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Preaching with Purpose
"The amazing lack of concern for purpose among homileticians and preachers has spawned a brood of preachers who are dull, lifeless, abstract and impersonal; it has obscured truth, hindered joyous Christian living, destroyed dedication and initiative, and stifled service for Christ." –Jay Adams, from the book Preaching needs to become purposeful, says Jay Adams, because purposeless preaching is deadly. This book was written to help preachers and students discover the purpose of preaching has and the ways that the Scriptures inform and direct the preaching task. Preaching with Purpose, like the many other books of Jay Adams, speaks clearly and forcefully to the issue. Having read this book, both students and experienced preachers will be unable to ignore the urgent task of purposeful preaching. And the people of God will be the better for it.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1983
64 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Jay E. Adams
228 books143 followersJay Edward Adams is a Reformed Christian author. He has written over 100 books and these have been published in sixteen languages.
He received a Bachelor of Divinity from Reformed Episcopal Seminary, a Bachelor of Arts in Classics from Johns Hopkins University,a Masters in Sacred Theology from Temple University, and a PhD in Speech from the University of Missouri.
Adams' book Competent to Counsel launched the nouthetic counseling movement, a movement whose aim was to use strictly biblical counseling methods. He is the founder of the Intitute for Nothetic Studies.
He received a Bachelor of Divinity from Reformed Episcopal Seminary, a Bachelor of Arts in Classics from Johns Hopkins University,a Masters in Sacred Theology from Temple University, and a PhD in Speech from the University of Missouri.
Adams' book Competent to Counsel launched the nouthetic counseling movement, a movement whose aim was to use strictly biblical counseling methods. He is the founder of the Intitute for Nothetic Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 3, 2022
I believe Adams over promises in his introduction and under delivers in his body.
October 5, 2023
Frankly this book is a real mixed bag, and not as good as I remembered it from the first time I read it years ago. Adams' instruction about the difference between preaching and lecturing in chapter 8-9; his explanation about the importance of introductions in ch. 10; and especially his treatment of "sense appeal" and the use of illustrations in ch.14-15 are all worth the price of the book. For instance, it is super helpful to be reminded that we don't have to look for "sensational" illustrations, but simply open our senses to the room we're sitting in right now, and notice the wealth of simple illustrative material (like a ticking clock) that will be immediately recognizable to our listeners (p.98-101).
But Adams also makes dogmatic statements that are just distracting, such as his exhortation to never use Bible stories as illustrations (p.103); that the purpose of preaching on Sunday morning should never be evangelistic (p.12); and his unnuanced statement on p. 18 that the fundamental purpose in preaching is merely to obey Jesus. Really? Preaching is not about proclaiming the gospel? Thankfully, in chapter 20, Adams affirms that "all you say and do in preaching must be related to (Christ)," and further adds that a sermon is "radically wrong" if it can be acceptable in a Jewish synagogue or a Unitarian congregation (p.147). Thank you Jay for the clarification.
Adams also relentlessly recommends his other books on various subjects which gives the impression that this book is something of an advertisement for his other books.
Some good stuff here, but lots to be questioned also.
But Adams also makes dogmatic statements that are just distracting, such as his exhortation to never use Bible stories as illustrations (p.103); that the purpose of preaching on Sunday morning should never be evangelistic (p.12); and his unnuanced statement on p. 18 that the fundamental purpose in preaching is merely to obey Jesus. Really? Preaching is not about proclaiming the gospel? Thankfully, in chapter 20, Adams affirms that "all you say and do in preaching must be related to (Christ)," and further adds that a sermon is "radically wrong" if it can be acceptable in a Jewish synagogue or a Unitarian congregation (p.147). Thank you Jay for the clarification.
Adams also relentlessly recommends his other books on various subjects which gives the impression that this book is something of an advertisement for his other books.
Some good stuff here, but lots to be questioned also.
September 29, 2022
Jay Adams wasn’t trying to do too much which I appreciated. This book isn’t filled with exercises and steps to follow.. it’s a practical reorientation for homiletics. I plan to read more of Adams. Overall enjoyed how direct he was.
