Experienced preacher John Henry Jowett shares advice to those aspiring or new to the ministry; how to deliver sermons that resonate, the scholarly aspects of the work, and adeptly providing spiritual counsel to those in need.
As a veteran member in God's service, Jowett understood where the minister's attentions should be directed; mastering the sermon - such as through delivering moral and thought-provoking Biblical anecdotes - is but one aspect of a preacher's job. Achieving consistency upon the pulpit and in daily life is a matter not merely of study and practice, but of an authentic devotion cultivated alone with God. Preserving one's moral and intellectual integrity is both a scholarly study and a constant effort.
The author proscribes a series of exercises and examples which will help the preacher improve in his role and avoid common pitfalls. Excessive routine and commonality in the preacher's life, and the gradual loss of the emotional core of the work, are cautioned against. While Jowett does not delve deeply into the thematic construction of sermons his work is an excellent companion, as he divulges advice on general good practice and lifestyle often overlooked by more technical guides.