Four Pages of the Sermon

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to refresh, renew & revive myself on the West Coast for several days. During that short span of time, I caught up on a little reading.  I was able to read through Thom amd Sam Rainer's "Essential Church", a book recommended to me by my brother, Kevin. It was a good read.  Incidentally, I have already begun to find relevant insights and applications in my own pastoral work; and hope to both share with our congregation and have our leaders read this enriching publication.

All along, I've been scamming through a book written by Paul Scott Wilson entitled, "The Four Pages of the Sermon". After reading books on morphology, lexicography, biblical languages and texts, I love reading books on sermonic preparation and delivery.  Biographies and autobiographical works are a distant second.  Among my favorite books on the methodology of expositional preaching, it's study and delivery are:

- Al Fasol's 'Steps to the Sermon'

- Stephen & David Olford's 'Anointed Expository Preaching''

- J.P. Gibb's 'The Preacher & His Preaching'

- 'Preaching in Black and White' (Bailey and Wiersbe)

That being said, I love the concept and creativity of Wilson's Four-Page concept.  While I understand the concept of brevity when one is trying to market a product, I am convinced that the four-page model would benefit the busy minister were it summarized in blog form.

Under Wilson's structure is a proverbial (or literal) manuscript with four distinct pages. On each page there is a different approach to the the sermon preparation and delivery. Each page is approximately 20-25% of the sermon, upon completion.

Page One: The Problem in the Text

The first page looks explicitly and exclusively at the biblical text. Here, we are to name the problem that gave rise to the text. We know this will inevitably require the study of the context, culture and customs, along with correlating historical facts surrounding the traditions of that day.  Apart of this includes situational ethics and the exploration of the themes, central thesis, thought and theology of the writer and that problem.  Explicitly, the goal here is to summarize the manifestation of sin in the Bible world. We make sure to look at the text in a literary, historical, and theological form, so that the hearer clearly understands and grasps the text from all those different angles and realities. While this task alone is mammoth and gargantuan, it greatly informs the congregation of the Biblical material as well as the background behind the material; and the integrity of the message being conveyed.

Page Two: The Problem in the World

Page two incorporates a move to the contemporary world into the here and now. This is the Word being made flesh, so to speak. Here the preacher looks at issues in the present world that are similar to the problems that gave rise to the text. This is an interesting move that guarantees some “relevance.”. In practical terms, Spurgeon was right...we are to proclaim with the Bible in one hand, and the newspaper in the other.  To be sure, the newspaper and periodicals are not our primary source; but they are a resource of the times, nonetheless.

Page Three: The Gospel in the Text

Page three is another look at the text. However, this time we look for good news in the text. Here we clearly identify what God is doing in the world of scripture. We clearly show how God redeems the Bible world in the text.  This is what makes the Gospel...good news, in the transition to page four.  As an example, we ask...what is the good news in Exodus 14, as the people face the challenge of crossing the Red Sea?  Or,,,what's the good news in Isaiah 6, during the moment Isaiah sees the Lord in His resplendent glory in the temple? There are historic implications when studying Isaiah's culture, context and the condition of his people after the death of King Uzziah.  It is good news in knowing God is seated in His place of dominion, sovereignty and reign.

Page Four: The Gospel in the World

This is where the text becomes relevant to the heads and hearts of the listeners.  For me, I like to speak to both the saved and unsaved? What hope is there to those of us who have been redeemed? Further, what hope is available to those who are here who've never encountered the reality of our resurrected Lord?  Using Isaiah 6 once again, the good news for us today is, for one, God is in control.  Another is that He will continue to reign, even when mortal kings and princes have failed.  This is even good news when we think of our election season.  For the unsaved.l.the good news is, He can reign in your life, as He is placed upon the throne in your heart!

Wilson does assert that the minister is at liberty in shifting order of pages.  But I happen to like his order.

All in all, I think it is an approach that is worth utilizing in one's sermon preparation.  Most ministers, as myself, have used this approach for years.  However, Wilson simply shows a clear method and description of this approach. 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 their mastery of this style. The book is a 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.