Creativity in Preaching PDF

THE CRAFT OF PREACHING
CREATIVITY
J. GRANT HOWARD
CREATIVITY
IN
PREACHING
S u n d a y m o r n i n g w o r s h i p is o f t e n t h e last place w e l o o k for
o r w a n t c r e a t i v i t y , a n d t h e s e r m o n l e a s t of all. E v e n t h o s e w h o
c o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s " c r e a t i v e " m a y not k n o w h o w t o u s e t h e i r
imagination in purposeful a n d appropriate w a y s in preaching.
B u t t h e r e is n o s i n g l e b e s t w a y t o p r e a c h . A n d that is w h a t
G r a n t H o w a r d ' s b o o k , Creativity in Preaching, is a b o u t . T h e r e are
d i f f e r e n t a n d i n t e r e s t i n g m e a n s to p r e s e n t t h e m e s s a g e of t h e
g o s p e l w i t h o u t p e r v e r t i n g the t r u t h o r a f f r o n t i n g i t s R e v e a l e r .
I m a g i n e a n i n t e r v i e w a b o u t t h e spirit w o r l d w i t h D i r k the
D e m o n . Consider the voice of a " c o n s c i e n c e " coming through
t h e P . A . s y s t e m . H o w a b o u t a q u e s t i o n in t h i s w e e k ' s b u l l e t i n
that p r i m e s p e o p l e for next w e e k ' s s e r m o n ? T h e s e are just a f e w
e x a m p l e s of the various m e a n s preachers can use to illuminate a
s e r m o n text a n d a p p l y G o d ' s W o r d to t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ' s life-
setting and workaday world.
S o m e p r e a c h e r s n e e d to u n d e r s t a n d the w h y s of creativity.
O t h e r s n e e d ideas to get their creative juices flowing without
b e i n g c l e v e r , c u t e , o r w e i r d . G r a n t H o w a r d m e e t s b o t h n e e d s in
this fascinating a n d helpful book. Better preaching m a k e s better
churches. Creative preaching makes motivated congregations.
Can you imagine . . . ? H o w about . . . ? Consider what would
h a p p e n if . . . s e r m o n s really w e r e t h e h i g h l i g h t o n S u n d a y
morning.
D r . J . G r a n t H o w a r d is P r o f e s s o r o f P a s t o r a l T h e o l o g y at
W e s t e r n B a p t i s t S e m i n a r y in P o r t l a n d , O r e g o n . H e is a
graduate of the University of Arizona, Wheaton College, and
D a l l a s T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y . H e h a s s e r v e d a s a p a s t o r a n d is
t h e a u t h o r o f Knowing God's Will—And Doing It!, The Trauma of
Transparency, a n d Balancing Life's Demands.
jERVaN PUBllCSTION BL888
MINISTRY RESOURCES LIBRARY

HOMILET1CS
ISBN 0-310-26251-8
Creativity in Preaching
B o o k s in this s e r i e s
Introducing the Sermon

Humor in Preaching
Creativity in Preaching
THE CRAFT OF PREACHING SERIES
Creativity
in Preaching
J. GRANT HOWARD
Zondervan Publishing House • Grand Rapids, Ml

CREATIVITY IN PREACHING
Copyright © 1987 by J . Grant Howard
MINISTRY RESOURCES LIBRARY is an imprint of Zondervan Publishing

House, 1415 Lake Drive, S . E . , Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Howard, J . Grant.
Creativity in preaching.
(The Craft of preaching series)
Bibliography: p.
1. Preaching. I. Title. II. Series.
BV4211.2.H69 1987 251 87-7907
ISBN 0-310-26251-8
The artwork on pages 104 and 106 is from the book The Trauma of
Transparency by J . Grant Howard, copyright © 1979, and is used by
permission of Multnomah Press.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the
HOLY BIBLE: N E W INTERNATIONAL VERSION (North American
Edition). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by the International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
All rights reserved. N o part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any
other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the
prior permission of the publisher.
Edited by Joseph Comanda