May 31, 2025
Chapter 20 on preaching Christ is very helpful.
Much of the book is rather polemical which put me off. All of the recommended reading is from his pen which was distracting. I suppose the era in which he wrote probably justified his approach. The book could be helpful for quick reference on matters of Homiletics.
Much of the book is rather polemical which put me off. All of the recommended reading is from his pen which was distracting. I suppose the era in which he wrote probably justified his approach. The book could be helpful for quick reference on matters of Homiletics.
May 28, 2025
Thought provoking
October 11, 2021
Some helpful nuggets, overall not very good.
September 2, 2014
Preaching with Purpose is worth the short and easy read that it is. Adam's is very direct and to the point (very purposeful you might say), and while the age of the book comes out (published in 1982), it contains many principals worth considering. As a preacher, I found the following to be some of the helpful points made:
1. Purposeful Planning - Adams challenges pastors to be 6 months ahead in sermon prep.
2. Gathering Storytelling material - Adams challenges pastors to always be in the process. Even while we sit at our desk, if we learn to become more aware of the things around us, there is ample material for illustrating biblical truth
3. Vocabulary - stresses the importance of choosing the right words to convey your message. Don't settle for generic terms when you can be more specific.
1. Purposeful Planning - Adams challenges pastors to be 6 months ahead in sermon prep.
2. Gathering Storytelling material - Adams challenges pastors to always be in the process. Even while we sit at our desk, if we learn to become more aware of the things around us, there is ample material for illustrating biblical truth
3. Vocabulary - stresses the importance of choosing the right words to convey your message. Don't settle for generic terms when you can be more specific.
January 13, 2025
The author is mainly known for his expertise on counseling, but he has a variety of other subjects and always gives great content. This one is great for preachers. Below are my personal takeaways:
Purpose is vital in everything a preacher does — from the illustrations to the points used to the order a delivery.
It appears that Paul was not concerned with his oratory skills. He wanted to make the message clear – Colossians 4:3–4; 1 Corinthians 2:2-3
Our goal is not for men to praise us for our oratory skills, but to praise the Christ we preach.
The purpose of preaching is to affect change and build up individually as well as the entire congregation.
Truth observed and practiced is what we aim for in our preaching.
God has promised to bless His Word, not our opinions.
You should not preach on a passage without first understanding why the Holy Spirit included that passage in the Bible.
When preaching a message, the purpose of the message should come from the Word of God and not from the preacher.
The preacher that does not counsel is missing out on much. By talking to his people, he can know better how to preach and help them.
If you’re in seminary, or before you take a church, prepare six months worth of sermons to help you start.
In order to move others, the preacher must be moved himself. He must be moved in his study, and again in his preaching it.
When telling a story, write down the punchline so you make sure to share it powerfully.
Learn to use dialogue. Use questions, don’t just tell them what they have to believe.
The purposes of a story:
To clarify truth
To personalize truth
To make truth memorable
To demonstrate how a principle works
To back a claim
To create interest
To involve the listener
When you are tempted to use a story, be sure it fulfills a purpose, not just because you have a story to tell.
Good preaching, like anything else good, is hard work.
When people walk away from hearing you, you want them to say, “What a wonderful Christ,” not “What a wonderful orator.”
Christ is in all the Scripture, and you must preach it that way. Until you find Christ in the passage, keep researching. When you preach it this way, all humanistic or legalistic ideas vanish.
Purpose is vital in everything a preacher does — from the illustrations to the points used to the order a delivery.
It appears that Paul was not concerned with his oratory skills. He wanted to make the message clear – Colossians 4:3–4; 1 Corinthians 2:2-3
Our goal is not for men to praise us for our oratory skills, but to praise the Christ we preach.
The purpose of preaching is to affect change and build up individually as well as the entire congregation.
Truth observed and practiced is what we aim for in our preaching.
God has promised to bless His Word, not our opinions.
