What do you think?
Rate this book
Writing for Life and Ministry: A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers and Preachers
Is Your Biggest Ministry Obstacle Writer’s Block?
As an active member in ministry, writing is usually inevitable. Perhaps you approach these opportunities with excitement—or maybe you procrastinate to avoid the task altogether, your pages remaining forever blank. No matter how you feel about writing, approaching a project can be overwhelming. Knowing what to say can be as confusing as knowing where to begin. Perhaps for you, the first step in the writing process is simply to demystify the writing process, to realize that you are capable of accomplishing your projects. If so, then Writing for Life and Ministry is for you. Seasoned writer and writing coach Brandon J. O’Brien examines the obstacles that often inhibit ministry leaders from thriving as writers. Most importantly, he simplifies the writing process, so it is both accessible and flexible to fit your style.
Don’t let the craft of writing keep you from flourishing in your ministries. With this resource, you’ll learn how to plan, draft, and revise. The included exercises will enable you to hone your craft and develop your skills. Best of all, you’ll be ready to tackle that writing project you’ve been putting off with confidence.
As an active member in ministry, writing is usually inevitable. Perhaps you approach these opportunities with excitement—or maybe you procrastinate to avoid the task altogether, your pages remaining forever blank. No matter how you feel about writing, approaching a project can be overwhelming. Knowing what to say can be as confusing as knowing where to begin. Perhaps for you, the first step in the writing process is simply to demystify the writing process, to realize that you are capable of accomplishing your projects. If so, then Writing for Life and Ministry is for you. Seasoned writer and writing coach Brandon J. O’Brien examines the obstacles that often inhibit ministry leaders from thriving as writers. Most importantly, he simplifies the writing process, so it is both accessible and flexible to fit your style.
Don’t let the craft of writing keep you from flourishing in your ministries. With this resource, you’ll learn how to plan, draft, and revise. The included exercises will enable you to hone your craft and develop your skills. Best of all, you’ll be ready to tackle that writing project you’ve been putting off with confidence.
128 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2020
28 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Brandon J. O'Brien
10 books17 followersBrandon J. O'Brien (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is director of content and distribution for Redeemer City to City in Manhattan. He is coauthor, with E. Randolph Richards, of Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes and Paul Behaving Badly, as well as the author of The Strategically Small Church.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 26, 2020
Pastors and Christian leaders must write - whether they like it or not. Ministry involves the communication, dissemination, and proclamation of truth. Writing is one of the important vehicles that God uses to advance his kingdom purposes.
Brandon J. O’Brien offers a timely guide to help Christian leaders and strengthen their writing ministries. His book Writing for Life and Ministry is a short, readable guide that instructs, encourages, and equips a new generation of leaders.
Part 1: The Writer and the Reader
The author establishes the crucial boundaries in part 1. Christian leaders must understand that “writing is fundamentally about two human beings in a relationship: the writer and reader.” He encourages Christian leaders to dig deep and evaluate their motives for writing and the ultimate aim they seek for their readers.
O’Brien challenges ministry leaders to write for themselves. Far from being an egotistical exercise, this admonition is grounded deeply in the gospel with the goal of glorifying God by writing. “Truly great writing,” says the author, “usually emerges from your passion, knowledge, and experience.”
Finally, ministry leaders are encouraged to figure out who their audience is. In the end, writing must serve and benefit the reader. Writing must not intentionally offend. It must take into account who the readers are and what their unique needs are. Tones of grace and mercy are essential.
Part 2: The Process
The second half of the book contains the “nuts and bolts” for aspiring writers. The author presents a planning model for writers that includes brainstorming, researching, and outlining. Chapters are included with a wealth of information for each of these areas. Writers are challenged to move through a step-by-step process that fosters organization, creativity, and effectiveness.
Revising is a key part of the writing process. This step is vitally important, according to O’Brien. He cites William Zinsser who adds, “Rewriting is the essence of writing.”
Summary
Writing for Life & Ministry is different than other books on this subject. This book has heart and soul. It not only educates; it inspires. Several exercises are included to help writers put the suggested content to good use.
O’Brien includes several recommended resources that are within his grasp and help his writing process. Writing for Life & Ministry will be one of the books that will always have within an arms reach as I continue my writing endeavors.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Brandon J. O’Brien offers a timely guide to help Christian leaders and strengthen their writing ministries. His book Writing for Life and Ministry is a short, readable guide that instructs, encourages, and equips a new generation of leaders.
Part 1: The Writer and the Reader
The author establishes the crucial boundaries in part 1. Christian leaders must understand that “writing is fundamentally about two human beings in a relationship: the writer and reader.” He encourages Christian leaders to dig deep and evaluate their motives for writing and the ultimate aim they seek for their readers.
O’Brien challenges ministry leaders to write for themselves. Far from being an egotistical exercise, this admonition is grounded deeply in the gospel with the goal of glorifying God by writing. “Truly great writing,” says the author, “usually emerges from your passion, knowledge, and experience.”
Finally, ministry leaders are encouraged to figure out who their audience is. In the end, writing must serve and benefit the reader. Writing must not intentionally offend. It must take into account who the readers are and what their unique needs are. Tones of grace and mercy are essential.
Part 2: The Process
The second half of the book contains the “nuts and bolts” for aspiring writers. The author presents a planning model for writers that includes brainstorming, researching, and outlining. Chapters are included with a wealth of information for each of these areas. Writers are challenged to move through a step-by-step process that fosters organization, creativity, and effectiveness.
Revising is a key part of the writing process. This step is vitally important, according to O’Brien. He cites William Zinsser who adds, “Rewriting is the essence of writing.”
Summary
Writing for Life & Ministry is different than other books on this subject. This book has heart and soul. It not only educates; it inspires. Several exercises are included to help writers put the suggested content to good use.
O’Brien includes several recommended resources that are within his grasp and help his writing process. Writing for Life & Ministry will be one of the books that will always have within an arms reach as I continue my writing endeavors.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
November 9, 2020
A brief, practical guide on planning, drafting, and revising your writing. Filled with helpful nuggets that can be applied to writing sermons, lessons, articles, or books. Would readily recommend to those who desire to write or write better.
September 14, 2021
This was a fantastic little read on practical helps for writing in ministry. Concise, clear, and helpful!
September 5, 2020
***DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE FROM MOODY PUBLISHERS TO REVIEW***
Brandon J. O’Brien’s Writing For Life & Ministry: A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers & Preachers represents the third book I have reviewed for Moody Publishers this year. The book’s title is self-explanatory; it is a practical guide to the writing process that helps preachers and teachers in life and ministry. It is a bit of a “how-to” book. Moreover, one can gain the most from this book by engaging in all the writing exercises O’Brien presents in this book. I must admit I did not participate in all the writing exercises in this book. Nevertheless, I believe one can (spoiler alert) still gain some good value from this book. I explain that in this review.
In the introduction (officially chapter one), O’Brien states, “The purpose of this book is to help you become a better and more confident writer” (p. 8). His audience consists of anyone needing “help figuring out what to write about, who you are writing for, how to get started, and how to see a project through to the end…” (p. 8). O’Brien goes on to present what his book sections will do (pp. 9-10). It is a rather simple read. Moreover, it is a quick read; it is only 127 pages in length. Finally (looking ahead here to chapter three), O’Brien gives an important disclaimer that “you’ll only benefit from this material if you put in the work” (p. 30). I don’t think it would be fair to judge his book based on anything other than the criteria he has clearly presented. Therefore, I evaluate this book with O’Brien’s purpose, audience and disclaimer in mind.
In chapter two, O’Brien explains the differences and similarities between speaking and writing (pp. 15-20). Moreover, he begins the process of concluding most of his chapters with writing exercises for the reader to perform. As mentioned earlier, I did not partake in all the exercises. However, I did partake in the one that concluded chapter two. The exercise consisted of writing your bio in the third person. O’Brien does a real good job of equipping the reader with what to do for the exercises. I did not have to construct my bio without a foundation; O’Brien provides the necessary information to use to help in constructing the bio. This includes but is not limited to one’s name, current job, living situation, etc. (pp. 22-23).