Designed by Louise Bauer
Printed in the United States of America
87 88 89 90 91 92 / C H / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Howard Hendricks
My mentor
and a powerful model
for creative preaching
Contents
PREFACE 9
1. T H E C O M P O N E N T S O F P R E A C H I N G 11
2. C R E A T I V I T Y 19
3. C R E A T I V E L Y R E - C R E A T I N G T H E LIFE-
SETTING OF THE TEXT 31
4. C R E A T I V E L Y R E L A T I N G T O T H E LIFE-
SETTING OF THE CONGREGATION 49
5. C R E A T I V E L Y U S I N G T H E LIFE-SETTING OF
THE PREACHER 61
6. C R E A T I V E A U D I O A N D P R I N T M E D I A IN
PREACHING 77
7. C R E A T I V E U S E O F V I S U A L A I D S I N
PREACHING 95
EPILOGUE 109
NOTES HO
Preface
I l o v e t o p r e a c h , a n d I l o v e to e x p e r i m e n t . P u t t h e s e t w o
things together and you have a creative preacher. The
following pages are designed to i n c r e a s e your love for
p r e a c h i n g a n d to s t i m u l a t e y o u r w i l l i n g n e s s t o e x p e r i m e n t .
M y t h a n k s to C h a r l o t t e L a w r e n c e for h e r e x p e r t w o r k
on the computer, and to Patty Wisner, Elizabeth Tucker, and
R u t h K o r c h f o r their h e l p w i t h t h e g r a p h i c s .
/. Grant Howard
9
1
The Components
of Preaching
There a r e f o u r e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s in preaching: t h e text, the

c o n g r e g a t i o n ^ t h e _ p r e a c h e r ^ a n d t h e act o f p r e a c h i n g .
R e m o v e a n y o n e o f t h e s e f o u r a n d y o u n o l o n g e r h a v e the
real t h i n g . T h e y c o n s t i t u t e t h e i r r e d u c i b l e m i n i m u m r e q u i r e -
m e n t s if p r e a c h i n g is to t a k e p l a c e . W e i d e n t i f y t h e m n o w for
t w o r e a s o n s . First, t h e y a r e f o u n d a t i o n a l f o r a n y s t u d y of
preaching. E v e n though they are well k n o w n , w e dare not
t a k e t h e m f o r g r a n t e d . Familiarity b r e e d s c o m p l a c e n c y , s o
right at t h e o u t s e t w e r e c o n f i r m o u r c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e
basics.
S e c o n d , this is a b o o k o n creative p r e a c h i n g , n o t o n
preaching per se. But creative preaching does not add to nor
s u b t r a c t f r o m t h e s e f o u r f o u n d a t i o n a l f a c t o r s ; i n s t e a d it s e e k s
to utilize e a c h o n e in l e g i t i m a t e , b u t n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y s .
S o a g a i n at t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g w e p l e d g e to h a n d l e t h e
b a s i c s w i t h c a r e . . . a n d . . . w i t h creativity.
W e c a n visualize t h e b a s i c s in t h e w a y s h o w n in figure
1.1.
T h e t a s k is t o link t h e text a n d t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n
t o g e t h e r . T h a t h a p p e n s w h e n t h e p r e a c h e r e n g a g e s in t h e
s i g n i f i c a n t , f a s c i n a t i n g w o r k o f p r e a c h i n g . It is h i s p r i v i l e g e
11
to m e r g e t h e t r u t h of t h e text w i t h t h e lives o f h i s p e o p l e .
W h y d o w e i n c l u d e b o t h t h e p r e a c h e r a n d h i s p r e a c h i n g in
this c e n t e r s e g m e n t b r i d g i n g t h e g a p b e t w e e n text a n d
c o n g r e g a t i o n ? B e c a u s e c o m m u n i c a t i o n of t h e W o r d o f G o d
i n v o l v e s a person—the preacher—and a process—preaching.
PREACHER
TEXT CONGREGATION
PREACHING
Figure 1.1
L e t ' s f a c e it, t h e r e a r e p r e a c h e r s w h o d o p o o r l y o n t h e
process, i.e., preachers w h o can't preach. By the same token,
t h e r e i s p r e a c h i n g t h a t d o e s j g o o j r l y o n the_ p e r s o n a l , i . e ,
preachingJh^t_doesn^t relate. Effective p r e a c h i n g — l i s t e n u p
all y o u p u b l i c p u r v e y o r s o f p r o f o u n d p r i n c i p l e s — t a k e s p l a c e
w h e n t h e truth of t h e text w o r k s its w a y i n t o t h e p r e a c h e r ,
r o a m i n g t h r o u g h t h e c o r r i d o r s of h i s m i n d a n d h e a r t , a n d
t h e n like a s p r i n g r u n - o f f a f t e r a w i n t e r o f d e e p s n o w , it
b u r s t s o v e r t h e s p i l l w a y o f h i s o w n life a n d p l u n g e s d o w n
i n t o t h e m i n d s a n d h e a r t s of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . T h e t h i r s t y
d r i n k . T h e tired a r e r e f r e s h e d . T h e dirty b a t h e . T h e n , as t h e
r u s h i i i g - w a t e r s s l a w d o w n t h e y b e g i n to, f o r m placid p o o l s
a l o n g t h e b a n k s of o n e ' s life; m i r r o r l i k e s u r f a c e s Tfia'f p e o p l e
c a n c o n t i n u e to g a z e i n t o , r e f l e c t i n g t h e i r n e e d s , p r o p o s i n g
God's solutions. -
r
THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL
T h e Bible clearly a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y r e c o g n i z e s all f o u r o f