You should not preach on a passage without first understanding why the Holy Spirit included that passage in the Bible.
When preaching a message, the purpose of the message should come from the Word of God and not from the preacher.
The preacher that does not counsel is missing out on much. By talking to his people, he can know better how to preach and help them.
If you’re in seminary, or before you take a church, prepare six months worth of sermons to help you start.
In order to move others, the preacher must be moved himself. He must be moved in his study, and again in his preaching it.
When telling a story, write down the punchline so you make sure to share it powerfully.
Learn to use dialogue. Use questions, don’t just tell them what they have to believe.
The purposes of a story:
To clarify truth
To personalize truth
To make truth memorable
To demonstrate how a principle works
To back a claim
To create interest
To involve the listener
When you are tempted to use a story, be sure it fulfills a purpose, not just because you have a story to tell.
Good preaching, like anything else good, is hard work.
When people walk away from hearing you, you want them to say, “What a wonderful Christ,” not “What a wonderful orator.”
Christ is in all the Scripture, and you must preach it that way. Until you find Christ in the passage, keep researching. When you preach it this way, all humanistic or legalistic ideas vanish.
July 17, 2025
Purpose! Purpose! Purpose!
Jay Adams is a prolific writer in the area of pastoral theology. Best known for his groundbreaking work in biblical counseling, he has also written helpfully about the task of biblical preaching. That topic is, of course, the focus of this book, Preaching with Purpose. If you have been preaching for a long time, you may find that this book will make you a bit uncomfortable. You may have adopted habits over the years to which Adams’ book runs contrary. But if you are able to accept a bit of constructive criticism, you may find that his book will help you improve your preaching, making it more effective. If you’re new to preaching or just starting out, this book may help you to avoid some bad habits in the ministry of proclamation. At the heart of Adams’ book is the conviction that the Holy Spirit has a purpose for every text (what the author calls a “preaching portion”) and that the sermon must be guided by that purpose. Adams cautions against “lecturing” on the text, which amounts to presenting the sermon as a lifeless commentary on what God said to people in ancient times. He urges the preacher to address what the Scripture says to the people of this particular time. He also warns against stringing stories together without being clear regarding the use of any given story. This is not the only book you will want to read about preaching, but I would say that every other book you read should be read in light of this one. Don’t preach without knowing what Adams has to say about preaching. This book could be the difference between being effective or ineffective in this highly important task of proclaiming God’s Word.
Jay Adams is a prolific writer in the area of pastoral theology. Best known for his groundbreaking work in biblical counseling, he has also written helpfully about the task of biblical preaching. That topic is, of course, the focus of this book, Preaching with Purpose. If you have been preaching for a long time, you may find that this book will make you a bit uncomfortable. You may have adopted habits over the years to which Adams’ book runs contrary. But if you are able to accept a bit of constructive criticism, you may find that his book will help you improve your preaching, making it more effective. If you’re new to preaching or just starting out, this book may help you to avoid some bad habits in the ministry of proclamation. At the heart of Adams’ book is the conviction that the Holy Spirit has a purpose for every text (what the author calls a “preaching portion”) and that the sermon must be guided by that purpose. Adams cautions against “lecturing” on the text, which amounts to presenting the sermon as a lifeless commentary on what God said to people in ancient times. He urges the preacher to address what the Scripture says to the people of this particular time. He also warns against stringing stories together without being clear regarding the use of any given story. This is not the only book you will want to read about preaching, but I would say that every other book you read should be read in light of this one. Don’t preach without knowing what Adams has to say about preaching. This book could be the difference between being effective or ineffective in this highly important task of proclaiming God’s Word.
September 22, 2022
Adams' most helpful points were about planning sermons (yet planning 6 months ahead may not be a realistic goal), the thoughtful curation of illustrations that speak to your congregation, the distinction between preaching and lecturing, and the proper use of vocabulary.
