The Four Pages of the Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching [Paperback]

Paul S. Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

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 own time.  Page Three returns to the Bible to identify where God is at work in or behind the text--in other words, to discover the good news.  Page Four points to God at work in our world, particularly in relation to the situations described in Page Two.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687023955
• ISBN-13: 978-0687023950
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, January 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Four Pages of the Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching (Paperback)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilson Has It Together, April 1, 2007

By 

John D. White "camsterdad" (Cayce, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Pages of the Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching (Paperback)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book that has enhanced my preaching ministry, February 20, 2006

By 

Charles A. Floyd, II (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Pages of the Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching (Paperback)

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!