Table Of ContentPreaching That Comes Alive is a book that covers much ground concisely
and well. Using the analogy of a human body, Maggie Low explores the
different facets of crafting a sermon – its skeleton, its heart, its digestive,
nervous, and muscular systems – in a way that is valuable for the novice
and experienced preacher alike. Blending experience of the classroom and
the pulpit, brimming with worked examples, and rooted in her own
Singaporean context, this is warmly commended for all those seeking to
bring to people a life-giving word from the Lord.
Antony Billington, PhD
Head of Theology, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, UK
Preaching That Comes Alive will provide all readers, not just those with Dr
Low’s own Asian slant, tips for effective preaching and helpful summaries
of approaches which are espoused by preaching professors in the West.
This makes her book an excellent introduction to the science and art of
preaching. Thank you, Dr Low!
Rev Gordon Wong, PhD
President, Trinity Annual Conference,
The Methodist Church in Singapore
Dr Low’s treatise on the homiletic discipline is a delightful smorgasbord of
theological reflection and practical delineation. She has strenuously and
delicately illustrated the relationship between biblical scholarship and
homiletical craftsmanship. Using her students’ and other practitioners’
sermons as working examples, she skillfully explains the intricacies of
sermon preparation and its accompanying sentinels of exegesis, context,
forms, functions and structure. A timely book which will prove
indispensable for both aspiring and seasoned preachers alike.
Rt Rev Steven Gan, DMin
Synod Moderator, The Presbyterian Church in Singapore
Rooted in Scripture, practiced in a community of preachers and welling
from a deep sense of personal calling, Maggie Low’s Preaching That
Comes Alive is an important contribution to the ongoing conversations and
reflections on what effective preaching may mean today.
Rev Canon Terry Wong
The Anglican Diocese of Singapore
This is more than a how-to book on preaching; it is preaching itself! It is
grounded in sound, biblical theology, well-structured, clearly argued, and
spiced with homely illustrations and real-life examples. Students from the
Majority World will likely find something in it with which they can
identify. But it is by no means parochial. Maggie Low interacts with a wide
range of homileticians from around the world giving her book a universal
appeal.
Rev Simon Chan, PhD
Trinity Theological College, Singapore
Editor, Asia Journal of Theology
Here is a treasure trove of helpful homiletical insights for all who preach
God’s Word. Birthed in the author’s nurturing of budding preachers and
seminarians, the book is peppered with practical guidelines and seasoned
with biblical examples. Particularly salutary are the emphases on preaching
as a transformative encounter with God, and the preacher’s need to hear
from God before speaking for God.
Rev Mark Chan, PhD
Director, Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia (CSCA),
Lecturer in Theology and Homiletics, Trinity Theological College, Singapore
I wish this helpful book had been available when I studied homiletics at
theological school. It is a delightful resource for learning and growing in
the preaching ministry. I appreciate the systematic process in which the
author guides the homiletical student “from head to toe” in having the
necessary heart and understanding the practical skills needed in preparing
and delivering a sermon that the Holy Spirit can use to minister deeply in
the hearts of the listeners.
Rev John Lin
Dean of Vietnam, The Anglican Diocese of Singapore
Rev Dr Low is driven by a passion for the church to be fed by the Word so
it can change the world. Here is a book that will inspire preachers
everywhere to understand the weight of their calling and raise the quality of
their sermons. Offering both warm, deeply grounded practical guidance and
a solid theoretical framework, Maggie Low is the preaching mentor you
always hoped to find.
Jo Swinney
Editor, Preach Magazine
Preaching That Comes Alive
Delivering a Word from the Lord
Maggie Low
© 2017 by Maggie Low
Published 2017 by Langham Global Library
An imprint of Langham Creative Projects
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-78368-244-7 Print
978-1-78368-246-1 Mobi
978-1-78368-245-4 ePub
978-1-78368-247-8 PDF
Maggie Low has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be
identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-78368-244-7
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but does
not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth, and works referenced within this publication
or guarantee its technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any
responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation
of its published content.
