In this important book, Webb makes two central claims. First, that effective preaching without a manuscript is not a matter of talent as much as it is a matter of preparation. Preachers can learn the practices and disciplines that make it possible to deliver articulate, thoughtfully crafted sermons, not from a written page, but as a natural, spontaneous act of oral communication. Throughout the book, the author offers specific examples including a transcript of a sermon preached without manuscript or notes. Second, that the payoff of learning to preach without a manuscript is nothing less than sermons that more effectively and engagingly give witness to the good news.

A knowledge of basic Greek grammar can illuminate scripture passages for preachers seeking a better understanding of the Bible and fresh perspectives for faithful sermons. Joseph Webb and Robert Kysar review rudiments of New Testament Greek with specific attention to how preachers can use their growing knowledge of Greek to integrate linguistic and exegetical insights in ways that are faithful to the sermon without overwhelming the listeners.