A sometimes overlooked source of helpful reading on the ministry are those volumes designed to tell us about the great preachers of the past. While much can be taught about the ministry, there is an element that is caught. I suggest we do our catching at the hands of the masters of the ministry. There are volumes of varying depth and detail that between their covers tell us about many of these preachers. I will review three here and tell you of some others you might look for.

1. Walking With The Giants by Warren Wiersbe

Wiersbe was a well-read preacher who was passionate about the ministry, great preachers, and reading. He is said to have 1000 volumes in the biography section of his library alone! This book is a collection of articles he wrote in the 1970s ( the precursor of blogs I suppose). Part 1 tells us of 19 of the greatest preachers ever. You will find Alexander Maclaren, Joseph Parker, Charles Spurgeon, Campbell Morgan, J.D. Jones, and George Morrison among others. Most of my favorites are there. These chapters are exceptional and may start you down the road of finding and reading the preachers who will most move you.

That’s not all. Part 2 will fascinate you as well as help you. He turns his attention to books. Several chapters cover preaching and other appropriate subjects. I don’t know about you, but I find myself often agreeing with his assessments. This is a treasure trove and a book I have returned to again and again.

2. Listening To The Giants by Warren Wiersbe

A sequel to his Walking With The Giants that continues his helpful work. Thirteen preachers are discussed, this time with an included sermon. Not quite as famous as those in the earlier volume, but well worth knowing.

Part 2 is the best part of this book and will serve as an excellent guide to building a quality library. You will find books on parables and miracles and other subjects. His chapter “A Basic Library” is alone worth the price of the book. It was my first guide when I began assembling my own library. I was not disappointed in following his suggestions.

3. The Company of the Preachers by David Larsen

Every preacher should own and peruse this volume. Its scope is wide and its depth amazing. Every preacher who left writings that have made real impact is included. He writes from the Old Testament to the present day and you can see where your favorite preacher fits in the scheme of things. How did one man read so much and learn about all of these preachers! If you find a preacher you really like, be sure to read his footnotes. I hardly know how to describe this book–it is one of my very favorite books!

Others

If you find that you really like these types of volumes (as I do), then you can add some other helpful volumes to your library. Look for A History of Preaching by F.R. Webber in three volumes. Then there is the 2-volume set by Edwin Dargin called too A History of Preaching. Ralph Turnbull added Volume 3 to bring the set up to date. After that you can these enjoyable volumes: Princes of the Church by W. Robertson Nicoll, Princes of the Modern Pulpit by Earnest Jeffs, The Best I Remenber by Arthur Porritt, and Nine Great Preachers by Albert Currier, The Scottish Pulpit by William Taylor, Princes of the Christian Pulpit and Pastorate by Harry Howard, and Preachers I Have Heard by Alexander Gammie. These are all 5-star volumes!

You might like The Wycliffe Handbook Preaching and Preachers by Wiersbe and Perry as well as Ed Reese’s Chronological Encyclopedia of Christian Biography. All these volumes have helped and blessed me. Searching used book sites will be required to secure several of these volumes, but they are worth all necessary effort.

You can find all posts and books reviewed in this series here.

Sometimes there are volumes that are really good that don’t become as immortal as some others. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t of real value. Here are volumes of varying fame that are all of value to one who handles the Word of God. All easy to find on used book sites, you might find some books here to bless you.

1. Famine In The Land by Steven Lawson

The subtitle says “A Passionate Call For Expository Preaching” and accurately describes a book whose message is so critically needed. Mr. Lawson makes a powerful case for a problem where many of us share his passion. Were this message to take hold, it could revolutionize Christianity today. The famine is real and the effects of the starvation are all around us. He gives insight to what happened to expository preaching. Entertainment and performance have run it out the church doors. Marketing techniques hold sway now. He opines how that the preaching of the cross that was once foolishness to the world now is to the church? This volume will fire you up and put you on the right track!

2. Pulpit Crimes by James White

He discusses “the criminal mishandling of God’s Word.” He not only espouses expository preaching, but comes hard at the gravity of getting off track. He hates spinning the text and reminds us to remember our audience of One. I particularly enjoyed his timely chapter on eisegesis. He defines it as “the reading of the text…of a meaning that is not supported by the grammar, syntax, lexical meanings, and over-all context, of the original.” Have you ever heard a sermon like that? Have you preached one? He covers several other such subjects. Mr. White can be overly harsh at times, and has written some other books that I have not cared for, but this one is a dandy.

3. They Smell Like Sheep by Lynn Anderson

This volume tackles the thought of a pastor being a shepherd. Focusing on our being shepherd, mentor, and equipper, he writes well. It is a worthy point of contemplation as the shepherd metaphor, he reminds, is in Scripture over 500 times. Though I wouldn’t agree with his theory of church polity, I love his title. While it might make you smile, you might learn along the way that to be a good shepherd you will end up smelling like a sheep too!

4. A Portrait of Paul by Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker

Taking Paul’s ministry these two pastors identify “a true minister of Christ.” They don’t hide the suffering involved or the hardships endured, but they well describe the goal and strength of it too. This is an excellent read!

