Top Ten Books of 2012. . . # 6 Charles R. Swindoll, Saying It Well: Touching Others with Your Words

The next book that I found to be immensely helpful in 2012 was a book about preaching by Charles Swindoll.  I always enjoy reading books that are geared toward helping a man become a better preacher.  This is a book that helps prevent one from preaching “long-horn” sermons.  You may wonder what a “long-horn” sermon is and all who preach probably have to at least privately acknowledge they have been guilty of preaching a “long-horn” sermon a time or two.  A “long-horn” sermon is one that has two points and a lot of bull in between. 

Just as physicians and other ancillary medical staff members are required to have continuing education units, I believe that preachers should fall under that same mandate.  Many times preachers who have been in one place for a long time can get stale in their preaching and praying and it will affect the church they are serving.  I am certain that Saying It Well is a book that will have a measure of inspiration for those who fall into this category.  Furthermore, this book is one of those continuing education books for those who preach.   

Author:  Charles R. Swindoll

Title:  Saying It Well:  Touching Others with Your Words

Publisher:  Faith Words, 2012.

The one thing that sets Chuck Swindoll’s books apart from most others is his ability to be refreshingly inspirational.  He will never be accused of being a necessarily deep writer but he does have the unique ability to make you think about the matters of the heart.  All of the chapters are just single words and most of them are verbs.  For instance, Preparing, Going, Digging, Building, Applying, among others.

In his chapter on Calling, he emphasizes the great importance of being able to point to a sort of Damascus road encounter that all men need to be able to point to.  Despite what some would say about his matter, it is clear that every man who determines to preach needs to be able to give a specific time and place when he felt that strong, demanding call to preach.  Without that sense of purpose, many fall by the way long into their work and end up making shipwreck of their own soul and those to whom they were leading. 

In the chapter on Going, Swindoll gives some helpful advice about listening to the leading voice of God.  Often God uses the circumstances around us to help us to grow and go where we need to.  These are the revealing signs of God’s leading:

·         Unexplained restlessness despite good circumstances.

·         An opportunity to exercise trust in God in following a certain course of action.

·         The encouragement of wise, impartial friends to accept a challenge.

·         A realization that you current role or circumstance doesn’t fit you and it never will.

·         Internal turmoil over your present course.

·         Lack of excitement and enthusiasm over remaining where you are.

In the chapter on Digging, which was probably the one that I enjoyed the most is loaded with practical advice about how to study and how to dig.  Every sermon worth anything has to be dug out of the Scriptures and from a place of prayer.  If you will dig in your study, be prepared to work!  It is hard work to put together messages that are biblically rich and food for the soul.  It requires a man to get in his chair and not to get up until the hard work is finished.  Sermon preparation that is nothing more than a collection of data will be nothing more than a talk that is filled with moral platitudes.  It is junk-food for the soul that will cater to “atta-boy!” sermons.  “Atta-boy!” sermons are those that are always providing vague elements of comfort and saying “atta-boy, you can make it!” or some variation thereof.  Loaded with empty calories that makes for flabby, muffin-top saints who never quite understand how to handle the perplexities of spiritual challenges and battles. 

In the section from this chapter called “Advice from the Pastor’s Study,” Swindoll gives the following suggestions that come in the form of leading questions:

·         What information/insights can I share that the majority of my audience doesn’t already have?

·         How do I want my audience to think differently and then respond after the preaching?

In this chapter on Digging, he also maps out his personal schedule of preparation that he has followed for decades in preparing to preach.  Since I enjoy hearing about how other preachers put things together (See links on Jeff Arnold, Ben Weeks, Jason Calhoun, J. H. Osborne, John Carroll, Scott Graham, Doug White) I also enjoyed the schedule he laid out. 

He also has a whale of a chapter on Illustrating which you will find helpful.  Swindoll helps you to look at areas in the common areas of life that will provide excellent sources to season your preaching with. 

Various quotes from the book:

·         Nothing can compensate for a lack of authenticity.

·         I still go through the same digging process when I use an old sermon, but now I’m digging through soft soil. 

·         One gains authority to say it well by preparing well. 

·         This journey is a continual pursuit of your calling and a perpetual extension of your preparation.

·         It is important to know who you are not.

·         John Henry Jowett is quoted, “Preaching that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.  If the study is a lounge, the pulpit will be an impertinence.”

·         An impactful sermon requires a solid foundation of truth, or it will crumble under its own weight.

I would recommend that you add this book to your list to read in 2013. 

Thanks for reading. . .