Theology
MacDonald published five books on theology, including his epic three-volume Unspoken Sermons. As Michael Phillips writes in his Overview, “all his writing reflects a stupendous underlying truth—that the universe was created by, is ruled by, and will ultimately be reconciled into an eternal unity of purpose by an infinitely good, infinitely loving, infinitely trustworthy, and infinitely forgiving Father-God whose intrinsic nature is simply Fatherhood.” His influence has endured and grown and can be seen today in pastors and theologians throughout the globe, including David Bentley Hart, Brian Zahnd, Brad Jersak, and many others.
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Theological Writings
Choose from the links below to learn more about George MacDonald’s theological writings.
Sermons: Spoken and Fictional
While George MacDonald’s theology is best grasped through his three-volume masterpiece, Unspoken Sermons, he delivered many spoken sermons over his lifetime, and included some notable sermons within his novels as well.
Spoken Sermons
Spoken: The Foundations of George MacDonald's Unspoken Sermons
Essay by Barbara Amell providing an introduction to the Scotsman’s preaching.
George MacDonald in the Pulpit: The ‘Spoken’ Sermons of George MacDonald, compiled by J. Joseph Flynn and David Edwards
Twenty four accounts of MacDonald’s sermons. From the Preface: “These sermons, and the stories of how they were received, are the closest any of us will come (in this world) to hearing George MacDonald preach.” Handbound cloth cover 1996 edition
From Johannesen Printing & Publishing
Dish of Orts
This volume of essays includes two spoken sermons of MacDonald’s: “A Sermon” and “True Christian Ministering”
From Johannesen Printing & Publishing in hand bound cloth cover edition, reproduced from the original 1893 edition with photolithography.
From Amazon: Kindle & Paperback editions
Wingfold Articles Describing MacDonald’s Sermons
Wingfold is a quarterly magazine that restores material by and about George MacDonald, in print since 1993. To subscribe, click here. To request any articles that appear in back issues of Wingfold, contact Barbara Amell at b_amell@q.com.
Fictional Sermons
A Novel Pulpit: Sermons from George MacDonald’s Fiction
Edited by David L. Neuhauser and published by Winged Lion Press, this book offers a selection of ten sermons from MacDonald’s novels, as well as an insightful introduction.
The Business of Life: A Sermon from Guild Court, A London Story
Prayers
MacDonald included a multitude of beautifully eloquent prayers in both his fiction and non-fiction. A sampling is provided in the selections below.
Polwarth’s Prayer, from Thomas Wingfold, Curate
Prayer from Birth, Dreaming, Death
To view an extensive collection of prayers and thoughts on prayer that appear in MacDonald’s works of fiction, see the PDF draft manuscript titled On Prayers and Praying. It is the result of much work by Nan Murdoch of Tasmania; Richard Rowan of Pennsylvania, USA; and Marilylle Soveran of Alberta, Canada.