I have been preaching weekly sermons for thirty years or so and I have learned a thing or two about preaching. I have survived all these years because I learned how to package biblical information for delivery to my audience.
It’s not that preachers struggle with compiling biblical information. It’s more that preachers struggle with how to package that information for delivery to their audience on a weekly basis.
When I teach students preaching, I help them understand how to take biblical information and package that information for delivery to their audience. The following 10 best books on preaching for beginners are the books I recommend to my students.
10 Best Books on Preaching For Beginners
There is no order of preference with the following best books on preaching for beginners.
Some books are scholarly (that is, they are text books on preaching) and some books are inspirational and motivational (that is, these books have some challenging insights into preaching).
1. Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell
This is a comprehensive text book on expository preaching. This is one of my favourite books on preaching because its content is easily located. I like books that take me straight to what I am looking for.
If I want information on sermon structure, then the content’s page directs me straight to the information. I can drill down even further with each chapter having its own content page.
As I said before, my students know how to source biblical information but the big challenge is how to package that information and deliver it to their audience. Bryan Chapell explains that process very well in his book, Christ-Centered Preaching!
Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell (Check Out At Amazon Books)
2. How to Preach Without Notes by Charles W. Koller
This is another one of my favourite text books on expository preaching and it is an easy book to navigate from the content’s page.
Furthermore, this book is a comprehensive compilation of material that will help you develop a deductive method of delivering God’s word to God’s people.
Just chapter twelve is worth the money for buying this book. Chapter twelve looks at the six structural components of the expository sermon – the title, the introduction, the main points, the sub-points, the illustrations and the conclusion.
My favourite chapter is chapter seven – the homiletical devices. This chapter explores the homiletical devices we use consciously or unconsciously in our preaching.
This book is a classic and it is a must for those who wish to expository sermon to their audiences.
How To Preach Without Notes by Charles Koller (Check Out At Amazon Books)
3. How To Prepare Bible Message by James Braga
This is another one of my favourite books on expository preaching. This book is divided into two sections – the types of biblical sermons and the mechanics of biblical sermons.
In the first section of the book, Braga explains the difference between topical sermons, textual sermons and expository sermons.
In the second section of the book, Braga explains the importance of homiletical structure and the components that make up the homiletical structure of biblical message.
This book is both theory and practical. Braga explain why and the how of structuring deductive biblical messages.
How To Prepare Bible Messages by James Braga (Check Out At Amazon Books)
4. Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson
This was one of my text books on preaching. Haddon Robinson was a great teacher of preaching and I enjoyed his classes immensely.
I learned much from Robinson’s classes and book on how to master each stage of the sermon process.
What I learned most from his book is the difference between deductive and inductive preaching. This helped formulate my method of sermon outlining.
This is a very practical book on expository sermon preparation from a deductive and inductive perspective.
Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson (Check Out At Amazon Books)
5. The Homiletical Plot by Eugene Lowry
This is the first book on preaching that helped me understand how to preach a sermon inductively rather than deductively.
In my post-graduate studying on biblical preaching, this was my text book for inductive preaching.
Eugene Lowry developed a five stage approach to inductive preaching, which we call Lowry’s Loop. This inductive approach opens up a way to preach the narratives in Scripture from an expository method.
The five stage approach which Lowry developed involves: OOPS STAGE (upsetting the equilibrium); UGH STAGE (analysing the discrepancy); AHA STAGE (disclosing the clue to resolution); WHEE STAGE (experiencing the gospel) and YAH STAGE (anticipating the consequences). The climax of Lowry’s Loop is the AHA and WHEE stages.
What I like most about Lowry’s book is that he explains and expands each stage in great depth so that preachers can grasp each stage and put it into practice. I personally use Lowry’s Loop when I want to preach through narrative in the Bible.
The Homiletical Plot by Eugene Lowry (Check Out At Amazon Books)
6. Communicating For A Change by Andy Stanley
This is another great book on inductive preaching. Stanley has developed a five stage approach to inductive preaching also. It is certainly different to Lowry’s approach but it is another way to think about how to preach inductively.
Stanley’s approach involves the following five stages: ME (Here is a problem I have or have had); WE (Here is how this effects all of us); GOD (Here is what the Bible says about this problem); YOU (You should do this) and WE (What would happen if we all did this?).
Stanley explains this process in depth by creating a map so that preachers can reproduce this method in their sermon preparation and presentation.
Communicating For A Change by Andy Stanley (Check Out At Amazon Books)
7. Preaching Sticky Sermons by Brandon Kelley
This is another book that explains how to structure biblical sermons from an inductive perspective.
Kelley states that a memorable (sticky) sermon has several importance features that engage audiences: it solves a problem, it’s true, it’s helpful, it’s focused and it’s action-oriented.
Kelley has crafted his sticky sermon approach by formulating a six stage structure. This structure is similar to Stanley’s five stage approach.
The six stages include: Engage (get the audience involved); Tension (present a problem); Truth (present God’s word); Application (what to do statement); Inspiration (reflection and motivation) and Action (what to do action).
The only downside to Stanley and Kelley’s approach is that you can easily fall into the mode of preaching only topical sermons rather than expository sermons. This is solely my observation!
Preaching Sticky Sermons by Brandon Kelley (Check Out At Amazon Books)
8. Preparing Expository Sermons by Ramesh Richard
This is an excellent text book on expository preaching from a deductive and inductive mindset.
Ramesh Richard presents a seven-step method to biblical preaching, which looks at the whole process of garnering information from a text of Scripture or a passage of Scripture and developing a sermon outline in order to deliver a biblical message to an audience.
Ramesh explains and expands these seven-steps in depth so that preachers can learn and adopt his approach to preaching God’s word from an expository method.
What I like about this book is that it is set out in a way that most budding preachers can easily follow. It is clear and concise in its explanations and practical in its applications.
Preparing Expository Sermons by Ramesh Richard (Check Out At Amazon Books)
9. Invitation to Biblical Preaching by Donald Sunukjian
This is a book on expository preaching from studying the Scriptures to presenting the truth of the Scriptures.
Donald Sunukjian divided his book into two parts: What God is Saying (This looks at the study of the Scriptures in preparation to preach the Scriptures) and What is God Saying To Us (This looks at the process of compiling biblical information into a sermon outline).
Donald Sunukjian explains his processes of sermon preparation and sermon presentation. The book is well set out and it is easy to follow each step in the sermon preparation process.
This book is a text book on expository preaching which presents a deductive and an inductive approach.
Invitation To Biblical Preaching by Donal Sunukjian (Check Out At Amazon Books)
10. Preach and Deliver by Brandon Hilgemann
I enjoyed reading Brandon’s book on preaching. It is a book that focuses more on inspiration and motivation rather than theory.
I found the book very practical, especially in the area of presentation. He discusses mannerisms like: voice, gestures, movement, eye and face expressions and how they can enhance the presentation of the sermon.
He looks at how you can use the volume of your voice (soft/loud), the pitch of your voice (low/high) and the rate of your voice (slow/fast) to enhance the sermon presentation. These are simple applications that remind preachers of the challenges of sharing God’s word to God’s people.
Preach and Deliver by Brandon Hilgemann (Check Out At Amazon Books)
Conclusion
Preaching is both a calling and a craft, and these “10 Best Books on Preaching for Beginners” will help you grow in both. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your skills, there’s something here for you.
You don’t need to buy all “10 Best Books on Preaching for Beginners” at once—just pick one that fits where you are right now. Invest in your preaching, and your congregation will benefit. The more you learn, the more effectively you’ll communicate God’s truth. So grab a book and start sharpening your skills today!
