Sermons in a Sentence: Powerful Messages in 5 Words or Less

by John Bytheway

Quotations from the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, with brief commentary.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, Church

101 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

John Bytheway (born October 1962) is an American author and academic, who is well known as a comic motivational speaker for youth within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Salt Lake City, Bytheway attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, receiving a Master's Degree in Religious Education. He also served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Philippines.

Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.

Reviews

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I thought, "Hey, micro sermons! Looks fun."

While the whole book was good, the first page is what got me: "We read scriptures too fast." Slowing down and looking at words and phrases makes a huge difference in all reading, let alone when reading complex texts like scriptures, and I hadn't realized how quickly I'd been reading until I was invited to slow down.

[Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this little book! I intended to read it 1 or 2 a night, of the little messages, but they were so good, I read this in a week! I love Brother Bytheway and his style of writing, and his teachings. This little book gave some truly powerful messages in just a few words. That's my style; get to the point; tell us in a nutshell about the subject. And he does. There are 101 pages with about 20 pages in each section: Most Powerful 1 word sermons; 2 word sermons; 3 word sermons; 4 word sermons; then 5 word sermons. Every one had a message I could use today in my life. They caused me to reflect on my life and where I wanted to progress in certain areas of my life. I will turn back to this book many times to reread the messages of hope and motivation.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sub-title for this book is:
Powerful Messages in Five Words or Less~
And that is exactly what this book is!
On the left-hand page you read a scripture that has one word to one phrase highlighted...just like your personal scriptures might have.
On the right-hand page you read a commentary of that word or phrase.
Powerful...YES
Insightful...YES
Amazing...YES
John Bytheway has a wonderful way of teaching the scriptures and showing us how powerful they can be in our lives and in our teachings.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dedication in this book:
To Joseph Fielding McConkie
Who changed my life in five words:
"We read scripture too fast."

That short sentence and this book has changed my life too. It progresses from one word sermons to two, then three, four and five.
I read scripture differently now. More slowly. Looking for the tiny, yet big messages that are waiting for me.

[Karolinde (Kari) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple can be powerful

This is a short book divided in gospel lessons of five words or less. Within each phrase there is powerful meaning and guidance. A definite must for those looking for inspiration.

[Robin Raines-Bond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful thoughts.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! John Bytheway is always a good read!
My favorite page-

"I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." -2 Nephi 33:6

"We are accustomed to speaking of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in King James English. We pray in "thees," "thys," and "thous," scriptural pronouns that provide a bit of distance, a verbal reverence that is appropriate and comfortable. Perhaps this is why Nephi's intimate phase my Jesus stands out. "My Jesus" appears only once in our entire standard works, from Nephi's closing testimony in the Book of Mormon. Yes, Jesus is Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, the Great I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of heaven and earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lord God Omnipotent. But to Nephi in the later years, He was also "my Jesus." Nephi lost his father and was hated by his brothers, so for him, the Savior was both infinite as the universe and as intimate as a friend. James Farrell has written, "[Jesus'] work on our behalf is at once infinite and infinitesimal; it is so big that he offers redemption to all, and yet so small that he offers redemption to me" (Falling to Heaven [2012], 53)." -pg 39

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the title, I was expecting to read small quips from John Bytheway similar to Amish proverbs and then take time to ponder them on my own. But what greater wisdom can we have than from God? The sermons in this book are gleaned solely from the scriptures. Each page had something to teach me, and some led me to record more about my own thoughts on the subject. You could definitely write a sermon on each phrase/sentence, as the title declares! I particularly liked the explanations for "Fear Not," "Thou Shalt Love," "Charity Never Faileth," and "Release Thyself from Bondage." This book teaches the principle of analyzing the diction of the scriptures and carefully searching the words instead of hurrying through. I read it quickly but would like to go back and use it as more of a scripture study guide. The take-home message is to slow down, think, and learn from the words of God. As it says on the dedication page, "To Joseph Fielding McConkie who changed my life in five words: 'We read scriptures too fast.'"

[alisonwonderland (Alison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of John Bytheway for many years (primarily from his firesides and talks on CD), and these "sermons in a sentence" did not disappoint! This is a pocket-sized book perfect for using for daily devotionals or for putting in one's bag to pull out for a spiritual uplift while in a waiting room. I read the "sermons" (which are each accompanied by a page of commentary) several at a time, usually before bedtime or else first thing in the morning before I got out of bed.

[Amy Halbern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short, simple but holds such a wonderful understanding of the words we read each day in the scriptures. I love how it starts with one word and eventually leads up to five words, meaning a sentence. I love how this such a great companion in reading my scriptures daily. I love all the quotes that helped clarify the words he wanted us to better understand as readers. I highly recommend this book.

[Gratefulscottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is full of ideas and stuff to think about.
Basically it takes a word or group of words form the scriptures and Bro Bytheway gives a small page of insight.
While it did not have the stories that make Bytheway so himself, it does contain one liners and other thoughts that you know are defiantly him.
I enjoyed this book and made several marks in it to transfer to my scriptures as well as my book of thoughts.
I must and very easy read

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love listening to John Bytheway speak, and his books are really great, too. He is funny, he gets his point across, and uses great examples. This book was a very quick read, but it's one that would be good to take time and study. He lists a scripture on each page and then discusses it in more detail.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bytheway takes words, from a single word up to a 5-word phrase, from the scriptures and then gives a short lesson on what that word or phrase can mean to us. It's really a fascinating little book--short and easy to read but also very thought-provoking.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this little book! It's got a simple format: the 1-5 word powerful message, followed by the full verse it was from, and on the opposite page, 1-2 paragraphs of commentary on the significance of the tiny sermon. I found many of these to be very powerful messages indeed.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well. Short. Very short. Concise. And lacking a bit of the Bytheway verve. But it couldn't be BAD of course. It's John Bytheway and the scriptures, after all.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the simplicity of this book, yet the depth or truth it contained. I am purchasing this book fort reference library

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! I read one page a day as part of my morning "devotional". Wonderful messages on each page.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but to the point.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet spiritual thoughts from short verse of scripture. Uplifting, insightful, enjoyable.

[Ane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!! It is great food for thought when you are rushing through your busy day!! A sermon and message for each page. Very insightful!!

[Ashley]

Short and powerful. A succinct set of sermons that can be a great addition to personal, religious study.

[Melanie Portocarrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, quick read!