From Text to Teaching: A guide to preparing Bible talks

by David Jackman

Teaching people from the Bible is a weighty responsibility for anyone. You may be speaking from the pulpit, or at a men’s or women’s event, youth group, Christian camp or Bible study group―whatever the setting, preparation is key. If you’re looking for some clear guidance to help you in that preparation, this little book is for you. David Jackman has spent decades training preachers all over the world―young and old, experienced and inexperienced―to correctly handle “the word of truth”. In From Text to Teaching, Jackman has now distilled the essence of his training ministry into written form. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned Bible teacher looking for refreshment, this short practical guide―combined with Jackman’s lifetime of wisdom―will help equip you for your task. This is a masterclass from one of the evangelical world’s most trusted Bible teachers.

92 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2021

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much respect for David Jackman and the UK’s Proclamation Trust and Cornhill Training Course. This little gem of a book is full of many practical and wise helps I will be sure to put into practice.

“It is only the Word of God that remains forever; this eternal word must form the content of all our teaching if it is to have any lasting impact in time and for eternity.”

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but very clear and helpful! I received this book as a participant in the January 2023 Charles Simeon Trust workshop at Heritage Bible Church in Greer, SC (near Greenville). What a great little manual for preachers, Bible teachers, and those that have the glorious privilege of speaking “Bible talks” either regularly or on occasion. Jackman is an effective communicator with a keen mind for God’s Word and the proclamation thereof. Though this book is not limited to preaching and gospel ministers, it is clearly written by a preacher and gospel minister. I suspect that it would be very useful in a discipleship setting or as advance reading for a basic “Intro to Teaching God’s Word” seminar. If you can get past the use of generic terms like “Bible talk,” you will find a lot of great insights and practical (but God-glorifying) helps here.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully helpful little book. An excellent primer for those starting out as preachers, and a refreshing reminder for those who have been at it a while.

The section on prayer in preparation is alone worth buying the book for - edifying, humbling, compelling.

Worth buying a couple of copies to have to give away.

[JJ Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book on expository preaching. The first half is basically an argument for why expository preaching should be the norm, while the second half is showing how to work through a book of the Bible in a way that will allow us to preach it well. That being said, I think it would’ve been better to make the subtitle “a guide to preparing expository sermons” rather than “a guide to preparing Bible talks.” The concepts are transferable to “Bible talks,” but he is very obviously speaking to pastors and preachers throughout most of the book, so I don’t know if I would necessarily give this to the person who leads a once a week Bible study. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great book, but I just wish it had been marketed a bit differently.

[Marc Minter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent “go-to” guide for teaching and preaching preparation! I’m looking forward to buying several copies to give away to my preaching friends.

If you want to preach well, you should aim to preach expositionally. And if you want to preach expositionally, then you’re going to need to learn and practice the tools of this type of preaching.

If you can, participate in a Simeon Trust workshop (look it up!). And in the meantime, read David Jackman’s little book, which provides a great sketch and overview of the same sort of content.

[Brennan Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was clear and practical book. Lots of useful insights. I just read the whole thing for an overview and I plan to reread it a number of times. I'm sure this will be useful for me moving forward with teaching.

[Conner Cecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to teaching Bible passages

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Fine intro, but other resources I’d go to first.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent little primer on giving Bible talks. Would be perfect for a new youth worker.