?First impressions are crucial, and the introduction to a sermon helps determine whether the listeners will still be engaged to hear and respond to the rest of the message. Yet little seems to have been written specifically about sermon introductions, apart from the occasional chapter in a homiletical textbook and articles in a publication like Preaching. So preachers should welcome How Effective Sermons Begin (Mentor) by Ben Awbrey.
The author does a solid job of identifying the importance of sermon introductions, then explaining how to use introductions to engage the congregation, establish the purpose of the sermon, and establish the context of the passage through orientation, summarization and connection. There is a lengthy and detailed discussion of the development of the sermon proposition, which Awbrey sees as an essential part of the introduction.
Awbrey formerly taught at The Masters Seminary, and the book contains a foreword by John MacArthur; so readers should expect to see a MacArthurian approach to biblical exposition as a foundation for this useful volume. (In other words, don’t consult this book for the latest ideas on using drama or film clips in the sermon introduction.)
At times the book reads more like a seminary text than a book for pastors, but preachers at any level of experience will find How Effective Sermons Begin to offer practical guidance for helping sermons make that all-important positive first impression.