Structurally after the first two chapters, O’Brien separates his book into two parts. Part one, spanning chapters three through seven, addresses the writer and the reader (pp. 27-58). Part two, spanning chapters eight through eighteen, focuses on the process of writing (pp. 59-118). The book concludes with sections on recommended resources on writing, resources for further reading, author acknowledgements and notes (pp. 119-125).
In chapter three, O’Brien explains the relationship between the reader and the writer (pp. 27-32). In chapter four, O’Brien states, “My first piece of writing advice is to write for yourself” (p. 33). I really appreciated that piece of advice. A little over three years ago, I launched a blog with a heavier-than-necessary emphasis on refuting false teachers in the visible church (Titus 1:9 is one of many verses I use to justify refuting false teachers in the visible church). I felt I was slaving away for people more than I was edifying myself. I did not take much time to do good, thorough, above-and-beyond research in most of my posts. I put much focus on just producing content. One can say I emphasized quantity over quality. While I felt I put out some good posts, some of my book reviews were rather lazy. I think that all combined to burn me out. After taking both an 18-month social media break and a 4-month break from writing, I re-launched my new blog. I put more emphasis on writing more sober posts than wanting to mainly refute people. One can say I took O’Brien’s advice unknowingly by writing for the sake of writing (p. 33). These days, I do write for myself. While I still refute false teachers on request (and the requests are few), I write for myself in an effort to better serve my neighbor. I also help myself in the process.
Before I move to chapter five, I want to highlight a quote I really liked (p. 34):
Think of time spent writing for yourself as time spent in a batting cage or at the driving range or practicing knife skills for cooking. It’s a chance to master the fundamentals and develop muscle memory so that when you go play a game of baseball or a round of golf or cook dinner for guests, you enjoy the experience more fully — and have more confidence — because you’re more comfortable with the basics. One reason people don’t write is because getting started is hard. Getting started becomes easier and easier when you write regularly, for the sake of writing, without the promise of publication or the pressure of a deadline.
Writing for myself more than others has taken pressure off of me. Moreover, I no longer feel as burdened to rush to finish a book I hope to write. While I have treated writing/reading/researching as my unofficial second job, I no longer set strict deadlines on myself. It has become perhaps the greatest second job anyone could want. I certainly enjoy all opportunities I get to be able to write.
Chapter five seemingly undoes the work of chapter four; chapter five places an emphasis on never writing only for one’s self (p. 43). Specifically, the chapter puts an emphasis on finding one’s ideal reader (pp. 42-46). Prior to reading this book, the concept of an ideal reader was foreign to me. I did participate in the exercise for identifying my ideal reader. I certainly have something to think about in future posts.
Chapter six addresses how to avoid alienating everyone else with one’s writing (pp. 47-52). Chapter seven, which concludes part one of this book, gives good advice on not taking writing lightly (pp. 53-56). I appreciated the fact O’Brien states to not approach writing casually (p. 55). I think I did that with my first blog. I certainly don’t do that with my current blog. As I have grown in my writing, I have placed emphasis on writing lengthy, thorough, long-form posts. I do this in an effort to not mischaracterize folk. While most of my posts are rather long (2,000-5,000 for book reviews and over 20,000 if I am refuting a false teacher in the visible church), I would hope they show I do not take writing casually.
Chapter eight essentially represents the introductory chapter of part two of this book. While part one emphasized the writer and the reader, part two focuses on more of the practicals of writing. Chapter eight introduces the reader to the stages of brainstorming, researching and outlining (p. 60). Those three topics represent the names of chapters nine, ten and eleven, respectively (pp. 63-84). I appreciated the information in chapter ten; its information on the most helpful contributions of writing reminded me of the same stuff I learned in the excellent communications classes I attended at CSU Stanislaus.
Chapter twelve introduced to me the concept of one’s best thirty minutes (pp. 85-88). It is apparently tantamount to the “tight 5” or “tight 10” stand-up routine employed by comedians (p. 85). One’s best thirty minutes of writing is basically the presentation a writer gives all the time. I suppose my best thirty minutes is when I include the Gospel presentation in my blog posts. This starts with the understanding that people (like you and me) have been born dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1-10 explains (NASB):
2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
The Bible is clear that people are born dead in trespasses and sins (2:1-3). God’s being rich in mercy makes one alive in Christ (2:4). Furthermore, it is by grace through faith that one is saved (2:5-9). It is not based on works (2:9).
If you do not believe what Ephesians 2:1-10 states, I would ask you please look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen something, even if it was small? Have you ever used God’s name in vain? Jesus said that whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). Jesus also said that if you ever get angry at someone, you’ve committed murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-26). Just the mere thoughts of adultery and murder make you guilty of the very acts themselves.
Please understand that it only takes one murder to be a murderer, one lie to be a liar and so forth. David said in Psalm 51:5 that he was conceived in sin. Genesis 6:5 states that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart is only evil continually. Clearly, man has a sin problem. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Man is in big trouble with God because of his sin. This is more amplified by the fact that perfection is the standard (Matthew 5:48).
Now, some people try to justify their sin by trying to balance it out with the good deeds that they have done. However, if you were to try that in a court of law, the judge would throw the book at you. A good judge would not accept a bribe. He would cast you off into jail. God likewise will not accept a bribe, for there is no partiality with Him (Deuteronomy 10:17; Ephesians 6:9).
Thankfully, Jesus came to solve the sin problem over 2000 years ago (Isaiah 53:1-12). You and I broke the law. Jesus paid the fine (Matthew 26:14-28:20). This means that the judge can do what’s legally right in dismissing your case. He can say, “This person has broken the law, but someone has paid his fine. He’s out of here.” This is good news.
There are two things a person must do. He must repent. This means to turn from his sin (Mark 1:16; Luke 24:36-49; 2 Timothy 2:19-26; Acts 17:30-31). He must also put his trust in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31, 17:30-31; Romans 4:1-25, 10:1-17; Galatians 3:1-14; John 6:26-29). These gifts of repentance and faith are granted by God (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:22-26). If you repent and put your trust in the Savior Jesus Christ, He will forgive you of your sins and grant you everlasting life (John 6:47). Oh may you know His mercy and grace today if you have never repented and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
Chapter thirteen addresses the concept of the written draft (pp. 89-94). Chapter fourteen explores what constitutes a good day of writing (pp. 95-98). Chapter fifteen addresses the revising process (pp. 99-104). One takeaway I grabbed from that chapter was the concept of summarizing each paragraph of a composition in one sentence each (p. 101). Those sentences then become an outline. I have never tried that with any of my posts. I think that practice can be of extreme benefit to my posts that exceed 20,000 words.
Chapter sixteen is titled, “Delete Most of The Words” (p. 105). Given my stating earlier that I write some long posts, I cringed when I saw that title. Thankfully, the principles in that title were not foreign to me; I learned much of them in college. One of the principles I did not learn in college was the principle involving eliminating religious jargon (p. 107). I smiled when O’Brien called the phrases “pour into”, “lean into”, “love on”, “marinate in”, and “do life with” meaningless (p. 107). I hear those phrases often from the seeker-driven movement. I would explain what I really feel about those phrases, but doing so would violate the principle of eliminating jargon (nails on a chalkboard, anyone?).
Chapter seventeen is titled, “Get the Rest of Your Body Involved” (p. 109). O’Brien’s emphasis here is reading words aloud in an effort to find those words that may need to be deleted from a page (pp. 109-110). O’Brien states that when his family and friends can tell him that they can “hear” him saying the words as they read his writing, it is good news (p. 110). I do read aloud when I read. However, I have not done this practice when writing. This is another practice that I believe is worth employing.
