It's All in How You Tell It: Preaching First-Person Expository Messages

by Haddon W. Robinson, Torrey Robinson

This fresh approach to preaching shows how to combine God's Word with the power of drama to develop a unique, relevant, and effective preaching style.

Genres: Communication, Christian

148 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Haddon W. Robinson (PhD, University of Illinois) was the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching and senior director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He authored numerous books, including It's All in How You Tell It and Making a Difference in Preaching.

Reviews

[Peter Mead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, by Robinson and son, has a clear target. The sleek and well prepared script of the book flies effortlessly to hit that target. Unhindered by extraneous information, disconnected asides or time-consuming tangents, the book achieves its purpose. Preaching first-person expository messages.

The first major thrust of the book is to convince the reader of the efficacy of first-person preaching. Like a stealth bomber that flies in undetected by the defensive radar systems of modern believers, this kind of message can hit the heart like no other. By thinking through the audience and strategically designing the message, the preacher may be more effective using sanctified stealth than throwing traditional telegraphed torpedoes at them. People love a story. God’s Word is overflowing with them. So why do we tend to dissect a story and make it a lecture, leaking power at every stage in the process?

The book goes on to describe the process. Since this is expository preaching, it begins with massive amounts of study – of the text, of the character, of the setting. A key decision is what stance the character should use in light of the text and the audience. Are they with us, are we with them, do they know the listeners are there, etc? Then comes the well-worked big idea, definition of clear purpose, followed by structure, flow and the meat on the bones of the message. The process of preparing a first-person message is described essentially as a simplified Robinson process, with the additional step of character stance. The purpose of a message is not to perform (preacher-centered), but to effectively bring the big idea of a text home to the hearts and lives of the specific listeners that will hear it (Bible and audience centered).

There is a helpful section dealing with specific aspects of delivery such as movement, delivery, costume and so on. Obvious hindrances are overcome in the final chapter. One important lesson brought out in this section deals with the issue of sanctified imagination. As a preacher it is possible to easily assume people can tell the difference between fact and added detail. Assumptions are dangerous. A colorful illustrative detail can be misleading for an unaware audience.

The book ends with seven example sermons showing different approaches, different character stances and so on. Both Matthewson’s and Edward’s, as well as the Robinsons’ Herod sermons left an impression, even just in print. I would have liked to experience the effect of these sermons in person.

This book will leave you with one question. Why don’t you use first-person preaching more often?

Originally offered on www.biblicalpreaching.net

[G. Clay · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I have really mixed feelings about this one.

I'll start with the good.

Portions of the book challenged me to think more creatively about the presentation of otherwise "cold" facts that can enliven a text. In this regard, chapter 3, Study! Study! Study! is pretty good.

The book accomplished its purpose to a point. I hope to incorporate some of the methods the Robinsons advocate, but not wholesale.

Now for the not-so-good.

Starting with the front cover, this book is mistitled. In fact, my next step now is to find a few good books on storytelling. And that's the problem. This book doesn't really teach you to be a good storyteller. Many of the so-called exemplary sermons supplied in the appendices read pretty amateurishly.

Second, the Robinsons appeal to a maxim, "There's no sanctified sermon form," to defend the methods presented. The maxim is true enough. But it's not an adequate defense, and without a more theologically robust defense, the maxim rings a bit hollow. I could use it to defend doing almost anything in the pulpit and calling it a "sermon."

In my opinion, if you're on the fence about this one, skip it.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haddon Robinson has been known by many for years as a faithful practitioner of biblical preaching. His books have taught generations of preachers. His style has often been imitated. His Big Idea approach has rescued many churches and pastors who languished under terrible preaching. This book was a completely different experience for me. Robinson teaches how to preach dramatically. No, not shouting and snorting, but how to preach messages from within the text. The book is short, practical, filled with examples, and even has seven sermons at the end to show how to approach this preaching style from any genre of scripture.

[Bret Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's All in How You Tell It is a short read with plenty of insights for first-person narrative sermons. Chapters are well organized and easily accessed. The real strength of the book might be the appendices with their sample sermons and Robinson’s own bibliography of resources for first-person sermons.

[Jeanine Marlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Some good ideas and thoughts. Probably not a way of speaking I will ever use but interesting to read and think about.

[Andrew Murch · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to find a better source for a book on preaching than Haddon (and his son Torrey) Robinson. This text is a quick, targeted read on first person expository preaching. The Robinsons break down the book in two sections, devoting the first half of the text to explaining the method (including checklists and step by step guides). The second half is eight appendices which lay out model sermons from top-level practitioners. I particularly enjoyed reading some of these examples. Haddon's sermon as Herod the Great, delivered as a dialogue with Torrey, was one of the more powerful sermon manuscripts I've ever read.

I have utilized the first-person sermon form a couple of times, and have both enjoyed it and received great feedback. I think it is something I need to infiltrate more into my preaching repertoire, and I'll certainly be referencing this text when I do. For preachers, both this sermon form and this short explanatory guide are key instruments to include in the tool belt. I rated the book where I did simply because it's not a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. You have to be a preacher to appreciate this book. If you are a preacher, it is definitely one to read.

[Thomas Kinsfather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough look at an interesting approach to sermon delivery. Telling stories from the first person. That is, pretending to be John the Baptist and tell the story of Jesus' baptism as if you were there.

I have used this approach on several occasions. Once for a special day I dressed up and pretended to be Nicodemus. I told of my midnight visit to Jesus, of the affairs within the Sanhedrin, and then of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. An excellent addition to any preachers tool box.

[Charles Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, because as a preacher it's important that you know how to preach messages in different ways. We all know that God's message never changes, but He does change His methods. Therefore, we must know that some people are attracted to the Word of God through different ways of presentation. Haddon shows us how to exegete a text and preach it in first person precise and with power.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for preacher or other christian speaker.