Preaching?: Simple Teaching on Simply Preaching

This is an absolutely wonderful book on preaching. Alec Motyer, a man with a long career as a preacher, teacher and scholar, has compiled essential wisdom and very practical advice in a very readable book, accomplishing exactly what the subtitle so clearly states, "Simple Teaching on Simply Preaching." I recommend it very highly and when you read it you'll understand why.

I have been using this book with a brother who aspires to be in ministry within the local body. We have found it to be exceptional in content and practical instruction.

Great book on preaching written in a simple way. Very informative and will use / review this book a lot! Great for the beginner or the seasoned preacher.

Alec Motyer was formerly principal of Trinity College and is a well-known author and Bible expositor. He’s written volumes in both New and Old Testament commentary series, and is perhaps best known for commentary on Isaiah (which has a smaller counterpart in the TOTC series).Here, he is sharing his wisdom on expositing the Bible in sermon form. As in, how to preach, not a collection of sermons. Its a short book, but it packs a punch. If nothing else, I think it’s a great book for someone who is just gettin started on thinking though how to put together better sermons.The opening chapter orients readers the nature of his work, assuring us it presents no earth-shaking discoveries, nor is it completely novel (8). Instead, it is as the subtitle suggests, just some fairly simple thoughts on how to approach sermon prep.Chapter 2 explains the type of work you are doing in sermon prep (distinguishing it from essay prep), while chapter 3 gives a very short theology of preaching. Chapter 4 talks about the nature of the person preaching, and with that the foundation is laid for the methodology Motyer will explain.Chapter 5 is primer on the nature of exposition, explaining how it works, as well as giving tips on how to get the best mileage out of your studies (hint: take notes and then keep them organized, it adds up over the years). From here, Motyer covers 6 successive steps:Examination (initial observations of the text, chapter 6)Analysis (digging deeper into the text, chapter 7)Orientation (finding the organizing principle in the text, chapter 8)Harvesting (organizing your findings around the center, chapter 9)Presentation (stylizing your findings for oral presentation, chapter 10)Application (determining a point, a “so what?” of the text, chapter 11)The constitutes the heart of the book, and as Motyer warned us, it is isn’t really anything that surprising if you’ve read a standard book on preaching before. His final 3 chapters wrap up with some wisdom on the importance of spirituality in the life of the preacher, as well as keys for a long term ministry of the word. Semi-inexplicably, there a 10 devotional appendices that give a thought a day for either 5, 6, or 7 days on a particular biblical or theological subject. These are interesting, and I would imagine rather helpful, but it was hard to see their direct connection to the main contents of the book beyond that they show how to examine a subject across several texts, or analyze a book in detail (which are both helpful skills to learn). They really weren’t introduced (from what I could tell), so I was a bit unclear on why they were there. But, hey there they are, and maybe it’s just best to think of them as a bonus (which is I guess what an appendix in a book is after all).Overall, this book was a helpful overview for me. It is comparable to a book I reviewed a while back, Saving Eutychus. The difference is probably the Motyer is more focused on the studying side of preaching prep (though not to the exclusion of the others), which is its strength. Motyer is basically guiding readers through how to develop better sermon prep skills on the study side of things so that they can create a snowball effect over the course of their ministry.That, I think is the particular value of this book. Besides that it is short and to the point, it carries the wisdom of someone who has been preaching and teaching for decades and knows how to explain to his readers how to develop a long term approach to studying the Bible for better sermons. If that is what you’re looking for, this is a great book. Also, it is great book if you want to just learn how to study the Bible a little better and know what you’re doing the next time you’re asked to speak somewhere (like me speaking at chapel every now and then for instance). If you want to avoid the anxiety that comes with last minute sermon prep, Motyer has some simple advice that will work wonders for your ability to prepare well for preaching.[I was sent a review copy of this book by the publisher]

When a very able and competent Old Testament scholar puts his hand at the plough of preaching, my attention stands up. Alec Motyer, former principal of Trinity College, Bristol, is known for his careful words on the book of Isaiah and also the Bible Speaks Today series, Old Testament portion. His new book, Preaching?, is a trove of wisdom on the art, development, and application of sermons. In the beginning of the book, Alec notes that preaching is much like the window dressings you see at a local store, with the items the storekeeper most wants to sell right out front for you eye. He writes,” Bible in hand, we have a stockroom full of the most amazing collection of goods to offer – real bargains too!...Everything must lead to that central truth” (12). Our goods are not up for discussion but the way we handle these goods is very important in the task of preaching. Throughout the book, Alec provides keen analysis on the process of analyzing a text, illustrating one, and applying God’s Word to people’s lives. One of the great gems of the book is Alec’s style of bringing larger tasks of the preaching process into understandable chunks.Character sermons or lessons are great ways to see how the shape of a story fits into an overall truth. Alec writes, “Ever incident has its own truth to tell and every incident could be the subject of its own sermon,….The message of the private failure of the public man is more relevant to our times in which leading figures insist that what is private is strictly private and a man must be judged on how he does on the job. Not so, says the story of Davd: the private failure,…brought the whole fabric down – private, public, personal, domestic, individual, national” (55). This truth is powerful in that it relates the truth that there is no clear cut separation between public and private spheres because the attitudes of our heart are displayed in both. For the preacher, bringing out this point is as much a target at oneself as it is to the congregation. Do we separate our private life from our public life, do we have two personas?One reminder that Alec sought to relay to his readers concerns the manuscript and the pulpit. He writes, “take into the pulpit with you whatever leaves you free to handle the material fluently, and to address your hears in a ‘face-to-face’ manner” (99). There are two points here worth commenting on: freedom in the pulpit and posture. Preaching that is carefully constructed and meditated upon will by nature be an exercise in delivering what you have so diligently prepared. Secondly, the sermon is not a lecture but an exercise in connecting with God’s people. The face to face manner goes by the wayside if we are tied to our manuscript in an overzealous manner. Alec is aware that preparation is so important to the delivery of a good sermon because without it we look like a person who cares not for God’s people. I would also add that without thorough preparation we make a statement to our people that God’s Word is not worth studying because our words are what counts. Alec is careful throughout the book to provide examples of word studies, sermon application, and serious points about analysis.I encourage all who preach or who are in preparation to be preachers to take a look at this book. You will be refreshed and challenged as you examine its contents.Thanks to Christian Focus Publications for the copy of this book in exchange for review.

Help for the preacher

Easy to read book from a man who is great Biblical scholar. John Stott's " A preachers portrait" deals more with character of the preacher and Lloyd Jones book on preaching on the necessity of the Holy Spirit for powerful preaching.

Excellent aid Very useul for budding preachers who need guidance. Easy to read and understand - good principles to use in future preaching

Alec Motyer is a good read with useful tips.

A very useful way of thinking about the art and craft of effective preaching.Lots here to challenge the experienced and help the novice.

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