What do you think?
Rate this book
Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
When You Talk, Are People Changed?
Whether you speak from the pulpit, podium, or the front of a classroom, you don’t need much more than blank stares and faraway looks to tell you you’re not connecting. Take heart before your audience takes leave! You can convey your message in the powerful, life-changing way it deserves to be told. An insightful, entertaining parable that’s an excellent guide for any speaker, Communicating for a Change takes a simple approach to delivering effectively. Join Pastor Ray as he discovers that the secrets to successful speaking are parallel to the lessons a trucker learns on the road. By knowing your destination before you leave (identifying the one basic premise of your message), using your blinkers (making transitions obvious), and implementing five other practical points, you’ll drive your message home every time!
“Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
“Once upon a time…”
“In the beginning…”
Great stories capture and hold an audience’s attention from start to finish. Why should it be any different when you stand up to speak?
In Communicating for a Change, Andy Stanley and Lane Jones offer a unique strategy for communicators seeking to deliver captivating and practical messages. In this highly creative presentation, the authors unpack seven concepts that will empower you to engage and impact your audience in a way that leaves them wanting more.
“Whether you are a senior pastor with weekly teaching responsibilities or a student pastor who has bern charged with engaging the hearts and minds of high school students, this book is a must-read.”
-Bill Hybels, Senior pastor, Willow Creak Community Church
“A very practical resource for every biblical communicator who wants to go from good to great.”
-Ed Young, Senior pastor, Fellowship Church, Grapevine, Texas
“To communicate effectively, you have to connect. Andy has been connecting with people for years, and now he’s sharing his insights with the rest of us.”
-Jeff Foxworthy, Comedian
Story Behind the Book
Andy Stanley and Lane Jones are on staff at one of America ’s largest churches, North Point Community. Leaders of thousands of people, they regularly speak in front of large groups. They also listen to numerous speakers and know the disastrous effects of a poorly delivered message. This book is the result of their efforts to make public speaking—one of the most common fear-inducing activities known to mankind—simple, easy, and even enjoyable, so that God’s messages will readily produce the life-changing results they should.
Whether you speak from the pulpit, podium, or the front of a classroom, you don’t need much more than blank stares and faraway looks to tell you you’re not connecting. Take heart before your audience takes leave! You can convey your message in the powerful, life-changing way it deserves to be told. An insightful, entertaining parable that’s an excellent guide for any speaker, Communicating for a Change takes a simple approach to delivering effectively. Join Pastor Ray as he discovers that the secrets to successful speaking are parallel to the lessons a trucker learns on the road. By knowing your destination before you leave (identifying the one basic premise of your message), using your blinkers (making transitions obvious), and implementing five other practical points, you’ll drive your message home every time!
“Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
“Once upon a time…”
“In the beginning…”
Great stories capture and hold an audience’s attention from start to finish. Why should it be any different when you stand up to speak?
In Communicating for a Change, Andy Stanley and Lane Jones offer a unique strategy for communicators seeking to deliver captivating and practical messages. In this highly creative presentation, the authors unpack seven concepts that will empower you to engage and impact your audience in a way that leaves them wanting more.
“Whether you are a senior pastor with weekly teaching responsibilities or a student pastor who has bern charged with engaging the hearts and minds of high school students, this book is a must-read.”
-Bill Hybels, Senior pastor, Willow Creak Community Church
“A very practical resource for every biblical communicator who wants to go from good to great.”
-Ed Young, Senior pastor, Fellowship Church, Grapevine, Texas
“To communicate effectively, you have to connect. Andy has been connecting with people for years, and now he’s sharing his insights with the rest of us.”
-Jeff Foxworthy, Comedian
Story Behind the Book
Andy Stanley and Lane Jones are on staff at one of America ’s largest churches, North Point Community. Leaders of thousands of people, they regularly speak in front of large groups. They also listen to numerous speakers and know the disastrous effects of a poorly delivered message. This book is the result of their efforts to make public speaking—one of the most common fear-inducing activities known to mankind—simple, easy, and even enjoyable, so that God’s messages will readily produce the life-changing results they should.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2006
479 people are currently reading
2,550 people want to read
About the author
Andy Stanley
268books827followersAndy Stanley is the senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, and Browns Bridge Community Church. He also founded North Point Ministries, which is a worldwide Christian organization.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
March 21, 2020
I’m deeply conflicted about this book, so giving it a definitive star rating is pretty challenging, honestly.
