This summer we are discussing how to read and write well for preaching. Today's topic is on building your preaching library. A preacher's library by definition will be a theological library. However, a preaching library will have many kinds of works that are not strictly theological. In this episode learn Dr. Allen's eight principles for building your preaching library. Learn the major categories of books each preacher should have in their library.

Dr. Allen’s Preaching Library Categories

1. Commentaries

2. Old Testament Introduction

3. New Testament Introduction

4. Systematic Theology

5. Biblical Theology

a. Old Testament Theology

b. New Testament Theology

1. Historical Theology

2. Hermeneutics

3. Greek & Hebrew Study Tools

4. Church History

a. Early Church

b. Medieval

c. Reformation

d. Post-Reformation

e. Modern

1. General History

a. World History

b. American History

c. British History

d. Military History

1. Pastoral Ministry

2. Evangelism & Missions

3. Homiletics or Preaching

a. Works on Preaching

b. History of Preaching

c. Sermon Books

d. Illustrations

1. Prayer

2. Specialized Study Theological Study

3. Specialized Study Biblical Study

4. Biography

5. Philosophy

6. Reference Works

a. Dictionaries

b. Encyclopedias

c. Atlas

d. Grammars

e. Thesauruses

1. Spiritual Devotional

2. Popular Authors

3. Life & Ministry of Christ

4. Ethics

5. Science & The Bible

6. Christianity & Culture

7. Sociology

8. Cults

9. Theological Journals

10. Specialized Studies

11. Miscellaneous Books