Drilling Deeper into Great Preaching

There are a host of interesting and helpful books about preaching in print today. A couple like Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson and Preaching by Tim Keller are “must-reads” for any developing preacher because they function as standards in the field. Others are a bit older and harder to find but very valuable in the specific nature of their focus. Such a volume is STUDIES IN PREACHING: Sense Appeal In The Sermons Of Charles Haddon Spurgeon by Jay E. Adams (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1976). According to Adams the initial suggestion for the study came many years ago from Andrew W. Blackwood and encompassed 425 sermons by C.H. Spurgeon exploring “sense appeal” which is defined as “the technique employed in preaching to activate the five senses without objective sense stimuli” (P. 7)

A cursory exploration of the Spurgeon’s sermons finds “the following sampling of imperatives….See, Behold, Mark, Admire, Look, Observe, Turn Your Eyes, View, Hear, Listen, Harken, Drink, Taste” (p.10) Adam’s then utilizes individual chapters to explore specific broader contexts and expressions that use appeals to the human senses beginning with “Appeal to Sight”(p. 12). Hearing is covered in chapter 4 (PP-18-22), Chapter six contextualizes the focus on the senses into the broader field of imagination in human communication. Adam’s next explores the origins of Spurgeon’s interest in utilizing “sense appeal” summarizing, “Spurgeon did have remarkable innate qualities. No one wishes to deny that fact but those would have been worthless apart from the intense and untiring efforts he expended to develop them for preaching”. (p.38)

Chapter 8 The Elements of Sense Appeal states, “Three factors, when properly combined produce Sense Appeal, Perception, Imagination and Description”(P.45) This is where I found much to personally apply to my preaching preparation and delivery. An appendices on Sense Appeal in Spurgeon’s Sermon Titles was short but very interesting (PP.58-59

I completely enjoyed this book. The sermon snippets were edifying, the insights on transformative preaching worthwhile and Adam’s style always clear and concise. If you can get a hold of a copy this book will provide a valuable addition to your preaching library.