The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching is one of the most useful preaching volumes to be published in some time. Edited by Haddon Robinson (the Gordon-Conwell prof and Preaching Contributing Editor whose Biblical Preaching is one of the homiletical classics of the 20th century) and Craig Brian Larsen (who edits PreachingToday.com for Christianity Today), this hefty volume is packed with useful insights and practical tools for any preacher.

The 732-page book contains more than 200 chapters — some relatively brief, others lengthy essays on a topic. Although there are several original contributions offered, most of the material included has appeared previously in one of several publications or pastoral resources published by Christianity Today: Leadership Journal, PreachingToday.com, and Preaching Today audio. A bonus feature is an accompanying audio CD that contains excerpts from sermons which originally appeared in Preaching Today.

Robinson and Larsen have divided the book into eleven major sections, dealing with the preacher’s calling, spiritual life, listeners, biblical interpretation and application, sermon structure, style, illustrations, preparation, delivery, special topics, and evaluation. The list of contributors is a veritable who’s who of contemporary preachers, inclding John Stott, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels, Michael Quicke, Warren Wiersbe, Maxie Dunnam, Joe Stowell, William Willimon, Alistair Begg, Earl Palmer, Ben Patterson, Rob Bell, Bryan Chapell, Fred Craddock, Rock Warren, Stuart Briscoe, John Piper, Bob Russell, Andy Stanley, and many more.

This is one of those books that deserves to spend some time on the preacher’s desk before it settles into a permanent home on the preacher’s bookshelf. In fact, many will find that reading a chapter a day will provide a helpful (and inexpensive) continuing education program that will run several months. The toughest discipline will be stopping after one chapter!