The attitude that contemporary preaching by and large lacks purpose is too broad of a generalization to base a book on. It lacks nuance. Adams promoted his other books frequently when I would have appreciated a concise point on the subject. The concluding chapter was gimmicky and left me wondering if the story told was true rather than motivating me to apply the book to developing sermons.
The attitude that contemporary preaching by and large lacks purpose is too broad of a generalization to base a book on. It lacks nuance. Adams promoted his other books frequently when I would have appreciated a concise point on the subject. The concluding chapter was gimmicky and left me wondering if the story told was true rather than motivating me to apply the book to developing sermons.
August 5, 2024
This is a general introduction to preaching. While it has some good points, I found it deficient in several areas. Some of those deficiencies arise from denominational differences: I am a Baptist and he was a Presbyterian (these differences are mainly in areas of polity and tradition). A more significant deficiency is his approach to hermeneutics which focuses more on the application rather than a balanced approach. I would not recommend this as the first book to read on preaching but maybe as a supplement to better works.
September 14, 2022
This was a very helpful book on mechanics of the preacher from the text to the listener. It was more practical than theoretical. Adam’s also has a counseling bent within him, which enhanced his work. The tone sometimes made me picture him squirming in his seat while passionately scribbling and snapping led on his paper.
May 9, 2025
Listened to the audiobook in two long drives. I wonder if the author over-corrected against certain errors, but I still found much of the content very helpful. I found his explanation about the differences between "lecture-style" outline and "sermon-style" outline particularly helpful.
April 12, 2020
In my estimation, this is the best book on homiletics.
August 2, 2020
I really enjoyed all the book, but specially, chapters 18-20
November 20, 2021
3.5 stars. Worth re-reading…though not convinced on a number of points.
December 15, 2022
Love the radical spirit about the book. Although I feel like he is trying to go a bit too broad.
October 17, 2023
Top 3 preaching books I’ve read this far. Very practical and useful. Highly recommend.
December 15, 2023
An excellent help in thinking about the limitations and issues with preaching today, whilst encouraging good instructive preaching in a clear and concise way.
February 17, 2025
A must read for preachers, short and easy to read.
December 29, 2020
4.5 stars. He really gives an excellent description of a preacher and what his task is. It not nearly as good as "Lectures to my Students", however, when it comes to preaching, he did a great job.
February 14, 2015
I found this book to be thought provoking and challenging. While Adams references his work and material at a non stop pace he does so to direct the reader to resources consistent with the content he's presenting.
He spends a bit of time developing the "telos" idea and then weaves it through the book.
While not an exhaustive work on homiletics by any means this book works to clarify the focus of the preacher and bring a laser like approach on "purpose" in preaching.
Lots of practical suggestions at the same time some of those suggestions are woefully underdeveloped (see chapter 13 - Purposeful Planning).
He spends a bit of time developing the "telos" idea and then weaves it through the book.
While not an exhaustive work on homiletics by any means this book works to clarify the focus of the preacher and bring a laser like approach on "purpose" in preaching.
Lots of practical suggestions at the same time some of those suggestions are woefully underdeveloped (see chapter 13 - Purposeful Planning).
February 17, 2024
Adams is way too assured of his method that he shortchanges the preaching of the text and of bringing Christ to the front. Of course, Adams was not a fan of expositional or redemptive-historical preaching, but let pragmatism and his own prejudices guide his priorities. There are a couple of helpful nuggets, but marred by a misplaced philosophy of preaching. There is a reason this book is not on the shortlist of must-read books on preaching anymore.
March 12, 2014
I liked the concept of "purpose" as an overarching lead in the entire process. I had hoped for some more hands-on help and at times I had the feeling the author was promoting the other books he had written on the issues I was looking for more help. Overall, the book does give some basic issues (somewhat a summary) to consider in order to do well in preaching.
June 19, 2013
I haven't read a book on preaching in some time. Admittedly, I probably had too high of expectations for this one. At any rate, I believe that Douglas Wilson has said it best: "A tad less than good."
April 13, 2009
A tad less than good.
June 8, 2014
Unique focus on purpose makes it stand apart from other books on preaching.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews