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Preach Like John
Calvin.

Straight through the book, phrase by phrase, and every hearer brought low before God.

Preach Like John Calvin — Straight through the book, phrase by phrase, and every hearer brought low before God.. A free guide from Pastor Center.
  • ✓8 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

Straight through the book, phrase by phrase, and every hearer brought low before God.

Geneva at the height of the Reformation (1541-1564), a city crowded with French refugees, where preaching was increased to every day in 1549. His secret: He preached straight through whole books (lectio continua), 2-5 verses at a time, without notes. He explains each phrase plainly and turns it on “us” right away, before moving to the next. Every sermon ends the same way: the congregation is brought to its knees before “the majesty of our good God,” confessing its faults. The repetition does the work: explain the phrase, apply it, and in the end humble the hearers.

  • 2,000+Sermons taken down in shorthand from 1549
  • 1,700Sermons that survive
  • 2-5Verses a sermon, preached without notes

What makes his style unique

Lectio continuaStraight through whole books, a few verses at a time.
Explain, then “us”Each phrase explained and turned on the hearers at once.
Humbled at the endEvery sermon closes in confession before God.
“Calvin filled the mind of the hearers with as many weighty sentiments as he uttered words.”
Theodore Beza, Life of Calvin

Read the full story: How John Calvin 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 John Calvin — Straight through the book, phrase by phrase, and every hearer brought low before God..

  1. 01Why he’s one of the greatsThe story, the numbers and what made his style his own.
  2. 02What he does8 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 John CalvinA 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

One short form. The PDF is on the very next screen — no trial, no card, nothing to wait for.

02

Study him in one sitting

9 pages: 8 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 John Calvin 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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