And Now For My 43rd Point
Giving the Kiss of Life to Your Sermon or Talk
by Nick & Claire Page
GoodBookStall Review:
This 150-page paperback is a joint effort by Nick Page, a creative consultant who has written over 60 books, and Claire, a director and drama teacher who coaches preachers in voice and communication at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
It offers innovative approaches to preaching the Gospel – weaning the most ardent preacher from his or her ‘monologue’ sermon, with its inevitable text, repeated text, three points (preferably beginning with the same letter of the alphabet), summing up, reprise and an eventual end some 20+ minutes later.
Sometimes provocative – Is the sermon dead? – Did Jesus actually preach? – this book is thought-provoking, positive and a joy to read, with its blend of humour, illustrations and practicality. It covers common complaints about sermons and suggests remedies with hints on presentation, movement, speech and speed, as well as alternative therapies such as using art, drama, discussion and modern technology which involve the congregation in more active participation.
Churchwardens and Council members – don’t all rush out to buy this book as a present for your minister or lay preacher! Be more diplomatic. Make sure your church bookstall, church library and religious bookshop have a copy. Recommend it to those who are training our future ministers. Hopefully they will read it themselves and put it on the reading list for their students. Then they and those who listen to their sermons will all benefit.
And now for my 44th point – This book is highly recommended.
Reviewer: Margaret Walker (26/01/12)
This 150-page paperback is a joint effort by Nick Page, a creative consultant who has written over 60 books, and Claire, a director and drama teacher who coaches preachers in voice and communication at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
It offers innovative approaches to preaching the Gospel – weaning the most ardent preacher from his or her ‘monologue’ sermon, with its inevitable text, repeated text, three points (preferably beginning with the same letter of the alphabet), summing up, reprise and an eventual end some 20+ minutes later.
Sometimes provocative – Is the sermon dead? – Did Jesus actually preach? – this book is thought-provoking, positive and a joy to read, with its blend of humour, illustrations and practicality. It covers common complaints about sermons and suggests remedies with hints on presentation, movement, speech and speed, as well as alternative therapies such as using art, drama, discussion and modern technology which involve the congregation in more active participation.
Churchwardens and Council members – don’t all rush out to buy this book as a present for your minister or lay preacher! Be more diplomatic. Make sure your church bookstall, church library and religious bookshop have a copy. Recommend it to those who are training our future ministers. Hopefully they will read it themselves and put it on the reading list for their students. Then they and those who listen to their sermons will all benefit.
And now for my 44th point – This book is highly recommended.
Reviewer: Margaret Walker (26/01/12)
