Eight Essential Processes For Effective Biblical Preaching
Title: Eight Essential Processes For Effective Biblical Preaching
Category: Pastoral Issues
Subject: Preaching
Without claiming that these eight processes include all requirements for effective preaching, these certainly deserve special consideration.
1. Illumination
A. Illumination must complete inspiration. The biblical writers experienced inspiration that resulted in the reception and writing of the inerrant Bible. When the canon was complete, the inspiration ceased. Because the content of the Bible must be spiritually discerned, the reader must experience illumination to understand the inspired message.
1. Illumination recognizes that the Bible is unique and infallible, the only primary source of revelation; scholarly writings are secondary and fallible.
2. Illumination recognizes the limited ability of human reason and academic procedures to understand the spiritual meaning of the Bible.
3. Illumination recognizes the key of prayer to unlock meaning of biblical truth
4. Illumination recognizes that only obedience to present knowledge can receive additional knowledge.
2. Clarification
a. Clarification must convey specific and definite understanding to the illuminated person. Speakers must first understand the message in order to communicate exact meaning to others. Clarification requires that the speaker must acquire communicative skills to convey the illuminated truths to others.
1. Clarification to others requires initial illumination to the speaker.
2. Clarification to others depends upon the use of words that are common to the speaker and to the hearer.
3. Clarification to others depends upon meaning made specific by the speaker's use of the dictionary, the lexicon, the concordance, and other word study aids.
4. Clarification to others requires the speaker's proper use of the functions of the parts of speech in the language common to the speaker and the hearers.
5. Clarification to others benefits from the speaker's ability to utilize language procedures such as diagramming, outlining, summarizing, analyzing in order to clarify word meaning and relationships.
3. Expansion
a. Illumination and clarification give the speaker the essence of the message to be communicated. The speaker now has the skeleton for the body, the framing for the house, the structural components for the building. The skeleton requires flesh, the building requires finish, and the essence of thought requires expansion.
b. Expansion makes the thought acceptable, understandable, and applicable. Expansion enlarges and beautifies the message.
1. Repetition of the essence of the thought in a variety of forms and words aids in the expansion of ideas.
2. Corroboration by authorities - sacred, secular, scriptural assists in expansion and strengthens acceptance.
3. Illustration and narration give color to expansion.
4. Argumentation and discussion procedures add body and promote acceptance in expansion.
4. Invention
A. Invention describes the method by which the speaker arranges his message for presentation. The Puritans tended to build all sermons on a standard format: first, a Bible doctrine; second, a practical duty derived from the doctrine. F. W. Robertson organized most of his messages with a thesis and an antithesis. When the sermon arrangement remains identical for all messages, the sameness may diminish interest. Invention is the ability to vary the arrangement of the propositions in the message.
1. Arrangement according to size
2. Arrangement according to acceptance
3. Arrangement according to importance
4. Arrangement according to personality of the speaker
5. Arrangement according to the audience needs
5. Application
A. The purpose of sermons focuses upon character and behavior rather than comprehension of intellectual facts. The unsaved must be led to see that Christ not only died but that Christ died for him. The Christian must be led to receive truth not as an abstract item to be learned but as a specific guide for living. The effective speaker must be able help his hearers to relate what they hear to their daily lives.
1. The areas of application vary according to purpose of the message,
2. The areas of application vary according to culture of the speaker and the hearers,
3. The areas of application vary according what the speaker perceives as the felt needs of his hearers,
4. The areas of application vary according to Holy Spirit leadership,
5. The areas of application vary according to age.
6. Presentation PPP
a. Presentation requires Biblical attitudes,
b. Presentation varies with the speaker's ability,
c. Presentation involves visible elements,
d. Presentation involves audible elements.
