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Eugene L. Lowry
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The Homiletical Plot, Expanded Edition: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form Kindle Edition

by Eugene L. Lowry (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 424 ratings

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.

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  1. Print length
    164 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Westminster John Knox Press
  4. Publication date
    December 1, 2000
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rev. Dr. Eugene L. Lowry served as professor of preaching for over thirty years at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Now that he is no longer actively serving as the William K. McElvaney Professor of Preaching, his travels as preacher, teacher, and pianist have broadened in scope. Ordained a United Methodist minister, Dr. Lowry's academic preparation includes four degrees, culminating with a doctorate in education from the University of Kansas. He was senior scholar in residence at Drew University Theological School fall 2003 and fall 2004; in the spring of 1999 he was a guest professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. Lowry has been featured in the Great Preachers series on the Odyssey Television Channel. He delivered the 2009 Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching at Yale Divinity School and the 2011 William L. Self Lectureship on preaching at McAfee Theological Seminary. Through the years he has preached in hundreds of churches, conferences, and regional events in over twenty denominations as well as lecturing in fifty graduate theological seminaries across North America. His writings include six books on narrative preaching and over twenty journal articles and book chapters on preaching, worship, biblical study, educational philosophy, and creativity. His keyboard lecture/concerts relating jazz and Christianity have resulted in four recordings in the blues/jazz mode.

William Sarris is an accomplished voice actor and narrator. In addition to narrating audiobooks, he has been the voice for radio and TV commercials, e-learning, medical training, online videos, and non-broadcast media. He has done work for Fortune 500 companies like GE, Pfizer, and Unilever as well as consumer brands like Marvin Windows and Doors, Energizer, Pepsi, and Subway. He is based in Connecticut.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00SLHGXEQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Westminster John Knox Press; Expanded, Subsequent edition (December 1, 2000)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 1, 2000
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 164 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 424 ratings

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Eugene L. Lowry

Eugene L. Lowry

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
424 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers appreciate the book's narrative preaching approach and find it informative. They praise its depth.

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45 customers mention "Preaching style"43 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the book's narrative approach to preaching, finding it informative and insightful, with one customer noting it's easy to develop an interesting sermon.

"...Lowry's method engages both ethos and pathos and allows the hearer to participate in the grace of the gospel on both a cognitive and emotive..." Read more

"I am grateful for this gem of a book, as it will help me become more masterful in my preaching." Read more

"GREAT Pastoral book. Excellent book for pastors to have in their tool kit. A must have. Thank you for this book" Read more

"...He responds with useful insights." Read more

3 customers mention "Depth"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book.

"I like the books depth and usage of sources. However, it is quite technical. It needs close analysis and understanding...." Read more

"Deep, wise, extensive old school knowledge into the formation of the homiletical plot...." Read more

"In depth, and intriguing to the mind of a leader" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Samuel A. Burroughs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, I strongly disagree with its detractors
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I think our friends who rated this book low are individuals who seem to subscribe to a Western-Euro homiletical style. That is to say, it's a direct presentation of information. To each his own.
    Other cultures have a more storytelling form of preaching and they do not lack in strong theology, doctrine, or actionable life principles.

    Lowry teaches sermon crafting in manner that engages the pathos and ethos. One great preacher, Noel Jones, put it like this, "Who goes to a movie and the plot is reveal in the first 30 seconds of the film?
    Why would you stay?" He also gave the analogy of watching "The Lone Ranger" each week. What he said was, "each week you knew the Lone Ranger would get into trouble, get out of trouble, and save the day.
    You tuned in because you wanted to see how much trouble he got into and how he got out of it." He went on to say, "every Sunday we know Jesus is going win.
    However, we show up week to experience the way in which gospel gets us out of trouble and Jesus is victorious."

    Lowry's method engages both ethos and pathos and allows the hearer to participate in the grace of the gospel on both a cognitive and emotive level.
    We know Jesus wins, Our faith is strengthened by participating in the word by hearing how He does it. In Deuteronomy, Moses gave both legal instruction as well as gave a narrative of the exploits of God as
    he prepared Israel to enter into Canaan.

