● Preach Like the Greats · 16 of 87
Preach Like John
Knox.
Open the text calmly for half an hour, then apply it with full force.
- ✓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
Where should we send it?
Fill this in and the PDF is yours on the next screen.
— Why he’s one of the greats
Open the text calmly for half an hour, then apply it with full force.
John Knox was born at Haddington around 1514, trained for the priesthood, and was called to preach in 1547, when John Rough charged him publicly in the parish kirk of St Andrews to take up the work. He preached in England, Geneva and Scotland, and from 1559 he was the preacher of Edinburgh at St Giles’. He preached hundreds of sermons but published only two. His secret: he gave the first half of the sermon to calm, plain opening of the text and saved his heat for application. James Melville, a student who took notes as Knox preached through Daniel in 1571, said he was “moderat” in the opening of his text for half an hour, then made his hearers tremble when he turned to apply it. He read the Bible as one story, so every text came with an Old Testament precedent, and he spoke straight to the people in front of him: “dear sisters,” “Edinburgh,” “Scotland.” His comfort was as strong as his warnings. The tempted, he said, should read their temptations as proof that God had begun a work in them.
- 2Sermons published, out of hundreds preached
- 1547First sermon, after a public call at St Andrews
- ½ hourCalm exposition before application (Melville)
What makes his style unique
“He made me so to grue and tremble that I could not hold a pen to write.”
— 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 Knox — Open the text calmly for half an hour, then apply it with full force..
- 01Why he’s one of the greatsThe story, the numbers and what made his style his own.
- 02What he does7 of his sermons, studied start to finish, and the shape they share.
- 03How he does itTen steps to preach the way he did.
- 04His outlineWhere the time goes, movement by movement.
- 05Write one like John KnoxA fill-in outline in his shape, ready for your own text.
- 06SourcesEvery quote and number, cited.
— The plan
Three steps. Starting today.
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Study him in one sitting
9 pages: 7 of his sermons studied, ten steps, and an outline you fill in with your own text.
Preach it Sunday
Fill in the outline with your own text and preach your next sermon the way John Knox would.
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