Chapter eighteen officially concludes the “chapter” portion of this book. He gives four things the reader should do (pp. 113-115):
Develop writing habits (consistency over frequency)
Read more (emphasis on reading broadly to expand creative vision and vocabulary)
Start sharing your work (doesn’t require publishing)
Start thinking about publishing (have sober expectations about it)
As mentioned earlier, the “post-chapters” part of this book features O’Brien’s recommended resources on writing and books for further reading (pp. 119-122). Apparently O’Brien keeps six resources “always” on his desk (pp. 119-120). Besides my Bible and a dictionary, I do not have anything. I did appreciate O’Brien’s warning about the adult language in one of his recommended resources (said resource being Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft).
CONCLUSION
I liked this book. O’Brien gives very simple, sober and practical information on helping one become a better and more confident writer. I know I can apply some of the points he mentioned in this book. I also appreciate his informing the reader about the proper expectations to have overall. I think anyone who wants to be a better writer will benefit from O’Brien’s work. I think he certainly accomplished what he wanted to do with this work.
Brandon J. O’Brien’s Writing For Life & Ministry: A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers & Preachers represents the third book I have reviewed for Moody Publishers this year. The book’s title is self-explanatory; it is a practical guide to the writing process that helps preachers and teachers in life and ministry. It is a bit of a “how-to” book. Moreover, one can gain the most from this book by engaging in all the writing exercises O’Brien presents in this book. I must admit I did not participate in all the writing exercises in this book. Nevertheless, I believe one can (spoiler alert) still gain some good value from this book. I explain that in this review.
In the introduction (officially chapter one), O’Brien states, “The purpose of this book is to help you become a better and more confident writer” (p. 8). His audience consists of anyone needing “help figuring out what to write about, who you are writing for, how to get started, and how to see a project through to the end…” (p. 8). O’Brien goes on to present what his book sections will do (pp. 9-10). It is a rather simple read. Moreover, it is a quick read; it is only 127 pages in length. Finally (looking ahead here to chapter three), O’Brien gives an important disclaimer that “you’ll only benefit from this material if you put in the work” (p. 30). I don’t think it would be fair to judge his book based on anything other than the criteria he has clearly presented. Therefore, I evaluate this book with O’Brien’s purpose, audience and disclaimer in mind.
In chapter two, O’Brien explains the differences and similarities between speaking and writing (pp. 15-20). Moreover, he begins the process of concluding most of his chapters with writing exercises for the reader to perform. As mentioned earlier, I did not partake in all the exercises. However, I did partake in the one that concluded chapter two. The exercise consisted of writing your bio in the third person. O’Brien does a real good job of equipping the reader with what to do for the exercises. I did not have to construct my bio without a foundation; O’Brien provides the necessary information to use to help in constructing the bio. This includes but is not limited to one’s name, current job, living situation, etc. (pp. 22-23).
Structurally after the first two chapters, O’Brien separates his book into two parts. Part one, spanning chapters three through seven, addresses the writer and the reader (pp. 27-58). Part two, spanning chapters eight through eighteen, focuses on the process of writing (pp. 59-118). The book concludes with sections on recommended resources on writing, resources for further reading, author acknowledgements and notes (pp. 119-125).
In chapter three, O’Brien explains the relationship between the reader and the writer (pp. 27-32). In chapter four, O’Brien states, “My first piece of writing advice is to write for yourself” (p. 33). I really appreciated that piece of advice. A little over three years ago, I launched a blog with a heavier-than-necessary emphasis on refuting false teachers in the visible church (Titus 1:9 is one of many verses I use to justify refuting false teachers in the visible church). I felt I was slaving away for people more than I was edifying myself. I did not take much time to do good, thorough, above-and-beyond research in most of my posts. I put much focus on just producing content. One can say I emphasized quantity over quality. While I felt I put out some good posts, some of my book reviews were rather lazy. I think that all combined to burn me out. After taking both an 18-month social media break and a 4-month break from writing, I re-launched my new blog. I put more emphasis on writing more sober posts than wanting to mainly refute people. One can say I took O’Brien’s advice unknowingly by writing for the sake of writing (p. 33). These days, I do write for myself. While I still refute false teachers on request (and the requests are few), I write for myself in an effort to better serve my neighbor. I also help myself in the process.
Before I move to chapter five, I want to highlight a quote I really liked (p. 34):
Think of time spent writing for yourself as time spent in a batting cage or at the driving range or practicing knife skills for cooking. It’s a chance to master the fundamentals and develop muscle memory so that when you go play a game of baseball or a round of golf or cook dinner for guests, you enjoy the experience more fully — and have more confidence — because you’re more comfortable with the basics. One reason people don’t write is because getting started is hard. Getting started becomes easier and easier when you write regularly, for the sake of writing, without the promise of publication or the pressure of a deadline.
Writing for myself more than others has taken pressure off of me. Moreover, I no longer feel as burdened to rush to finish a book I hope to write. While I have treated writing/reading/researching as my unofficial second job, I no longer set strict deadlines on myself. It has become perhaps the greatest second job anyone could want. I certainly enjoy all opportunities I get to be able to write.
Chapter five seemingly undoes the work of chapter four; chapter five places an emphasis on never writing only for one’s self (p. 43). Specifically, the chapter puts an emphasis on finding one’s ideal reader (pp. 42-46). Prior to reading this book, the concept of an ideal reader was foreign to me. I did participate in the exercise for identifying my ideal reader. I certainly have something to think about in future posts.
Chapter six addresses how to avoid alienating everyone else with one’s writing (pp. 47-52). Chapter seven, which concludes part one of this book, gives good advice on not taking writing lightly (pp. 53-56). I appreciated the fact O’Brien states to not approach writing casually (p. 55). I think I did that with my first blog. I certainly don’t do that with my current blog. As I have grown in my writing, I have placed emphasis on writing lengthy, thorough, long-form posts. I do this in an effort to not mischaracterize folk. While most of my posts are rather long (2,000-5,000 for book reviews and over 20,000 if I am refuting a false teacher in the visible church), I would hope they show I do not take writing casually.
Chapter eight essentially represents the introductory chapter of part two of this book. While part one emphasized the writer and the reader, part two focuses on more of the practicals of writing. Chapter eight introduces the reader to the stages of brainstorming, researching and outlining (p. 60). Those three topics represent the names of chapters nine, ten and eleven, respectively (pp. 63-84). I appreciated the information in chapter ten; its information on the most helpful contributions of writing reminded me of the same stuff I learned in the excellent communications classes I attended at CSU Stanislaus.
Chapter twelve introduced to me the concept of one’s best thirty minutes (pp. 85-88). It is apparently tantamount to the “tight 5” or “tight 10” stand-up routine employed by comedians (p. 85). One’s best thirty minutes of writing is basically the presentation a writer gives all the time. I suppose my best thirty minutes is when I include the Gospel presentation in my blog posts. This starts with the understanding that people (like you and me) have been born dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1-10 explains (NASB):
2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
The Bible is clear that people are born dead in trespasses and sins (2:1-3). God’s being rich in mercy makes one alive in Christ (2:4). Furthermore, it is by grace through faith that one is saved (2:5-9). It is not based on works (2:9).
If you do not believe what Ephesians 2:1-10 states, I would ask you please look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen something, even if it was small? Have you ever used God’s name in vain? Jesus said that whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). Jesus also said that if you ever get angry at someone, you’ve committed murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-26). Just the mere thoughts of adultery and murder make you guilty of the very acts themselves.
Please understand that it only takes one murder to be a murderer, one lie to be a liar and so forth. David said in Psalm 51:5 that he was conceived in sin. Genesis 6:5 states that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart is only evil continually. Clearly, man has a sin problem. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Man is in big trouble with God because of his sin. This is more amplified by the fact that perfection is the standard (Matthew 5:48).
