Many books on preaching are written every year. Some of these books are of varying helpfulness with some written to help the preacher or teacher interpret the Bible and others focused on assisting the pastor to deliver a “good” sermon. While there is certainly a variety of books that focus on one or more of these fields of preaching and teaching the Word of God, a new book called One Year to Better Preaching: 52 Exercises to Hone Your Skills by Daniel Overdorf has come out that seeks to be a “one stop shop” if you will on improving your preaching. What makes this particular book unique is its short chapters, helpful content, and the fact it doesn’t aim to be the “expert” on any one particular subject it covers, instead pointing to other resources as needed.
Reading One Year to Better Preaching was a lot like being sprayed by a fire hose. At first you get really wet and then you need to dry off. In this same way, this book is like a firehouse meaning you get a great variety of information, some of which if you’ve read a lot on this subject you will already be familiar with. What is helpful though is that the author points to other books to consider in your study. If you are like me and enjoy reading books on preaching, you will find approach helpful. If you don’t find that particularly useful, then the short chapters will serve as a good primer for you and the exercises will prove profitable in your continued study of preaching.
One Year to Better Preaching is a good introduction to the craft of preaching. With a variety of advice on a broad spectrum of topics, this book would be helpful to the new preacher who desires to learn to preach better. Additionally, it would be good for those who have never read for example books like Christ-Centered Preaching by Dr. Bryan Chapell or other noted books on the subject of preaching. Overdorf presents topics covered more thoroughly in other books, while recognizing his work is focused on providing in one volume many of the best thoughts on preaching today that will help beginning preachers learn the what and how of preaching. As I noted above, this book would be good for new preachers to read and glean valuable information from as they seek to learn how to deliver their sermons while providing them with a solid framework on how to craft sermons in a way that accurately communicates the truth of God’s Word.
Title: One Year to Better Preaching: 52 Exercises to Hone Your Skills
Author: Daniel Overdorf
Publisher: Kregel (2013)
I received this for free from Kregel book review program for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
