Preaching Sticky Sermons
by Brandon Kelley and Joe Hoagland
Rainer Publishing, 2017

Whether you have been preaching for decades or just a few months, every man who stands in the pulpit can learn more about the art of preparing and delivering a sermon. Preaching Sticky Sermons is divided into four sections, focusing on preparation, writing, delivery, and evaluation. Many of the tips found in the book are reminders of long-held truths, while others are suggestions on using more modern technological tools to better engage the congregation. The bottom line throughout, however, is not only preaching more effectively, but preaching so that the hearts of the congregation are turned toward the Word.

The authors encourage the use of Evernote, a free app available for smart phones; they also offer a free download of resources to use with Evernote. I have attempted to use the app on several occasions, but I personally do not find it efficient. Others use it and use it well; it boils down to what you are comfortable with. I prefer old-fashioned note-taking, and feel that Evernote is more of a burden than a blessing to me.

Though the authors come from a different religious background, doctrine is not directly discussed in this volume. The focus of Preaching Sticky Sermons is not Biblical content, but how to deliver Biblical content. A commitment to the revealed Word is encouraged. They write, “Every sermon you preach should be focused on God’s Word, not your own ideas, opinions, or anecdotes. If you want to see God work in a special ay through your message, it must be biblically true.” Elsewhere, they write, “If you stick to preaching the truth of Scriptures, people will be offended, but they won’t be offended because of some idea you came up with. They’ll be offended because the Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword. It pierces to the depths of the heart. Let it do its job.” If every denominational preacher would do just that, we could do away with the sinful divisiveness in the religious world today.

Kelley and Hoagland’s book can be a great benefit to preachers, helping them to strengthen their delivery on Sunday by looking more closely at their preparation and evaluation. There are even tips on how to take the sermon past Sunday and give it more life through further writing. Preaching Sticky Sermons is an encouraging book for preachers, young and old.

Purchase Preaching Sticky Sermons by Brandon Kelley and Joe Hoagland.

[Disclosure: Rainer Publishing provided a complimentary copy of this book to Handling Aright in exchange for a review. The opinions expressed belong to the reviewer, and a positive review was not required by the publisher.]