On the one hand, there are some really terrific observations and practical, common-grace wisdom in these pages. There are even glimpses into Stanley’s very sincere love for his audience and his church, and his desire to help pastors preach and deliver more effectively-communicated messages is certainly heartfelt, welcome, and sincere.
The problem—and it’s a big one—is that it’s all inextricably intertwined with a deeply, desperately deficient (indeed, impoverished) doctrine of Scripture. He’s not as overt in this book as he has been elsewhere about his disregard of the Old Testament (which he treats with an almost Arian disdain), but over and over the point is made that expository preaching is a waste of everyone’s time and energy. To that end, his approach to communication is deeply deficient as well: it simply will not consistently apply well to long-term expository preaching. (And indeed, that’s one of the reasons Stanley suggests that people jettison it.)
My overwhelming objection to this perspective, simply put, is that the church’s problem is not (as Stanley seems to think) that people know the Bible too well already, and expository preaching therefore doesn’t address felt needs. Rather, it’s that the church is deeply under-informed about the Bible and needs far more of it. Stanley’s advice to preachers to have greater concern and empathy for their audience, and to labor to connect with them on a deeper and more intimate level, is very well-taken; but if pastors adopt the same attitude he has to the Bible, they’re in grave danger of producing congregants who treat the Word of God as a guide for personal self-improvement, and who leave it thinking a lot more about themselves than they do about Him and about what He has done.
I (somewhat reluctantly) recommend reading with great care.
On the one hand, there are some really terrific observations and practical, common-grace wisdom in these pages. There are even glimpses into Stanley’s very sincere love for his audience and his church, and his desire to help pastors preach and deliver more effectively-communicated messages is certainly heartfelt, welcome, and sincere.
The problem—and it’s a big one—is that it’s all inextricably intertwined with a deeply, desperately deficient (indeed, impoverished) doctrine of Scripture. He’s not as overt in this book as he has been elsewhere about his disregard of the Old Testament (which he treats with an almost Arian disdain), but over and over the point is made that expository preaching is a waste of everyone’s time and energy. To that end, his approach to communication is deeply deficient as well: it simply will not consistently apply well to long-term expository preaching. (And indeed, that’s one of the reasons Stanley suggests that people jettison it.)
My overwhelming objection to this perspective, simply put, is that the church’s problem is not (as Stanley seems to think) that people know the Bible too well already, and expository preaching therefore doesn’t address felt needs. Rather, it’s that the church is deeply under-informed about the Bible and needs far more of it. Stanley’s advice to preachers to have greater concern and empathy for their audience, and to labor to connect with them on a deeper and more intimate level, is very well-taken; but if pastors adopt the same attitude he has to the Bible, they’re in grave danger of producing congregants who treat the Word of God as a guide for personal self-improvement, and who leave it thinking a lot more about themselves than they do about Him and about what He has done.
I (somewhat reluctantly) recommend reading with great care.
October 2, 2021
Stanley’s goal in this book is to equip pastors with the tools to become effective communicators. Throughout his work he triumphs the public performance of a Sunday sermon. In doing so he unintentionally reveals the unfortunate reality that the pastoral role has been reduced to a weekly performance. To be fair to Stanley, this particular book is aimed at developing the specific skill of communication, so my critique is less directed at Communicating for a Change and more at the evangelical perspective of the church that this book endorses.
That being said, I’m deeply saddened and frustrated by this book. Comments like, “Let’s face it, the reason so many of our churches are half full on Sunday morning is because a whole bunch of people decided not to come back. Why? Because the preacher didn’t give em anything to come back for,” show the flawed belief that one man’s effective communication is the extent of the work of the church. What he has failed to notice is that the church is not losing people because of boring preaching but because of a lack of compelling communal interaction with and participation in the life of the Triune God.
The church in America doesn’t need better public performers, it needs shepherds who can teach the body to pray and live in relationship with the Lord.
