblical teaching with specific applications and personal experience.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing inspiration from Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students, Dr. Jason Allen presents a concise introduction to the subject of preaching. Each chapter is short and to the point, giving practical tips and the core rationale behind the essential elements of preaching. From developing a theology of preaching to choosing your words carefully to methods to grow in homiletics, Allen covers a wide array of topics in a short, readable book.

[Josh Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mostly and intro and survey of preaching. But it's strength is in reiterating truths to a preachers long after the deep study of preaching in a homiletics class has taken place, and also it is a great starting place for those new or seeking ministry. Highly recommend!

[Kevin Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is yet another solid book on preaching. It is full of wisdom that I had heard before and had not heard before. Particularly helpful was his section on preaching about current cultural issues.

[John Appleby · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Great book for those aspiring to ministry. Can’t recommend it enough. Get you a copy. Love the practicality of this book.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been many great preachers who have graced the pulpits of the world. One of the most well-known preachers is Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the eloquent Baptist pastor also known as the "Prince of Preachers." The author first experiences Spurgeon's ministry through a book given by a friend. That book was "Lectures to My Students" by Spurgeon. He was transformed and for much of his preaching life, Jason Allen learned from the thoughts and teachings of Spurgeon. In gratitude to Spurgeon and with desire to share his knowledge with others, Allen writes this volume of letters to students with regard to the topic of preaching. The three key aspects of preaching described in the letters are:
- Preparing to be a Preacher
- Preparing the Sermon
- Preparing to Preach.

Section One comprises seven chapters about the condition of the preacher. He asserts the importance of calling and the conviction with regard to preaching the Word of God. Each preacher ought to develop their own theology of preaching using the five marks proposed by Allen. They need to cultivate their ability to preach through adequate preparation and maturity in the Word. If one needs to preach, then preach expository sermons. the author shares his own journey to expository preaching and confesses that such a meticulous road through the books of the Bible also helps forms his heart. Expository preaching is being able to observe, interpret, and apply the Word from its original contexts to our contemporary times. So important is this that Allen dedicates two chapters just to talk about this. Further on, there are eight tips to learn with regard to beginning preachers.

Section Two is about the process of preparing the sermon. In six chapters, we get a gist of what it means to familiar ourselves with the Bible passage; questions we need to ask; and to be familiar with our audience. Then comes the hard work of exegesis and interpreting the text. There is no substitute for diligently analyzing and exploring the texts. Then comes the sermon outline followed by a delivery plan. Amplify the key points. I like the way he summarize the process as: "Aim to inform the mind, impact the heart, and challenge the will." Preaching is different from mere speaking from the lectern. The former essentially is about connected what we say to Christ. This is fundamental hermeneutics for the Church. There is also instructions about how we use words, in particular, to choose words that impact rather than mere instruct. That said, intentionality is more important than eloquence. The latter may wow a moment but the former will help us go the distance.

Section Three is about sustaining our journey and growth as a preacher. For some of us, it might be the most interesting section as it deals with cultural concerns; engaging contemporary issues; preaching evangelistic sermons; and learning about checklists for preaching.

My Thoughts
Few people would have the patience and time to plow through Spurgeon's sixty-three volume collection of his pulpit ministry work and his 3563 sermons preached. Such primary research and study would usually be the work of seminarians or teaching pastors. Busy preachers might rely more on secondary research and resource materials. While this set of letters from Allen would fit in the secondary resource category, I must say that it is an excellent one. The author has brilliantly condensed the essence of Spurgeon's convictions and produce a work of art to help preachers both young and old to preach better. Right from the start, Allen states that preaching is a calling and preachers need to be convicted to preach. The way he writes these letters does exactly that. Allen himself is a preacher and he shares from the heart how it can be done.

I appreciate the concise manner in which Allen categorizes the various aspects of preaching. While there are three major sections of preaching, namely the preacher, the preparation and the perseverance to grow as a preacher, Allen inserts many snippets of wisdom and incorporates the preaching gems from other famous preachers such as Richard Baxter, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Haddon Robinson, John Stott, Bryan Chapell, HB Charles, and many more. This illustrates an important point: Good preachers learn from other good preachers.

