Broken Words: Reflections on the Craft of Preaching Book

A look at what both our successes and failures in preaching can tell us about how
to craft better sermons.

Paul Wilson has long been one of the most important
figures among those who seek a richer and more complete understanding of what preaching is, and
how it might be made better. In this new book he draws on his broad and deep work in homiletics
to show preachers how to craft a variety of types of sermons. How do you preach from the Old
Testament? What are the particular needs and challenges of preaching the Good Friday, and then
the Easter, sermon? What do you do when you want to address contemporary events?

Recognizing that all sermons are in some ways "broken words," he includes in each
chapter an illustrative sermon, some of which work well, yet others of which don't. If you stand
in the pulpit long, he reminds us, you're going to preach your share of both. You would do well
to learn, then, how either kind of sermon--the ones you're proud of and the ones you want to
forget--can provide ample opportunities to learn how to be a more effective and faithful
preacher of the gospel. Readers will learn how to vary the sources, styles, and substance of
their sermons.

Key Benefits: Will empower the reader to move outside their
comfort zone in preaching, thus engaging the broader possibilities for preaching; Will help the
reader to learn how to assess both their strong and weak sermons, and learn from
each.