That being said, I’m deeply saddened and frustrated by this book. Comments like, “Let’s face it, the reason so many of our churches are half full on Sunday morning is because a whole bunch of people decided not to come back. Why? Because the preacher didn’t give em anything to come back for,” show the flawed belief that one man’s effective communication is the extent of the work of the church. What he has failed to notice is that the church is not losing people because of boring preaching but because of a lack of compelling communal interaction with and participation in the life of the Triune God.
The church in America doesn’t need better public performers, it needs shepherds who can teach the body to pray and live in relationship with the Lord.
January 28, 2011
There is a lot of good, even great advice on how to deliver a sermon in Communicating for a Change. To get to the good stuff however, you need to read through the first part of the book first and that was a bit of a struggle for me, because I didn’t care much for it. Don’t let that deter you from reading the book though, for you’ll miss out on good insights into preaching that really connects with your audience.
Communicating for a change is written by Andy Stanley, founder and senior pastor of North Point Community Church, and the less known Lane Jones from the same church. Because they’re strong believes in the power of a well-told story, the authors of Communicating for a change have opted to open the book with a fictional story about pastor Ray Martin who has trouble connecting with his congregation when he preaches. He then meets truck driver Willy Graham who teaches him the ‘secret’ of connecting with your audience. The lessons Willy teaches are then further discussed in the second part of the book.
Personally, I think they could have skipped the whole first part and gotten right to the second part. I love stories, I love fiction for that matter, but this story didn’t feel real to me because its main function was to get information across. It felt unnatural to me, especially the dialogues. But maybe it works for you, so don’t let it deter you from reading the second part of the book because that is truly, really good.
For a full review, see:
Communicating for a change is written by Andy Stanley, founder and senior pastor of North Point Community Church, and the less known Lane Jones from the same church. Because they’re strong believes in the power of a well-told story, the authors of Communicating for a change have opted to open the book with a fictional story about pastor Ray Martin who has trouble connecting with his congregation when he preaches. He then meets truck driver Willy Graham who teaches him the ‘secret’ of connecting with your audience. The lessons Willy teaches are then further discussed in the second part of the book.
Personally, I think they could have skipped the whole first part and gotten right to the second part. I love stories, I love fiction for that matter, but this story didn’t feel real to me because its main function was to get information across. It felt unnatural to me, especially the dialogues. But maybe it works for you, so don’t let it deter you from reading the second part of the book because that is truly, really good.
For a full review, see:
October 31, 2022
This is a well written book on communication, not preaching. Andy Stanley’s book is divided into two sections: the first is a fictional narrative to introduce his seven principles of communication; the second is a deeper discussion on those seven points. The narrative portion is engaging, but the book could have done without it and been an even clearer, succinct communication guide. The real content of the book lies in the second section, where Stanley expounds on his communication principles.
All-in-all, Stanley’s communication principles are helpful and informative. However, he fails to truly reach his audience: preachers of God’s Word. For a book on preaching written to preachers, you’d expect use of Scripture and greater consideration of the God’s sufficiency through His Word. Stanley fails to deliver on this front and thus fumbles his goal.
All-in-all, Stanley’s communication principles are helpful and informative. However, he fails to truly reach his audience: preachers of God’s Word. For a book on preaching written to preachers, you’d expect use of Scripture and greater consideration of the God’s sufficiency through His Word. Stanley fails to deliver on this front and thus fumbles his goal.
January 14, 2013
I belt the writer has some unresolved chips on his shoulder towards certain styles of preaching, especially anything that is 'bible heavy,' that being said, the second half of this book raises some solid points about communication and things that anybody getting up to preach the gospel should think about. This is of-course after you wade through 100 odd pages of some drawn out retelling which honestly disproves his whole argument about storytelling being an effective way to communicate information, which it is...when you only have one point to get across.
As I said the practical approaches in this book are all well and good, the only aspect of his argument that makes me concerned is that this, 'topical' approach to preaching is the one and only way to be effective. All scripture is valid for teaching, thats biblical, but we will have a hard time applying the same set of preaching rules to every passage and aspect of the gospel story.
As I said the practical approaches in this book are all well and good, the only aspect of his argument that makes me concerned is that this, 'topical' approach to preaching is the one and only way to be effective. All scripture is valid for teaching, thats biblical, but we will have a hard time applying the same set of preaching rules to every passage and aspect of the gospel story.
