On Preaching

On Preaching is not another book about what to preach from the pulpit. It's a book about how to be heard. In an age when people resist being "preached at," when attention is fractured and trust is fragile, the spoken word still has extraordinary power - if we learn how to use it well. This book is about the craft of preaching: how listeners receive meaning, how delivery shapes understanding, and how the smallest choices in voice, structure, and presence can transform whether a message lands or is lost. It begins not with what you want to say, but with what people are able to hear. In so doing, people are drawn in to God's word, enabling them to live out his message. Written for seasoned preachers and first-timers alike, this accessible guide assumes you already have something worth saying. It also assumes that your message will be heard more clearly, more generously, and more deeply if you develop the skills to communicate it with craft, confidence, and care. In a world overwhelmed by noise, misinformation, and endless digital distraction, Stephen Cottrell insists that the ancient art of oratory still matters today - and offers tips to ensure your preaching ministry is ignited and revitalised, equipping you to make every word count.