Integrative Preaching

C. Anderson Kenton

Description

Integrative Preaching offers a compelling conceptual model of biblical preaching that helps preachers better understand what they are doing when they step into the pulpit. Kenton Anderson, an experienced preacher and professor, explicates the integrative preaching model he has been honing for a lifetime. His fresh, holistic approach aims at whole-person transformation and is well suited for contemporary listeners. The book includes theoretical underpinnings and practical guidance to both instruct students and motivate working preachers. Sample sermons show how the model unfolds in actual sermons.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 17 octobre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493411276
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2017 by Kenton C. Anderson
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1127-6
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Endorsements
“In this new resource for preaching, Kent Anderson speaks to those of us who want to give the best of Holy Scripture—and of movemental change now—to our congregations. We are reminded that our learning outcome is formation and true discipleship—preaching is one important means and not the end. Let us all pray for the impact of this powerful new book!”
— Graham Singh , executive director, Church Planting Canada; rector, St. Jax Montreal
“Integration brings wholeness to fragmented parts. That’s what Kent Anderson’s new book does for preaching. Most importantly, he connects preaching to God’s great purposes: “God is at work. There is a trajectory to history. The world and all that is within is moving toward God’s eternal purpose. That purpose has culminated in the cross. When we preach, we embrace that purpose. Our proclamation places us within the flow of movement God has propelled.” If that were the only uplifting and renewing truth, it would make this book worthwhile. But he thoughtfully connects each of the multiple parts of sermon preparation and delivery to this ultimate goal. The result is a hope-filled and energizing tutorial for all who seek to refresh and renew their calling to preach more effectively.”
— Leland Eliason , executive director and provost emeritus, Bethel Seminary
Contents
Cover i
Title Page ii
Copyright Page iii
Endorsements iv
Preface vii
Introduction ix
Part 1: Understanding the Integrative Model of Preaching 1
1. Preaching Is Integral (Cohesive) 3
2. Preaching Is Horizontal (Physical) 11
3. Preaching Is Vertical (Spiritual) 22
4. Preaching Is Centripetal (Kinetic) 33
Part 2: The Functional Elements of Integrative Preaching 43
5. The Story That Engages 45
6. The Theme That Instructs 56
7. The Gospel That Convicts 66
8. The Mission That Inspires 76
Part 3: The Material Compounds of Integrative Preaching 85
9. Problems: The Preacher as a Pastor 87
10. Points: The Preacher as a Theologian 94
11. Prayers: The Preacher as a Worshiper 102
12. Pictures: The Preacher as a Prophet 110
Part 4: The Method of Integrative Preaching 119
13. Discover the Message 121
14. Assemble the Sermon 132
15. Master the Outcome 145
16. Deliver the Event 155
Conclusion 165
Appendix: Sermon Examples 169
Suggested Reading 179
Postscript 183
Index 185
Back Cover 187
Preface
I have been teaching and writing about preaching for about twenty-five years. I have preached in hundreds of churches and conference centers to many thousands of people. After a while it starts to feel like experience, and experience always ought to be shared. This is not my first book on the subject of preaching, but it is my most comprehensive. It is not the only word on the subject, but it is a good word, and it is the best that I have to offer. If you work with these suggestions, I am confident you will be a more effective preacher, and that will be good for the kingdom, good for the church, and good for all of us who listen.
I am grateful to my students and readers across these years who have respected the process and given it a go. I appreciate the helpful comments and the opportunity to test these ideas across the canvas of a few thousand student sermons. I believe preaching is transformative, even when it is offered by students who are learning the craft. My faith has been nurtured by these opportunities to hear from God.
I am grateful to my colleagues, who have trusted me with the students we have mutually loved.
I am grateful to my listeners, who have sat under the sound of my preaching. I trust that you have heard from God and have been transformed by what our God has said to you.
I am particularly grateful to my family, who continue to encourage me and who value what I do. Those who know my wife, Karen, will recognize her input on many of these pages. In her chaplaincy work with senior citizens, she has had many opportunities to test these thoughts in action.
I am most especially grateful to God, who has been pleased to make himself known in the world through the preaching of his Word. I am amazed and gratified that he has been willing to use me in this work that is so central to his heart.