t h e s e i n g r e d i e n t s in p r e a c h i n g . P a u l , for e x a m p l e , i d e n t i f i e s
t h e m f o r his y o u n g p r e a c h i n g p r o t e g e , T i m o t h y , a s w e s e e in
f i g u r e 1.2.
First, a w o r d f o r t h e preacher. P l a g u e d w i t h t h e p r e s e n c e
of false t e a c h e r s (2 T i m . 3 : 1 3 ; 4 : 3 - 4 ) t h e p r e a c h e r is e x h o r t e d
to h a n g o n to t h e t r u t h s h e h a s l e a r n e d a n d is c o n v i n c e d of.
12
The Components of Preaching
T w o r e a s o n s for s u c h t e n a c i t y a r e o f f e r e d . Y o u k n o w w h o
shared them with y o u — y o u r mother and your grandmother
(1:5); a n d y o u k n o w w h a t t h e y h a v e d o n e f o r y o u — g i v e n
y o u w i s d o m t h a t led to y o u r s a l v a t i o n . S o , as o t h e r s h a v e
c h a n n e l e d this life-giving t r u t h to y o u , r e a f f i r m y o u r c o m m i t -
m e n t to t h e s a m e t a s k . B e a p r e a c h e r w h o m a i n t a i n s a firm
grip o n t h e t r u t h , a n d vice v e r s a .
2 Timothy 3:14
"But as for you,
continue in what
you have learned
and have become
convinced of."
PREACHER
TEXT CONGREGATION
PREACHING
2 Timothy 3:16 2 Timothy 4:2 2 Timothy 3:17
"All Scripture is God- "Preach the Word; " . . . so that the

