Bad sermon jokes have lost none of their edge, and preachers know most of them. Yet those churches where preaching flourishes often grow most strongly. Simon Coupland believes that a good sermon can bring the Bible to life, speak a powerful message to people's hearts and lives, and draw them to Christ. He tackles key topics, including the balance between inspiration and effort; structure; style; opening and closing; the use of narrative; and personal integrity. "The text is liberally sprinkled with examples of preaching, jokes, quotations and illustrations," he explains. "In a book to help us be more effective communicators, I have tried to practise what I preach." All preachers, no matter how experienced, will find something to treasure in his cheerful, commonsense approah.
