Monthly Archives: May 2007

by Mike Roth | May 30, 2007

Balance Between Caution and Boldness?

In an article titled Considering Hearers, Haddon Robinson writes, “But if we focus too hard on not offending, or if we read too many letters from the offended, we can become paralyzed. We start qualifying every sentence. We end up … Continue reading →

Is one sermon enough?

Dr. Sid Buzzell of Colorado Christian University made a comment worthy of consideration. He has one foot in pastoral preaching and the other in education. He suggested that if preachers started to think of preaching schedules with the mindset of … Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching

by Peter Mead | May 26, 2007

Like a good plane ride

Norman just added a comment to the post “Focus on the basics” – I read a good quote “A good sermon is like a good plane ride. It must have a smooth take-off and a smooth landing…” Calvin Miller recently … Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Delivery, Homiletics, Preaching, Stage 8 - Message Detail

by Peter Mead | May 24, 2007

Focus on the basics

Great preaching always involves the “effective execution of elementary ideas.” (Attributed to Eugene Emerson Jennings) It is tempting to give attention in preaching to the clever and intricate subtleties of the art and craft of preaching, but subtleties work best … Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail

by Peter Mead | May 23, 2007

Sermon Purpose: Is There a Default Goal?

I recently wrote these words, “For an effective sermon, you need a clearly defined purpose – the specific response you prayerfully expect to occur in the life of the listeners.” Does this mean the response has to be some kind … Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Stage 3 - Passage Purpose, Stage 5 - Message Purpose

by Peter Mead | May 21, 2007

Question: Is “creating need” the same as preaching for felt-needs?

Tim asked the following question in reference to “Introductions: The Essential Ingredients” – I’m interested in this ‘create or surface need’ idea. Is there not a danger that this tends towards sermons being man-centred and self-help focussed? Like ‘what felt … Continue reading →

Introductions: Introducing What?

Tim, you ask a very God-honoring question when it comes to homiletical introduction. Creating or surfacing need is certainly part of what an introduction must do. In fact, as Peter states in his 5/11/2007 entry, an introduction must do four … Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Stage 8 - Message Detail

by Peter Mead | May 19, 2007

Question: First person preaching from an epistle?

Tim wrote the following: Preaching in the first person – do you think this could ever be used for epistolary texts? I realise people use it to good effect on narrative texts. But what about a section of epistle? What … Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Delivery, Genre, How to . . . ?, New Testament, Preaching, Specific text, Stage 7 - Message Outline

by Peter Mead | May 18, 2007

When reading a text during the sermon

Donald Sunukjian, professor of preaching at Talbot School of Theology, writes and teaches concerning “oral clarity.” One of the things he teaches relates to the reading of a text during a sermon. Many preachers will introduce a text with a … Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching

by Peter Mead | May 18, 2007

Review: Preaching Words: 144 Key Terms in Homiletics, by John S. McClure

This is not a dictionary, although the similarities are clear. 144 terms are stated and defined succinctly. Then explanation with quotes from key figures in the area follow in anything from one paragraph to four page explanations of the definition, … Continue reading →