Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Transcription

1 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God RELIGIOUS SERMON Chapter 1, Grade 11 California Standards Reading Standard 2.1 Analyze both the features and the rhetorical devices of different types of public documents and the way in which authors use those features and devices. Reading Standard 3.4 Analyze ways in which poets use figures of speech to evoke readers emotions. More about the Writer Background Edwards was also the loving, affectionate, and thoughtful father of eleven children. When his daughter Esther was nine years old, she wrote movingly about a ride in the woods that they took together:» Thought father is usually taciturn or preoccupied today he discoursed to me of the awful sweetness of walking with God in nature. He seems to feel God in the woods, the sky, and the grand sweep of the river. Sacramento County Office of Education 1

2 Many people would agree that fear is one of the most powerful motivators of human behavior.» Fear of injury makes us buckle our seat belts.» Fear of failure makes us study or work harder. Edwards and other pastors used harsh warnings in their sermons to make sinners understand the precariousness of their situation by actually feeling the fear and horror of their sinful state. Do you think fear is a great motivator? Take a few moments to write about what motivates you and whether you would use fear to motivate someone else. Sacramento County Office of Education 2

3 Literary Focus Figures of Speech Figures of speech describe one thing in terms of another, very different thing. Although Edwards s belief in eternal damnation is literal, he uses figures of speech to compare God s wrath to ordinary, everyday things that his listeners could relate to and understand. Selection Starter Build Background Evangelism literally means The bringing of good news - specifically, the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Selection Starter Build Background Edwards was trying to awaken people who already knew about the Gospel (the biblical accounts of Jesus ministry) but who, he felt, had never made a personal commitment to its message and who were complacent in their religious tradition. Sacramento County Office of Education 3

4 Vocabulary Development provoked appease constitution contrivance inconceivable omnipotent abhors abominable ascribed induce Literary Focus Figures of Speech In personification, a writer speaks of nonhuman things as if they were people.» In this passage, how does Edwards personify Hell and its fires?» What detail does he use to personify God? Content-Area Connections Science: Brimstone Brimstone is another word for sulfur. Several ancient civilizations recognized the flammability of sulfur. Even today, the element is used in such fiery products as gunpowder and matches. Sacramento County Office of Education 4

5 Correcting Misconceptions In this sermon, executed means performed or carried out. Treasuring up may be an unusual expression. It refers to collecting, storing, or even hording what in this case turns out to be God s anger. Reading Skills Recognizing Persuasive Technique What do you think makes this final paragraph especially persuasive? Guided Practice Monitoring Students Progress Locate three statements that when taken together provide an accurate summary of Edwards s sermon. Sacramento County Office of Education 5