Originally published: Eugene, Or. : Harvest House Publishers, c1991.

The board of meeting -- The return of Dr. Vickerson -- The preacher's one business -- The importance of starting early: -- Planning the week for sermon preparation -- Planning three weeks for sermon preparation -- Planning one year of sermons in advance -- Redeeming the time: -- Conducting a detailed self-study of your use of time -- A day in the life: -- Logging your use of time throughout the day and week -- Rifles and shotguns: -- The imporatnce of a clear purpose aimed carefully at its target -- The danger of "word association sermons" -- The purpose statement as the sermon's destination -- Introducing the use of aphorisms in preaching -- Preaching with aphorisms: -- The definition of aphorism -- Jesus' use of aphorisms in preaching -- Jonah snoring: -- Using "non-dictionary" sounds to enliven preaching -- Shaping the purpose into an aphorism: -- Rewriting the purpose statement into a succint, memorable aphorism -- Learning to listen for the use of aphorisms around you -- Rewriting worn cliches into fresh, aphoristic statements -- Vary the vehicles: -- Developing clear, easy-to-follow sermon outlines -- Using different kinds of outlines for variety and freshness -- Persuasion and procedure: -- Sermons aimed at persuasion -- Attacking difficult and controversial topics from the pulpit -- Procedural sermons: how to change, how to face difficulties,etc.

Surprise power: -- Tapping into the power -- Creating internal dialogue: -- Using questions to cause the audience to carry on an "internal dialogue" with the preacher -- The use of puzzles and riddles to hold interest -- Using the apparent contradictions of scripture to anticipate the response of the congregation and to challenge their thinking -- The Nehemiah project: -- Overcoming the tyranny of the urgent -- Working with the church board to redefine the pastor's job description and to rearrange the congregation's expectations -- Surprising requests: -- Entering into Paul-Timothy relationships with other pastors -- Reservoir power: -- A reservoir of scripture, scholarship, and prayer -- Study that goes beyond week-to-week sermon preparation -- The importance of studying the sermons of powerful preachers -- A visit to Forest Hills -- The three R's of preaching: -- The importance and right of reminding in preaching -- The importance and right use of repetition in preaching -- The importance and right use of reiteration in preaching -- The six fold path: -- Reading and gathering illustrations and insights from six different categories of books at a time -- Turning the light on the sermon: -- Sermon illustrations -- Snob appeal or sense appeal: -- Avoiding words that only boast of the preacher's vocabulary -- Employing words that appeal to the five senses -- Creating vivid, fresh images -- Light from fog:

The importance and place of application in preaching -- Campfire reflections on preaching: -- Using similes and metaphors -- The place of humor in preaching -- The use of puns -- The tale of the tapes: -- Using the second person "you" for greater urgency -- The importance of sermon analysis -- Writing out introductions, conclusion, key thoughts -- Home at last!: -- The dangers of repeating old illustrations -- The importance of using fresh illustrations of the gospel's power today -- The late night phone call -- A promise kept -- Aftermath: -- The importance of the preacher's life "adorning" the gospel -- The importance of mutual encouragement in the ministry -- A seminar on fresh preaching: -- The importance of keeping a checklist of principles as a reminder -- Preaching-with-freshness checklist -- One-page checklist -- Paul's seminar on preaching.