breathed and is useful . . . correct, rebuke man of God may be
for teaching, rebuk- and encourage— thoroughly
ing, correcting and with great patience equipped for every
training in righteous- and careful instruc- good w o r k . "
ness." tion."
Figure 1.2
N e x t , a w o r d a b o u t t h e text. It is c o n v e y e d through
h u m a n c h a n n e l s , b u t it h a s a' d i v i n e s o u r c e . E v e r y w o r d of
S c r i p t u r e is s p o n s o r e d b y G o d a n d t h u s p o s s e s s e s u n r i v a l e d
c r e d e n t i a l s f o r t e a c h i n g , r e b u k i n g , c o r r e c t i n g a n d t r a i n i n g in
righteousness.
T h e s e last f o u r f a c t o r s a r e n o t o n l y n o u n s d e s c r i b i n g t h e
text o f i n s p i r e d S c r i p t u r e , b u t a r e a l s o p o t e n t i a l v e r b s r e a d y
to b e e m p l o y e d in t h e act o f p r e a c h i n g (cf. 2 T i m . 4 : 2 ) .
13
In 2 T i m o t h y 3 : 1 7 w e s k i p o v e r t h e b r i d g e of p r e a c h i n g
a n d g o directly to t h e congregation. W h e r e t h e r e is a p r e a c h e r
c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h e t e x t , t h e r e will b e p e o p l e c o n f o r m i n g to
t h e t e x t — a c o n g r e g a t i o n p o p u l a t e d w i t h m e n a n d w o m e n of
G o d " t h o r o u g h l y equipped for every good w o r k . " T h e
w o r d s of t h e text a r e d e s i g n e d to t r a n s f o r m the lives of t h e
people.
Finally, t h e act of preaching. A s o l e m n c h a r g e in v e r s e 2
tells T i m o t h y w h a t h e is to d o : P r e a c h t h e W o r d . F o u r b r i s k
i m p e r a t i v e s f o l l o w in v e r s e 2 e x p l a i n i n g h o w to g o a b o u t it.
B e o n s t a n d b y , r e a d y to p r o c l a i m a n y t i m e , a n y w h e r e . B e
willing to c o r r e c t , r e b u k e a n d e n c o u r a g e . P r e a c h i n g is n o t
c o m p o s e d of h e s i t a n t , h a c k n e y e d s u g g e s t i o n s ; it is b o l d ,
c a p t i v a t i n g c o m m u n i c a t i o n that f o r c e f u l l y i n j e c t s truth i n t o
life. M o d i f y i n g t h e s e i m p e r a t i v e s is t h e q u a l i f y i n g p h r a s e
" w i t h g r e a t p a t i e n c e a n d careful i n s t r u c t i o n . " T h a t is b e c a u s e
the preacher can lose patience with the erring brother w h o
n e e d s r e p r o o f . H e m a y also o m i t t h e r e a s o n e d e x p l a n a t i o n
f r o m his fiery, i m p a s s i o n e d e x h o r t a t i o n .
There we have it—text, congregation, preacher, and
p r e a c h i n g — s u c c i n c t l y p r e s e n t e d a n d skillfully i n t e g r a t e d in
P a u l ' s w o r d s to T i m o t h y .
A u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l l y , Paul refers to t h e s e v e r y s a m e
preaching c o m p o n e n t s w h e n h e reminds the Thessalonians
of t h e e v a n g e l i s t i c m i n i s t r y h e a n d h i s t e a m h a d a m o n g
them.
. . . because our gospel came to you not simply with

words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and
with deep conviction. You know how we lived among
you for your sake (1 Thess. 1:5).
W e c a n o r i e n t h i s w o r d s a r o u n d o u r m o d e l in t h e f a s h i o n
s h o w n in f i g u r e 1.3.
T h e text is i d e n t i f i e d w i t h o n e c r i s p t e r m — g o s p e l — t h e
g o o d n e w s . T h e g o s p e l came to t h e m t h r o u g h t h e act of
preaching w h i c h i n v o l v e d t h e u s e of w o r d s , b u t n o t s i m p l y
with words. T h e spoken words were uttered with such
p o w e r a n d c o n v i c t i o n w i t h i n e a c h of t h e p r e a c h e r s t h a t it
14
c o u l d o n l y h a v e b e e n g e n e r a t e d b y t h e H o l y Spirit. W o r d s
o n l y c o u l d b e classified a s m o n o p h o n i e c o m m u n i c a t i o n .
W o r d s w i t h H o l y Spirit p o w e r a n d c o n v i c t i o n w o u l d a d d a
spiritual s t e r e o p h o n i c d e p t h a n d d i m e n s i o n t o t h e act of
p r e a c h i n g . It w a s n ' t sterile a u d i o . It w a s a u d i b l e s t e r e o .
"our gospel"
" h o w we lived"
PREACHER
TEXT CONGREGATION
PREACHING
"gospel" "came" "to you"
"not simply with "You know how we

words, but also lived among you
with power, with for your s a k e . "
the Holy Spirit and
with deep convic-
tion"
Figure 1.3
N o t e h o w t h e preachers a r e i n t e g r a t e d i n t o t h i s p r o c e s s .
It is our g o s p e l , relating t h e p r e a c h e r s to t h e text. " Y o u k n o w
h o w w e l i v e d a m o n g y o u for y o u r s a k e " — c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n
to an intimate relationship b e t w e e n the preachers and the
c o n g r e g a t i o n . It is o b v i o u s e a c h p r o c l a i m e r h a d a t r u t h -
oriented relationship with the people.
In 1 T h e s s a l o n i a n s 2 : 8 t h e a p o s t l e c o r r o b o r a t e s this
personalized preaching style.
We loved you so much that we were delighted to

