Book Review of Excellence in Preaching by Simon Vibert

Information on Book
Excellence in Preaching: Studying the Craft of Leading Preachers
by Simon Vibert
ISBN 978-0-8308-3815-8
IVP Books
Reviewed by Clint Walker
 
Overview
Simon Vibert has written a unique text on preaching. In Excellence in Preaching, Vibert chooses twelve well-known, leading evangelical English-speaking preachers from three continents. He analyzes one or two of each of their messages, and points out the strengths of that particular message. Then, he has some take-away tips for preachers to better the execution of their craft.

Personal Response
I enjoyed reading through Excellence in Preaching. There is a lot to learn from this text. There is also significant room for improvement.

As I read through this book, I found a lot of helpful hints and tidbits about good preaching that I needed to hear. Some of the information was helpful because it confirmed my experience. This is especially true of David Cook's description of beginnings and endings.

David Cook likens preaching to an airplane journey. Most energy and concentration are required at the beginning and the end. The takeoff and landing are the most dangerous and require the most engine thrust. In between, while airborne, the plane may cruise along. In preaching beginnings and endings matter the most. 'Maximum thrust at the beginning. Maximum thrust at the end,' he says (p. 93)

Other information was helpful because it gave me a needed admonition. Such was the case when Vibert discussed John Ortberg when Vibert surmised, "Don't feel like you have to say everything every time you stand up to preach. God's story is a big story, and full explanation requires a lifetime" (p. 117)

Despite the helpfulness of this text, I thought it was rather narrow in its scope of preachers. President Obama's speaking style was referenced at the beginning of the text. His speaking style has some roots in the African-American preaching experience. Yet, there is not one African-American preacher on the "leading preachers" to be analyzed. There were no women on the list, and yet Beth Moore, Anne Graham Lotz and Joyce Meyer have had a huge impact on women around the country and around the world. There are very few preachers on this list that are not both conservative and evangelical. It would have been nice to see someone more thoroughly mainline who is also recognized as a great preacher.

Having said this, this book will sit on my shelf, and I will refer to it many times when I need a little kick-start or a fresh breeze in my preaching.

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