Additional materials helpful in learning and sharing the principles in this book can be found at www.preaching.org .
Introduction
Preaching is a particularly confident way of speaking. When a football coach says that he is “preaching defense” to his team, he is speaking in an especially authoritative mode, welcome on the practice field, though less so elsewhere. A player’s job depends on the pleasure of his coach. His is not to question why. His is to defend or die. The player must presume the coach’s authority if he wants to keep his job. Coaches can preach. Others might better hold their tongue.
The places where we welcome preaching are few and seldom. A parent, perhaps, could preach to a child until a certain age. A deeply trusted friend could adopt the role of preacher, though perhaps in sparing measure. A pastor preaches as the function of his or her calling, which is a complicated matter.
There was a time when preaching was in vogue—when people were willing to grant authority to the man of the cloth who spoke for God among the people. There was a time when people were comfortable submitting to authority. That time is not today. No one is going to grant you privilege because you are a preacher. No social or financial benefit is going to come your way. You may have to pay relational capital instead of gaining it. To read this book and put its principles into practice might require of you a kind of courage. The day when preaching brought a sense of cultural privilege is long past.
In fact, many will see preaching as unwelcome, and sometimes even rude. Polite society agrees that we must not speak of things that demand or divide. Preaching is just too confident—arrogant even. Our subject too threatening. Our conclusions too demanding. Friends don’t let friends attend to sermons.
And yet here we are, you and I, sharing thoughts around this theme of preaching. The Bible is clear, and our calling is unshaken. We must preach the Word, despite the constant opposition we will have to deal with. We remember that Paul told Timothy to expect a time when people would not put up with what we have to say—that they would turn their heads instead to those whose words would soothe the itching of their ears. We understand that this is the way of things, and we would not expect it to be any different.
There are those who have an ear for this. We understand that preachers travel narrow roads, but we understand that those pathways lead to special places. We believe we preach in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and that we will be accountable for what we have to say. If we can keep our head and do the work of our callings, we will find that there are those God has especially prepared to respond to what we have to say—to what he has to say.
And so we preach, when it seems to be in season and when it seems to be out of season, when we find it convenient and when we find it inconvenient, when we are fairly sure they want to hear what we have to say and when we are quite sure they don’t. We preach because we have been called to it—because we could do no other. We preach for those who will find Jesus, and we preach the accountability of those who won’t. We preach because someone has to, because there is a harvest to be reaped, and because we just love to speak of Jesus.
We Preach Because God Speaks
Is there anything better than that God has spoken? And not just that he has spoken, but also that he speaks? Set aside any doubts or postmodern uncertainties, if only for the moment. Imagine that the God of the universe, who spoke the world into being, is not disinterested in his creation. Imagine that this God is invested in the outcome. Consider the idea that this God is actively engaged, sustaining things and speaking things. Imagine that the God who built you from dirt has a purpose for you forever and that he has something to say to you. Would you not want to listen?
God spoke in his initiation of creation, establishing the world and its direction by the power of his Word. He spoke in the incarnation of Christ, who showed God to us, offering his mind and ultimately setting the terms and paving the way for our salvation. He spoke through his inspired Word, the record of his will and of his way. And now he speaks through the convergence of these means and by the illumination of his Spirit. Whenever we stand to preach, we bring this all together. As we speak in the presence of God, of the person of Christ, through the purpose of Scripture, in the power of the Spirit, the kingdom comes and is populated by those prepared to hear—if we are prepared to preach.
We do not do this out of hubris, as if the power were of our own contrivance. None of us is good enough or wise enough or eloquent enough to achieve these outcomes by the power of our words. We are not that powerful—not that influential. We are not wealthy enough, or attractive enough, or anyth