    No sermon can be a purely intellectual presentation. People take more actions based on feeling that intellect. Narrative preaching engages the hearers on multiple levels.
    Narrative preaching does not eliminate the blunt and straight forward.
    Once an individual is invested on an intellectual and emotive level, she/he is ripe to be confronted with the blunt and straightforward truth of doctrine.

    Life is narrative. You go home to your spouses and tell the STORIES of what happened at work today, not the bullet point details and principles.
    We live by a narrative. We are shaped as a nation and a people by the story of our history (Stanley Hauerwas).
    In addition, the bible is written in mostly narrative and poetry. I ask, why one earth would a preacher a problem with a narrative style of preaching?
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Dr. Nadine Collins
    5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am grateful for this gem of a book, as it will help me become more masterful in my preaching.
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  • NiNi
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for pastors
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    GREAT Pastoral book. Excellent book for pastors to have in their tool kit. A must have. Thank you for this book
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  • Clarence
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2025
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    Making classes just a little bit more easy
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  • Al Cooper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Innovative Sermon Helps
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
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    Lowry is realistic about what those hearing sermons will consider worth their time. He responds with useful insights.
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  • Ptb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tell The Story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I like the thought of movie hearts and the minds of people thru ambiguous moments of a sermon plot developed from study of the Word, other literature and personal experiences.
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  • Virginia Engineer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Skip This and Go Straight to His Sequel
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I got this book because I saw several sources cite it as seminal in the new narrative form of preaching. When I got it, I was stunned to find that I had already read it and dismissed it. I remember concluding that if he preaches as well as he writes, I'd rather take the nursery duty. However, I later read his follow-on, The Sermon: Dancing the Edge of Mystery and I found that second book to be exceptional. Either read this as an intro to the second or go straight to the second. It's the second book that you must read.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Jeremi T
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read for All Pastors, Preachers and Teachers
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A well written book on sermon preparation and presentation challenging the reader to use storytelling to bring forth the Good News of Jesus the Christ. I will re-read this book twice a year at minimum. In addition, I can see this book being a reference tool on a weekly or monthly basis for the Pastor.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jatsoo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Super helpful if you're if you're starting off to write and take worship in you're church. It is easy to understand the step and how they work for you
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  • sirgregory79
    5.0 out of 5 stars Narrative preaching essential
    Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best books on narrative preaching. Lowry is an amazing storyteller and preacher.
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  • Richard M. Seel
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Prescription for Narrative Preaching
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    Eugene Lowry is Professor of Homiletics at He is also a preacher and a jazz pianist - the latter two being not unconnected. He has written a number of books on narrative preaching, of which this is the best known.

    The Homiletical Plot suggests that preachers should structure their sermons according to the basic structure which underpins many stories. After all, Jesus told stories far more often than he gave three-point sermons!

    According to Lowry's scheme the basic narrative plot has five parts:

    1) Oops!--upsetting the equilibrium;
    2) Ugh!--analysing the discrepancy;
    3) Aha!--disclosing the clue to resolution;
    4) Whee!--experiencing the gospel;
    5) Yeah!--anticipating the consequences.

    Lowry explains these in the chapters which form the heart of the book. It's good but I only gave four stars because it's a bit too theoretical for my taste. I would have liked some examples of sermons which used the format; these would have helped bring the ideas to life.

    I have never constructed a sermon in the way that Lowry outlines; nevertheless, I do sometimes use his schema to check the structure of my own sermons and I find that they often follow his structure. In such cases the book can be useful for refining what I've already done.

    Overall a good book; any preacher will benefit from reading it.
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  • Drew
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for any preacher.
    Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book will help reform your patterns and steps to sermon writing and give you tools to be a more effective preacher people want to hear.
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  • Doug Cole
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Required for a course. Passed course
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