- The Rise of Biblical Preaching
- Three Divisions of Biblical Preaching
- Observing Exegetical Procedure: Eisegesis and Exegesis
- Hermeneutic Aproach
- The Nature of Religious Language: The science of interpreting Biblical language
- Context Questions
- Symbols and Signs
- "What Is Preaching?"
- Making the Mummies Dance: Bring Life to Words and People
- Expository Foundations for Propositional Preaching
- Determine the Subject
- Formulate the Theme
- Select the Title
- Methods for Developing a Traditional Textual Sermon
- Sermon Classification by Pattern or Format
- The Art of Biblical Preaching
- Basic Principles of Preaching as an Act of Worship
- The Homiletical T-U-L-I-P
- Preaching Using Biblical Images
- Black Preaching
- Biblical Images of Women
- Apostles and Prophets
- Human Nature and Destiny
- Discovery of a Preaching Method: Four themes that drive preaching (Samuel D. Proctor)
- Plans for Preaching
- The Use of Humor in Preaching
- Billy Graham, the Father of Modern Evangelicalism
- Politics and Evangelism
- 21-st Century Preaching Context
- Sermon Posture
- Homiletical Tools
Answer the following questions. You can:
Strongly Agree - SA
Agree - A
Undecided - U
Disagree - D
Strongly Disagree - SD
These are the kinds of question many people ask after they hear a sermon. May be they want to have the possibility to question the preacher. The preacher should be able to respond to the people's needs. In the next two weeks we will try to answer to some of these questions.
Hermeneutics is very close connected with homiletics.
Matthew 4:17
Jesus began to preach. He started to preach message that would change the whole world. He was called to preach, not just taught to preach.
Luke 4:18-19 If the anointing is there, then first there should be a call to preach.
In 1928 - The word of God - the word of man. Karl Barth - Barth denied general revelation. He argued that the revelation was in history through the mighty acts of God. For many this separated …
How can you preach without the Holy Spirit?
The preacher, the Bible, the people to whom he/she preaches
The preacher's task is to discover the true meaning of the revealed Word as the Spirit of God guided the scribe who wrote the words.
Eisegesis - bringing my tradition, culture… into the reading.
For example
"We do not enter the pulpit to talk for talk's sake, and we cannot afford to utter petty nothings…The true minister of Christ knows that the true value of a sermon must lie, not in its fashion and manner, but in the truth it contains." Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892).
In many ways the western culture, teaching empirically rejected the miracles. But as preachers we should preach the whole Bible.
After 1950 - the therapeutic preaching - to make you feel good. We must preach the Gospel as the Gospel. What is preaching? Proclaiming the Word of God through God's Spirit.
What is the rational for preaching a biblical passage? People seek to make sense out of their mysterious lives. Preaching is a spoken word that helps people to make sense out of their mysterious life. To make sense - this is our job.
Exegesis is the task of explaining or drawing out the implications of the text for the contemporary mind.
There are three theories.
The first is "Author Centered Approach" - getting to the mind of the author - what is behind the text? Prior to 1940. What was in the mind of the author when he was writing this passage? But some would argue that you just cannot know because the author is not here.
The second is "Text Centered Approach" - What is within the text? When the text appeared? The social context. You cannot understand the Bible, if you cannot understand the world of the Bible.
"Reader Centered Approach" - What is in front of the text? The important question now is who is reading the text. Here there is a great deal of eisigesis.
Behind, within, and in front of the text.
Any passage of Scripture should be studied in its immediate context. Words have a meaning only in their context.
Luke 8:1-8
The Symbol always looks to something beyond itself. The symbol is based on something behind. The cross is powerful symbol.
How are the symbols destroyed? The same way they are made? When there are no people who value the symbol.
"What is preaching?" How does it differ from lecturing? From counseling? From teaching? What sets preaching apart from all other kinds of discourses? The answer is plain. Preaching is addressed to the will, to the conscience, and its ultimate purpose is to move the soul Godward and heavenward. The preacher does this by literally living out in public utterance the truth of God.