Now, some people try to justify their sin by trying to balance it out with the good deeds that they have done. However, if you were to try that in a court of law, the judge would throw the book at you. A good judge would not accept a bribe. He would cast you off into jail. God likewise will not accept a bribe, for there is no partiality with Him (Deuteronomy 10:17; Ephesians 6:9).
Thankfully, Jesus came to solve the sin problem over 2000 years ago (Isaiah 53:1-12). You and I broke the law. Jesus paid the fine (Matthew 26:14-28:20). This means that the judge can do what’s legally right in dismissing your case. He can say, “This person has broken the law, but someone has paid his fine. He’s out of here.” This is good news.
There are two things a person must do. He must repent. This means to turn from his sin (Mark 1:16; Luke 24:36-49; 2 Timothy 2:19-26; Acts 17:30-31). He must also put his trust in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31, 17:30-31; Romans 4:1-25, 10:1-17; Galatians 3:1-14; John 6:26-29). These gifts of repentance and faith are granted by God (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:22-26). If you repent and put your trust in the Savior Jesus Christ, He will forgive you of your sins and grant you everlasting life (John 6:47). Oh may you know His mercy and grace today if you have never repented and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
Chapter thirteen addresses the concept of the written draft (pp. 89-94). Chapter fourteen explores what constitutes a good day of writing (pp. 95-98). Chapter fifteen addresses the revising process (pp. 99-104). One takeaway I grabbed from that chapter was the concept of summarizing each paragraph of a composition in one sentence each (p. 101). Those sentences then become an outline. I have never tried that with any of my posts. I think that practice can be of extreme benefit to my posts that exceed 20,000 words.
Chapter sixteen is titled, “Delete Most of The Words” (p. 105). Given my stating earlier that I write some long posts, I cringed when I saw that title. Thankfully, the principles in that title were not foreign to me; I learned much of them in college. One of the principles I did not learn in college was the principle involving eliminating religious jargon (p. 107). I smiled when O’Brien called the phrases “pour into”, “lean into”, “love on”, “marinate in”, and “do life with” meaningless (p. 107). I hear those phrases often from the seeker-driven movement. I would explain what I really feel about those phrases, but doing so would violate the principle of eliminating jargon (nails on a chalkboard, anyone?).
Chapter seventeen is titled, “Get the Rest of Your Body Involved” (p. 109). O’Brien’s emphasis here is reading words aloud in an effort to find those words that may need to be deleted from a page (pp. 109-110). O’Brien states that when his family and friends can tell him that they can “hear” him saying the words as they read his writing, it is good news (p. 110). I do read aloud when I read. However, I have not done this practice when writing. This is another practice that I believe is worth employing.
Chapter eighteen officially concludes the “chapter” portion of this book. He gives four things the reader should do (pp. 113-115):
Develop writing habits (consistency over frequency)
Read more (emphasis on reading broadly to expand creative vision and vocabulary)
Start sharing your work (doesn’t require publishing)
Start thinking about publishing (have sober expectations about it)
As mentioned earlier, the “post-chapters” part of this book features O’Brien’s recommended resources on writing and books for further reading (pp. 119-122). Apparently O’Brien keeps six resources “always” on his desk (pp. 119-120). Besides my Bible and a dictionary, I do not have anything. I did appreciate O’Brien’s warning about the adult language in one of his recommended resources (said resource being Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft).
CONCLUSION
I liked this book. O’Brien gives very simple, sober and practical information on helping one become a better and more confident writer. I know I can apply some of the points he mentioned in this book. I also appreciate his informing the reader about the proper expectations to have overall. I think anyone who wants to be a better writer will benefit from O’Brien’s work. I think he certainly accomplished what he wanted to do with this work.
July 30, 2024
If you want to translate your verbal communication into written communication then this a great book for you. Tailored for ministry workers and practical.
June 16, 2020
There are many content creators. There are even more content consumers. When the launch of iPads and tablets, the rate of digital consumption has risen astronomically. While the distribution medium has been shifting from paper to digital, the content provider process remains the same. Some still use ink while others are using computing devices to do the same. The writing may be on the wall for some of the more archaic methods of content creation, but that does not mean writing is a lost practice. We need more, especially good content. Along with that, we need more good (and confident) writers. The purpose of this book is to encourage writers and writers to be to be a better writer. We learn from the author about tools, processes, and best practices for writing. Some of the special attributes in this book are:
- Personal: Identifying our uniqueness
- People: Know our audience
- Process: Planning, Drafting, and Revising
- What things to write about?
- Know our passions and desires.
O'Brien encourages those who communicate orally to write. After listing down the differences between speaking and writing, he says that speaking can make one an even better writer! One practice is to learn to write about ourselves in the third person. This puts the writer on the same side as readers, to improve level of empathy. Part One of the book looks at the writer and the reader relationship. We do not write simply because of self-expression. We write so that others can see where we are going, and to identify themselves with our stories. He urges us to write not only for ourselves but also for others. He does a good job to remind us consistently that when we write, we need to compare perspectives so that what we write will connect with our audience.
Part Two looks at the process of writing. It starts with a plan that includes the three phases: brainstorming, researching, and outlining. A great practice would be to write about our "best thirty minutes." He provides tips about drafting our work and organizing our thoughts. The major work is actually revising. He then suggests ways to help us clear up our writing through deleting unnecessary words, jargon, and other technical words. Use verbs frequently. Simplify redundancies. Avoid using more words than needed.
My Thoughts
==============
This is a wonderful primer about writing to guide various groups of people. The first group is the potential writer. There are those who may think that they don't have the gift of writing. They prefer to leave it to the experts or the more eloquent. They want to enjoy reading and consuming rather than creating more content. They might also think that writing is not for them. For this group, I would say that the book will help them pick up their pen or keyboard to start writing something. Who knows, there is hidden potential in this group that is waiting to be unleashed, not just for personal development but also for blessing others.
The second group is the one that speaks more than they write. As O'Brien has pointed out, there are people who speak often but are not natural writers. They depend on "ghostwriters" to help them get their message across. For that, the author encourages them that writing does not mean they need to write a book. At least write something that translates their talents to bless not only the hearing audience but the reading audience. Perhaps, the more important thing is not to contrast their speaking or writing, but the know the differences between the two and to make the best combination for a more holistic kind of communication. Writing can provide a powerful avenue to do just that.
Finally, the third group is about those who want to write well but don't know how. They want to improve on what they have been doing. This book will definitely help. In fact, I would say that the greatest beneficiaries would be this particular group of eager writers. O'Brien provides wonderful templates, reflection questions, and essential guides to help budding and experienced writers to improve what they have been doing.
This is not a difficult book to read and to follow. What is more difficult is our determination to actually start writing and to embark upon the process of writing. It may be hard at first, but the rewards are plenty. May this book inspire readers to be writers, better writers, and inspired writers.
Brandon J. O’Brien (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Director of Content Development and Distribution for Redeemer City to City, where he coordinates, edits, and shepherds writing projects with Pastor Timothy Keller and urban church planters around the world. Brandon has served in pastoral ministry, worked in publishing, authored a few books, and taught for state and Christian colleges and universities. He and his wife Amy and their two children live in Uptown Manhattan. They enjoy good food, good company, and exploring New York City.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Moody Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
- Personal: Identifying our uniqueness
- People: Know our audience
- Process: Planning, Drafting, and Revising
- What things to write about?
- Know our passions and desires.
O'Brien encourages those who communicate orally to write. After listing down the differences between speaking and writing, he says that speaking can make one an even better writer! One practice is to learn to write about ourselves in the third person. This puts the writer on the same side as readers, to improve level of empathy. Part One of the book looks at the writer and the reader relationship. We do not write simply because of self-expression. We write so that others can see where we are going, and to identify themselves with our stories. He urges us to write not only for ourselves but also for others. He does a good job to remind us consistently that when we write, we need to compare perspectives so that what we write will connect with our audience.
