The Four Pages of the Sermon

by Paul Scott Wilson

Doing justice to the complexity of the preaching task and the questions that underlie it, Wilson organizes both the preparation and the content of the sermon around its "four pages." Each "page" addresses a different theological and creative component of what happens in any sermon. Page One presents the trouble or conflict that takes place in or that underscores the biblical text itself. Page Two looks at similar conflict--sin or brokenness--in our...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687023955
• ISBN13: 9780687023950
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A higher level book for a narrative preacher.

This was a lengthy book concerning the art of preaching. It is a method of preaching in the narrative style from a particular text. The author adds to the discussion of Fred Craddock in improving the form of the narrative genre. It is a insightful and helpful book in organizing a narrative sermon from a text. The major structure that is given in the book is (1) Problem in the biblical text, (2) Problem in the modern world, (3) Grace in the biblical text, (4) Grace in the modern world. This is a basic outline that is fully fleshed out in the book. There are six ones that are helpful in developing the flow of the sermon. These six ones will help considerably in any sermon development. The style that the author is advocating is probably not a weekly sermon style, as I am for changing up the approach from week to week, but this style certainly has a place in the preacher's sermon skill set. This book is not for the beginning preacher, or is it for the three-point only preacher. This book is for someone who understands the narrative approach to preaching and wants to improve his mastery of this style. The book is must read for practitioners of the narrative-inductive style of preaching. Before this book is read, one should read "Preaching" by Craddock and "Homiletical Plot" by Lowry.

Wilson Has It Together

Having been in the pulpit weekly now for about seventeen years, I have read just about every book on preaching published. Some are clearly better than others. Some are classics. Some are pretty bad. Wilson knows of what he speaks, and I have found his reflections in this book and his ideas to be worthy of practice/ consideration/ emulation and use. He divides the week up into do-able sections with a different daily purpose and places the sermon out in four pages--each page with its own emphasis or direction. Like a master guide pointing out the obvious as one walks through the same stretch of woods for the thousandth time, I noticed, under Wilson's direction, things that I either had taken for granted, or had not paid attention to before-- I did what he said and my preaching improved. I found his remarks cogent, useful, right on the mark, and encouraging. This is one of the better books on preaching recently published and worth your attention.

A superb book that has enhanced my preaching ministry

I ordered this book, read it in a few days and I MUST read it again. This is one of the best books that I have read on finding and preaching the grace of GOd. This book shows you how to preach POSITIVE life changing messages that focuses on making God the subject of each message, and what HE has already done; organizing the sermon preparation into 4 disctinct areas-the trouble in the text, the trouble in our world, the grace in the text, and the grace in our world. It teaches you how to find grace even in "negative" passages. There is a message of grace when Samson's hair was cut, and how his hair was symbol of his power but not the source of his power. His real power was in the fact that he took the Nazitite vow, and was asking God to give him His Spirit. (hebrew: ruah) AWESOME!!!!! It is really a new way to look at the scriptures, and I am excited about the possiblilities of preaching messages filled and focused on God's grace. I see things differenetly. I HEARTILY endorse this book. IT IS GREAT!!!! BUY IT!!!!!!!! YOUR MINISTRY WILL BE BLESSED AND SERMON PREP TIME WILL BE CUT WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY.!!!!!!!!! AEWSOME BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unquestionably the best sermon preparation tool available

The author has uncovered the most profound method of preparing sermons. This is not so much a how to manual, as a "tool" which immediately changes your approach to sermon preparation. Sunday School Teachers, too, can utilize this "tool". I've shared this with several other pastors. They concur with my opinions.

Inspiring

I have found Dr. Wilson's method compelling, his arguments and theology of preaching sound. I have committed myself to try his plan for awhile and check the results. However, I would recommend this book to any preacher, even if you are perfectly satisfied with your own preaching and don't see a need to change. For how often do you get to hear great sermons? More than anything, I found The Four Pages of the Sermon an extended sermon written just for me, inspiring me with a solid message of Gospel truth. Both in the instructive sections and the sermon excerpts, I felt myself bathed in the Light of God's Grace and often moved to tears. So, yes, it's a great preaching text, but I'd recommend it as well as a meditation for preachers who need reminding of what they are to be about.