share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives
as well, because you had become so dear to us.
T h e " g o s p e l o f G o d " is t h e i r text, h i g h l i g h t i n g b o t h its

s o u r c e a n d its c o n t e n t . In 1:5 it w a s " o u r g o s p e l , " e m p h a s i z -
15
i n g t h e p r e a c h e r s ' p e r s o n a l a s s i m i l a t i o n of t h e g o o d n e w s .
" T o s h a r e " d e s c r i b e s t h e act of p r e a c h i n g ; i n d i c a t i n g a w a r m ,
p e r s o n a l t o u c h . N o w , d o n ' t m i s s t h e fact that t h e r e s t o f t h e
verse elaborates the relationship b e t w e e n the itinerate evan-
gelists a n d t h e p e o p l e i n T h e s s a l o n i c a . It w a s a n a f f e c t i o n a t e
o n e , s o m u c h s o that t h e p r e a c h e r s c o u l d n ' t b e c o n t e n t
s i m p l y to d i s t r i b u t e biblical d a t a . T h e y g a v e their o w n lives
a s w e l l , m e a n i n g their total p e r s o n a l i t i e s w e r e i n v o l v e d in
t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e t r u t h . T h i s is holistic p r e a c h i n g . P r e a c h i n g is
n o t r u n n i n g t r u t h t h r o u g h a p i p e t o a t a n k ; it is filtering t r u t h
through a person to a person.
TESTING THE PRINCIPLE
B e f o r e w e f i n i s h this c h a p t e r , I w a n t y o u t o try u s i n g
this p r i n c i p l e o n y o u r o w n . T h e m o d e l in f i g u r e 1.4 c o n t a i n s
a p a s s a g e of S c r i p t u r e . R e l a t e e a c h p a r t of t h e biblical text to
t h e a p p r o p r i a t e p a r t of t h e m o d e l . T h e f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n
c o n t a i n s s o m e q u e s t i o n s to g u i d e y o u .
In 5:18 what would "all this" relate to on the model?

Where would " w h o reconciled us to himself through
Christ" fit?
Where would you put "gave us the ministry of
reconciliation"?
Is there any particular significance to the use of the
word "minister"?
In 5:19 where would you assign the first part of the

verse, "that God was . . . against t h e m ? "
Is " h e has committed to us the message of reconcilia-
tion" exactly parallel to the idea that he "gave us the
ministry of reconciliation" in 5:18?
What will you do with the concept of "ambassadors"

in 5:20?
Where does "making his appeal through u s " go?
What is the significance of " w e implore you"?
Finally, to which part of the model would you relate

