Preaching to Convince

How to be heard—and heeded.

The apostle Paul spent his prison days in Rome preaching—trying “to convince them about Jesus.” The results: “Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe” (Acts 28:24). About par for the course.

Any preacher often wonders, Am I getting across? I believe what I’m saying, but is anyone else convinced? Somnolent nods, glazed over eyes, and, worse, unaffected lives telegraph what no preacher wants to face.

Preaching in a way that convinces—that changes lives—is the goal of every preacher. And the frustration.

Thirteen contributors well acquainted with the challenges of preaching fill this book with premium grist for the convincer’s mill. Their material has been gleaned from the best articles on preaching in LEADERSHIP JOURNAL. The writers and subjects vary—a professional speaker addressing creativity, an evangelist on honest invitations, an ancient churchman’s earnest homiletical advice—yet all drive toward the same center: preaching that is more than a flood of words washing across impervious lives.

This is the eighth volume of THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY, a continuing series from LEADERSHIP, the practical journal for church leaders published by Christianity Today, Inc. Others in the series have included Helping Those Who Don’t Want Help, Learning to Lead, and Liberating the Leader’s Prayer Life. THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY is more than a collection of theory; it supplies practical strategies for the difficult aspects of everyday church life. Written by church leaders who know the territory, it offers proven routes to effective ministry.