Table of Contents for Preaching Essentials: A Practical Guide

Part 1. Preaching and Preachers

1. Why Keep Preaching?

2. You Know You’re Called to Preach if . . .

3. Theology Matters

4. Science or Art?

5. Pitfalls to Avoid

6. Healthy Preachers S.H.E.D.

7. Overcoming the Monday Morning Blues

Part 2. People and Places

8. Context Is Everything . . . Almost

9. The Best Preachers Are the Best Listeners

10. Diversity Awareness Training

11. Listener Listening Styles

12. Preaching to Community Needs

13. Preaching Dress and Sermon Length

14. Introducing Your Congregation

Part 3. Preparation and Presentation

15. Developing a Sermon Preparation Process

16. Exegesis 101

17. Preaching as a Spiritual Discipline

18. The Preacher’s Two Best Friends

19. The Metaphor and the Mantra

20. Artistic Touches

21. Textual or Topical

22. Linear or Narrative

23. Beginning and EndingWell

24. Illuminating Illustrations

25. Appropriate Applications

26. Voice and Body

27. Practice Your Preaching

28. Mind Mapping

29. Reimagining Imagination

30. No Cloning

31. Use of Humor

Part 4. Planning and Progress

32. AWell-Balanced Diet

33. The Sermon Planning Retreat

34. The Sermon Planning Team

35. Ask the Flock

36. Soliciting Sermon Feedback

37. Developing a Preaching Growth Plan

Part 5. Postscript

38. Tips for Building Rapport

39. Preaching on Hard Topics

40. Dealing with Surprises

41. Weddings and Funerals

42. Fresh Insights and New Practices