All in all, I enjoy this collection of letters. They are easy to read and shows us that preachers must never stop learning. Even the most basic skill of reading the Bible is not to be underestimated. This book is an essential resource for any preacher or anyone preparing to be a preacher.

Jason Allen is president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He converses regularly with pastors and students regarding topics on preaching, pastoral ministry and leadership. This book is a collection of his learning through these years.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of B&H Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Casey Holencik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review
Letters to My Students: Volume 1 On Preaching
Jason K Allen

Letters to My Students was very obviously written by someone who is a gifted teacher and passionate about preaching, and preaching faithfully God and His Word, the Bible. Jason Allen draws on Scripture as his main resource, as it should be, but also draws heavily on his influences, including Charles Spurgeon and Dr Steven Lawson, (Two of the very best in my opinion!). He also shares his experiences in preaching and preparing to preach. He shares the good and the bad, the wins and the lessons learned. And he is called and passionate about helping to raise up, teach and encourage the latest batch of pastors and preachers coming up.
And that’s who this is ultimately aimed at, pastors and ministers in training. In hat, I have not read a better book on preaching and preparing sermons. It goes into the call of preaching, sermon prep, the benefits and necessity of Expository Preaching, when there are right and wrong times for Topical Sermons, lessons learned, and so much more.
Throughout the book, in all the lessons, Allen keeps the focus squarely on preaching Christ, in all, and above all. He draws heavily on Spurgeons illustration regarding being able to draw a straight line from any scripture directly to Christ. Jesus should not just be an add on at the end of the sermon, nor should the Gospel.
With that, in my opinion, the best paragraph in the book starts and ends like this:
“Christian Preachers ought to preach Christ-centered and Christ-exalting sermons. If a Rabbi could preach my sermon, I still have more work to do….If you have preached a sermon without featuring Jesus, then you haven’t preached a Christian sermon.” (pg. 106)
Ultimately, I am further along in my pastoral career than the target audience of this book. However, I still learned quite a bit, was reminded of things Ive forgotten and encouraged by a lot of what was written here. I also don’t tend to highlight, underline, make notes, etc in the books that I am reading, but this book is highly marked up!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about preaching, who is traing to be a pastor (in seminary, for example) or who is early in their pastoral career. And I would also recommend it to any one who preaches, whether regularly or occasionally, whether for a few years now, or a veteran preacher.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the time of this writing, I am preparing to preach my first guest sermon away at another church. I have taught Sunday School lessons, given devotionals, and spoken at seminars, but this will be my first proper speaking engagement at another church. Jason K. Allen’s new book, Letters To My Students on Preaching, could not have come at a more proper time.

Preparing to Be a Preacher

The first part of the book is dedicated to the preacher’s calling, theology, and ability to preach. This is a short book with chapters that read more like blog posts, and Allen does not waste his words. Interestingly, he spends two chapters to convince the reader to preach expository sermons.

Allen unashamedly acknowledges his book was inspired by Charles Spurgeon. His legacy can be perceived throughout the pages. Equally influential to Allen is Dr. Steven J. Lawson. Although he stands on the shoulders of these giants, he remembers he is writing to an audience with less experience.

Preparing Your Sermon

Those who do have some experience with expository preaching will find the middle section of the book to be familiar. I was able to read it as an encouragement and exhortation to continue in the practice of correct Scripture interpretation.

He closes this section with a chapter titled Some Thoughts on Words. I found this chapter to be the most insightful, where his role as president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and experience as an associate professor for preaching and pastor ministry comes into play. He tells us what words to avoid but also what words to use. This chapter will become a checklist for me to remember.

Growing in Your Preaching

The final chapters are a fitting conclusion to the book. He writes about engaging cultural concerns, public invitations, how preaching is not ranting, and persevering as a preacher. He gets a bit more personal in a chapter on how he has matured as a preacher.

In regards to my upcoming sermon, this book has been a blessing. God willing, my preaching and teaching will not stop on that Sunday. My Sunday School co-teacher has even said I am preaching sermons as my lessons! This book will serve as a guide for generations to hold fast to Scripture and preach with passion.

I was provided a complimentary copy of Letters to My Students - Volume 1: On Preaching in exchange for an honest review.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pastors need to be lifelong expositors of the Word of God

In his new book, “Letters to My Students: Vol. I: On Preaching,” Jason K. Allen loosely bases his letters to his students in the tradition of his favorite preacher, C.H. Spurgeon, who famously wrote, “Lectures to My Students.”

