My seminary education at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary was world-class in several areas, but especially in preaching. Looking back, the professors who taught those courses formed me more than the material they assigned.
Professors who formed my preaching
My first preaching course was taught by Joel Gregory, the famed pulpiteer with a booming voice and oratory flare. He emphasized careful exegesis and a repeatable approach to sermon preparation. I still have my copy of his “Standing on the Razor’s Edge” class notes. My early preaching days were spent poorly imitating Dr. Gregory.
The second course was taught by Ralph West, a mountain of a man who wove together scholarship and storytelling. Listening to him lecture or preach was a masterclass in both mind and heart. One moment I was furiously taking notes; the next I was wiping away tears.
I’ll always remember his one-on-one meeting to discuss my inductive sermon. He challenged me without discouraging me.
My advanced preaching course on the kingdom of God was led by Hulitt Gloer, a bearded mystic who squeezed biblical phrases until they dripped deep insight. Even now, I can’t read Mark’s Gospel without hearing his raspy voice.
The assigned reading in those courses consisted largely of classic textbooks on preaching: Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson, Preaching by Fred Craddock, The Witness of Preaching by Thomas Long, and Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell. They were helpful at the time, but I’ve never returned to them.
Books that inform my preaching
Three slimmer books have become trusted companions over the years. The slimmest of all is Preaching for God’s Glory by Alistair Begg.
Years ago, I stumbled across the weekly livestream from Parkside Church. I expected to hear the same conference preacher I knew from Truth For Life. Instead, I met a pastor. He offered the pastoral prayer in the service and mentioned specific names of those grieving the death of parents and celebrating the birth of children. I watched his church service every week until he recently retired.
The greatest value of this tiny book is Begg’s practical advice: “Think yourself empty, read yourself full, write yourself clear, and pray yourself hot.”
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In Expositional Leadership: Shepherding God’s People from the Pulpit, R. Scott Pace and Jim Shaddix discuss six categories of leadership—scriptural, spiritual, strategic, servant, situational, and sensible—and explain how each must be leveraged through sermon development and delivery.
Pace and Shaddix reinforce a conviction that has only grown stronger for me over the years: Pastors lead from the pulpit.
A book that demonstrates much of what Pace and Shaddix discuss is Preaching Through a Storm: Confirming the Power of Preaching in the Tempest of Church Conflict by H. Beecher Hicks. It collects sermons Hicks preached to the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. during seasons of conflict. Each sermon is paired with a prologue and epilogue explaining the surrounding conflict and how God used preaching to shepherd the congregation.
Hicks convinced me preaching is never more important than when a church is hurting.
Good preaching cannot be learned from books. It is forged through faithful mentors and years spent preaching. Still, every preacher benefits from a few trusted companions beside the pulpit. These three books have become mine.
Jeff Gravens is pastor of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.
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