H. B. CHARLES, JR.

ON PREACHING

PERSONAL & PASTORAL INSIGHTS FOR THE PREPARATION & PRACTICE OF PREACHING

Moody Publishers

CHICAGO

© 2014 by

H. B. Charles, Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All websites listed herein are accurate at the time of publication but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the site’s contents. Groups and organizations are listed for informational purposes, and listing does not imply publisher endorsement of their activities.

Edited by Christopher Reese

Cover design: Geoffrey Sciacca

Cover image: Wavebreak Media / 123RF

Author photo: Derrick Wilson

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1191-4

We hope you enjoy this book from Moody Publishers. Our goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books and products that connect truth to your real needs and challenges. For more information on other books and products written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

Moody Publishers

820 N. LaSalle Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60610

I joyfully dedicate this book to the beloved members of the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles. You introduced me to the Lord Jesus Christ. I preached my first sermon to you, as an eleven-year-old boy. At the age of seventeen, while just a senior in high school, you called me to be your pastor. And you faithfully and eagerly listened to me preach and teach the Word to you for eighteen years. Enjoying some good preaching and enduring a lot of bad preaching, you continually encouraged and supported me. Most of the principles I write about in this book, I learned while serving you. And I practiced them on you! I am what I am because of the investment you made in me.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Philippians 1:3–5

CONTENTS

Introduction: My Preaching Crisis

Part 1: Preparation for Preaching

1. Preach the Word!

2. Theological Training

3. Finding Time to Study

4. Developing a Sermon Calendar

5. Sermon Preparation

6. Why I Pray before I Preach

7. What I Pray before I Preach

Part 2: The Practice of Preaching

8. Using Scripture in Preaching

9. Selecting a Text to Preach

10. Consecutive Exposition

11. Becoming a Better Expositor

12. Sermon Outlines

13. Choosing Sermon Titles

14. Sermon Introductions

15. Sermon Transitions

16. Sermon Illustrations

17. Sermon Conclusions

18. Writing Sermon Manuscripts

19. Preaching without ...