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Through all but a few years of his 40-year teaching
career, Dr. Webb has held part-time or weekend
pastorates at the same time that he was teaching. Over
all those years he has continued to work on the art of
preaching without notes, a practice (as he describes in
his book) that began shortly after college. Now, Dr.
Webb's best-selling book, Preaching Without Notes, is
illustrated and brought to life on this web site with an
annotated collection of his own sermons, all preached
without notes, just as you hear them here.

Becoming skilled at preaching without notes is not just a
matter of reading about it; it also requires devoting time
to listening to it being done. Hence the value of these 28
live-in-worship recorded sermons. On this site, you can
experience what preaching without notes sounds like.
You can then determine how to apply those spontaneous
dynamics to your own preaching style. Here you will
build confidence in yourself, see how to handle and even
create unexpected moments. You will also be challenged
to rise to the most natural, suspenseful, and powerful
pulpit communication of which you are capable.

"Reading Webb's book convinced me to try his method for myself. I had my
reservations. I wasn't too concerned about coming up with an outline and
memorizing the outline for Sunday morning. But I was worried that my
delivery would be rambling and less polished. Without the carefully chosen
words of my manuscript, wouldn't I be less prepared to the congregation?
As it turned out, my worries were unfounded. Preaching from a memorized
outline enables me to be more relaxed and natural in my delivery. Instead of
trying to get each word just right, I can focus on getting the message across
to the congregation. Communication, not the delivery of a manuscript,
becomes the goal."

A number of homiletical scholars have said important things about
story and storytelling over the past several decades. But no one has
shown us the art of storytelling in contemporary preaching more
extensively or effectively than Fred Craddock has done. Ironically,
he has not written much about story, not even in his magnificent
Preaching textbook from 1985. But in his sermons we hear his
countless stories . . . .

"I finished reading your [Preaching Without Notes] book and am in the process of applying
the method to my weekly preaching. I've gone completely 'note free' for the past three
Sundays. I made a checklist that I use when I prepare my sermons. I've found that my
memory is trustworthy, and on the occasions where I left something out it was usually for the
good. Your sermon from the book is a good model.

"The main comment I've been getting from people is that the sermons have more passion
and energy. There's something exhilarating about standing before the congregation and just
talking to them about what I've prepared. I compare it to an experience I had a few years ago.
I'd been driving for years when I bought my wife a little red convertible. After driving the car I
discovered that driving could be fun; it was more than getting from one place to another. I feel
like preaching is exciting, even fun.

"I haven't had time to listen to any of your sermons lately, but I've been reading your articles
on your web site. I tried something as a result of your article on advertising the sermon. I put
the opening couple of lines from my sermon on the e-mail bulletin we send out on Thursdays,
followed by 'continued on Sunday.' I'm going to try it for a few weeks to see whether anyone
notices.

"Thanks for putting your approach in writing. I (and my congregation) appreciate it!"