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A review by jenny101
The Four Pages of the Sermon, Revised and Updated: A Guide to Biblical Preaching by Paul Scott Wilson
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
In all, Wilson offers a sound structure for writing effective sermons. He presents his structure as a grammar, the idea being sermons are a common language and these are the guiding principles of that language.
I would argue he does not present grammar for one singular language but the syntax for one specific language. His guidelines are excellent for his specific purpose and style. There are, however, other "languages" for sermons.
His language is orthodoxy (white, cishet, American, upper-middle class, and male) which focuses on a specific approach and objective. There are other "languages" for sermons, such as liberation, womanist, or queer, and they will have their own syntax.
The goal of each language is the same (communicate gospel) but how we approach and organize the sermon and what elements we need to stress vary by time, place, and community. We cannot set anyone one "language" as primary or default without loosing the diversity of God's creation and God's actions.
I would argue he does not present grammar for one singular language but the syntax for one specific language. His guidelines are excellent for his specific purpose and style. There are, however, other "languages" for sermons.
His language is orthodoxy (white, cishet, American, upper-middle class, and male) which focuses on a specific approach and objective. There are other "languages" for sermons, such as liberation, womanist, or queer, and they will have their own syntax.
The goal of each language is the same (communicate gospel) but how we approach and organize the sermon and what elements we need to stress vary by time, place, and community. We cannot set anyone one "language" as primary or default without loosing the diversity of God's creation and God's actions.