Part Two looks at the process of writing. It starts with a plan that includes the three phases: brainstorming, researching, and outlining. A great practice would be to write about our "best thirty minutes." He provides tips about drafting our work and organizing our thoughts. The major work is actually revising. He then suggests ways to help us clear up our writing through deleting unnecessary words, jargon, and other technical words. Use verbs frequently. Simplify redundancies. Avoid using more words than needed.
My Thoughts
==============
This is a wonderful primer about writing to guide various groups of people. The first group is the potential writer. There are those who may think that they don't have the gift of writing. They prefer to leave it to the experts or the more eloquent. They want to enjoy reading and consuming rather than creating more content. They might also think that writing is not for them. For this group, I would say that the book will help them pick up their pen or keyboard to start writing something. Who knows, there is hidden potential in this group that is waiting to be unleashed, not just for personal development but also for blessing others.
The second group is the one that speaks more than they write. As O'Brien has pointed out, there are people who speak often but are not natural writers. They depend on "ghostwriters" to help them get their message across. For that, the author encourages them that writing does not mean they need to write a book. At least write something that translates their talents to bless not only the hearing audience but the reading audience. Perhaps, the more important thing is not to contrast their speaking or writing, but the know the differences between the two and to make the best combination for a more holistic kind of communication. Writing can provide a powerful avenue to do just that.
Finally, the third group is about those who want to write well but don't know how. They want to improve on what they have been doing. This book will definitely help. In fact, I would say that the greatest beneficiaries would be this particular group of eager writers. O'Brien provides wonderful templates, reflection questions, and essential guides to help budding and experienced writers to improve what they have been doing.
This is not a difficult book to read and to follow. What is more difficult is our determination to actually start writing and to embark upon the process of writing. It may be hard at first, but the rewards are plenty. May this book inspire readers to be writers, better writers, and inspired writers.
Brandon J. O’Brien (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Director of Content Development and Distribution for Redeemer City to City, where he coordinates, edits, and shepherds writing projects with Pastor Timothy Keller and urban church planters around the world. Brandon has served in pastoral ministry, worked in publishing, authored a few books, and taught for state and Christian colleges and universities. He and his wife Amy and their two children live in Uptown Manhattan. They enjoy good food, good company, and exploring New York City.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Moody Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
September 15, 2020
I’ve always been a “writing pastor.” In my early years, I stuck woodenly to my full manuscript. In later years, I learned to deviate from and return to the script with ease, as the situation called for it. While I could preach or teach extemporaneously—and did so in small group settings—and even though I always knew the content of my message fairly intimately (save on a few occasions, I’ll admit), the comfort in manuscripting messages came from the future ability to transform those messages into other mediums.
A couple of months ago, I stepped down from active ministry in order to move pursue a doctorate while following my wife’s career. One of my major projects during this time is to take all of this material and rework it. Well…easier said than done. I had thought that a wealth of information would be less intimidating than a blank page and blinking cursor, but I was wrong.
Amid this process, I discovered Brandon O’Brien’s Writing for Life and Ministry. Not only did this small book give me the practical resources to break down what I needed to do and where I needed to go, it inspired me in which particular project to pick. This is a handbook I’m going to return to time and time again.
The Writer and the Reader
Part one helps writers develop their audience, which O’Brien talks about in three stages:
Write for yourself. If you’re not interested in writing it, people won’t be interested in reading it.
Write for your ideal reader. Identify your specific audience and write directly to them.
Don’t alienate everyone else. Remember that others may be “listening in” to your conversation with your audience.
The Find Your Focus worksheet is something I found very practical and very helpful in determining where to take my next writing project. But Writing for Life and Ministry also had a lot of inspirational and aspirational goals too. This first part does a great job in helping writers identify their “why” and help them take their abstract desires and put them into concrete words.
The Process
Part two is all about the process. If you’re generally a “pantser” (meaning that you write without much planning), then this process is going to be a kick in the pants for you. O’Brien advocates for a severely structured outline as a method of keeping on track and balancing the overall work. While I am an outliner myself, I probably wouldn’t be so severe on the outlining for fear of it stifling creativity and ending up with a product that feels like it rolled off a template. But, if you’re struggling to put any words on paper, this would be a good place to start.
The chapter on brainstorming is one I found exceptionally helpful because my problem is not “What thing I should write?” but “Which of the things should I write?” Using his brainstorming method, I determined which of my projects it made sense to tackle next.
Writing for Life and Ministry
Writing for Life and Ministry is one of those books that will never be far away from my keyboard. Brandon O’Brien’s concise, practical, and inspirational advice is exactly what those in ministry need to take their teaching and preaching ministries to a wider audience. I may even have to buy a second copy, because the current one already looks well-worn from use!
A couple of months ago, I stepped down from active ministry in order to move pursue a doctorate while following my wife’s career. One of my major projects during this time is to take all of this material and rework it. Well…easier said than done. I had thought that a wealth of information would be less intimidating than a blank page and blinking cursor, but I was wrong.
Amid this process, I discovered Brandon O’Brien’s Writing for Life and Ministry. Not only did this small book give me the practical resources to break down what I needed to do and where I needed to go, it inspired me in which particular project to pick. This is a handbook I’m going to return to time and time again.
The Writer and the Reader
Part one helps writers develop their audience, which O’Brien talks about in three stages:
Write for yourself. If you’re not interested in writing it, people won’t be interested in reading it.
Write for your ideal reader. Identify your specific audience and write directly to them.
Don’t alienate everyone else. Remember that others may be “listening in” to your conversation with your audience.
The Find Your Focus worksheet is something I found very practical and very helpful in determining where to take my next writing project. But Writing for Life and Ministry also had a lot of inspirational and aspirational goals too. This first part does a great job in helping writers identify their “why” and help them take their abstract desires and put them into concrete words.
The Process
Part two is all about the process. If you’re generally a “pantser” (meaning that you write without much planning), then this process is going to be a kick in the pants for you. O’Brien advocates for a severely structured outline as a method of keeping on track and balancing the overall work. While I am an outliner myself, I probably wouldn’t be so severe on the outlining for fear of it stifling creativity and ending up with a product that feels like it rolled off a template. But, if you’re struggling to put any words on paper, this would be a good place to start.
The chapter on brainstorming is one I found exceptionally helpful because my problem is not “What thing I should write?” but “Which of the things should I write?” Using his brainstorming method, I determined which of my projects it made sense to tackle next.
Writing for Life and Ministry
Writing for Life and Ministry is one of those books that will never be far away from my keyboard. Brandon O’Brien’s concise, practical, and inspirational advice is exactly what those in ministry need to take their teaching and preaching ministries to a wider audience. I may even have to buy a second copy, because the current one already looks well-worn from use!
April 15, 2020
Rating: 4 out of 5
I chose to read Writing for Life and Ministry: A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers and Preachers by Brandon J. O'Brien because I enjoy writing. However, I don't consider myself a good writer (and looking at the statistics of my blog, neither do other people), so I would like to improve. I've also always imagined writing a book, but I've never taken the time to actually try to do it. Even if this book wasn't targeted primarily to leaders in ministry (and I am not one of those people), I do like to write about Christianity and topics related to it. Even if this book wasn't targeted to leaders in ministry, I probably would have grabbed the book anyway to improve my skills.
I think I created unrealistic (and probably impossible) expectations from this book. I wanted to know the secret, the one key that unlocked an undiscovered ability to be able to capture the audience, make them laugh, make them cry, and increase my website traffic to the point where I could call myself an author and start to write for a living.
Instead, I got practical advice that requires practice and effort. Even though there's no guarantee that I'll ever become a professional writer, if I follow the advice and put in the effort then my writing should improve and come naturally.
This book does a great job helping those who don't necessarily enjoy writing or aren't skilled writers become better writers. From the beginning stages of writing to the revising and editing stages of writing, O'Brien helps the reader refine their topic, define their audience, and find their voice. As someone continues to practice, they're abilities, skills, and voice will be able to sharpen and come more into focus.
