Preaching Library Categories
This blog article was originally published on PreachingCoach.com, a coaching, mentorship, and encouragement ministry for pastors and ministry leaders, born out of David L. Allen Ministries.
Dr. David L. Allen serves as Mid-America’s Distinguished Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching. It was recently announced by Mid-America President Dr. Michael Spradlin that our school is the recipient of Dr. Allen’s 25,000-volume preaching library, as well as the 5,000-volume library of Dr. Adrian Rogers. This blog offers insight into how to assemble and organize a biblical preaching library.
The following are Dr. David Allen’s library categories. These notes are in conjunction with a recent Preaching Coach podcast episode How to Build Your Preaching Library.
Dr. Allen’s Library Categories
1. Commentaries – I would recommend at least three commentaries per book of the Bible.
2. Old Testament Introduction
3. New Testament Introduction
4. Systematic Theology
5. Biblical Theology
- Old Testament Theology
- New Testament Theology
6. Historical Theology
7. Hermeneutics
8. Linguistics
9. Greek & Hebrew Study Tools
10. Church History – I would recommend perspectives from both different traditions (Catholic, Protestant, & Eastern Orthodox) and different ethnicities.
- Early Church
- Medieval
- Reformation
- Post-Reformation
- Modern
11. General History
- World History
- American History British
- History
- Military History
12. Pastoral Ministry
- Counseling
- Marriage & Family
- Pastoral Ministry
- Pastoral Leadership
- Discipleship
- Visitation
- Stewardship
13. Evangelism & Missions
14.Homiletics or Preaching
- Works on Preaching
- History of Preaching
- Sermon Books
- Illustrations
15. Prayer
16. Specialized Study Theological Study
17. Specialized Study Biblical Study
18. Comparative Religions
19. Comparative Denominations
- Catholic Studies
- Baptist Studies
- Eastern Orthodox Studies
- Methodist Studies
- Lutheran Studies
- Reformed Church Studies
- Church of England Studies
- Presbyterian Studies
- Pentecostal Studies
20. Biography
21. Philosophy
22. Reference Works
- Dictionaries
- Encyclopedias
- Atlases
- Grammars
- Thesauruses
23. Spiritual Devotional
24. Popular Authors
25. Life & Ministry of Christ
26. Ethics
27. Science & The Bible
28. Christianity & Culture
29. Sociology
30. Cults
31. Theological Journals
32. Specialized Studies
33. Works on The Church
- Church Government
- Church Ordinances / Sacraments
34. Worship
35. Miscellaneous Books