by Dennis Bailey
Graft Publishing, £8.99
ISBN 978-0-9542701-1-7
For those who may be tempted to think that this book will provide illustrations for their own sermons, they will be sadly mistaken. This book uses, often very personal experiences, to illustrate the “nugget” he is trying to expand. The formulae he has used successfully on Radio 2’s “Pause for Thought”, and presumably his own preaching, shows a gift, which, whilst not unique, is greatly sought after by all preachers.
The use of the book for preachers, is in its ability to show the means to use seemingly personal or mundane events to extract good “preaching points”. It will be up to the individual preacher to find their own illustrations, as it would be difficult to use most of Dennis’s, with any conviction, without severe editing.
However as a read, instead of a resource, there is ample within its pages to keep one’s attention, it is one of those books to dip into as needed, as there is almost a story for every occasion. The index is very helpful in this respect.
Whilst one must accept the authors prerogative to include any matter within their writings, the inclusion in this otherwise excellent book, of material of an overtly political nature, could be said to detract from the ethos of the book, as well as not doing justice to the point Dennis was trying to make.
Alan Rashleigh
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