Here are the books that John Piper assigns for his class “Preaching as Worship: The Wonder and Work of Expository Exultation” at Bethlehem College & Seminary:
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, Deluxe, 40th Anniversary Edition (Zondervan, 2011). This classic 1972 text has now been republished with essays from Bryan Chapell, Mark Dever, Kevin DeYoung, Ligon Duncan, Tim Keller, and John Piper.
You can read here the first chapter along with Duncan’s essay on things to look for when you read it.
Keller: “It is one of the most important books on preaching in print. I personally owe it a debt I can never repay.” Dever: “This book—and indeed Lloyd-Jones’ preaching (which this book so well introduces)—is one of the main shapers of my own understanding of preaching.” DeYoung: “I know of no other book on preaching that will motivate you to preach like this one will. Read Lloyd-Jones again, or for the first time, and you may just discover there’s Spirit-given life left in your dry bones.”
John Stott, Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today (Eerdmans, 1982).
You can view the Google Preview here.
Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students (Banner of Truth).
Joel Beeke has a good summary commendation: “Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students is invaluable for its practical advice. Coming from a veteran pastor, with hundreds of insights gleaned from careful reflection on his experiences, Spurgeon’s book is a classic. Not every chapter is of uniform value, but nearly every chapter contains most helpful advice found nowhere else. It is also very readable, down-to-earth, realistic, and yet spiritual and uplifting. No false piety here!” You can read the introduction and part of the first chapter here.
John Piper, The Supremacy of God in Preaching, rev. ed. (Baker, 2004).
Phil Ryken: “The Supremacy of God in Preaching is one of the few truly indispensable books on gospel ministry.”
Erwin Lutzer: “Here’s a book that every preacher should read at least once a year. This book is a powerful antidote to the unbalanced, self-centered preaching of today.”
Graeme Goldsworthy, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture (IVP, 2000).
You can view the Google Preview here.
This book helped to move Piper’s preaching in a more explicitly Christ-centered direction.