5. How To Preach To People’s Needs by Edgar Jackson

In this interesting approach, Mr. Jackson talks about using the sermon as group therapy. We all deal with many things. A congregation will often cover all the bases in problems. There are sorrows and joys in life and we who preach the Word must take the Word and guide people through. This helpful volume gives guidance in preaching to things like the guilt-laden, the sorrowful, the fearful, the insecure, the lonely, the defeated, and many others. This book is well worth reading.

6. The Preacher and His Preaching by W.B. Riley

An older volume by a well-respected Baptist pastor that gives basic counsel on sermons.

7. The Elements of Preaching by Warren and David Wiersbe

A quick, easy read on basic principles of preaching. A real shot in the arm to keep us where we should be. The chapters are short, pointed, but wonderful. How about: “never be satisfied with your preaching”. There are practical points like not “hopping rapidly from verse to verse in the Bible.” He tells the danger of “abusing the use of humor in the pulpit.” Or even worse: “preaching ourselves instead of Christ.” There’s much more!

8. Preaching in the Holy Spirit by Albert Martin

A little volume that addresses the oft-forgotten, yet essential element in preaching–the power of the Holy Spirit! We so need this reminder.

9. Mourning a Beloved Shepherd by Charles Hodge and John Hall

In this unusual volume that is two memorial sermons for James Alexander, we find real encouragement. It is good to think about what you would like said about you at the end of your ministry. It takes a certain kind of ministry to have it said with sincerity. Hodge began his sermon with Acts 9:20–“He preached Christ.” He then said, “Nothing higher than this can be said of any man. Angels stand uncovered round the humblest tomb on which these words are inscribed.” I can think of nothing I would rather have said, can you?

You can find all posts and books reviewed in this series here.

Among the many books written on the ministry, there are a few that simply have had a more enduring influence than others. Here are four titles that stand above the pack.

1. Lectures On Preaching by Phillips Brooks

Perhaps the most famous of the Yale Lectures and surprisingly good. Warren Wiersbe once said that “…every preacher ought to read (it) once a year for five years, and then once every other year for the rest of his life. What makes these lectures so valuable is that they deal with basic principles, not with transient methods. The preacher who is looking for shortcuts will not find them here.” Wiersbe was right!

His explanation that preaching is truth through personality is classic and accurate. Jewels abound from start to finish in this volume. In advising us he said, “No man ever yet thought whether he was preaching well without weakening his sermon.” Later he was speaking on courage and said, “Courage is good everywhere, but it is necessary here. If you are afraid of men and a slave to their opinion, go and do something else.” He followed that with: “Be independent.” He also spoke of self-conceit and dealing with failure. Here is an example of another sparkling statement: “Failure and success to really working ministers are only relative. Remember that no man wholly succeeds or wholly fails.” I could go on and on!

I could not follow Brooks in all his theology, but this volume could hardly be better.

2. The Preacher And His Models by James Stalker

Another of the great Yale Lectures on Preaching is this powerful volume. Mr. Stalker took a different track than his predecessors by looking at the ministry through the ministries of Isaiah and Paul.

He has many great things to say. For example, he said, “…the outer must be preceded by the inner; public life for God must be preceded by private life with God; unless God has first spoken to a man, it is vain for a man to attempt to speak for God.” He reminds us: “Preaching is not merely the speaking of a man. If it is, then it is certainly not worth coming to church for. Preaching, if it is of the right kind, is the voice of God.” He teaches us well.

The idea is that we find our models in men in the Bible. It really works and this volume is a help.

3. The Glory Of The Ministry by A.T. Robertson

Subtitled “Paul’s Exultation In Preaching” and based on Paul’s statements in II Corinthians 2:12–6:10, this volume has been loved by many, especially Baptists. What is amazing is how well this volume doubles as a commentary on that section of Scripture in addition to being such a help to we who are in the ministry.

He has so much to say that truly inspires. He tells us how essential our private walk with the Lord really is. He said, “The only way to have permanent glory is to continue beholding the glory of the Lord. If we cease looking at Him, we cease to reflect His glory.” That is a secret of ministry we need not miss!

He writes powerfully about legalism and the “attraction of Christ.” He reminds us: “It is just because Jesus can save the worst of men that the preacher has the heart and hope to go on with his work.” On the other side he reminds too: “The vessel of clay is very fragile and is easily broken and destroyed.” He reminds us that the biggest portion of our pay comes in the next world. Pleasing our Lord is the passion of ministry, and we must never forget the Judgement Seat of Christ.

He explains success in Paul. “God is the worker and Paul is the coworker. That is his glory and the secret of success in the ministry”, he says.

I favor this volume over Stalker myself. It is a must-have volume.

4. The Preacher’s Portrait by John Stott

You wouldn’t think a book subtitled “Some New Testament Word Studies” would not be so gripping, but it is! It is a small book of barely over 100 pages, and only has 5 chapters, but what chapters they are. He discusses 5 roles the preacher fulfills according to the Scripture: steward, herald, witness, father, and servant. In those 5 things you have a great overview of the ministry.

He lays it out so plainly, yet with power. In describing the steward and how he is not a prophet he says, “The essential characteristic of the prophet was neither that he foretold the future, nor that he interpreted the present activity of God, but that he spoke God’s word.” This alone would fix what ails the ministry in many circles today.

There is so much more. This is another of the really great ones.

I pray you can have your ministry blessed and in turn bless those to whom you minister by securing these volumes and mastering their contents!

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