Published by B&H Publishing, Allen’s 192-page book is broken down into three sections: Preparing to be a Preacher; Preaching Your Sermon; and Growing in Your Preaching.

Written with both pastors and congregations in mind, Allen shows the importance of pastors being theologians, first and foremost, who are grounded in the Word, cultivating their ability to deliver the Word of God effectively and efficiently.

Because today’s pulpits are filled with too many so-called preachers who just “wing it,” go off on different tangents and ramble on without a clear focus, Allen rightfully emphasizes the importance of studying the Word of God in both content and context via expository preaching.

It’s a verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book style of teaching that unpacks verses in context, bringing out the meaning of words and richness of the text. While topical messages have their place, this method teaches the whole counsel of God, giving congregations a workable knowledge of the Bible and encourages them to study for themselves.

Overall, the central theme of Allen’s book is this: Pastors need to be lifelong students and expositors of the Bible; not just when they need sermons for Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. His book is well-written and full of wisdom for both new and seasoned pastors.

I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through B&H Publishing. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

© 2019 by Doug S., M.A.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaching and preaching are much the same and at the same time different. Preaching must always point to Jesus. Always! Preachers are always teachers but teachers are not always preachers.

I decided to review Letters To My Students because I wanted to see how close the two are. Interestingly, and I already knew this, they are very close. The main difference is the audience. Preachers to the church body, teachers to the church body, classrooms, small groups, and individuals.

To be an effective teacher there are three commonalities:

Knowing your audience includes building trust and relationships.
Knowing yourself is about the constant awareness of your spiritual, mental, and physical health. All of who you are shows in your teaching.
Knowing what’s going on in the world your students are living in helps apply your lesson to their lives.
This book is packed with the wisdom of seasoned pastor/teacher Jason K. Allen. It is valuable to the one in the pulpit and the one in the Sunday School classroom, Bible study leader, mentor, and yes, even the public/private school teacher can gain much from reading it.

Powerful quotes:

A text cannot mean something now that it never meant. (pg. 67)

Aim to inform the mind, impact the heart, and challenge the will. (pg. 85)

Great preaching (teaching) is usually passionate preaching. For every ounce of passion in the preacher’s (teacher’s) voice, there should be a pound of compassion in the soul. (pg. 136-147)


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Broadman & Holman Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[KaTsun Tsang · Rating 3 out of 5]

With roughly seven to eight pages per chapter, the book is concise and its format is simple, yet it provides what may be the essential convictions for one to preach. Thus the book may serve to be a tool for preachers of all levels of experience. The new preacher can read this book to ignite a passion for the task and be adequately equipped with appropriate insights at the same time. The seasoned preacher may take this book as a reference handbook and renew their mind by way of a reminder of what preaching serves to accomplish. Letters to My Students is altogether informative; includes portions that are practical (eg. self-examination) and technical (eg. hermeneutics) whether that be from the author’s personal reflections or drawing theological implications from Scripture and church history (especially the third section on ‘growing the preacher’). Dr. Allen’s recollection of personal experiences and reflections spread throughout the book shows that it was written with an audience in mind, and with an audience in mind, a heart of compassion. This book can be read by pastors but also laypeople in the church as well. I can think of two reasons why: 1) The insights in the book may give an idea of what the task of preaching entails and so help picture the frequent task that pastors must accomplish on a weekly basis. 2) This book can serve as an appropriate criteria of what to look for in a pastor’s preaching and how might they be encouraged from a level of empathy from the congregation.

Full review: https://katsuntsang.wordpress.com/201...

[Andrew Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As a recent seminary graduate who has read countless books on preaching (both required and not), I would simply say that this book is a helpful, solid book on the topic. That being said, it is certainly far from the top of my list of books on preaching I would recommend. Dr. Allen spends significant space in the book quoting the likes of Haddon Robinson, Bryan Chapell, Jim Shaddix, John Stott, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones - all men that have made important contributions to the field of preaching. My suggestion would be to go read or re-read their books.

