Book Review: Gospel Preachers

Gospel Preachers: Listen and Learn by Benjamin Lee (cover)As a preacher, I periodically try to read books on the topic of preaching in order to learn from others about how to improve in this work. Earlier this year I read Gospel Preachers: Listen and Learn by Benjamin Lee. The book is contains a series of questions that were posed to several preachers of varying levels of experience and their responses to these questions.

I have been preaching for over 14 years. Yet even now, there are certain parts of the “job” (for lack of a better term) of preaching that I don’t feel like I ever learned (such as when, if ever, it’s time to relocate – that’s always been an interesting question to me). This book was written to help provide insight for those who are interested in preaching – or perhaps are already preaching – from men who have learned from experience and have bits of wisdom to pass on to others. Here’s how the author explained it:

I decided to create this book to hopefully encourage other gospel preachers as they preach the word. I have been privileged to be a part of a two-year preacher training program. I was able to have two great mentors who helped prepare me for the work of a full time evangelist. I know not every man may be able to do that. So I interviewed 19 preachers and asked them each 16 questions about their work, sermon preparation, best practices, family, etc. My prayer is that this book will become a resource for men who may be beginning the work of an evangelist or who is simply looking to continue to grow and learn.

The book was very interesting and overall I thought it was very helpful. It contained questions about one’s motivation to preach, advice for new preachers, maximizing one’s time, sermon preparation, holding gospel meetings, relocating, and more. There were several helpful tips I found throughout the book.

The only “complaint” (if you can call it that) I had with the book was a minor one. Personally, I wish there was more advice for how to balance preaching with secular work. It is certainly Scriptural for a preacher to receive full support and in most cases it is preferable; but in many cases, it is also not reality. Most of the preachers interviewed never or rarely had to supplement their preaching support with secular work. One of the questions did ask if they had always worked full-time as a preacher or at times made tents like Paul, but it didn’t go any further into balancing preaching work and secular work. I suppose that was beyond the scope of this book, so it’s fine that it wasn’t included. I guess I would just like to see a similar book focusing on “tent making” preachers.

If you’re looking for helpful advice and insight into the work of preaching, I would certainly recommend this book. For those who are new to preaching or are preparing for that work, this book will be especially helpful.

This book is available on Amazon – Gospel Preaches: Listen and Learn (affiliate link)


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