Since this book is intended for people in ministry, it doesn't spend a lot of time on the publishing process. Most people in ministry intend to write specifically for their own congregation, so being published isn't always necessary. O'Brien's goal is to help someone in ministry to get their thoughts, sermons, lessons, etc. on paper (or maybe a blog) and distributed to a limited audience. But for those who do want to be published, O'Brien adds a chapter on how to start the process.
As much as I enjoyed this book and intend to put its suggestions into practice, I thought a lot of it was a bit of a refresher of what I learned back in high school. It was a good refresher (and for me, a necessary one), but I kept finding myself thinking, “I already knew that, but I forgot that I knew it, so I'm glad I was reminded” But it wasn't all redundant. There were some new and helpful suggestions that I think will be beneficial if I turn them into habits.
Even though this book is targeted to those in ministry, it offers practical advice for everyone who wants to improve their writing. Some of the terminology may not be relevant, but the general content is applicable to all writers.
This book was lent to me courtesy of Netgalley.com for review purposes.
I chose to read Writing for Life and Ministry: A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers and Preachers by Brandon J. O'Brien because I enjoy writing. However, I don't consider myself a good writer (and looking at the statistics of my blog, neither do other people), so I would like to improve. I've also always imagined writing a book, but I've never taken the time to actually try to do it. Even if this book wasn't targeted primarily to leaders in ministry (and I am not one of those people), I do like to write about Christianity and topics related to it. Even if this book wasn't targeted to leaders in ministry, I probably would have grabbed the book anyway to improve my skills.
I think I created unrealistic (and probably impossible) expectations from this book. I wanted to know the secret, the one key that unlocked an undiscovered ability to be able to capture the audience, make them laugh, make them cry, and increase my website traffic to the point where I could call myself an author and start to write for a living.
Instead, I got practical advice that requires practice and effort. Even though there's no guarantee that I'll ever become a professional writer, if I follow the advice and put in the effort then my writing should improve and come naturally.
This book does a great job helping those who don't necessarily enjoy writing or aren't skilled writers become better writers. From the beginning stages of writing to the revising and editing stages of writing, O'Brien helps the reader refine their topic, define their audience, and find their voice. As someone continues to practice, they're abilities, skills, and voice will be able to sharpen and come more into focus.
Since this book is intended for people in ministry, it doesn't spend a lot of time on the publishing process. Most people in ministry intend to write specifically for their own congregation, so being published isn't always necessary. O'Brien's goal is to help someone in ministry to get their thoughts, sermons, lessons, etc. on paper (or maybe a blog) and distributed to a limited audience. But for those who do want to be published, O'Brien adds a chapter on how to start the process.
As much as I enjoyed this book and intend to put its suggestions into practice, I thought a lot of it was a bit of a refresher of what I learned back in high school. It was a good refresher (and for me, a necessary one), but I kept finding myself thinking, “I already knew that, but I forgot that I knew it, so I'm glad I was reminded” But it wasn't all redundant. There were some new and helpful suggestions that I think will be beneficial if I turn them into habits.
Even though this book is targeted to those in ministry, it offers practical advice for everyone who wants to improve their writing. Some of the terminology may not be relevant, but the general content is applicable to all writers.
This book was lent to me courtesy of Netgalley.com for review purposes.
June 1, 2020
Writing for Life and Ministry
A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers and Preachers
by Brandon J O'Brien
Moody Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 07 Jul 2020
I am reviewing a copy of Writing for Life and Ministry through Moody Publishers and Netgalley:
Writing In Life and Ministry is a different kind of writing book.
If you are an active member in ministry, whichever ministry that maybe it is inevitable that you will have to do some form of writing. Maybe the task of writing excites you, you can’t wait to get your creative juices flowing, or perhaps you procrastinate leaving only blank pages. Not everyone is called to write a book but it is inevitable that you will have to write something, perhaps a newsletter, a blog post, or even an email.
If you are new to writing you may feel overwhelmed and feel as if you don’t have a voice, rest assured you do, and you will find it.
No matter what you are writing it is important that you know the audience you are writing for, and define the relationship between writer and reader. Effective writers know themselves and know what they are trying to say.
As Christian writers it is important to remember we are not writing only for ourselves but we are writing to glorify God.
As was stated earlier we need to know our audience but we need to do that without alienating anyone else who may be reading what we have written.
It is a good idea to start your research for whichever project you are going to be writing that you start by focusing on personal reflection. Setting a timer for thirty minutes and writing whatever comes to mind is a good idea. The idea of this exercise is to help you find out what you already know.
After spending some time in self reflection you should focus on finding out what the key issues and questions are. It is important that you also research the issues and questions relevant to the topic you are going to write about. You are encouraged too to revisit your personal reflections.
Outlining the topic, you are going to write on is also encouraged. Setting a timer for 30 minutes, in order to brainstorm your topic of choice is encouraged as well. Spend at the very least an hour on research though you will likely need more time than that. Outline, and then it is a good idea to write a Mission Statement for your work.
After doing everything mentioned above, you can start working on your first draft. This is the second of a three stage process, planning, drafting and revising. This is stage 2 drafting. It is important that you write your first draft to an appropriate length. If you don’t have a deadline to get your work finished, it is a good idea to set a deadline.
During the revision process you will likely end up deleting most of what you have written, in order to make room for the final product.
I give Writing for Life and Ministry five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
A Practical Guide to the Writing Process for Teachers and Preachers
by Brandon J O'Brien
Moody Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 07 Jul 2020
I am reviewing a copy of Writing for Life and Ministry through Moody Publishers and Netgalley:
Writing In Life and Ministry is a different kind of writing book.
If you are an active member in ministry, whichever ministry that maybe it is inevitable that you will have to do some form of writing. Maybe the task of writing excites you, you can’t wait to get your creative juices flowing, or perhaps you procrastinate leaving only blank pages. Not everyone is called to write a book but it is inevitable that you will have to write something, perhaps a newsletter, a blog post, or even an email.
If you are new to writing you may feel overwhelmed and feel as if you don’t have a voice, rest assured you do, and you will find it.
No matter what you are writing it is important that you know the audience you are writing for, and define the relationship between writer and reader. Effective writers know themselves and know what they are trying to say.
As Christian writers it is important to remember we are not writing only for ourselves but we are writing to glorify God.
As was stated earlier we need to know our audience but we need to do that without alienating anyone else who may be reading what we have written.
It is a good idea to start your research for whichever project you are going to be writing that you start by focusing on personal reflection. Setting a timer for thirty minutes and writing whatever comes to mind is a good idea. The idea of this exercise is to help you find out what you already know.
After spending some time in self reflection you should focus on finding out what the key issues and questions are. It is important that you also research the issues and questions relevant to the topic you are going to write about. You are encouraged too to revisit your personal reflections.
Outlining the topic, you are going to write on is also encouraged. Setting a timer for 30 minutes, in order to brainstorm your topic of choice is encouraged as well. Spend at the very least an hour on research though you will likely need more time than that. Outline, and then it is a good idea to write a Mission Statement for your work.
After doing everything mentioned above, you can start working on your first draft. This is the second of a three stage process, planning, drafting and revising. This is stage 2 drafting. It is important that you write your first draft to an appropriate length. If you don’t have a deadline to get your work finished, it is a good idea to set a deadline.
During the revision process you will likely end up deleting most of what you have written, in order to make room for the final product.
I give Writing for Life and Ministry five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
October 22, 2020
Writing for Life and Ministry by Brandon J. O’Brien is a brief yet incredibly helpful book. This resource was created to help those in ministry who may not have a background in writing. It includes practical tips as well as exercises for growing as a writer. The writing process is broken down into 3 main components: planning, drafting, and revising. Although these components are academic in nature, O’Brien discusses them in a way that is practical and personable.
