The Sermon Maker
This blog contains some of my reflections on The Sermon Maker by Calvin Miller. This book is a great tune up for anybody who is called to communicate the gospel.
"The way each generation hears and appropriates truth is quite different." I think this observation is critical because most preachers are good at biblical exegesis, but not as proficient at cultural exegesis. A good communicator has to be in tune with God and in tune with culture. I think our God @ the Box Office series is a good example of the way to marry biblical exegesis and cultural exegesis. I think another example is trying to play off of popular television shows--especially reality TV. If it's done well, playing off of popular cultural metaphors can give sermons and series an "air of relevance." If done poorly, it's like drinking a soda with too much sugar. We can't afford to compromise truth or relevance!
One of our core values is irrelevance is irreverance. Relevance isn't optional. I like the way John Stott says it. We "refuse to sacrifice truth to relevance or relevance to truth." It is a balancing act, but we "resolve instead in equal measure to be faithful to Scripture and pertinent to today."
Another great concept in the book is what could be called the marriage of biography and theology. James William McClendon Jr. says, "Biography at its best will be theology." Miller says, "Theology is not what we preach. Theology is who we are, and who we are is what we preach." It comes down to this. "Great preaching grows only from the soil of great lives."
When everything is said and done, I think preaching at its best is ultimately communicating the timeless word (logos) in a timely way (rhema).
A few more thoughts:
"Every modern communications specialist agrees that we both 'think and store' in mental pictures." We are wired for metaphors! That is how we think and how we learn. I think communicating is about three things: metaphors, metaphors, metaphors! Jesus was the master of metaphors! Aristotle said, "The greatest thing in style is to have command in metaphor."
"Sermons take their life from the nearness of God."
"Urgency takes no time for irrelevancies."
"Great sermons answer real issues. There is only one question of real importance: 'Is this sermon for me right now'?" Unfortunately, Calvin Miller says that many preachers have "devoted themselves to long talks on nonessential subjects."
"In saying what God wanted said, the potential force of people's acceptance or criticism lost its control over him." There is nothing like the conviction that accompanies a message birthed by the Spirit of God in your heart of hearts.
Hugh Litchfield says, "After reading and listening to hundreds, yea thousands, of sermons, I am convinced that their greatest weakness is a lack of focus. They often go everywhere." As the old adage goes: tell them what you're going to say, say it, then tell them what you said.
"The way each generation hears and appropriates truth is quite different." I think this observation is critical because most preachers are good at biblical exegesis, but not as proficient at cultural exegesis. A good communicator has to be in tune with God and in tune with culture. I think our God @ the Box Office series is a good example of the way to marry biblical exegesis and cultural exegesis. I think another example is trying to play off of popular television shows--especially reality TV. If it's done well, playing off of popular cultural metaphors can give sermons and series an "air of relevance." If done poorly, it's like drinking a soda with too much sugar. We can't afford to compromise truth or relevance!
One of our core values is irrelevance is irreverance. Relevance isn't optional. I like the way John Stott says it. We "refuse to sacrifice truth to relevance or relevance to truth." It is a balancing act, but we "resolve instead in equal measure to be faithful to Scripture and pertinent to today."
Another great concept in the book is what could be called the marriage of biography and theology. James William McClendon Jr. says, "Biography at its best will be theology." Miller says, "Theology is not what we preach. Theology is who we are, and who we are is what we preach." It comes down to this. "Great preaching grows only from the soil of great lives."
When everything is said and done, I think preaching at its best is ultimately communicating the timeless word (logos) in a timely way (rhema).
A few more thoughts:
"Every modern communications specialist agrees that we both 'think and store' in mental pictures." We are wired for metaphors! That is how we think and how we learn. I think communicating is about three things: metaphors, metaphors, metaphors! Jesus was the master of metaphors! Aristotle said, "The greatest thing in style is to have command in metaphor."
"Sermons take their life from the nearness of God."
"Urgency takes no time for irrelevancies."
"Great sermons answer real issues. There is only one question of real importance: 'Is this sermon for me right now'?" Unfortunately, Calvin Miller says that many preachers have "devoted themselves to long talks on nonessential subjects."
"In saying what God wanted said, the potential force of people's acceptance or criticism lost its control over him." There is nothing like the conviction that accompanies a message birthed by the Spirit of God in your heart of hearts.
Hugh Litchfield says, "After reading and listening to hundreds, yea thousands, of sermons, I am convinced that their greatest weakness is a lack of focus. They often go everywhere." As the old adage goes: tell them what you're going to say, say it, then tell them what you said.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home