In delivering a sermon I feel as in actual life the subject matter I am presenting. Even in preparation I live through these truths, many times weeping at my desk before the moving revelation of God. No experience is more intense than that of the true preacher who thus unfolds before his people the marvelous vistas of riches of God in Christ Jesus. (Pastor's Guide, W.A. Criswell, 1980)
Preaching is the power of personality to persuade others to believe and follow him.
Making the Word incarnate (a living experience):
(1) Creating an emotional-intellectual experience, (2) Creating a living experience among those to whom the message is directed.
You should grab your listeners emotionally and intellectually.
Expository - to expose others to God's Word using historical, grammatical, and literary approach.
Expository preaching: "Communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, and then applies to the hearer."
The story telling preachers a the best preachers. They take you to a trip - imaginary trip.
You are proposing to do something through every sermon. Every sermon has a proposition.
The disciplined approach has to do with ones preparation. Hebrew/Greek Translations. The amount of time you put in your preparation. There are some people who believe they not need to prepare.
Contextual involves relating the text to its total context. This entails gathering as much information as possible abut historical, cultural and social aspects of the text as possible.
Using wide range of subject and text. Both and Old and New Testaments, topical, thematic and practical sermonic structures.
The subject is the one broad area that forms the basis of the sermon. It should be the summarizing core of the preaching portion. It represents the broad area out of which a number of themes might be chosen and from which one theme will be selected for the particular sermon at hand.
How to gather information for sermon? 10 Questions to be asked when gathering information of sermon subject:
The title for a sermon is the announced or advertised form of the theme. The thought is the same but the title is phrased for bulletin board appeal. The title serves not only to attract the listeners but also provides a helpful device for filing sermons. The appealing title must not be confused with the cheap sensational title. We should not use cheap or sensational titles "If you want to be rich, come on church in Sunday"
The analytical method is one of the most common methods used in formulating textual sermons. In this the text is separated into its various parts for the purpose of examination and consideration. The parts of the text discovered through analysis will then become the main points of the discourse.
Isiah 40:30-31 - parts for the purpose of analysis
Title: "Waiting upon God" Text: Isaiah 40:30-31
I. They shall renew their Strength
II. They shall mount up with wings as eagles
III. They shall run and not be weary
IV. They shall walk and not faint
This is analytical sermon - every line can be a part of the sermon. Every part can become a sub theme.
The Interrogative Method sees the content of the text in terms of question it answers or questions that may be applied to it. This holds the attention of the people, because they want to hear the answer.
I. What did he see? "The grace of God"
II. How did he feel? "He was glad"
III. What did he say? "Cleave unto the Lord"
Psalm 100 What kind of noise? Joyful.
To whom are you making this joyful noise? - To the Lord.
The telescopic method sees each succeeding point in the message as an extension of the preceding point. This means that the final point will be inclusive of all those that have preceded it. It is building toward something.
Title: "Certainty in Service" Text: Romans 15:29
I. I am coming to you with Christ
II. I am coming to you with the gospel of Christ.
III. I am coming to you with the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
IV. I am coming to you with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
The implicational Method draws implications from words and phrases within the text and the implications provide the points of the message.
Title: "The Great Provider" Text: Psalm 145:16 How and why God is the Great provider?
I. God provides personally: Thou
II. God provides easily: Dost open Thy hand
III. God provides Abundantly: "And dost Satisfy
Develop a sermon using one of these textual methods. Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
How Shall They Hear? - the interrogative method
1. How can a person be saved? - By Faith in God
2. Where the faith come from? - From the Word of God
3. How the Word of God reach the people? - through the preaching of the Gospel
HADDON ROBINSON
P.19 - The case for preaching - did he made the case?
The traditional view of preaching comes from a book of John Brodus. We can learn a lot from him.
It takes on idea and turns it in such a way that you can see it from a lot of different perspectives. One idea may be illustrated in very different ways. A pastor preach "You cannot bribe God". Using different illustrations and looking of different facets of it.
The ladder is something to climb. Each step depends on the previous one - very similar on telescoping. It is moving to a climax. Often used for evangelistic purposes
a. All have sinned -
b. Christ suffered and paid the praice
It is good for persuasion and appeal. If they accept the first idea, they will receive the next ones also. It is like fishing
Usually two point sermon that is contrasting ideas - wrong - right - excellent for reprove and correction. First negative, and then positive. Platonic, dualistic.
Similar to interrogation method - involves rasing a question and then giving the answer. Adverbial plan. Who is Jesus? What? When? Where? Who?
Consist of razing a question, but it is raising a question for the purpose of rising another question. The most beautiful word of the Bible is… It really caps their attention
Making a diagnostic of a problem and the giving the remedy. - The Problem - Answer (Solution) Outline. Very good for dealing with different problems in the church - "How To" sermon. Marriage - What it means to be a good husband. "There is no excuse for abuse"
For example - "The nature of the Gospel" - First, the Gospel is personal, But also, second, the Gospel is social. And third, The Gospel is both personal and social. In this way you can successfully present a thesis.
Very useful in narrative preaching. A postmodern preacher would find this very useful. Characteristics of Good Sheppard, and then showing that Jesus has all these characteristics in spiritual way - a kind of picture story - easy to present and remember.
Another two parts sermon. Giving the interpretation and then applying the truth. Who is your neighbor - What do you do to love and support your neighbor.
1. Preaching is the communicating of God's Truth by God's servant to meet the needs of people (Romans 10:14-15). You can be called, but not equipped.
2. The preacher should be part of the message (John 1:1,14). When you preach you become part of what you preach. Incarnation is important part of the preaching.
3. Preaching is an act of worship (Romans 15:16). Worship committee. The worship should be develop around your sermon.
4. A sermon must have both intent and content if it is to be effective (1 Corinthians 1:17,23; 2 Corinthians 4:5). You can be well intended and not have good content. Our Content is Christ and Him crucified. Preachers, be careful of your ego. You can be popular one day and not popular another way. "The Gospel can draw you or drive you!"
The intend of the sermon must be made clear. The proposition should have the following characteristics (2 Timothy 4:21):
1. Preaching and worship must be Biblical "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
2. Preaching in worship should involve congreagation participation and responce "37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"" (Acts 2:37-38) "We enter to worship. We leave to serve." "If this church is just like me, what kind of church would this church be?"
3. Preaching in worship should be inclusive "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10:9-15a)
4. Preaching and worship should have a place for spontaneity: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
5. Order should always have a place: "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." (1 Corinthians 14:40)
T - Therapeutic - Always there should be a redemptive, hopeful aspect of your sermon. Every sermon should be therapeutic.
U - Unconventional - Not traditional, not conventional - something different, something creative
L - Lucid - Clear, Flowing, Undisruptive transitions, people should not have difficulty following you.
I - Illustrative - Illustrate, Illustrate, Illustrate. It helps paint the picture. In things you read in television, in conversations you have with other people.
P - Passionate - the pathos, there must be passion, emotion. If you do not feel it how you expect the congregation to feel it? A sermon by Bill Russell "Hope in Him" Luke 24 He opened the scriptures for them He broke the bread - took the control over the situation - Lord of all Open your home for the Lord. Open your eyes
The Bible is filled with different images that can be used in preaching. It's up of the preacher to help the audience to create mental images, that would have biblical foundation.
Jesus frequently compared the kingdom of God to a feast.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Jacob had a prayer session with God. That kind of struggle is positive.
A church member can be good in doing their duty in church but may stop growing in their faith.
(1 Kings 11:4) It can be anything that distract you from God. What you concern the most become your ultimate concern. And then it becomes your god.
R Kelly: I believe I can fly
I Believe I Can Fly song by R.Kelley From the movie, Space jam copyright © 1996 Wea/Atlantic I used to think that I could not go on and life was nothing but an awful song But now I know the meaning of true Love I'm leaning on the Everlasting Arms. If I can see it then I can do it If I just believe it there's nothing to it I believe I can fly I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me runnin' through that open door I believe I can fly I believe I can fly I believe I can fly See, I was on the verge of breaking down Sometimes silence can seem so loud There are miracles in life I must achieve But first I know it starts inside of me Oh, if I can see it (whoo!) then I can be it If I just believe it there's nothin' to it I believe I can fly I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me runnin' through that open door I believe I can fly I believe I can fly....whoo! Oh, I believe I can fly Hey, 'cuz I believe in You Ohhhhhh If I can see it then I can do it If I just believe it there's nothin' to it. I believe I can fly....whoo! I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar See me runnin' through that open door I believe I can fly (I can fly!) I believe I can fly (I can fly!) I believe I can fly If I just spread my wings (I can fly!) I can fly (I can fly!) I can fly (I can fly!) I can fly (I can fly!) Hey, if I just spread my wings I can fly .....(I can fly!) whoo!! (I can fly!) fly............
He represent a lot of ministers. Henry Lions - gifted but a crook
You must guard your spiritual life. The enemy will hit you in your point of weekness.
Kelly's unordered life…
Heaven I Need A Hug by R. Kelly album: Chocolate Factory (2003) Dear mama, you wouldn't believe what I'm goin' through But still I got my head up just like I promised you Every since you left, your babyboy's been dealin'with Problem after problem, tell me what am I supposed to do See, I get lost sometimes, don't understand this place Look in the mirror sometimes and see a troubled face And then my tears roll down and hit the sink Then I hold my head up high, I hope the Man upstairs can hear my cry All these questions deep inside my mind Like if Jesus loved me, why he leave my side, mama I'm still tryin' to get the answer why You were young, 45, and you had to die I'm always tryin' to help people out And it's them same people tryin' to take food out my mouth (Fo' real tho') It seems like the more money I make (Fo' real tho') The more drama y'all try to create (Fo' real tho') And though I try to move into the positive (Fo' real tho') The more y'all don't wanna let me live When will you realize that I don't owe you nothin' Need to get up off your butt and go get your own somethin' I'm pullin' on my hair to keep from snappin' off Fools ride up in my camp and be YAPPIN' off Somebody out there please pray what I'm talkin' 'bout Still young tryin' to figure it out Heaven, I need a hug Is there anybody out there willin' to embrace a thug Feelin' like a change of heart And all I really need is a sign or a word from God So shower down on me, wet me with your love I need you to take me and lift me up, oh, yeah I gave 13 years of my life to this industry Hit song or not, I've given all of me You smile in my face and tell me that you love But then before you know the truth, you're so quick to judge me That's alright, go ahead, keep talkin' 'Cause I'mma hold my head up high and keep walkin' And reach for the sky, focus on the plan Rescue the ghetto with his paper a pen And this is for the homies that we lost Yo', we cannot forget y'all, so the hats come off We pour a little liquor out for the memory I know y'all up there sittin' on chrome in them pearly streets The street survivors BE careful, stay alive I'm prayin' for your families, I hope you pray for mine (Fo' real tho') Used to be a time you wished me well (Fo' real tho') It hurts to know you wanna see me fail (Fo' real tho') And don't forget I kept you out of jail (Fo' real tho') WAS my arms when you needed to be held They turn they backs on you, who was there believin' Who said your troubles were only for a season In church together tryin' to pick up all the pieces And now you betray me, I bind you in the name of Jesus Somebody please pray ON what I'm talkin' 'bout Still young tryin' to figure it all out Heaven, I need a hug Is there anybody out there willin' to embrace a thug Feelin' like a change of heart And all I really need is a sign or a word from God (Please shower down) So shower down on me, wet me with your love (Yeah) I need you to take me and lift me up (Oh...oh...yeah, yeah, yeah) Man, I tell you it's enough to make you wanna give it up Thank God for my fans 'cause through it all they show me love To my sister and TWO brothers Tell me why can't we just try to get along with one another And stop hurtin' one another, fightin' one another Man, I pray to God He get my family back together Let me see what wanna see, just to blind me All of these luxuries, wine and dining And then You push me out in front to get behind me Then You sat me up by blessin' me to bind me I'm a grown man with kids now, stakes are HIGHER Gotta go to church now to avoid the FIRE Frankly, y'all to keep it real I'm just tired Have dreams of bein' dead, but the devil is alive (Fo' real tho') Church folks, you need to stop judgin' (Fo' real tho') Or you will be the first to be judged (Fo' real tho') And women stop dependin' on us men (Fo' real tho') And start dependin' on the Man above, feel me And as for ROBERT, here's what I need to do Get rid of them clowns and get myself a whole 'nother crew Media, do your job But please just don't make my job so hard Somebody please pray ON what I'm talkin' 'bout I'm still young tryin' to figure it all out Heaven, I need a hug Is there anybody out there willin' to embrace a thug Feelin' like a change of heart And all I really need is a sign or a word from God So shower down on me (Shower down on me now), wet me with your love I need you to take me (Please) and lift me up, yeah, yeah (Said I'm callin' on heaven) Heaven, I need a hug Is there anybody out there willin' to embrace a thug Feelin' like a change of heart And all I really need is a sign or a word from God So shower down on me, wet me with your love I need you to take me and lift me up (Lift me up), yeah, yeah (Heaven I need) Heaven, I need a hug (Ooh, yeah, yeah) Is there anybody out there willin' to embrace a thug Said I'm Feelin' like a change of heart (Hey) And all I really need is a sign or a word from God (Ooh, yeah) So shower down on me (Shower down), wet me with your love (Take me) I need you to take me and lift me up, yeah, yeah
When the heart is turned from God: Signs of Spiritual Erosion (in the life of Solomon) - You stop to pray, to read…
Ordere Your Private World By Your Confession in Three Areas:
There is nothing as black church experience. Many white have tried to copy black preaching. When you preach in a black church, the most importan is the win the favor of the "mothers of the church". They can react to your preaching in four different ways:
1.Strong Biblical Content - In the past many young black people learned to read from the Bible.
2.Creative Uses of Language - the poetry and riming is very important.
3.Appeal to emotions: "Start slow, rise high, strike fire, sit down in the storm."
4.Ministerial authority - it comes from his gifts, charisma.
Pastoring a black church is like a marriage.
They forgive pastor everything. Only the stealing the church money is unforgivable.
Dr. King used his southern cadence:
Whooping and Toning, by Martha Simmons
Fact: Women outnumber men in the church at least two to one.
Key historical points:
1.In an orthodox Jewish Synagogue when attendance is taken only the men are counted.
2.In Moslem countries woman are regarded as property - either of fathers or husbands
3.In areas of the world where Hinduism is practiced, cows are considered superior to women.
4.Only Christianity affords women a measure of acceptance - and even equality - in the eyes of God. Galatians 3:28
The majority of biblical passages tend to deal specifically with women in a negative fashion. There are two reasons for the negative images:
1.Three-fourths of the Bible is Old Testament - the basis for Judaism - and we have been mentioned Jewish viewpoint. (Look at Exodus 20:17 regarding coveting).
2.The Second, more important reason why most biblical images of women are negative is the Bible depict all of humankind as flawed creatures in need of salvation. (Romans 3:23)
Positive Images of Women in the Old Testament
In Genesis Adam and Eve reflect God's original design (co-companions) (Genesis 2:21-25)
In the New Testament, the image of Women continues to be mixed.
In three letters of Paul - I Corinthians, Ephesians, and I Timothy - in which Paul gives discourse on specific negative roles of women in the Christian community. Christian churches have long used these letters as ample justification for establishing and maintaining male dominion almost every level of church decision-making.
For men or women to pull out select verses of Pauline writings to hold up against women - no talking in church... cover your head... be submissive to your husband (without question) - is to misinterpret the scriptures as a whole.
The best criterion to which we can turn is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His teaching, and his actions are the center points around which all else matter.
"Even the women who say that they are under authority of Jesus are still under the authority of a man (because Jesus is a man)."
In the Gospel record we find 94 percents of all the positive statements about woman in the entire Bible are found in the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In Matthew 19, Jesus takes the side of the women in interpreting the Mosaic Law on Divorce.
In Mark chapter 5 and 7 we have two separate cases of women, one with herself and the other with a sick daughter, who are commented by Jesus about their faith.
In Luke we find the extensive positive imagery concerning women in relation to Jesus. It is Luke that the sisters Mary and Martha, mentioned only in passing in other gospels, are accorded a relationship with Jesus as close or closer than that of any of the traditional twelve disciples.
In several of Jesus Parables in Luke women are the chief actors.
Jesus parable of the Lost coin (Luke 15:8-10)
Luke presents three women - Mary Magdalene, Johana
Does Jesus or the prophets speak specifically to the role of women? Luke 2:36-37
Prophetic word to the church age: Acts 2:17
Preaching is communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18,21 2:4 9:16 2 Corinthians 4:5 2 Timothy 4:2
"God will use the women before he use the stones"
Ephesians 4:11 Ephesian 2:20
The offices of the apostles and prophets were "temporary" - for the foundation and establishing the church.
"The gift of prophecy is different from the office of the prophet." To be with Jesus from the time of baptism to the time of resurrection. Acts 1
Dialectic Method of Preaching - the art of righting a truth by exchanging logical arguments. "Never searching - never coming to the truth."
1.God is still present and active in human affairs and intervenes on our behalf.
How do you argue this? He is involve in my life. Jeremiah - fire in my bones. God does not need to be proved.
2.Spiritual renewal and moral wholeness are available to us all.
I am not what I used to be.
3.Genuine community is a realizable goal for the human family.
4.Eternity moves through time (time means nothing to eternity), and immortality is an ever-present potential. We have already passed from death unto life when we love.
"Preaching an Essential Guide" - by Ronald Allen
1.-A pre-selected lectionary - it is a sermon that is based upon a series of topics. Some called it "occasional" preaching - holidays
The term lectionary delivers from Latin word for "read" (lectio), and in today's church refers to a table of Scripture passages prescribed for reading worship. Passages of scripture, organized for the whole year. It helps the preacher to be organized. The more you hear the same passage the more it forms you spiritually. - forming faith by repetition. The negative aspect is that it limits the Holy Spirit. However the Christian Year points to the Christ redemption of the world.
The Christian Year organizes time according to the following seasons and days:
2.-Continuing lectionary (lectio continua) - different topics
--In this plan, the preacher and congregation move passage by passage through a book of the Bible. - Calvary Chapel movement, Chuck Smith. The difficulty with this is that it can become bogged down.
--Preaching from a continue lectionary gives the preacher a place to start sermon preparation each Monday. It provides continuity from week to week. (Spurgeon)
3.-Sermon series - on the some book - not preplanned
--A preacher can put together a series of sermons that consider a topic, a biblical theme, or some other focus.
--A preacher might put together a series on the elements of worship, or on a doctrine, a Christian practice, or a theological or ethical matter.
We need a "thinking" sermon and a "doing" sermon.
4.-Free selection
--From one week to another, the preacher freely selects the subject of the sermon - usually a biblical text of theme, a theological doctrine, a Christian practice, or other topic. The preacher chooses a focal point that will benefit the congregation.
Every preacher must determine what works best for him.
Not necessary telling jokes. Subtle humor in the Bible, la
--Evidence of God's sense of humor. If we have sense of humor and we are created in his image. And we have a capacity to laugh, then God probably also has a sense of humor. --There is humor in creation Genesis 3:6,7,9,11 - fig's leaves "Who told you that you are naked?" Adam thought he can hide from God- 12 - "The woman you gave me!" That is just as a husband. The woman - "The serpent…" - everybody blames the other. --The tower of Babilon - "reaching the heaven", "can not understand each other" - What happened. --Noah preached the same subject for 100 years - "It's going to rain" --Genesis 18:11-15 Redemption Romans 3:15 Satan thought he had the victory, because he deceived the woman, but God used the woman to redeem the man. Mary become the second Eve… A.-In our Justification - "just as if I have not sinned" - it's too easy. We are to be the happiest people on the world. B.-In our Sanctification - Paul - "When I am week - I am strong" - My strength is not in myself. - Our strength is not in what we do but in what God does for us. It is a paradox. Romans 8 - We do not even know how to pray. It is the Holy Spirit who makes intersession for us. If our prayers come before God, he will through them back to us. C.-In our Glorification There is humor in the OT. There is humor in the NT. Mark 7:24-27 D.-Incarnation --Proclamation 1:18 - foolishness of preaching.
10.-Humor relieves tension.
9.-Humor removes barriers.
8.-Humor builds reppore (relationship).
7.-Humor gains and maintains attention.
6.-Humor provides release. Give a sense of release - where people can relax. - Not just reducing of stress, but a sense of living a relaxed life.
5.-Humor stimulates learning and increases retention.
4.-Humor influence opinions.
3.-Humor conveys truth.
2.-Humor fosters honesty and humility.
1.-Humor paves the way to redemption. What other profession is like preaching? Hints to enhance delivery:
1.-Sound spontaneous. (Do not use notes).
2.-Practice your presentation. Rehear yourself before presentation.
3.-Be natural: be yourself - Just be the best you, you can be!
4.-Be responsive to listeners.
Are there any dangers associated with humor in preaching? Yes, there are! Cautions to consider:
1.-Avoid high risk humor. - Private and public humor.
2.-Avoid offensive humor. - Ethnic or culture, gender, racial associated.
3.-Avoid hurtful humor. - Attacking people personalities - based on their personal
4.-shortcomings and inadequateness.
5.-Avoid meaningless humor. (Using it in a funeral.)
6.-Avoid excessive humor. - A preacher is not professional comedian.
WHEN IN DOUBT, LEAVE IT OUT!
--Graham's view of Politics - "America protestant's pope" His connection with Nickson - served as identification of the Christians with the Republicans.
--Graham's view of Social issues - he did not stay with Martin Luther King.
--Graham preaching style or homiletical method - substantive, but simplistic. - quite an energetic preacher in his young age.
The three "R"-s of Moody
The four "C"-s of success in Biily Graham's ministry
Theocratic Right
Constantine Christianity
Some argue that he had a political agenda in acknowledgment Christianity.
Christocratic
Evangelicals access to political power and the media
--A representative illustration of the power of evangelicalism is the tendency of recent American presidents to describe themselves as "born again." Evangelicals have access to the Bush's White House.
James Kinnedy, Pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries, calls on his followers to exercise "godly dominion … over every aspect … of human society." At a "Reclaming America for Christ" conference in February, 2005 Kennedy said: "Our job is to reclaim for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sport arenas, our entertainment media…
--this is a kind of Christian Communism
H. Richard Niebuhr:
--The Christ Against Culture - dualistic - Christianity and culture will never unite.
--The Christ Above Culture - Culture is neutral, but Christians
--Christ and Culture in Paradox - live in the World - it is important to suffer. Bonhofer.
--Christ the Transformer of Culture
--The Christ of Culture (Christianity as a State Religion "Rome the new Jerusalem")
Christian should be first be christens! Voting is personal matter.
First Amendment - the freedom to speak
Politicians lie - they make promises they do not keep.
Theocratic right seeks establish dominion, or control in the name of God.
Three dogmas:
1.-Free Market Fundamentalism - to make as much money as we can no matter in what would the price be.
2.-Aggressive Militarism - we have more guns
3.-Escalating Authoritarianism
God is bigger than a party.
Preach justice!!!
When hiring homosexuals - the policy of US army is: "Don't ask - don't tell."
--Postmodern Church - "Meta-Narratives" What is your story and what is the way that story can connect to the entire community.
--Community vs. Individual
Community - global, ethnic, nation,
Individual - rational thought, absolutes, only one way
Symbol - the way the people speak say a lot about them.
Pessimistic about the future. Negative about the world.
Late 50 - early 60 - in architecture. 80-s - in theology
--Webber - Ancient Future
Stay upright, eye contact, don't rush,
Built to a climax, So don't start to energetically, control the tone. You don't need to start in a 4th gear, make a transition.
Don't play with a pen, or use other destructive gestures,
Involve your whole personality.
The more common you look - better. Preaching is not about you, it's about the gospel.
There are two kinds of preachers - a "helicopter" and a "airplane"
(Eat the meet, leave the bouns)
--Unger's Bible Dictionary
--Smith's Bible Dictionary
--those that use with the biblical language - Greek and Hebrew.
--Strong's
--William Barkley
--Trueblood
--Zondervan
--Spurl