Converted to eBook by EasyEPUB
Contents
Cover
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Part I
1 The Call to Preach: Biblical Foundation
Conclusion
2 The Crux of Preaching: Homiletical Foundation
A. Why Have “A Word from the Lord”?
B. How to Formulate “A Word from the Lord”
Conclusion
3 Seeing the Bones: Exegetical Foundation
Conclusion
4 The Heart of Preaching: Lectio Divina
A. The God Who Speaks
B. Lectio Divina : Hearing a Word from the Lord
C. Writing Out a Word from the Lord
Part II
5 Shaping the Skeleton I: Deductive Forms
A. Why Deductive Forms?
B. How to Shape Deductive Forms
C. Examples
Conclusion
6 Shaping the Skeleton II: Inductive Forms
A. Why Inductive Forms?
B. How to Shape Inductive Forms
Conclusion
7 Shaping the Skeleton III: Textual Forms
A. Why Textual Forms?
B. How to Shape Textual Forms
Conclusion
Part III
8 The Digestive System: Explanations (What?)
A. Why Explain?
B. How to Explain?
C. Concluding Examples
9 The Nervous System: Illustrations (Really?)
A. Why Illustrations?
B. How to Tell Illustrations?
C. Where to Find Illustrations?
10 The Muscular System: Applications (So?)
A. Why Apply?
B. Who to Apply To?
C. What to Apply?
D. How to Apply?
E. An Example
Conclusion
Part IV
11 The Head: Introduction
A. Why Introduction?
B. How to Introduce
C. Examples
12 The Feet: Conclusion
A. Why Conclude?
B. How to Conclude
Conclusion
13 The Ligaments: Transitions
A. Why Transition?
B. How to Transition?
C. An Example
Part V
14 The Ears: Oral Style
A. Why Words?
B. How to Use Words?
C. An Example
15 Eyes and Voice: Delivery
A. Why Deliver?
B. How to Deliver?
Epilogue
Pre-Sermon Prayer
Post-Sermon Prayer
Bibliography
About Langham Partnership
Endnotes
Acknowledgments
Thanks are due to my preaching students who provided the raw material for
this book. They hail from all over Asia: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, and Vietnam. Although identified only by
nationalities in the book, I list their names below in alphabetical order:
Abraham Yap
Anthony Phua
Benjamin Lee
Byron Teo
Cathy Law
Charles Tewer
Chua Likai
David Ho
Dino Thangamany
Do Thi Thanh Phuong
Eddie Ho
Edmund Koh
Elaine Lim
Goh Wei Ming
How Choon Onn
Jessica Abraham
Kang Choon Pin
Lam My An
Mak Zhe Hao
Moe Nilar
Peter Ticoalu
Prem Bahadur Tamang
Pua Eeli
Susanty Parsaoran Manullang
Suseelah Isaac
Than Hue Anh
Tran Thi Thanh Nhan
Urjinkhand Namgar
Yvonne Chia
I’m grateful to Trinity Theological College for granting me a six-month
sabbatical to work on this book. To my colleagues, thanks to Simon Chan
for first asking me to teach homiletics when he was Academic Dean and to
Roland Chia for connecting me with Langham Partnership. Jeffrey Truscott
and Mark Chan, both of whom teach homiletics, gave invaluable feedback
on my manuscript. Michelle Oh-Tan generously gave her time and
journalistic skills to help edit my manuscript.
To my husband David who believed in me more than I did in myself: I
would not have grown to be the preacher I am today without your loving
critique and constant stirring up of God’s gift in me.
It is a joyful privilege to sow and water with the Word, knowing that
ultimately, God is the one who gives life and growth. May you, my fellow
preachers, experience more of that joy as you deliver a word from the Lord!
Maggie Low
