February book forum - Four Pages of the Sermon
I thought it might be helpful for all of us to share thoughts on books that have helped us improve our preaching (or, if you're not a preacher, on a book that has deepened your relationship with God).
This month I'd like to recommend The Four Pages of the Sermon by Paul Scott Wilson. It's a very practical book describing a simple but surprisingly rich process for expository sermon preparation. The process is essentially this: Each expository passage is interpreted by looking at four "pages": (1) trouble in the Bible, (2) trouble today, (3) grace in the Bible, (4) grace today. You begin by looking at what trouble was behind the given biblical text and how God’s grace was at work in that situation. Alongside that process, you look at a corresponding problem in our day and how God’s grace can transform our own situation. Each of these four points then becomes a “page” in the sermon outline. Looking at texts in this way, you're able to see both how God's grace broke through 0n the pages of the Bible, and how he can break through into the pages of our lives today. I've used this process on some difficult passages and found I was able to preach on them effectively.
What about you? Please leave comments here about this or another book on preaching (or discipleship) that God has used to bless you.
This month I'd like to recommend The Four Pages of the Sermon by Paul Scott Wilson. It's a very practical book describing a simple but surprisingly rich process for expository sermon preparation. The process is essentially this: Each expository passage is interpreted by looking at four "pages": (1) trouble in the Bible, (2) trouble today, (3) grace in the Bible, (4) grace today. You begin by looking at what trouble was behind the given biblical text and how God’s grace was at work in that situation. Alongside that process, you look at a corresponding problem in our day and how God’s grace can transform our own situation. Each of these four points then becomes a “page” in the sermon outline. Looking at texts in this way, you're able to see both how God's grace broke through 0n the pages of the Bible, and how he can break through into the pages of our lives today. I've used this process on some difficult passages and found I was able to preach on them effectively.
What about you? Please leave comments here about this or another book on preaching (or discipleship) that God has used to bless you.
posted by Milton Stanley at 10:22 AM
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