This new book by Gary Millar and Phil Campbell,
Saving Eutychus: How to Preach God's Word and Keep People Awake, comes highly recommended. Just listen to these endorsements:
“I have read books on how to make sure your sermon is interesting,
and I have read books on how to make sure your sermon is faithful to the
text, but this book wants your sermon to be both. If I could, I would
make this little book mandatory reading for seminarians everywhere, and
then urge them to read it a couple more times during the course of their
ministry. It avoids cutesy and manipulative suggestions, and makes its
practical points while urging integrity, faithfulness, and imagination.
Many books on preaching are published every year; this one is a "must.”
- D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“This book teems with ‘plusses’: it is short (as a tome that takes
Eutychus as its poster boy must be); it is stretching (the authors force
one to deal with longer texts—and leave one asking, “Why can’t I
summarize extended passages like that?”); it is specific (they include
actual sermons with critique); it is searching (in case you skip the
first chapter, ‘pray’ occurs eight times in the conclusion); and
stirring (you still want to preach when you’ve finished reading). If you
don’t buy the book, don’t cry if Eutychus isn’t saved!”
- Dale Ralph Davis, Bible expositor and author
“Millar and Campbell write with much wit and wisdom for the sake of
our listeners. At some point every preacher must decide whether to
preach for the regard of one’s peers or for the welfare of Christ’s
people. Millar and Campbell have obviously decided for the latter and
give much sound advice for the rest of us to do the same.”
- Bryan Chapell, Chancellor, Covenant Theological Seminary
“Two men who would never be deadly boring or dull are Gary Millar and
Phil Campbell, and in this book they use their lively wit to help other
preachers keep Eutychus awake. More importantly, they are united in
their understanding of and commitment to the task of making God's word
known. I pray this book will be of benefit to both preachers and
congregations.”
- Phillip D Jensen, Dean of Sydney, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, NSW
“This book deserves to be included in the ‘must read’ category for
preachers. It is readable, which always helps! And, as we would expect,
it is biblical and practical. But it is also funny and forthright in a
way that made me re-evaluate my preaching and resolve with God’s help to
improve. This is a different book from Lloyd-Jones’ Preaching and Preachers and Between Two Worlds by John Stott, but it may prove to be just as influential.”
- Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Cleveland, OH
