What The Blues Teaches Us About Preaching
[amazon cover 0800629973]One of the most frequently asked questions that new preachers ask is where is a book to help me learn to preach? There are actually tons of such books. I have written on this question in the past on this website as well as another one. Even though that is true, I will take it up again in this article. I think that an African American Preacher needs a few resources to help them to preach.
You need an idea for your sermon. You are not sure where to start. You are in the midst of “Preacher’s Block.” Here Pastor Cox gives 5 techniques to use to generate sermon ideas.
[amazon cover 0801057574]One of the important components of effective preaching is to help the congregation experience the sermon in as many sense as possible, not just hear the sermon. This book by Warren Wiersbe entitled Preaching and Teaching with Imagination provides an apologetic for using the imagination in preaching.
Preaching with Imagination Read More[amazon cover B000000QMM]Everyone has heard of Sam Cooke. Many Gospel music lovers know that he began in Gospel singing some of the greatest songs that can even still be heard today.
From “Wonderful” to “Jesus be a Fence to Touch the Hem,” you can still hear the music made and remade. However few know of the man that influenced both Cooke and much of Gospel music. The man’s name is R. H. Harris. Cooke followed R. H. Harris in the Soul Stirrers.
R. H. Harris – The Greatest Singer You Never Heard Read More
Preachers in the Black church tradition preach many messages. However there are a few that jump out at you. In this series we first looked at the idea that God Will Hook You Up. That message is definitely in the tradition and we cannot forget it. However, in these days, many are ONLY preaching this message. In addition, some are preaching a distorted caricature of this message. But, God skillfully used this message to help Black folks through some dark days in America.
Sermons of the Black Church – God Will Fix Me Read MoreThe sermon should begin by telling the story of the man who brought his son to be healed by Jesus. The story should be told completely and in a way that people can feel, see, and touch the story. I would say that you tell the story from the centurion stopping Jesus up until Jesus told him that his servant shall be healed. Then give the three points. After that pick the story back up on the way home for the celebration.
Need a Sermon? – Seeing God’s Healing Outline Read MoreCan we learn anything about preaching from musicians? Is there any correspondence between playing notes and saying words? In this audio we seek to answer this important question by encouraging preaching to play words like notes.
How can we preach today? What do the ancestors and our current pastor/preachers have to tell us? In this audio we look at the importance of “remembering” three types of preachers from our past.
If we are to preach in these days we must remember our preaching mothers and fathers.
Audio 21 – Remembering and Black Preaching Read More
Otis Moss III, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, contributed to the chapter “At the Table: The Next Generation” in the book Blow the Trumpet in Zion. Moss’s contribution is entitled “Discerning among Theologies in the Black Church.
The Sermons of the Black Church – God Will Hook You Up Read MoreIn 2007, the African American community finds itself in a treacherous situation. It is a time when middle class African Americans have more opportunities than many generations before now. African Americans are CEOs, entertainment personalities, and political leaders in both political parties. But during this time of seemingly relative prosperity the masses of the poor among us are still in terrible conditions.
Remembering the Future: An African American Approach to Preaching Read MoreIn the Winter 2003 edition of the African American Pulpit there is the sermon The Worms Got Him by Dr. Caesar Clark who is one of the great African American preachers.
We will look at this sermon at another time in that there is much in it to learn about the genius of the Black pulpit. What I want to look at here is the interesting device that Clark uses in his first move of the sermon. Here Clark summarizes a lot of information and background data for the hearers.
One of the most important tools for preachers is the hymnal. Sometimes when I tell new preachers that they look at me as if I am asking them to sing a solo before their sermon. However, even if you do not plan to sing a note, the hymnal contains tools to help you preach.
Craig Webb at Lifeway has an article where he discusses the use of handouts in preaching. Webb defines a handout as
Handouts and Preaching – Growing a Ministry Read Morea sheet of paper you handout to the congregation which helps them follow along with your sermon. It could include the title of your sermon, the main points of your sermon with fill in the blanks, and printed verses of scriptures and scripture references.
A discussion of Teresa Fry Brown’s book. What can we learn from our preaching sistas?
In addition, how can the ministry of music as a metaphor help our preaching? These questions guide the book Weary Throats and New Songs.