Another negative to this book is its occasional grammatical errors regarding the use of commas. While that may seem insignificant to many, it is a pet peeve of mine - especially when the book was written by a seminary president and presumably would have been read by several editors before publication.

Regardless, you will find helpful information in this book. The chapters entitled “Preaching Expository Sermons, Part 2” and “Some Thoughts on Words” were particularly practical and helpful. The question remains; however, can that information be found in better sources? I would argue affirmatively.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letters to My Students
Volume 1: On Preaching

by Jason K. Allen

B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids)

B&H Books

Christian

Pub Date 30 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Letters to My Students through B&H Books and Netgalley:

In the tradition of Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students, Jason K Allen, also offers advice to his readers who have the call to preach, whether currently preaching, or studying to become a Pastor.

In this book we are reminded that not everyone is called to Pastoral Ministry, The author goes on to point out that if we do have that call, then a personal theology of preaching needs to be developed. The personal theology of preaching must be built on a high view of scripture.

The reader of this book is reminded too that preaching is both an art form, and a science. While preparing a sermon the reader is encouraged to overprepare! While preparing a sermon the reader is reminded too know the audience you are preaching too.

I give Letters to My Students five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Chris MacLeavy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The health of the church rises or falls with the pulpit. It isn't wild or controversial to say that preaching is God's divinely ordained means for communicating his Word, nourishing his church, and for redeeming a people for himself. In Letters to My Students: On Preaching Jason K. Allen (president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and associate professor for preaching and pastoral ministry) writes out of his experience both as a preacher, and a teacher of aspiring preachers. With chapters like Eight Tips for Beginning Preachers, Preparing Your Sermon, and A Final Checklist Before You Preach Allen has provided a resource which is highly practical, helpfully specific, and undoubtedly better equips every preacher to rightly interpret and expositionally bring to bear God's Word upon the lives of God's people. Mission accomplished.

[Chris MacLeavy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The health of the church rises or falls with the pulpit. It isn't wild or controversial to say that preaching is God's divinely ordained means for communicating his Word, nourishing his church, and for redeeming a people for himself. In Letters to My Students: On Preaching Jason K. Allen (president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and associate professor for preaching and pastoral ministry) writes out of his experience both as a preacher, and a teacher of aspiring preachers. With chapters like Eight Tips for Beginning Preachers, Preparing Your Sermon, and A Final Checklist Before You Preach Allen has provided a resource which is highly practical, helpfully specific, and undoubtedly better equips every preacher to rightly interpret and expositionally bring to bear God's Word upon the lives of the God's people. Mission accomplished.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well thought out book on preaching. It deals with the call to ministry, the essence of preaching and how to become a better preacher. These issues aren't expounded strongly but do have enough substance to take the thoughts seriously. Reading this book you can really feel the care the author put in. Definitely a book to recommend.

[Emily P · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for specific advice on speaking and expository preaching, this is one that could be helpful.. However, it felt as though there was a sense of generalization to the discussion, and for me, that limits the reach of this book.

If Dr. Allen is writing to his students, it should be noted that not everyone's journey is the same. Some of the advice herein is tailored only to specific situations or people and therefore, non-applicable to those who have not had the same experience. It appears as though he is only speaking to a certain type of person.

There are outline suggestions and some other academic insights that can be gleaned from this book, but it was not one that felt encouraging or inclusive.

I was an early reader, thanks to #NetGalley and B&H Books. All opinions are my own.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Letters to My Students' has a familiar title because it aims to carry forward the tradition of the prince of preachers Spurgeon. Jason Allen, himself a gifted preacher has written this book with zeal and passion in order to equip a generation of pastors, missionaries, and others who administer the Word of God and feed the precious people to God.

This book lends itself to be accessible to all sorts of audiences. Particularly, those who want to grow in their preaching, leading and pastoring will find gems of wisdom in this work. Highly recommended!

[Matthew Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, helpful book for anyone aspiring to be a pastor or preacher. It is an easy book with short chapters, but plenty of useful information. The main topic (as in the title) is preaching, but Jason gives you practical advice that is helpful to preachers of all ages. It is helpful, but comes with a hefty tag for what it is. If you can catch it on sale, pick it up for yourself or someone else.

This book was provided to me to provide an unbiased review.

[Scott Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful introduction to preaching.