January 10, 2011
Stanley & Jones' Communicating For A Change is my new go-to book for practicing homiletics. The five-point sermon made sense in an age when people were used to hearing and following one to two hour discourses. That's not the current culture and preaching needs to adapt. While the method Stanley & Jones present is clear and simple, the practice will be difficult, less so for those practiced in story-based preaching, but certainly for those schooled to the classic academic Protestant style. Why? Because the kind of preaching Stanley & Jones ask for makes clergy very vulnerable and visible, practitioners of their own story of relating to the Holy, and no deliverers of lectures.
January 3, 2021
Helpful resource for preaching. I hear Fr. Mike Schmitz reviews this book regularly to continuously improve his preaching.
Andy Stanley is a well-known Protestant pastor. While his content in this book is not always relevant for Catholic homilies (ie. he assumes your sermons are 30-50 minutes long, he assumes your whole audience is following along with their Bibles like a Bible study, etc.) there’s plenty of helpful tips that Catholic speakers/homilists can glean to improve our communication skills and structure our messages to engage people and lead them to deeper conversion. At first I wasn’t a fan of half the book being a parable, the other half being more direct, but I came to appreciate how they overlapped.
Andy Stanley is a well-known Protestant pastor. While his content in this book is not always relevant for Catholic homilies (ie. he assumes your sermons are 30-50 minutes long, he assumes your whole audience is following along with their Bibles like a Bible study, etc.) there’s plenty of helpful tips that Catholic speakers/homilists can glean to improve our communication skills and structure our messages to engage people and lead them to deeper conversion. At first I wasn’t a fan of half the book being a parable, the other half being more direct, but I came to appreciate how they overlapped.
August 2, 2020
I reread this book recently after a ten or more year gap from the first reading. This book has its strengths and weaknesses. It's really two books in one telling the same information. The first part is an uncompelling "Who Moved My Cheese" parable where a trucker teaches a preacher how to to effectively communicate with his audience. That was weak and unnecessary. The second half of the book is the seminar where Stanley lays out his plan in seven stages. It is clear and actionable. For weekly church communicators this is an excellent tool, but I recommend skimming the first part and taking notes on the second.
June 3, 2017
Good practical advice on verbal communication; a quick read but some potent insights. I would disagree with Andy about a lot regarding theology, church, and worship, but I am glad to have his insights on communication. I will be trying to put some of this into practice.
October 8, 2024
Great book. Very practical for anyone who is wanting to grow in their communication skills.
November 5, 2024
I really liked this book. I felt like I was driving along with Ray and Will as we went on the journey of effective communication.
May 20, 2018
Great book. Didn't agree with everything Andy Stanley said but took away a lot that will probably carry with me the rest of my life, and that is the essence of a 5 star book. Would definitely recommend.
April 4, 2019
Communicator's gold! Mine! If you are a communicater/Bible teacher/preacher this book is gold! Outline this book and create templates to filter your messages through. Take notes on how to filter your message after you have taught, so you learn how that message could have been stronger and to learn from and leverage that info to make your next message better!
February 18, 2025
content was very good & extremely helpful! however i think i just don’t enjoy reading these types of books. it took me 5 years, but was a beneficial read😃😃😃
December 31, 2019
I know it is wrote specifically for preachers, but I have used this method to give speeches in different settings and it really works.
May 29, 2013
Though my goodreads account has suffered serious neglect of late, I have indeed been reading, and now that I have a bit of breathing space, I think I will add books a few at a time to avert a deluge.
To be honest, I considered not adding this particular title fearing what some of my friends might think a) about why I am reading a book on preaching and b) why I am reading Andy Stanley at all. But I found this book so genuinely helpful that I feel I must heartily recommend it to anyone who would like to improve their public speaking (not just preaching, which, by the way, I have no plans to attempt). I am not a good speaker, but I have lately been finding myself increasingly asked to speak in public, and being determined to improve I sought counsel from a friend and one of the best public speakers I know. He recommended this book, and I am so thankful. I used to think public speaking was more about the crowd or the sort of day you were having or your genes, but Andy Stanley offers concrete, detailed, practical advice that anyone can use to improve their ability to communicate in any sort of public speaking format. I would encourage anyone who is a public speaker--pastor, teacher, speaker, Bible study leader, et al., to read this book. It is very accessible and easy to apply, and very encouraging and inspiring as well, and based on keen insights about human nature and culture. It should go without saying that I am not necessarily wholeheartedly endorsing Andy's theology or even philosophy of preaching, but purely as a guide to public speaking this book is outstanding.
