Preaching 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