Two Books on Preaching

Joel Beeke's How to Evaluate Sermons packs a lot into a small space (48 small pages including notes).

Taking 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 as his text, Beeke gives the preacher five tests to evaluate his own preaching:

- Did I preach as God's servant?

- Did I preach to build God's church?

- Did I preach Christ as the only foundation?

- Did I build my sermons with the precious materials of Reformed experiential preaching?

- Did I preach for the Master's reward?

Each short chapter has a number of sub-questions for the preacher to ask himself, preferably on his knees, and with a view to doing better next time. A far better way to judge the true value of your sermon, says Beeke, than going by what people did or did not say, how they looked while you were preaching or how you felt afterwards.

This is recommended for careful meditation by preachers.

Rather longer (though still only 154 pages) is David Murray's How Sermons Work. This is one of the best 'how to' books on preaching I have had the privilege of reading. It would be ideal for a preachers' class. Murray, Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, writes for preachers, especially those with less experience, but also for non-preachers, so that Christians will understand better how sermons are produced.

His first chapter speaks of the preacher's relationship to his God, his Bible and his people. Chapter 2 is devoted to selecting a text. Chapter 3 is perhaps the meatiest, as it deals with exegesis and here Murray is particularly helpful as he drives home the importance of exegesis but also gives simple practical tips on how to go about it. He is neither simplistic nor does he blind with science.

A chapter on 'Variation' reminds us of the need to ask what kind of sermons we are preaching and whether we are giving the people a good, balanced diet. The next chapter deals with the 'Introduction' to a sermon, and there follow two excellent chapters on 'organization' of the sermon, its structure and 'points'. The second of these chapters is almost entirely made of up of examples.

Similarly there are two chapters on 'application', the first giving the theory and motivation, the second practical.

Finally there is a chapter on 'presentation', including a challenging though brief section on the importance of prayer.


Murray's last section is devoted to the importance of 'presence' - not the preacher's, but the presence of God. All preaching must be done as in the presence of God - we are not there to exalt ourselves or to entertain, but we are ambassadors for Almighty God and without his presence there will be no spiritual communication.

Highly recommended for all preachers, especially those starting out, but no preacher (or, as Murray reminds us, no Christian) will fail to be helped by this comprehensive, clear, spiritually-minded and practical guide to the mystery of preaching.