It is a great privilege to stand and preach God’s Word to others. In fact, it is a high and holy calling that should never be taken for granted! Preachers who are serious about what God has given them to do will not only work on sermons, they will work on themselves. You cannot separate the message from the messenger.

When I had the privilege of teaching homiletics to college young people we used a well known classic, Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson in the undergraduate program. Currently I am helping to facilitate an online graduate level course and we are using Preaching and Preachers by Martin Lloyd-Jones and Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon. All of these are books you should have and read.

But don’t stop there! It is a good idea for preachers to read regularly in the areas of Bible study, Bible interpretation, sermon preparation, and delivery. This is not just our life – the lives of many are at stake.

The Holy Spirit said to Moses regarding the Word of God, “For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life...” (Deuteronomy 32:47).

Here are 5 books that have been a blessing to me as a preacher…

Preaching with Freshness by Bruce Mawhinney (One of the most unique and enjoyable books I have ever read on preaching. Mawhinney wrote this book, which is full of homiletical truth, in story form. Even the narrative style is instructive for those who desire to be more effective in communicating truth.)

The Moment of Truth by Wayne V. McDill (This book concentrates on the delivery of the sermon – the moment often referred to as “the second birth” of the Bible message – when the truth has to come alive in the hearts of both preacher and people. Very helpful.)

Preaching 101 by Kenneth Kuykendall (Some time ago I wrote a recommendation for this book. It truly does teach by example, beginning with a sound exposition and moving to simple application. Kenny Kuykendall is a friend of mine and a friend to preachers. He is a reader of great authors, a student of Scripture, and a faithful preacher of God’s Word.)

Preaching and Teaching with Imagination by Warren W. Wiersbe (This book, written by a faithful Bible expositor, will help you to be both a better student and preacher of God’s Word. It is a reminder that if we do not accurately discover God’s message then we cannot faithfully proclaim it. Wiersbe helps us see how to connect the world of Scripture to the world in which we live.)

Expository Preaching Without Notes by Charles Kohler (Frequently I am asked if there is a good book on preaching without the aid of extensive notes. My pastor used to refer to this as “free preaching.” While I understand that everyone’s mind works differently and each of us must find what works for us, the principles in this book will help any preacher develop in the areas of saturation and organization.)

There are many other wonderful volumes that could go on this list. What are your favorite books on preaching?

Read each article in this series:

Introduction

5 Books To Read About Jesus (And One Bonus)

5 Books To Read On Revival

5 Books To Read For Bible Study

5 Books To Read On Prayer + 1 I’m Reading Now

5 Books To Read On The Holy Spirit