For you Jamie Smith fans, I happened to read this book at the same time as "Imagining the Kingdom," and I was struck regularly by how frequently Stanley applies Smith's anthropology (without naming or realizing it, I'm sure) to his speaking methodologies.
To be honest, I considered not adding this particular title fearing what some of my friends might think a) about why I am reading a book on preaching and b) why I am reading Andy Stanley at all. But I found this book so genuinely helpful that I feel I must heartily recommend it to anyone who would like to improve their public speaking (not just preaching, which, by the way, I have no plans to attempt). I am not a good speaker, but I have lately been finding myself increasingly asked to speak in public, and being determined to improve I sought counsel from a friend and one of the best public speakers I know. He recommended this book, and I am so thankful. I used to think public speaking was more about the crowd or the sort of day you were having or your genes, but Andy Stanley offers concrete, detailed, practical advice that anyone can use to improve their ability to communicate in any sort of public speaking format. I would encourage anyone who is a public speaker--pastor, teacher, speaker, Bible study leader, et al., to read this book. It is very accessible and easy to apply, and very encouraging and inspiring as well, and based on keen insights about human nature and culture. It should go without saying that I am not necessarily wholeheartedly endorsing Andy's theology or even philosophy of preaching, but purely as a guide to public speaking this book is outstanding.
For you Jamie Smith fans, I happened to read this book at the same time as "Imagining the Kingdom," and I was struck regularly by how frequently Stanley applies Smith's anthropology (without naming or realizing it, I'm sure) to his speaking methodologies.
February 17, 2016
Една от най-добрите (ако не и най-доброто) практични ръководства за проповядване, които съм чел. Задължителна книга за всеки комуникатор и пастир.
Книгата е едновременно лека за четене, кратка, изключително практична и полезна и ориентирана към съвременни хора.
Някои неща, които ме впечатлиха
- Пълното отхвърляне на структурата на проповедта/посланието в няколко идеи/точки. Стенли предлага да изхвърлим това и да изградим всичко около една единствена основна идея, която да кажем ясно и след това да я повторим многократно, така че тя да бъде запомнена.
- Идеята му, че не е достатъчно просто да тълкуваме последователно библията на хората следвайки, разяснявайки нейното съдържание. Необходимо е да тръгнем от нуждата на хората и след това да видим какво казва библията за тази нужда.
- Равната важност на формата и съдържанието на посланието. Слушал съм проповедници, на които от устата им капе мед и са изключително забавни, но в края на краищата не казват нищо (или дори по-лошо). Срещал съм и смислени послания, които са представени по скучен начин и затова никой не ги чува.
- Отказът на Стенли да приеме идеята за намаляващия период, през който хората могат да слушат съсредоточено. Ако посланието ги касае и е поднесено интересно те ще слушат доста дълго.
- Необходимостта от сериозна и достатъчно продължителна подготовка на посланието - това е едно от нещата, в което по мои наблюдения повечето български пастири се провалят най-много.
Без да съм особено голям фен на Анди Стенли като цяло задължителна книга.
Книгата е едновременно лека за четене, кратка, изключително практична и полезна и ориентирана към съвременни хора.
Някои неща, които ме впечатлиха
- Пълното отхвърляне на структурата на проповедта/посланието в няколко идеи/точки. Стенли предлага да изхвърлим това и да изградим всичко около една единствена основна идея, която да кажем ясно и след това да я повторим многократно, така че тя да бъде запомнена.
- Идеята му, че не е достатъчно просто да тълкуваме последователно библията на хората следвайки, разяснявайки нейното съдържание. Необходимо е да тръгнем от нуждата на хората и след това да видим какво казва библията за тази нужда.
- Равната важност на формата и съдържанието на посланието. Слушал съм проповедници, на които от устата им капе мед и са изключително забавни, но в края на краищата не казват нищо (или дори по-лошо). Срещал съм и смислени послания, които са представени по скучен начин и затова никой не ги чува.
