How to Preach without Notes [Paperback]

Charles W. Koller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

A time-tested preaching resource for every pastor's library

Two of Koller's popular texts, Expository Preaching without Notes and Sermons Preached without Notes, are combined in a single volume that allows preachers to prepare and deliver sermons without being tied to a manuscript or even outlines or notes. Among the eighteen topics discussed are the biblical conception of preaching, the advantages of preaching without notes, homiletical devices, the importance of structure, and the systematic filing of materials.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A time-tested preaching resource for every pastor's library

Effective speaking is key in reaching people with the gospel and growing our churches. And delivering powerful messages without being tied to manuscripts, outlines, or notes is the key to effective speaking. A classic that has stood the test of time, How to Preach without Notes can show you how to do just that.

Among the topics discussed are the biblical conception of preaching, the advantages of preaching without notes, homiletical devices, the importance of structure, and the systematic filing of materials. For almost fifty years, pastors and seminary students have benefited from the principles found in this book. Now you can too.


Charles W. Koller (1896-1983) taught ministerial students at Northern Seminary for more than twenty years, in addition to serving as its president. An influential preacher and a popular conference speaker, Koller earned his ThD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

About the Author

Charles W. Koller (1896-1983) taught ministerial students at Northern Seminary for more than twenty years, in addition to serving as its president. An influential preacher and a popular conference speaker, Koller earned his ThD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801091934
• ISBN-13: 978-0801091933
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on the preparation of sermons, December 23, 2000

By 

Sherman Cox "SoulPreaching.Com Website Editor" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Preach without Notes (Paperback)

This is a short but powerful book on the creation of sermons. The reader learns about different types of sermons, the source material for sermons, the mechanics of studying for a sermon, how to create a filing system for sermon preparation, the different appeals of sermons, 16 sermons, and much more.

If you want to learn basic homiletics and read some example sermons then this is the book for you.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Preach Without Notes: Building Expository Sermons`, January 27, 2003

By 

Don (Odessa, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Preach without Notes (Paperback)

Kohler's marvelous book has been my main guide to building expository sermons since I purchased my copy in 1970. The following chapter titles are indicative of its impressive contents: The Scriptural Conception of Preaching, The Primary of Expository Preaching, The Advantages of Preaching without Notes, Homiletical Devices, The Steps to Preparing an Expository Sermon, The Analysis of the Scripture Passage, The Heart of the Sermon. Structural Components, The Way to Note Free Preaching, The Way to Perennial Freshness, The Basic Appeals of Biblical Preaching, The Minister's Vocabulary, and The Systematic Filing of Materials. A minister who uses Kohler's book to guide him in building expository sermons from the Word of God will experience an ever growing power in the pulpit.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but needs a different title, February 12, 2007

By 

spiritpolitik (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: How to Preach without Notes (Paperback)

Though a good resource for sermon preparation, I found little on how to preach without notes. The book should have been entitled "how to develop a sermon". I felt the title betrayed the contents of the book. If you are looking for a source on sermon prepartion, this is a good one. It gives little, however, on how to actually preach without notes.