Determining the Form

Structures for Preaching

O. Wesley Allen Jr.

Fortress Press

Minneapolis

DETERMINING THE FORM

Structures for Preaching

Copyright © 2008 Fortress Press, an imprint of Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Visit http://www.augsburgfortress.org/copyrights/contact.asp or write to Permissions, Augsburg Fortress, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440.

Scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Allen, O. Wesley, 1965–

Determining the form: structures for preaching / O. Wesley Allen, Jr.

p. cm.—(Elements of preaching)

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-0-8006-0444-8 (alk. paper)

1. Preaching—Textbooks. I. Title.

BV4211.3.A4245 2008

251—dc22

2008035738

Contents

List of Illustrations

Editor’s Foreword

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 · Why Form Matters

The History of Sermonic Form

Form and Function

Chapter 2 · Unity, Movement, and Climax: Essential Qualities of All Sermonic Forms

Unity

Movement

Climax

Conclusion

Chapter 3 · Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Context

The Narrative

Sermonic Claim

Chapter 4 · Propositional Lesson Sermons

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Chapter 5 · Exegesis—Interpretation—Application Sermons

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Chapter 6 · Verse-by-Verse Sermons

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Chapter 7 · The Four Pages Sermon

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Chapter 8 · Valley Sermons

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Chapter 9 · New Hearing Sermons

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Chapter 10 · Negative to Positive Sermons

The Form

Evaluation of the Form

Case Study: 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Afterword: Beyond an Introduction to Sermonic Forms

For Further Reading

Illustrations

Figure 4.1 · The Propositional Lesson Form

Figure 4.2 · A Propositional Lesson Sermon on 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Figure 5.1 · The Exegesis—Interpretation—Application Form

Figure 5.2 · An Exegesis—Interpretation—Application Sermon on 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Figure 6.1 · The Verse-by-Verse Form

Figure 6.2 · A Verse-by-Verse Sermon on 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Figure 7.1 · The Four Pages Form

Figure 7.2 · A Four Pages Sermon on 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Figure 8.1 · The Valley Form

Figure 8.2 · The Four Pages Form as a Variation of the Valley form

Figure 8.3 · The “Lowry Loop”

Figure 8.4 · The Classic African American Form

Figure 8.5 · A Valley Sermon on 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Figure 9.1 · The New Hearing Form

Figure 9.2 · A New Hearing Sermon on 1 Kings 19:1–15a

Figure 10.1 · The Negative to Positive Form

Figure 10.2 · A ...