"I spend hours in my study and on my knees preparing sermons, but when I preach them no one listens. What's wrong? Why aren't I getting through? Why do I see blank stares, daydream reveries, nodding heads as soon as I open my mouth to preach? I know my messages are biblically sound. I'm sure I'm preaching what God has laid on my heart. But it's not being received. What's wrong? What can I do?"

Sound familiar? If you're a preacher, you probably know the feeling. But it doesn't have to be that way. You can learn to preach in a way that will be readily, even eagerly, received by your congregation.

It's all here: what inductive preaching is, how it works, why it's effective, who's used it--including Jesus, Peter, Paul, Augustine, St. Francis, Wesley, Edwards, and Moody, to name only a few. Also included are:

* Step-by-step guidelines for constructing an inductive sermon

* Two sample inductive sermons

* A list of 96 inductive preachers from 20 centuries

* A strategy for making traditional sermon structures inductive

* A checklist of inductive characteristics.

The principles in this book can dramatically increase your sermon effectiveness--turn apathy into involvement, make listeners out of the listless. Inductive preaching is preaching that works!

RALPH L. LEWIS is professor of preaching at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, a post he has held since 1961. Dr. Lewis holds a PhD in speech from the University of Michigan and was a pastor for 12 years.

GREGG LEWIS is editor of Campus Life magazine. A coauthor of The Hurting Parent, he holds an MA in communications from Wheaton College.