Writing for Life and Ministry is composed in an easy to read, accessible manner. While much of the book contains detailed instruction for writing itself, it also includes encouragement for writers. I was really thankful for O’Brien’s reminder that writing is a way of serving people and as such ought not to be taken lightly. “Why not come to writing lightly?” O’Brien asked on page 54. He answered, “Because the people who choose to be your readers have paid you an extraordinary honor. They have given you their attention for the length of time it takes them to read your post or book or newsletter. They have given you some measure of authority to shape the way they understand the world and how to live their lives. You honor their investment in you when you take your task seriously.”
O’Brien draws from the wisdom of other writers, both Christian and non, who have gone before him. The writers he mentions range from Stephen King to Anne Lamott. O’Brien includes quotes by Anne Lamott, who is a self-proclaimed born again Christian. It’s important to note that many Christians value her contributions to writing yet forsake her unbiblical theology. I believe this to be true of O’Brien. While some may feel bothered by his including the quotes, the ones he uses are about the craft of writing. While I don’t know that I would read or recommend Lamott’s works, I was not bothered by reading these quotes as they supported the purpose of the book which is to help Christians (and even non-Christians) grow as writers, not necessarily as theologians.
One aspect that I really appreciated in the book, is O’Brien’s reminder to writers to carefully and concisely choose their words. On page 49 he said, “It doesn’t really matter what you meant. What matters is how it sounds. Be gracious to a fault.” This is simple yet essential advice, especially for Christian writers.
Writing for Life and Ministry is an excellent resource for anyone hoping to learn about writing and I highly recommend it.
I received Writing for Life and Ministry compliments of Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
Writing for Life and Ministry is composed in an easy to read, accessible manner. While much of the book contains detailed instruction for writing itself, it also includes encouragement for writers. I was really thankful for O’Brien’s reminder that writing is a way of serving people and as such ought not to be taken lightly. “Why not come to writing lightly?” O’Brien asked on page 54. He answered, “Because the people who choose to be your readers have paid you an extraordinary honor. They have given you their attention for the length of time it takes them to read your post or book or newsletter. They have given you some measure of authority to shape the way they understand the world and how to live their lives. You honor their investment in you when you take your task seriously.”
O’Brien draws from the wisdom of other writers, both Christian and non, who have gone before him. The writers he mentions range from Stephen King to Anne Lamott. O’Brien includes quotes by Anne Lamott, who is a self-proclaimed born again Christian. It’s important to note that many Christians value her contributions to writing yet forsake her unbiblical theology. I believe this to be true of O’Brien. While some may feel bothered by his including the quotes, the ones he uses are about the craft of writing. While I don’t know that I would read or recommend Lamott’s works, I was not bothered by reading these quotes as they supported the purpose of the book which is to help Christians (and even non-Christians) grow as writers, not necessarily as theologians.
One aspect that I really appreciated in the book, is O’Brien’s reminder to writers to carefully and concisely choose their words. On page 49 he said, “It doesn’t really matter what you meant. What matters is how it sounds. Be gracious to a fault.” This is simple yet essential advice, especially for Christian writers.
Writing for Life and Ministry is an excellent resource for anyone hoping to learn about writing and I highly recommend it.
I received Writing for Life and Ministry compliments of Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2020
Writing is a tricky thing. We all grow up forced to write essay after essay, and this leaves many scarred with no fond memories of putting pen to paper. Upon growing up, many find themselves again feeling pressure to write, whether required for work, or friends or family encouraging one to start a blog or write a book. Regardless of one’s motivation (or lack thereof) to write, writing is always a challenge. Writing for Life and Ministry: A Practical Guide to Writing for Publication serves as a short and sweet exhortation for those who want to write publicly but either can’t work up the motivation, or can’t figure out how to write something worth reading.
Brandon J. O’Brien is an accomplished author and has been a professional writer for over a decade, and his experience combined with humility and compassion allows this book to be a charming and loving help for those who struggle to write. If you write, want to write, or think you may someday want to write, this book will be of service to you.
O’Brien not only serves to encourage budding writers, but offers comprehensible and practical advice for how to get writing and keep writing. O’Brien lays out a simple gameplan for how to produce written content of any form. Any writer can benefit from the steps O’Brien lays out. For my own writing, the most beneficial contribution of this book is the focus on preparation and research prior to writing. O’Brien’s system for preparing one’s mind and heart for writing is simple, and I have immediately adapted some of his tips and advice into my own writing (this review included).
I am thankful for the opportunity to have read this book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone who does write, or wants to write.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this book from Moody Publishers via NetGalley for the purpose of this honest review.
Brandon J. O’Brien is an accomplished author and has been a professional writer for over a decade, and his experience combined with humility and compassion allows this book to be a charming and loving help for those who struggle to write. If you write, want to write, or think you may someday want to write, this book will be of service to you.
O’Brien not only serves to encourage budding writers, but offers comprehensible and practical advice for how to get writing and keep writing. O’Brien lays out a simple gameplan for how to produce written content of any form. Any writer can benefit from the steps O’Brien lays out. For my own writing, the most beneficial contribution of this book is the focus on preparation and research prior to writing. O’Brien’s system for preparing one’s mind and heart for writing is simple, and I have immediately adapted some of his tips and advice into my own writing (this review included).
I am thankful for the opportunity to have read this book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone who does write, or wants to write.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this book from Moody Publishers via NetGalley for the purpose of this honest review.
July 27, 2020
Co-Director of Content Development and Distribution for Redeemer City to City, Brandon J. O'Brien coordinates, edits and assists with writing projects. Writer of several books, he has also worked in the publishing industry. As a result, he has accumulated a lot of experience in helping others succeed at writing books that people want to read.
Specifically, he teaches those who are more comfortable with public speaking, preaching and teaching to put their words to paper. As a writing coach, O'Brien is familiar with the ins and outs of the writing process.
"Writing For Life & Ministry" is very organized and targets each facet of the writing process. The exercises will help would-be writers define their purpose and stay focused on the mission of their books. O'Brien teaches writers how to plan, draft and revise writing projects and offers practical tips and guidelines to help them be as effective a writer as they are a speaker. New writers will benefit from this book even if they aren't public speakers or teachers. The disorganized writer will find tremendous benefits from O'Brien's advise.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Moody Publishers, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a 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.”
Specifically, he teaches those who are more comfortable with public speaking, preaching and teaching to put their words to paper. As a writing coach, O'Brien is familiar with the ins and outs of the writing process.
"Writing For Life & Ministry" is very organized and targets each facet of the writing process. The exercises will help would-be writers define their purpose and stay focused on the mission of their books. O'Brien teaches writers how to plan, draft and revise writing projects and offers practical tips and guidelines to help them be as effective a writer as they are a speaker. New writers will benefit from this book even if they aren't public speakers or teachers. The disorganized writer will find tremendous benefits from O'Brien's advise.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Moody Publishers, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a 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.”
August 11, 2020
This book is slim but jam-packed with lots of helpful tips for writers. Though this book is catered more towards ministers who already are established speakers needing help with writing, as a mere Christian blogger myself and lifelong writer, this book was very helpful. Even if you're not a speaker, there are still many nuggets to take home.
O'Brien, a writer and educated minister, educator, and writing coach himself, knows what he is talking about. He divides the content into two sections: The Writer & the Reader, and The Process. In the first section, he helps you find your identity as a writer and find your audience. The short exercises at the end of each chapter are very helpful.
The second section gives you insightful tips on the writing process itself. Some of these steps I already do but I found some new ones that I will definitely incorporate into my daily exercises. This book was so helpful! It helped me identify some problems I've had for a while that always left me overwhelmed or caused writer's block, so I'm happy about this.
This book is not exhaustive of course but is it a great, simple, short, and concise tool to help you get started or refreshed. I like that the author included other book recommendations at the end that I will definitely check out.
I highly recommend this book!
