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Preach Like Bernard
of Clairvaux.

Preach from the book of experience, one word and one step at a time.

Preach Like Bernard of Clairvaux — Preach from the book of experience, one word and one step at a time.. A free guide from Pastor Center.
  • ✓7 of his sermons, studied start to finish
  • ✓Ten steps to preach the way he did
  • ✓A fill-in outline in his shape, 9 pages

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— Why he’s one of the greats

Preach from the book of experience, one word and one step at a time.

Twelfth-century France: monastic reform, rising cathedral schools, and an abbot of Clairvaux who advised popes and wrote letters across Europe. His secret: He preached from “the book of experience.” He takes one phrase of Scripture, often a single word like “kiss” or “name,” and divides it into steps (feet, hand, mouth; light, food, medicine). Then he walks the hearer up the steps, checking each against what they have actually felt. Bible echoes fill nearly every sentence, he often turns to speak to Jesus mid-sermon, and he frequently ends with “tomorrow we’ll continue.”

  • 86Sermons on the Song of Songs, begun in 1135
  • 1135The year he began the series, unfinished at his death
  • Mellifluus“The honey-flowing teacher,” as tradition calls him

What makes his style unique

One wordA single phrase, often one word like “kiss” or “name.”
Divide into stepsThen walk the hearer up them, one by one.
Check against experienceEach step tested by what they have actually felt.
“I love Bernard as the one who among all writers preached Christ most charmingly.”
Martin Luther, Table Talk

Read the full story: How Bernard of Clairvaux Preached →

— Who wrote this

We’re pastors. We’ve had your Monday.

Pastor Center is built and written by pastors — a lead pastor who planted churches, and a church planter who grew one to 4,000 in four years. The same team teaches 9 free courses and 164 lessons. This guide is the short version.

  • 9free courses
  • 164lessons, all free
  • ARCChurches partner

— What you get

What’s inside

Preach Like Bernard of Clairvaux — Preach from the book of experience, one word and one step at a time..

  1. 01Why he’s one of the greatsThe story, the numbers and what made his style his own.
  2. 02What he does7 of his sermons, studied start to finish, and the shape they share.
  3. 03How he does itTen steps to preach the way he did.
  4. 04His outlineWhere the time goes, movement by movement.
  5. 05Write one like Bernard of ClairvauxA fill-in outline in his shape, ready for your own text.
  6. 06SourcesEvery quote and number, cited.

— The plan

Three steps. Starting today.

01

Tell us where to send it

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02

Study him in one sitting

9 pages: 7 of his sermons studied, ten steps, and an outline you fill in with your own text.

03

Preach it Sunday

Fill in the outline with your own text and preach your next sermon the way Bernard of Clairvaux would.

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Preach Like the Greats, a free book

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Every guide in one PDF, from Clement of Rome to the pastors filling arenas today, plus the family tree of preaching and the eight styles, beat by beat.

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Keep going through the greats

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