A Lay Preacher's Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon

by Karoline M Lewis

In A Lay Preacher's Guide: Eight Steps to Crafting a Faithful Sermon, Karoline M. Lewis provides lay preachers with an essential and accessible guide to the basics of Sunday morning preaching.Laypeople are increasingly called to serve congregations and are preaching regularly. But often they do not have immediate, reliable, or trusted access to homiletical instruction or support for their preaching. As a result, these church leaders--feeling called to ministry and to preach, and affirmed by denominational leaders to do so--are left on their own to figure out how to preach.In A Lay Preacher's Guide, Lewis gives this unique subset of preachers the foundations of biblical preaching, so they can preach faithfully in their unique contexts. She lays out in a concise and clear format the steps to preaching a faithful sermon, a process that can be immediately applied to weekly sermon preparation. This book is a go-to resource for lay preachers, providing a basic course for faithful preaching.

150 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2020

Reviews

[Kelsey Grissom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am using this book for my 400-level undergrad preaching course in the Spring (a different professor chose it). As usual, Lewis overstates nearly everything. I know people love this about her style, reading it as bold and assertive, but I find it off-putting and misleading. As a preaching guide, it’s ok. Sometimes it covers the basics well, and other times it is really written for career preachers, not sometimes-lay preachers. I will use only portions of it in my class.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent “little” book. Yes, it will be essential for new-to-preaching leaders. It also has some wonderful reminders for those who have been preaching for a while. Just the section on Preaching as Prophecy alone is worth getting this book.
Karoline Lewis’ practical wisdom is helpful and easily translates to any preacher’s setting.

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. I read it for a class I am taking but it is definitely already helping with great ideas for improving sermon writing. I listen to Karoline Lewis on the podcast on working preacher and she has fantastic insights. This is definitely something I will continue consulting in the days ahead.

[William Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful resource

Lewis does a great job of providing the preacher with many tools. Her politics and personal bias does come into play at times but who can really blame anyone for that. If you read with generosity there is good advice for everyone here.

[Matna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, heartfelt guide for preparing a sermon.

A simple guide for crafting a sermon; it cogently describes the essence and elements of preparing, delivering, being a good message.

It is a wonderful example of embodying--thus, showing, not just telling--the message.

[Jose-Luis La Torre-Cuadros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, easy and useful.

[James Nunley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional

A must have for any new preacher, lay preacher, or even veteran preacher. Easy to read and insightful with plenty of real help.

[Elaine Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a pleasant read and a practical guide to sermon writing.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good reminders for me, and some ideas for helping lay leaders craft faithful sermons.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

very helpful for beginning preachers- practical, accessible, applicable.