Monthly Archives: April 2009

by | April 18, 2009

Proxemic Considerations

Just a little thing, but prompted by a recent experience in a church.  It was a small church, perhaps 30 people packed in to what is essentially just a room.  At the front there is the preaching platform, raised probably … Continue reading →

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by | April 17, 2009

Pre-Review: Explosive Preaching, by Ron Boyd-MacMillan

Subtitle: Letters on Detonating the Gospel in the 21st Century. Published in 2006 by Paternoster. I was urged to get this book in a brief lunch-time encounter last month.  Based on the enjoyable nature of our conversation, I trusted the … Continue reading →

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by | April 16, 2009

Five Major Failings – Part 2

Carrying on from yesterday’s two failings, here are the rest: “3. Vague Phrasing – Preachers seem hardwired to eschew all vivid verbs and concrete nouns, with the result that they sound vague and uninteresting.” A lack of energy in delivery, … Continue reading →

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by | April 15, 2009

Five Major Failings

I thought I’d share this list of five major failings of many preachers, according to the book that I am currently enjoying: “1. Multiplitus – Using too many points until the sermon becomes a starburst that dazzles rather than communicates.” … Continue reading →

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by | April 14, 2009

What Font Do You Preach In?

I just read an interesting article about a study in motivation at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.  The study involved presenting students with an exercise regime.  One group had it presented in plain Arial font, the other in … Continue reading →

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by | April 13, 2009

Monday Musings on Manipulation

Thought I’d follow up on Saturday’s post by sharing a quote I appreciated in the book I will name this week: You must not fear to have affective goals for the sermon as well as cognitive goals.  There is nothing … Continue reading →

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by | April 11, 2009

The Whole Listener

Some preachers preach merely to inform.  Perhaps they are under the impression that the mind is the control center of the human being.  Perhaps that think that their task is merely educative.  Perhaps they are in a tradition that reveres … Continue reading →

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Filed under Christianity, Delivery, Genre, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 8 - Message Detail

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by | April 10, 2009

Comment on Commentaries

I’ve written on commentaries before, such as here and here, and even here. I was just prompted by something I read to point out something else concerning commentaries. As well as the standard sage advice to not overly revere the … Continue reading →

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by | April 9, 2009

Do We Get It Backwards?

Here’s a provocative quote from Charles Kraft: The amount of crucial information involved in Christianity is, I believe, quite small.  The amount of Christian behavior demanded in response to all that information is, however, quite large.  We have, however, given … Continue reading →

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by | April 8, 2009

Unseen Listeners

In the next few days I’ll reveal the details of this book I’m reading.  I’ve quoted it or alluded to it several times and for the sake of academic integrity I should cite my source . . . but I … Continue reading →

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