Given to me as a gift from a friend, this volume by Eugene Peterson is a book every pastor needs to read. Don’t overlook biography or memoirs as a source of great insight into the ministry, and such is the case here. The beauty of this book is what parts of his life he chronicled. Much is left out as only those events that in some way shaped him as a pastor are told. The wisdom comes from those events that he saw as shaping him. Even better, is the wisdom he distills for us from those events!

He is candid throughout. Not as a dose of false humility, but sincerely enough that I actually imagine I could name his real faults. He is a writer too. Dullness never found its way into these pages. I must warn you, however, that he cuts against the grain. He slams what he calls the American consumerism that has infected and well nigh destroyed our churches at every point possible. The value, again, is that he unearths it in us.

He exposes that we don’t know how to have “holy rest”. We don’t know how to be silent so that we might hear the Lord. He learned to avoid: “Inappropriate, anxiety-driven, fear-driven work (that) would only interfere with and distract from what God was already doing.”

He confesses that the unlearning is slow and hard, but you find yourself wanting to begin the journey as you read these pages. He had to learn to loosen his grip so that others can exercise the gifts God had given them. Ministry became more effective and more extensive too.

I could not follow Mr. Peterson at every point. He certainly found inspiration in a few places I never could. Still, the book is a jewel. I could tell you more, but you should mine this book’s treasures for yourself!

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Here are three more books for the preacher—two to help us preach by learning from great preachers of the past, and one to remember the place of worship in the churches we pastor.

1. The Expository Method of G. Campbell Morgan by Don Wagner

Campbell Morgan is an acknowledged master of the pulpit. Anyone who dreams of really being an expositor of the Word would have to love to be able to handle the Word as he did. Probably we never will, but at least we can learn all we can from him. Mr. Wagner has done us a great service by perusing all his works and biographies and distilling his method for us.

We learn that he never went to Bible College but was self-educated. He was a hard worker who held every morning inviolable for study. For him the key principle was: master one book! He made his guiding principle, or the boundary of what he did, that the Bible is the Word of God.

He took great pains to avoid proof texting. He admonished that we stay in and figure out your context. He says proof texting is just me picking my own way instead of surrendering to the Word.

His method was going from the telescope to the microscope on a passage. The steps involve: survey, condense, expand, and dissect. It is a truly helpful approach.

2. The Sacred Anointing: The Preaching of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones by Tony Sargent

Another volume on the preaching of a master preacher. A fascinating study that delves deeply into the man and his preaching, this volume serves as a great boon to those in ministry. It begins by describing the necessity that a preacher have unction, or the “smile of God.” This is an often overlooked, yet essential element, in effectively preaching the Word of God. As you see in the title, Mr. Sargent sees this as the key explanation of the amazing ministry of Lloyd-Jones.

The book moves from these things into the more specific issues about the sermon. There are riches here.

3. Return To Worship by Ron Owens

This volume begins by explaining what worship is. That discussion is critical in our generation that no longer grasps what worship even is. We live in a day that makes worship about us while the reality is that it is all about Him! His quote by John Moore—“We’ve humanized God, deified man, and minimized sin”—succinctly illustrates where we are.

The book is helpful and discusses how we talk and sing of God, the use of His name, and the glory of God.

About halfway through the book he specifically deals with all parts of the service: prayer, Scripture reading, preaching, music, even the offering. It is really good stuff.

The book is a winner because it brings the real issues that must be addressed before us. This book will guide us the right way and needed.

All reviews in this series hound here.

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.