- Отказът на Стенли да приеме идеята за намаляващия период, през който хората могат да слушат съсредоточено. Ако посланието ги касае и е поднесено интересно те ще слушат доста дълго.
- Необходимостта от сериозна и достатъчно продължителна подготовка на посланието - това е едно от нещата, в което по мои наблюдения повечето български пастири се провалят най-много.
Без да съм особено голям фен на Анди Стенли като цяло задължителна книга.
July 28, 2015
If you do any public speaking, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Authors Andy Stanley and Lane Jones craft their writing in a way that illustrates the points they want to make, so it’s an easy, engaging read. By likening the process of developing a speech to a journey, they tell the story of a trucker and his passenger discussing communication.
The first half of the book covers the authors’ major points while the second half elaborates on them. As with a trip, you must determine your destination—a short statement that summarizes what you want to say. Then, according to the authors, an effective communicator wraps that statement in story, story so compelling you don’t need notes to tell it. There are seven main points in all.
Excellent examples light the way for those of us on the communication journey. And the authors offer plenty of questions to check the effectiveness of our talks. I appreciated their nod to those, including Andy Stanley’s father, Charles Stanley, who offer informational talks. Despite the authors’ commitment to relational talks, they admit there are times when informational talks are appropriate, so they offer guidelines for taking that alternate route.
There’s a lot to digest in this book published by Multoman in 2006, but I look forward to pulling my talks from the file drawer and tackling them one by one. Stanley and Jones provide a handy GPS to guide my journey to more effective communication.
The first half of the book covers the authors’ major points while the second half elaborates on them. As with a trip, you must determine your destination—a short statement that summarizes what you want to say. Then, according to the authors, an effective communicator wraps that statement in story, story so compelling you don’t need notes to tell it. There are seven main points in all.
Excellent examples light the way for those of us on the communication journey. And the authors offer plenty of questions to check the effectiveness of our talks. I appreciated their nod to those, including Andy Stanley’s father, Charles Stanley, who offer informational talks. Despite the authors’ commitment to relational talks, they admit there are times when informational talks are appropriate, so they offer guidelines for taking that alternate route.
There’s a lot to digest in this book published by Multoman in 2006, but I look forward to pulling my talks from the file drawer and tackling them one by one. Stanley and Jones provide a handy GPS to guide my journey to more effective communication.
July 20, 2011
This is the sequel (sort of) to "7 Practices of Effective Ministry.
It will challenge the way you think about sermon preparation and delivery.
For me, it means a return to what I was originally taught regarding sermons, especially the difference between preaching and teaching.
Teaching is imparting information, whereas preaching is aimed at changing the listener.
To do you need to keep it simple. This maximises your impact and focus.
One of the "7 Practices" is expounded further in this book - Less for More.
When the preacher owns his message and it owns him - or to use Stanley's language - he has a burden to communicate God's Word to the people, then he will be less concerned with homoletical structure and more interested in getting "the big idea" across to his people.
If you're a manuscript preacher, or if you insist on always having at least 3 points per sermon - read this and be challenged - it will revolutionise your preparation process.
...
xtra comment after I've been reading it for a while - I am being "schooled" (and not the nice/friendly way) on my preaching through reading this book. Whilst I may not take on 100% of what he says, I definitely need to renovate my preaching preparation and delivery - I just hope my Church will be patient with me while I do this. But, given they put up with me at the moment, I'm sure they will be ;)
It will challenge the way you think about sermon preparation and delivery.
For me, it means a return to what I was originally taught regarding sermons, especially the difference between preaching and teaching.
Teaching is imparting information, whereas preaching is aimed at changing the listener.
To do you need to keep it simple. This maximises your impact and focus.
One of the "7 Practices" is expounded further in this book - Less for More.
When the preacher owns his message and it owns him - or to use Stanley's language - he has a burden to communicate God's Word to the people, then he will be less concerned with homoletical structure and more interested in getting "the big idea" across to his people.
If you're a manuscript preacher, or if you insist on always having at least 3 points per sermon - read this and be challenged - it will revolutionise your preparation process.
