1. Gionti/English 11
Warm Up:
(Respond in writing notebooks): What is one thing someone could say to you that would cause you to become fearful? Why? How do you think you would react if told this?

2. Gionti/English 11
Puritan Sermons
The Puritans believed that the real power of a sermon was to be found in its words, rather than its delivery. Since the words were thought to be divinely inspired, it was believed that the words alone carried enough power to affect the congregation.
As the preacher was simply a flawed agent of God’s work, his presentation of the sermon was expected to be as unadorned as possible, so that the delivery of the sermon would not distract listeners from the words. Preachers usually spoke their sermons in a deliberate monotone.
Consider this effect as you read “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

3. Gionti/English 11
Emotional Appeals
Emotional appeals are messages designed to persuade an audience by creating strong feelings. They often include sensory language to create vivid imagery and loaded words to create these types of feelings.
Fear, which taps into a fear of losing one’s safety or security
Pity, which draws on a sympathy or compassion for others
Guilt, which relies on one’s sense of ethics or morality

4. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Gionti/English 11
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
As you listen, fill in your chart with specific imagery and emotional appeals that are used in the sermon.

5. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Gionti/English 11
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
According to Jonathan Edwards, what is a constant threat to all human beings?
Why do you think Edwards wrote and delivered the sermon? What was his purpose?
What tactics does Edwards use to communicate his point to the congregation?
How do you envision the delivery of the sermon? Should it be animated (like the Footloose sample) or straightforward with little emotion? Which would be more effective? Why?