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Simplify the Message: Multiply the Impact
Simplify the Message: Multiply the Impact is designed to help preachers break through the noise of culture and the cauldron of church to deliver sermons with clarity, passion, and boldness. This book meets the needs of two cohorts in particular: 1) young preachers developing their skills who need structure, a process, and hope, and 2) more seasoned preachers who may have "settled" needing tools to invigorate their preparation and inspire their delivery.
Paul told the Corinthians: "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I didn't come preaching God's secrets to you like I was an expert in speech or wisdom. I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified." (I Corinthians 2:1-2, CEB)
Author Talbot Davis shares the insights and habits that will empower the reader's preaching and teaching to be:
Both creative and disciplined; Both carefully prepared and thoroughly spontaneous; and Both rooted in history and connected to modernity. Simple is the opposite of simplistic. Sermons with clear & unmistakable focus are best able to pulumb the depths not only of Gospel beauty but of the hearers' lives.
Paul told the Corinthians: "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I didn't come preaching God's secrets to you like I was an expert in speech or wisdom. I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified." (I Corinthians 2:1-2, CEB)
Author Talbot Davis shares the insights and habits that will empower the reader's preaching and teaching to be:
Both creative and disciplined; Both carefully prepared and thoroughly spontaneous; and Both rooted in history and connected to modernity. Simple is the opposite of simplistic. Sermons with clear & unmistakable focus are best able to pulumb the depths not only of Gospel beauty but of the hearers' lives.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2020
8 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Talbot Davis
14 books30 followersTalbot Davis is the pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, a congregation known for its ethnic diversity, outreach ministry, and innovative approach to worship. He has repeatedly been recognized for his excellence in congregational development and has received the conference's Harry Denman Award for Excellence in Evangelism. Since Talbot began serving at Good Shepherd in 1999, average worship attendance has quadrupled, growing from 500 to 2000 each Sunday. Talbot lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, Julie, and they have two grown children. Talbot offers sermon tips and help through his blog, http://www.talbotdavis.com/sermon-help/.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 10, 2020
A more accurate title for this book would be, “Stuff I Would Tell You If You Asked Me What Makes Me a Good Preacher.” Only the first couple chapters deal with the title of the book (and those mostly quote Andy Stanley). The rest of the book is a “how I write my sermons” breakdown, with a passionate (if not data-driven) defense of sermon series and a riff on funeral preaching thrown in. The author’s tone is “successful older white dude enthusiastically tells you how successful he is and gives you advice, occasionally remembering to try to be humble while repeatedly forgetting to credit people from his workshops and leadership teams whose good ideas and words he directly quotes.” I enjoyed the section about avoiding church crushes.
February 21, 2020
Excellent introduction to an approach to sermon writing that is both clear and concise, an approach that will lead to captivating preaching!
To be fair, my rating is 4.5 out of 5, and I would highly encourage preachers, Bible teachers and Christian communicators of all stripes to read this book.
Starting with the focus on one-point sermons, Talbot argues convincingly for an approach to sermon development that emphasizes clarity over clutter and practices "self-editing" as if it were a spiritual discipline.
Crammed full of numerous sermon and sermon series examples, Talbot certainly practices what he preaches. The book is only 122 pages long! And I am convinced that he proves his point -- that a simplified approach will improve the learning impact of the sermon.
I do, however, have three small critiques:
1) Davis, while he gets close to, misses an important concept in his discussion of applications, choosing instead to focus on an experiential "bottom line" rather than connecting to an experiential activity that will further maximize learning and spiritual development (p. 50).
2) He focuses a lot on preaching without notes (chapter 7), which has been a back-and-forth argument in communication and homiletic circles for generations, rather than promoting a delivery model that draws from the preacher's personality (i.e., Robert Stephen Reid's The Four Voices of Preaching).
3. He outright repeats material without any explanation. I am hoping this is an editorial issue, however content from p. 78 is repeated word-for-word on p. 111-112.
To be fair, my rating is 4.5 out of 5, and I would highly encourage preachers, Bible teachers and Christian communicators of all stripes to read this book.
Starting with the focus on one-point sermons, Talbot argues convincingly for an approach to sermon development that emphasizes clarity over clutter and practices "self-editing" as if it were a spiritual discipline.
Crammed full of numerous sermon and sermon series examples, Talbot certainly practices what he preaches. The book is only 122 pages long! And I am convinced that he proves his point -- that a simplified approach will improve the learning impact of the sermon.
I do, however, have three small critiques:
1) Davis, while he gets close to, misses an important concept in his discussion of applications, choosing instead to focus on an experiential "bottom line" rather than connecting to an experiential activity that will further maximize learning and spiritual development (p. 50).
2) He focuses a lot on preaching without notes (chapter 7), which has been a back-and-forth argument in communication and homiletic circles for generations, rather than promoting a delivery model that draws from the preacher's personality (i.e., Robert Stephen Reid's The Four Voices of Preaching).
3. He outright repeats material without any explanation. I am hoping this is an editorial issue, however content from p. 78 is repeated word-for-word on p. 111-112.
March 5, 2020
Simplify the Message Multiply the Impact
I was waiting for this book as I had read Talbot’s other books but was not sure how it would apply to me, or regular people who are not pastors…but found out it can be useful to anyone who wants to invite their listeners into relationship.
I think although this book is primarily for pastors, it can be used by any public speakers who want to multiply the impact of their message…
Talbot Davis engages the reader and his congregation with his messages. He does not stand apart from us…
He advises one memorable interesting point. which can be used in most forms of public speaking
He includes practice exercises for using the bottom line and for series titles, and even gives you helpful suggestions if you forget part of your talk.
He uses his own personal experiences to engage the reader.
I was waiting for this book as I had read Talbot’s other books but was not sure how it would apply to me, or regular people who are not pastors…but found out it can be useful to anyone who wants to invite their listeners into relationship.
I think although this book is primarily for pastors, it can be used by any public speakers who want to multiply the impact of their message…
Talbot Davis engages the reader and his congregation with his messages. He does not stand apart from us…
He advises one memorable interesting point. which can be used in most forms of public speaking
He includes practice exercises for using the bottom line and for series titles, and even gives you helpful suggestions if you forget part of your talk.
He uses his own personal experiences to engage the reader.
August 23, 2020
A simple and quick read (as the title suggests) with tips from an excellent preacher. It’s a practical approach that’s easy for any preacher to try out! It’s already helped me to sharpen my delivery and cut to the chase.
December 23, 2020
Great book for sharpening preacher skills (I've been giving it away as a gift to fellow preachers). Practical insights from experience.
October 8, 2025
Super good (thanks Carmen Imes!)
January 19, 2020
Highly recommended. A quick read with immensely practical advice for better preaching. Talbot is a master at connecting with audiences to bring transformational impact. Reading his book is watching the magician reveal his secrets. I'm so grateful for his timely advice that will take my preaching to the next level!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews