Reading for Preaching

In Reading for Preaching Cornelius (Neal) Plantinga makes a singular claim: preachers who read fine writing will likely become deeper and defter preachers.

In his own winsome writing style Plantinga shows how a general reading program benefits preachers. First, he says, good reading generates delight, and the preacher who enters the world of delight goes with God. Good reading can also help tune the preacher’s ear for language — his or her primary tool. General reading can enlarge the preacher’s sympathies for people and situations that she or he had previously known nothing about. And, above all, the preacher who reads widely has the chance to become wise.

Though aimed especially at preachers, this beautifully written book will benefit anyone interested in the wisdom to be derived from reading.