“The prophets of Israel were poets who were preachers, preachers who were poets. They deconstructed old worlds and envisioned new worlds, with some of the pushiest, poetic, figurative, and powerful speech ever uttered, all on the basis of nothing but words” (Willimon, Proclamation and Theology, p. 11).
And Start With “The Clicking of Cuthbert.” Aloud.
“And preachers inclined to be lugubrious ought by all means to read in private some humorous selections, in order to maintain the equilibrium” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 481).
Surveying the Text: Job
Introduction: This book is widely regarded as a masterpiece of human literature, even by non-believers, and yet this high regard is not always accompanied by a high level of understanding. This is a very great book, and like many great things, our natural tendency is to get it down to a more understandable level, where …
The Politics of Sodomy I: The Real Sin of Sodom
Introduction: What could possibly be meant by the phrase, “the real sin of Sodom?” Isn’t it obvious? The sin of homosexual behavior draws its name from Sodom. What could be more obvious? And shouldn’t we be suspicious of any attempt to draw our attention elsewhere? As always, the answer to such questions is, “It depends.” …
Oceanic Theology
“I believe that the history of Christian preaching shows that preaching is always revived and carried forth on a rising theological tide” (Willimon, Proclamation and Theology, p. 3).
The Subject in Both Senses
“Preaching is about God and by God, or it is silly” (Willimon, Proclamation and Theology, p. 2).
But Other Than That, Be Yourself
“It is proper to repeat that at all hazards there must be life, freedom, power. Do not repress nature, though it must be governed; and do not force nature . . . No one can be in this respect so helpful as an intelligent wife” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 475).
An Objective Gospel
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) The Basket Case Chronicles #176 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according …
Start By Imagining You Can Preach
“Imagination in preaching is most important and most helpful. I am very ready to agree that it can be dangerous, but imagination, let us not forget, is a gift of God” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, as quoted in Wiersbe, Preaching and Teaching With Imagination, p. 288).
Not Too Contrived
“Let the speaker see to it that his bearing shall be free, unconstrained, and not ungraceful . . . life and power are far more important than grace; and , in fact, timid self-repression destroys grace itself” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 473).