I thought I would throw out a few clips from the preaching book as a way to, well, I guess if I am honest, get people to buy the thing - remember royalties will go to home in Guatemala - so think of the children.
Any way, here is a section I like:
From page 121 - section 15
15. Centralized control
At the heart of the resistance to progressional dialogue as a legitimate method of preaching is the question of control. The speaching act allows for the preacher to not only to control the content, but also to apply the sermon to people’s lives. In basketball there is an expression for a person who does everything on the court: get the rebound, dribble up court, and shoot. This person is called a ball hog and no one likes having one on the floor.
Is it possible that this kind of phrase could apply to pastors who do all the studying, all the talking, and even have the gall to think they can apply the message they created to the lives of other people? In this setting there is little for the hearers to do other than decide if they agree or not. It is possible that we have, through the practice of speaching, created a culture in churches where agreeability is the necessary posture of our people? And if this is so, does it serve the gospel well?
The speaching act allows for the preacher to not only to control the content, but also to apply the sermon to people’s lives
You are so wrong. A preacher submits himself to the word of God. That is what a preacher is supposed to do. Now I admit that many in the pulpit today do not preach in a way that does this. That is because they fail to preach and exposit the word of God.
A pastors role it to explain the scripture.
The only thing that progressive dialogue will do is pass the collective shallowness of the church around. We do not need shallowness. We need strong doctrine preached by strong men.
Posted by: Tim | February 27, 2006 at 09:54 PM
perhaps the next question should be something like: "what does it truly mean to be a pastor?" or "how must we redefine(or redeem!) the pastorate?" for it appears that we've bastardized preaching/the pastorate in order to 'further' the enterprise we call the north american church.
Posted by: joe | July 18, 2005 at 08:07 PM
Hi, I've ordered Preaching Reimagined and looking forward to reading it! Enjoyed RSF. Will it be one of the first to find a home in the UK?!!
Andy S
andyandshona.blogs.com
Posted by: Andy & Shona Scott | July 18, 2005 at 03:19 AM
Doug--I did 1 hr dialog sessions for an hour after services every week for several years, often with a couple hundred people. They were pretty much what you call progressional dialogue. But I don't think that the dialogue method is any less controlling than the monologue. You can control things just as much through dialogue though it takes a different skill set. I doubt that the method (monolog vs dialog) is nearly as crucial as the motivation and heart of the preacher.
Posted by: Tim Keller | July 17, 2005 at 09:58 PM
Thanks for sharing this section! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on your new book and incorporating some of your concepts in my teaching ministry on Capitol Hill. While I am not in a preaching/pastor position per se, I'm sure the principles will still translate nicely.
be His,
jeremy
Posted by: jeremy bouma | July 17, 2005 at 06:40 PM
I cannot wait. RSF was a great book. It started a new thought thread within me. I was very curious about what it looked like at SP. I am so excited. I can really see the value in being interactive with people. I learn so much just by some of the questions people ask. If you are still looking for reviewers, send me a galley. GOd bless.
Posted by: David | July 17, 2005 at 07:27 AM
Good excerpt. I've actually been looking forward to your book for a few weeks. It relates to some of the questions I've been wondering about in regards to the place of preaching in a postmodern world/church. So I hope the rest of it is as helpful.
Posted by: ben | July 16, 2005 at 11:59 PM
This was good. I am impressed.
It does seem about control in many instances.
"It is possible that we have, through the practice of speaching, created a culture in churches where agreeability is the necessary posture of our people? And if this is so, does it serve the gospel well?"
No it does not serve the dominion of God. If we preached like Jesus that would either, never come back or kill us. Most of us couldn't take either.
Posted by: rick | July 16, 2005 at 09:38 PM