How do sermons work? How does a preacher get from the basic nuts and bolts of a few Bible verses to the delivery of a full sermon? That s the question David Murray answers in this instructive and immensely practical book. He demonstrates that behind the thirty to forty-five minutes we see and hear on a Sunday morning are many hours of mental, spiritual and practical labour. Like all pastoral labour, it involves head, heart and hand.Murray breaks up the sermon preparation process into a clear and simple stepby-step method, covering topics such as how to choose a text, how to introduce a sermon, how to explain a text, and how to apply it. It will provide an excellent refresher for experienced preachers and a reliable guide for those just starting out. It will also be extremely helpful to Bible class teachers, Bible Study leaders, or anyone who has to prepare a Bible message.Above all, however, it is the author s desire that this book will also be read by those who do not preach. He wants to give non-preachers an insider s look at sermon preparation. By taking readers behind the scenes and asking, How do they do that? Murray wants to supply answers that will increase respect for pastors and their preaching.
How Sermons Work
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
The biblical, theological, and pastoral foundation of How Sermons Work is one of the many reasons I heartily commend David Murray s ministry. David s fruitful experience as a preacher and his faithful pastor s heart oozes from every page of this book. It is written with a precision that will immensely benefit both young aspiring pastors as well as the most seasoned preacher. I commend this practical guide to all who seek to evaluate their preaching with an aim to grow more faithful in this divine calling. --Brian Croft, Senior Pastor, Auburndale Baptist Church
About the Author
Author David P. Murray is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born in Scotland and served as a pastor and lecturer there.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Brian Croft
Format:Paperback
"The biblical, theological, and pastoral foundation of How Sermons Work is one of the many reasons I heartily commend David Murray's ministry. David's fruitful experience as a preacher and his faithful pastor's heart oozes from every page of this book. It is written with a precision that will immensely benefit both young aspiring pastors as well as the most seasoned preacher. I commend this practical guide to all who seek to evaluate their preaching with an aim to grow more faithful in this divine calling."
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By David Moser
Format:Paperback
I'm precisely the person this book was written for. I'm an active lay person who is occasionally called upon to preach. This book is exactly what it's marketed as: It will help you prepare a biblical sermon that is faithful to the text and deliver it well - all in a short time with little experience. You can read the entire book in about 2 hours but it's laid out so that you can simply open it up next to your Bible and write a sermon as you go.
Interpretation:
I'm really pleased with how sound the interpretation section is put together. Chapter 3 is all about determining the message of the text. Murray breaks down interpretation into 5 Sections.
Translation: This section is the most demanding for a new preacher if they have little or no background in the original languages. Dr. Murray gives some practical tips on using accessible resources to aid you in word study. One big takeaway here is the use of multiple translations - both formal and dynamic - in your preparation.
Background: Dr. Murray shifts to the history around the passage. He focuses on questions like: When was it written? Where? What kind of audience was there? How would they have understood it? So often these questions seem unhelpful but Murray shows us how they are useful.
Text: This is the meat of what a passage says. How is it structured? What is the main idea? Dr. Murray gives some helpful tips to exposit the text.
Listen to John Piper preach and you'll know exactly what I mean.
Context: This section was a joy to read. Dr. Murray asks the questions that we often miss: How does this passage fit into the message of the book it's in? Does it reference other passages? What is unique about the way this passage treats an issue? This is the most important section of the exegetical helps.
Where is Christ: Dr. Murray spends almost three pages discussing the most important question: Where is Christ in this passage? I'd recommend buying this book solely for these three pages.
Organization, Delivery and Application:
The other sections of the book are all extremely practical and helpful. I've used these tips and found them extremely helpful.
I can't recommend this book highly enough if you are occasionally called to preach.
Interpretation:
I'm really pleased with how sound the interpretation section is put together. Chapter 3 is all about determining the message of the text. Murray breaks down interpretation into 5 Sections.
Translation: This section is the most demanding for a new preacher if they have little or no background in the original languages. Dr. Murray gives some practical tips on using accessible resources to aid you in word study. One big takeaway here is the use of multiple translations - both formal and dynamic - in your preparation.
Background: Dr. Murray shifts to the history around the passage. He focuses on questions like: When was it written? Where? What kind of audience was there? How would they have understood it? So often these questions seem unhelpful but Murray shows us how they are useful.
Text: This is the meat of what a passage says. How is it structured? What is the main idea? Dr. Murray gives some helpful tips to exposit the text.
Listen to John Piper preach and you'll know exactly what I mean.
Context: This section was a joy to read. Dr. Murray asks the questions that we often miss: How does this passage fit into the message of the book it's in? Does it reference other passages? What is unique about the way this passage treats an issue? This is the most important section of the exegetical helps.
Where is Christ: Dr. Murray spends almost three pages discussing the most important question: Where is Christ in this passage? I'd recommend buying this book solely for these three pages.
Organization, Delivery and Application:
The other sections of the book are all extremely practical and helpful. I've used these tips and found them extremely helpful.
I can't recommend this book highly enough if you are occasionally called to preach.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jay N. Smith
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brief read - 154 pages - and is a good introduction to a number of homiletical issues, including introductions, organization, application and delivery. Some of the examples are a little cheesy, but much of the content evidences the author's deep concern for good preaching and genuiness on the preacher's part. There is good thought-provoking material on the legitimacy of application, which was good to consider, since I have experienced both "the Holy Spirit handles application" and "no doctrine - all application" styles of preaching. The greatest practical benefit in my mind are the sections on introductions and application. In general, the principles are much stronger and more helpful than the examples.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This is a great book. Dave Murrary puts things together so nice for anyone to understand. If your a teacher or not this is good to help ypu be a better student.
Published 1 month ago by Robert P. Brodeur
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great quick read on preparing, preaching and reflecting on your...
My first review of a book I read entirely on my Kindle. I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Professor Murray speak a year or so ago at Oakbrooke Bible Church and he was... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paul Dare
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sermon 101
Great ABCs of sermon writing. But if you've done any basic homiletics study, i.e. read Haddon Robinson's "Biblical Preaching", this book is probably too basic for you.
Published 6 months ago by Tray
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Book on Sermon Prep I Needed!
If I want to learn to build a birdhouse or make Coq au vin or speak German there are any number of simple, step-by-step guides from which I can choose. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Lawrence G. Farlow
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Crash Course in the How-Tos of Preaching
A number of years ago, I was listening to a really great preacher on my iPod and I remembered thinking, "How did he do that? Read more
Published 10 months ago by Aaron Armstrong
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful and instructive - a genuine help
With his customary clarity and precision of style and structure, David Murray provides us with a preacher's toolbox - not a full pastoral theology per se but rather a practical... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. Walker