...
xtra comment after I've been reading it for a while - I am being "schooled" (and not the nice/friendly way) on my preaching through reading this book. Whilst I may not take on 100% of what he says, I definitely need to renovate my preaching preparation and delivery - I just hope my Church will be patient with me while I do this. But, given they put up with me at the moment, I'm sure they will be ;)
June 4, 2020
For what it is, this small book is a fantastic introduction and guide to a tried and true style of preaching/teaching. The book teaches the principles and format of the Me/We/God/You/We method in two ways. Firstly, the book is written in narrative form, telling the story of a pastor who is given guidance by a wise veteran speaker. Secondly, the book takes the principles put forth in the narrative portion and expands and explains them in a more straight-forward manner. It is a short read, designed to be very accessible for a wide range of readers. This was very helpful in giving me an easily memorable way to navigate public speaking. The methodology and principles presented are memorable and approachable. I read this as part of a preaching class I took at university and found this to be the more helpful and practical of the assigned books given. I have recommended this and will continue to recommend it for those looking for a good resource in speaking/preaching. For some, the basic premise of having one big idea as the focal point of a sermon may seem to exclude those other traditions of homiletics that are valuable and worth celebrating. This book does contribute a valid method for preaching and teaching that can act as a helpful tool that can be added to one’s homiletical tool belt.
June 10, 2014
This is really two books in one. While the first half narrative interested me, it was the second half's principles that really hit it home.
My style of speaking is on disseminating a lot of information, and I usually let my personality do the audience engagement. People pay attention, but there does not seem to be a lot of action after the fact. Some of these principles challenged me to be a more challenging speaker.
Stanly's writing is very easy to follow and he does make some valid points for a topical style of preaching. To follow some of the principles in this book would be pretty tough for someone coming from an expositorial background.
My style of speaking is on disseminating a lot of information, and I usually let my personality do the audience engagement. People pay attention, but there does not seem to be a lot of action after the fact. Some of these principles challenged me to be a more challenging speaker.
Stanly's writing is very easy to follow and he does make some valid points for a topical style of preaching. To follow some of the principles in this book would be pretty tough for someone coming from an expositorial background.
August 23, 2016
Great insights into what it takes to preach for change in people. Stanley is unapologetic about his insistence that we preach one point, that connects with the audience and that we leave them something to do. As a life-long Christian and preachers kid, Stanley is completely unafraid of what people may say about his method. He believes this is crucial; lives are on the line. He shares his famous "me, we, God, you, we" technique as well as a host of important questions to ask when you get stuck. Practical, important, thoroughly well reasoned, must reading for any preacher.
July 31, 2016
I confess. I was tempted to be skeptical about another book on communication, and especially about preparing a message and delivering it. But I tried it. I began applying a few of the principles and I could not believe the response the audience had. Change was happening in hearts. It was so quiet, it was like you could hear it happening (I know that sounds contradictory). So, a big thank you to Andy Stanley for teaching this old dog some new tricks. It definitely has been worth it!
Read
July 29, 2011good book. very helpful for communicators to think through what they are doing. i was challenged, pushed and thinking of centering everything around one point is a new idea. i enjoyed reading how andy stanley fleshes out his ideas. it will be fun to try to incorporate his ideas to become a better speaker, a better communicator, a better travel guide.
October 21, 2012
I have read numerous books over the years by Andy Stanley, he never disappoints. You want to get on track with delivering effective and relevant sermons/messages, then I highly recommend this book for you. Easy to read, yet immensely profound and practical. Enjoy the read!
October 17, 2022
I think the title in some ways speaks for itself! A great, compelling, and entertaining book on how to become an effective communicator when preaching, teaching, or just speaking (you could argue that's what you do in all three, oh well). Yes, you should read it.
June 3, 2015
Andy has a rather unique approach to preaching/communicating. A pretty easy read. His outlining method is something I'd like to try soon.
July 14, 2015
Very helpful and practical for me personally. Also, Andy is such an authentic and conversational writer which made for a really fun read.
March 18, 2016
Absolutely phenomenal book!! Definitely one of the best books I've ever read on communication! I couldn't recommend it more!!
October 18, 2016
Told via a narrative this book is supposed to give tips on how to deliver a message but it seems more on how to present distractions so your audience is entertained
Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.