7. Evaluation
a. Recognition of the need for evaluation
b. Recognition of the problems in evaluation
c. Listing of the methods available for evaluation
d. Understanding of criteria
e. The criteria of judgment:
1. Doctrine
2. Effect
3. Procedure
4. Result
8. Unction
a. The anointing of the Holy Spirit
b. Examine the Saviour
1. Illumination
A. Illumination must complete inspiration. The biblical writers experienced inspiration that resulted in the reception and writing of the inerrant Bible. When the canon was complete, the inspiration ceased. Because the content of the Bible must be spiritually discerned, the reader must experience illumination to understand the inspired message.
1. Illumination recognizes that the Bible is unique and infallible, the only primary source of revelation; scholarly writings are secondary and fallible.
2. Illumination recognizes the limited ability of human reason and academic procedures to understand the spiritual meaning of the Bible.
3. Illumination recognizes the key of prayer to unlock meaning of biblical truth
4. Illumination recognizes that only obedience to present knowledge can receive additional knowledge.
2. Clarification
a. Clarification must convey specific and definite understanding to the illuminated person. Speakers must first understand the message in order to communicate exact meaning to others. Clarification requires that the speaker must acquire communicative skills to convey the illuminated truths to others.
1. Clarification to others requires initial illumination to the speaker.
2. Clarification to others depends upon the use of words that are common to the speaker and to the hearer.
3. Clarification to others depends upon meaning made specific by the speaker's use of the dictionary, the lexicon, the concordance, and other word study aids.
4. Clarification to others requires the speaker's proper use of the functions of the parts of speech in the language common to the speaker and the hearers.
5. Clarification to others benefits from the speaker's ability to utilize language procedures such as diagramming, outlining, summarizing, analyzing in order to clarify word meaning and relationships.
3. Expansion
a. Illumination and clarification give the speaker the essence of the message to be communicated. The speaker now has the skeleton for the body, the framing for the house, the structural components for the building. The skeleton requires flesh, the building requires finish, and the essence of thought requires expansion.
b. Expansion makes the thought acceptable, understandable, and applicable. Expansion enlarges and beautifies the message.
1. Repetition of the essence of the thought in a variety of forms and words aids in the expansion of ideas.
2. Corroboration by authorities - sacred, secular, scriptural assists in expansion and strengthens acceptance.
3. Illustration and narration give color to expansion.
4. Argumentation and discussion procedures add body and promote acceptance in expansion.
4. Invention
A. Invention describes the method by which the speaker arranges his message for presentation. The Puritans tended to build all sermons on a standard format: first, a Bible doctrine; second, a practical duty derived from the doctrine. F. W. Robertson organized most of his messages with a thesis and an antithesis. When the sermon arrangement remains identical for all messages, the sameness may diminish interest. Invention is the ability to vary the arrangement of the propositions in the message.
1. Arrangement according to size
2. Arrangement according to acceptance
3. Arrangement according to importance
4. Arrangement according to personality of the speaker
5. Arrangement according to the audience needs
5. Application
A. The purpose of sermons focuses upon character and behavior rather than comprehension of intellectual facts. The unsaved must be led to see that Christ not only died but that Christ died for him. The Christian must be led to receive truth not as an abstract item to be learned but as a specific guide for living. The effective speaker must be able help his hearers to relate what they hear to their daily lives.
1. The areas of application vary according to purpose of the message,
2. The areas of application vary according to culture of the speaker and the hearers,
3. The areas of application vary according what the speaker perceives as the felt needs of his hearers,
4. The areas of application vary according to Holy Spirit leadership,
5. The areas of application vary according to age.
6. Presentation PPP
a. Presentation requires Biblical attitudes,
b. Presentation varies with the speaker's ability,
c. Presentation involves visible elements,
d. Presentation involves audible elements.
7. Evaluation
a. Recognition of the need for evaluation
b. Recognition of the problems in evaluation
c. Listing of the methods available for evaluation
d. Understanding of criteria
e. The criteria of judgment:
1. Doctrine
2. Effect
3. Procedure
4. Result
8. Unction
a. The anointing of the Holy Spirit
b. Examine the Saviour
