Preaching
by Ear: Speaking God’s Truth from the Inside Out
Well,
here’s another book on the how-to’s of preaching. But before you dismiss this
book (or review), hear this out. This book has a completely unique approach
from virtually all other preaching improvement volumes. This is not a technical volume on the form of preaching. It’s
not the usual three points, stay to the text and don’t force something onto the
text.
Rather,
author Dave McClellan takes us on a journey of two parts. In Part 1, Preparing the Preacher, he appeals to
the oratory skills of Augustine and Quintilian encouraging us to present
sermons that are not so technically perfect but are delivered from the heart. In
Part 2, Developing an orally Based Model
of Preaching, he leads us through the development of a sermon that comes
from within the preacher. His emphasis throughout the book is for all preachers
to preach to communicate; pastors should deliver sermons prepared for
listeners.
McClellan
is a long time pastor and professor. He also holds a PhD in Rhetoric and
Communication. Obviously he is well qualified to tackle the subject.
The
book does get a bit “heavy” at times with discussions of rhetoric, but these
are necessary for McClellan to establish his point. Don’t let them throw you. Enjoy
the discussion at it moves along.
Every
preacher should benefit from the reading of the book if for no other reason
than it presents a distinctive challenge, a challenge for every person that
delivers a sermon of teaches a class. It is a book not just to read, but more
beneficially to be studied.
This
book was provided to me by the Weaver Book Company for review with no
anticipated pretense.
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