The Homiletical Plot, Expanded Edition: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form [Paperback]

Eugene L. Lowry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

Now in reissue with a new foreword by Fred B. Craddock and afterword by the author, Eugene L. Lowry, The Homiletical Plot, Expanded Edition follows in the same solid tradition of its predecessor. Upon its release, The Homiletical Plot quickly became a pivotal work on the art of preaching. Instead of comments on a biblical passage, Lowry suggested that the sermon follow a narrative form that moves from beginning to end, as with the plot of a story. This expanded edition continues to be an excellent teaching resource and learning tool for all preachers from introductory students to seasoned clergy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eugene L. Lowry is William K. McElvaney Professor of Preaching Emeritus at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri.

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; Exp Sub edition (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664222641
• ISBN-13: 978-0664222642
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Preaching
  • #57 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Prayerbooks
  • #61 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Ritual

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for the Serious Preacher, January 4, 2003

By 

Arthur Joseph (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Homiletical Plot, Expanded Edition: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form (Paperback)

This book is for anyone who is serious about preaching; even if you have been preaching for a while! For the new preacher, Lowry explains how to make your sermons interesting, Biblical, relevent, specific and memorable! For the seasoned preacher he illuminates several ideas that you may already be aware of subconciously by using in depth analysis of the five parts of "the sermon as preached" and by giving excelent examples and analogies. Even if you do not adopt his specific format this book enables you to make your style more effective and crisper. This book should be in every preacher's library!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Preachers are meant to be story-tellers, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon As Narrative Art Form (Paperback)

Lowry challenges the usual preaching style (tell them what you're going to say, say it, then tell them what you've said). He says no good storyteller gives away the climax of a story like that. Rather, sermons should be stories with: plot, tension, climax, etc. The book was easy to read, and his advice for sermon preparation has been very instructive. Experientially, the times I have used this approach, I have gotten many favorable comments on the sermons.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent & concise 'how-to' book on narrative preaching., November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon As Narrative Art Form (Paperback)

Lowry's book is the best I have read on narrative preaching. He is easy to read and his suggested homiletical plot is remarkably simple and yeteasy to apply to all kinds of texts, regardless of their genre. A narrative sermon - as Lowry has made clear - does not have to be preached from a narrative passage of Scripture. Another excellent point he makes (which needs to be heard by today's preachers) is that the sermon ought NOT be constructed like an essay, which is pieced together one point upon another. No, a sermon is an event which HAPPENS. Therefore the congregation needs to hear and experience the sermon in such a way that it transforms their thinking because they have had an experience which leads them to greater faith in Christ. In teaching homiletics courses in the future, I will certainly make use of this book as a required text!