Designing the Sermon: Order and Movement in Preaching (Abingdon Preacher's Library Series)

By James Earl Massey and William D. Thompson

Book Overview

Providing fundamental homiletical principles, this classic book gives readers all the tools they need to prepare a meaningful sermon. "Sermon design"--James Massey's contemporary, creative approach to shaping specific classifications of sermons--focuses on order (What is the preacher's goal?) and on movement (What structure is he or she using to get there?). The discussion of his approach begins with an appraisal of the sermon in context--in relation to goals, design, basic forms, contemporary concerns, and the "why" of it all. Dr. Massey's specific forms for designing sermons include the narrative/story sermon--a subject which is receiving renewed interest today; the textual-expository sermon; the doctrinal/topical sermon; and the special occasion sermon, for which he has chosen the topic of the funeral. Suggestions are included for studying the methods of master preachers as a resource for more effective preaching. And three of the author's own tested sermons are used as illustrations of sermon design possibilities.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687104904
• ISBN13: 9780687104901
• Release Date: September 1980
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Very useful

Granted, everyone has their own way to deliver a Sermon or Message, but this book will help you to see other ways, as well as recognizing different ways that other people use.

Designing the Sermon

This text does an excellent job of breaking down the sermon design process. The text does not exclude the prayerful time of preparation nor the working of the Holy Spirit in the preparation of the sermon, but it does give a basic pattern for each type of sermon that is useful and helpful in giving the preparer additional thoughts concerning the sermon.