The Sermon: Dancing the Edge of Mystery

by Eugene L. Lowry

An introductory-level textbook from one of the best-known preachers in the country, The Dancing the Edge of Mystery offers preachers a well-shaped, imaginative, and delightfully spry overview of the sermon. The student learns of the revolution in homiletics of the past 25 years and is helped to understand the sermon in terms of the movement of time, place, shape, space, conflict, complication, and the "sudden shift" of the text.
For students new to preaching, these dynamic movements are summed up in a ten-step process that moves speaker from preparation to presentation.

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1997

Reviews

[Caleb Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I try to read at least one book on Preaching every year. This is a short one which will be of great benefit to you. Lowry’s main point is that the best sermons move from “itch” to “scratch.” But rather than just saying up front what the scratch will be, we should treat the sermon as a mystery unfolding which spends time with the itch before the twist when we show how the Gospel scratches that itch. This is an oversimplified synopsis. I do recommend the book to see why this method is effective and how to prepare sermons in this way.

[Nicholas Varady-szabo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowry spends time giving a very well informed discussion of modern preaching styles and methods, and ultimately advocates for a narrative style, seeking to move people towards conviction of truth through a reliving of scriptural themes and stories.