I received a copy of this book from Moody in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
O'Brien, a writer and educated minister, educator, and writing coach himself, knows what he is talking about. He divides the content into two sections: The Writer & the Reader, and The Process. In the first section, he helps you find your identity as a writer and find your audience. The short exercises at the end of each chapter are very helpful.
The second section gives you insightful tips on the writing process itself. Some of these steps I already do but I found some new ones that I will definitely incorporate into my daily exercises. This book was so helpful! It helped me identify some problems I've had for a while that always left me overwhelmed or caused writer's block, so I'm happy about this.
This book is not exhaustive of course but is it a great, simple, short, and concise tool to help you get started or refreshed. I like that the author included other book recommendations at the end that I will definitely check out.
I highly recommend this book!
I received a copy of this book from Moody in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
October 23, 2020
In Writing for Life & Ministry: A Practical Guide to the Writing Process, for Teachers & Preachers, author Brandon J. O’Brien offers a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to personalize and systematize the writing process. Ever aware of the tendency of writers to get discouraged, to procrastinate, or to give in to self-doubt, O’Brien provides an intensely practical, well thought-out process for writing, from idea-conception to content creation, to writing a proposal for publishing.
This book involves the reader in the process; it is not simply a theoretical list of steps – O’Brien invites the reader to dust off a project they have been putting off, and use the strategies in his book to make it into something they are proud of. The aim of this book is not getting published; the aim of the book is to make better writers. As an aspiring writer myself, I found this book incredibly helpful as I pursue my writing goals. I expect that many authors will find O’Brien’s resource encouraging, easy to follow, and beneficial for honing their craft.
The Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program provides bloggers with free copies of Moody Publishers products. We require participants to post their review on their blog as well as another online consumer site such as Amazon.com.
This book involves the reader in the process; it is not simply a theoretical list of steps – O’Brien invites the reader to dust off a project they have been putting off, and use the strategies in his book to make it into something they are proud of. The aim of this book is not getting published; the aim of the book is to make better writers. As an aspiring writer myself, I found this book incredibly helpful as I pursue my writing goals. I expect that many authors will find O’Brien’s resource encouraging, easy to follow, and beneficial for honing their craft.
The Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program provides bloggers with free copies of Moody Publishers products. We require participants to post their review on their blog as well as another online consumer site such as Amazon.com.
June 15, 2020
There are many Christians who want to capture their ideas, research or reflections in a book, but many do not know how to start or what considerations to have in mind.
Brandon J O'Brien does a fantastic job of guiding us through the writing process. First, he challenge all those who consider themselves to be good writers because they preach or teach, making them see that this is no guarantee.
Following that, we find what we could call the "heart of the book", where the process of reciprocity between the reader and the writer is established, the second part of the book is the practical part, there we learn from the considerations for a writing plan, how to do research to write our book, and many other things that will undoubtedly turn out to be very stimulating for every novice writer as refreshing for those who already have expertise in this field.
So, let's write, let's use the words, sentences and paragraphs to convey the greatness of our God.
I received this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review for the book
Brandon J O'Brien does a fantastic job of guiding us through the writing process. First, he challenge all those who consider themselves to be good writers because they preach or teach, making them see that this is no guarantee.
Following that, we find what we could call the "heart of the book", where the process of reciprocity between the reader and the writer is established, the second part of the book is the practical part, there we learn from the considerations for a writing plan, how to do research to write our book, and many other things that will undoubtedly turn out to be very stimulating for every novice writer as refreshing for those who already have expertise in this field.
So, let's write, let's use the words, sentences and paragraphs to convey the greatness of our God.
I received this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review for the book
November 11, 2020
If you work in ministry and do a lot of writing for sermons, blogs, articles and such, Writing for Life & Ministry serves as a straightforward basic guide to improve your writing. The tips are easy to understand and guide you through the steps of content, planning, outlining, revising, etc.
The book is separated into two parts. Part 1 helps you identify what you might write and who to write it for, and Part 2 walks you through the process(es) works for you.
Like the subtitle states, this is a practical guide to the writing process. It is sure to not only inspire and encourage you, but to help you actually get words on paper (rather than just thinking about doing so.)
#Writing #MPNews
I received a complimentary copy of this book from MPNews.
The book is separated into two parts. Part 1 helps you identify what you might write and who to write it for, and Part 2 walks you through the process(es) works for you.
Like the subtitle states, this is a practical guide to the writing process. It is sure to not only inspire and encourage you, but to help you actually get words on paper (rather than just thinking about doing so.)
#Writing #MPNews
I received a complimentary copy of this book from MPNews.
July 18, 2020
Un libro muy sencillo de leer, corto, conciso y útil (considero que es más útil quizá para las personas que no han tenido un entrenamiento formal para escribir, que no les interesa destinar tiempo para leer muchos libros sobre escritura, saben que deben mejorar, pero como deben seguir escribiendo para sus ministerios locales, necesitan algo por dónde empezar... Que para escritores ya consolidados). El autor no se enfoca en autores que quieren publicar (aunque sí los anima a ello). Si haz leído más libros sobre el tema es probable que todo esto ya lo sepas, pero quizá aún así lo disfrutes, espero haberte dado una idea del tipo de libro que es.
January 28, 2021
The purpose of this book is to help pastors and teachers who want to write. In my opinion, this is not a book for someone who has a calling as a writer, but rather has a calling as a pastor and needs some help to write.
This book is nicely written; it is very short and practical. I love that someone who is starting as a writer can find quick and helpful tools in it. But if you are looking for a book about the calling of a Christian writer (which I was) or if you have read many books on this subject, I am sorry to say that this one has nothing new to add to all the amazing volumes already written.
This book is nicely written; it is very short and practical. I love that someone who is starting as a writer can find quick and helpful tools in it. But if you are looking for a book about the calling of a Christian writer (which I was) or if you have read many books on this subject, I am sorry to say that this one has nothing new to add to all the amazing volumes already written.
January 14, 2024
This is a handy book. It only took me a few hours to read, but I appreciate the author's emphasis on the writing process. He doesn't give you a magical guide to write a bestseller in 30 days. Instead, he provides general guidelines for the steps that are required in writing. He starts from the beginning with identifying what you might want to write about all the way to the end product where the work is ready to be published. If you are wrestling with writers block, struggling to advance your writing project from its infancy, or just need some motivation, this is a worthwhile read.
February 18, 2021
A short, practical guide for the writer. Each chapter ends with a short exercise, helping you understand your who, what and why of writing. The unique perspective of this book on writing, is that it's for those who already function in a role of teaching and have experience as an orator, and less as a writer. While this is a specific audience, the principles apply even for those who aren't. I found it a helpful resource.
February 6, 2026
This is the first book I read on writing, and it's short, succinct and to the point. The chapters are short, about 2-3 pages, but it packs a punch. The book is tailored for those writing in a ministry context, but it's still helpful for writing in general. This is not the only book I recommend you read on writing, but it is one I highly recommend, because it teaches a lot in a small amount of space.
March 16, 2020
This book is a short/brief offering on writing for ministry staff who are trying to write articles and blogs rather than full length books. It meets it's goals. My only note is the author could have given some examples rather than rehashing basic writing info that is covered more thoroughly in books he references at the end.
December 28, 2021
Almost nothing new here. No talk about writing with regard to ministry apart from the sense that this book is written for those in ministry.
Nothing about writing as worship or writing for God as a motivation.
Nothing about writing as worship or writing for God as a motivation.
June 29, 2021
Such a practical book if you’re a Christian looking to improve your writing.
I definitely believe I will revisit it often.
I definitely believe I will revisit it often.
March 23, 2022
Great for anyone in ministry who needs motivation and encouragement to write, research, and communicate.
May 25, 2024
A great book with many practical suggestions and exercises.
July 25, 2024
Pretty practical and user friendly resource to help people launch into the world of writing.
August 13, 2024
Very helpful book. Chapter 2, "I Can Preach (or Teach or Coach...). Why Can't I Write?" I believe it was worth the price of the book alone.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews