What The Blues Teaches Us About Preaching
Well, there is a new book that helps us understand what the question even means. Many of the most popular preacher in the African American community could be considered “prosperity …
Should We Preach Prosperity? Read More
One of our readers, C. Johnson, wrote a perceptive comment which reads in part:
To a large degree, what is said, heard and done (in the pulpit) is all prepackaged. Even the words that are used, are for the most part scripted long before a text is exegeted and expounded.
and further
Too many who populate pulpits reduce the Bible to the script of the people we serve and as a result, lead them into both mediocrity and blindness.
In the African American Preaching Tradition the ability to “tell the story” is highly prized. It is also helpful when preaching to any ethnic group. There is something about stories that captures the imagination of the hearer in ways that no other method can. Stories grab the people and place them in the Bible story as they recognize parts of the story playing out in their own lives. Stories are powerful especially Bible stories.
Telling the Story and Making Your Points while Preaching Read More
Someone asked me, “Why do preachers often see something theological in every event?” This is an intriguing question. As I thought about the answer, I was reminded of going to …
Preaching As Providing 3-D Glasses Read More
A few years ago, the Biblical Preaching blog asked the question, “Are you a Prophet or Priest?
Is The Preacher A Prophet or Priest Read More
It is always difficult to provide a critique of just about any practice. I could legitimately provide a critique of preachers who bore their people to sleep by not spending …
Style In Preaching, Illegitimate? Read More
I was reading H.B.Charles’ article on black preachers and their caricature that may YouTube feeds into. I would encourage you to check out his website. I think that the plethora …
Evaluating The Preacher Read More
The Talking the Walk Blog has an interesting post that seeks to derive help for preachers from an interview with Denzel Washington.
Denzel answers why he did a particular hand movement in a movie by saying:
Denzel to Preachers – Just “Let It Rip” Read More
Always remember that we are seeking to help the congregation digest the information presented in the sermon. There are times when this discomfort is due due to the powerful truth …
Everyone Doesn’t Respond the Same Way Read More
So many folks continue to ask this question that I thought I would revisit this idea. There are a few questions that come up repeatedly and this is the most …
How Long Should I Preach? Read MoreOK, let’s get into some sermon philosophy. The question for today, “Can you write a sermon down?” You may think so, but I am not talking about whether to use …
Can You Write a Sermon Down? Read MoreThis past weekend I listened and looked on the internet to a preacher who was preaching without notes. The preacher simply stated everything that came to his mind on the subject or not on the subject. He had highs and lows, but there was no rhyme or reason to the sermon. Then the preacher ended with a whimper and sat down.
At the end of the sermon it was difficult to remember any points from the sermon. There were a few “flashes of brilliance” but largely it was a long “stream of consciousness” without purpose. What went wrong?
OK, I admit this is tangentially related to the point of this blog, but a few of you wanted me to put this up for discussion. Setting aside the obvious …
Are Pastors Kings? Bishop Eddie Long And Pastoral Kingship Read MoreAn interesting question came in this week. When do you tell people the point of the sermon? Is it in the introduction or some other point of the sermon? In …
When Do You Tell People The Point In The Sermon? Read More