Preaching Life-Changing Sermons: Six Steps to Developing and Delivering Biblical Messages

by Jesse Nelson

A how-to guide for preparing and delivering Spiritfilled, biblical messages that make a difference

Being called to preach is a tremendous commission. In Preaching Life-Changing Sermons , Dr. Jesse L. Nelson shares a simple process for effective expository sermon preparation and delivery, flavored with insights from his life in ministry and academic work. Those with teaching and preaching responsibilities with little to no seminary training will learn practical steps they can use today in their ministry.

Nelson outlines the foundations of life-changing preaching and shows how each looks in the everyday life of a preaching


Handling God's Word rightly through prayer, sermon preparation, and sermon delivery sets the stage for God to work. When the Spirit moves as Scripture speaks, souls are changed--and the call to preach becomes an exciting, life-changing adventure.


"The various examples provided and encouragement gained from reading and practicing the wisdom found in these pages will set any preacher on a path to preaching power." -- Scott M. Gibson , DPhil, Director, PhD Program in Preaching, Truett Seminary, Baylor University

"Dr. Jesse Nelson is the real deal. His experience in the pulpit, passion for preaching, keen theological insight, and practical tools for communicators make this a book a treasure." -- Rev. Margot Starbuck , speaker, editor, and author of Small Things with Great Love

144 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[Peter Butler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Preaching Life-Changing Sermons: Six Steps to Developing and Delivering Biblical Messages by Jesse L. Nelson was written to help those who don’t have seminary training (as Nelson didn’t when he began preaching at age fourteen), as a text for ministers to discuss, for use in seminaries, etc. He states that he is writing from and is influences by black preaching tradition.

Nelson’s work is commendable in arguing that a sermon is to be developed through prayer and study, relying on the Holy Spirit, understanding the text in its grammatico-historical context, preaching what the text says, and addressing it with your congregation – its strengths and weakness – in mind.

It is helpful to understand where he is coming from – his influences – and he lists numerous preachers and their works throughout his book.

However, for a number of reasons, I cannot recommend this book:

Nelson argues that there is a lack of illustration and application in sermons – and he often uses stories about himself, his family, and friends. Although he says that the sermon – and applications – must be what the text says, not what the preacher wants it to say – I find todays preachers illustration and application heavy – taking away from the Gospel and the Glory of God.

Nelson conflates preaching though a book with preaching verses or sections of a book and/or a topical series.

And Nelson approvingly cites preachers with questionable doctrinal positions, such as Tony Evans.

For these reasons, it would be best to look to another book on preaching.

I received this book for free from Kregel in exchange for an honest review.

[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel.com, and Goodreads.com].

[Mike Neglia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great basic, faithful introduction to sermon construction and delivery

[Brandon Siwula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good simple and basic book on preaching with some helpful insights for me personally. There are a few things I did not completely agree with, but overall was a brief and profitable read that I could see being helpful especially to new preachers.