5:21?
16
Figure 1.4
2 Corinthians
5:18-21
PREACHER
TEXT CONGREGATION
PREACHING
17
T h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of w a y s y o u c o u l d a n s w e r t h e s e
questions. For s o m e suggestions from the author, consult the
endnote. 1
SUMMARY
W e c a n s u m m a r i z e this c h a p t e r w i t h t h r e e brief s t a t e -
m e n t s . First, all f o u r of t h e c o m p o n e n t s of p r e a c h i n g a r e
important. T h e B i b l e d o e s n ' t r a n k t h e m in a n y p a r t i c u l a r
o r d e r . S e c o n d , e a c h of t h e s e p r e a c h i n g c o m p o n e n t s is
different. T h o s e w h o p r e a c h m u s t s t r i v e to m a s t e r f o u r u n i q u e
a r e a s . T h i r d , all p r e a c h e r s m u s t strive to k e e p t h e s e f o u r
i n g r e d i e n t s in a h e a l t h y balance. S o m e t e n d t o s t r e s s t h e text
a n d t h e act of p r e a c h i n g . O t h e r s e m p h a s i z e t h e p r e a c h e r a n d
t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . T h e Bible p r e s e n t s all of t h e m i n f o u r - p a r t
harmony.
If preaching i n v o l v e s t h e text, t h e p r e a c h e r , t h e act of
p r e a c h i n g , a n d t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n , t h e n creative preaching
m u s t , o f n e c e s s i t y , i n v o l v e t h e v e r y s a m e f a c t o r s . W e will
u s e t h e text c r e a t i v e l y . W e will e n g a g e in c r e a t i v e acts of
preaching. A s preachers o u r o w n e x p e r i e n c e a n d p e r s o n a l i t i e s
will b e creatively h a r n e s s e d . T h e congregation will b e e d u -
c a t e d a n d m o t i v a t e d to listen, l e a r n , a n d r e s p o n d creatively.
Y o u s e e , it i s n ' t that t h e p r e a c h e r s t u d i e s t h e text a n d
p r e p a r e s a s e r m o n f o r his c o n g r e g a t i o n a n d t h e n a d d s a d a s h
o f creativity to b e s p i c y a n d t r e n d y . It i s n ' t that at all. It is
that t h e w h o l e p r o c e s s , f r o m text t o c o n g r e g a t i o n , c a n a n d
s h o u l d i n v o l v e creativity. T h a t is t h e f l a m e this b o o k w a n t s
to f a n . But b e f o r e w e g e t i n t o t h e h o w o f d o i n g this in detail,
w e n e e d to u n d e r s t a n d w h a t creativity is.
18
2
Creativity
GOD—THE CREATOR
T o create is to b r i n g i n t o e x i s t e n c e . T o b e a b l e to c r e a t e
everything, one must be sovereign, omnipresent, omni-
s c i e n t , a n d o m n i p o t e n t . O n l y G o d qualifies f o r t h i s t a s k . H e
a l o n e r e i g n s s u p r e m e , is e v e r y w h e r e , k n o w s e v e r y t h i n g , a n d
c a n d o a n y t h i n g . T h u s , H e is t h e o n e a n d o n l y C r e a t o r .
G e n e s i s 1 - 2 s p e a k s e l o q u e n t l y to this fact. T h e r e i n w e a r e
informed that H e created the world of nature and the world
of h u m a n b e i n g s .
G O D — T H E CREATIVE ONE
T o b e creative is to t a k e t h e t h i n g s t h a t h a v e b e e n
c r e a t e d a n d u s e t h e m in n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y s . In t h i s
s e n s e , G o d is a l s o t h e Creative One. F o r e x a m p l e , H e c r e a t e d
w a t e r , soil, a n d t i m e . T h e n H e u s e d t h e m c r e a t i v e l y to
f a s h i o n a G r a n d C a n y o n . H e c r e a t e d c o l o r , air, c l o u d s , a n d
the s u n . H e combines these creatively for spectacular
s u n s e t s . H e c r e a t e d a s e a s o n w e call " f a l l , " w h e r e i n H e
b a t h e s t h e g r e e n l e a v e s in c o l d air, a n d t h e r e s u l t s a r e vivid
19
h u e s that c r e a t i v e l y e x p a n d t h e color s p e c t r u m . T h e n t h e
l e a v e s die a n d fall to t h e g r o u n d to c r e a t i v e l y m u l c h t h e soil
(or in t h e g u t t e r s t o creatively clog t h e d o w n s p o u t s ! ) .
G o d ' s creativity will a l w a y s b e in h a r m o n y w i t h H i s
character. H e c a n n o t creatively reorganize the Trinity, m u c h
l e s s d i s b a n d it. H e c a n n o t c r e a t i v e l y r e d e f i n e h o l i n e s s , s o
that u n s a v e d s i n n e r s c o u l d slip i n t o h e a v e n . B u t t h e self-
imposed restrictions within the G o d h e a d do not shut d o w n
o r e v e n h a m p e r H i s creativity. T h e r e a r e a n infinite n u m b e r
o f w a y s that G o d c a n glorify H i m s e l f . H e is n o t o n l y t h e
a u t h o r of creativity; H e is t h e e p i t o m e of creativity. H i s
c o m m e n t a r y o n all that H e c r e a t e d w a s that it w a s " v e r y
g o o d " ( G e n . 1:31). H e c o u l d s a y t h a t n o t o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e
quality o f w h a t H e h a d c r e a t e d , b u t also b e c a u s e o f t h e
p o t e n t i a l l y u n l i m i t e d q u a n t i t y o f w a y s it p r o v i d e d f o r H i m to
creatively express a n d exhibit Himself.
MAN—CREATOR OR "CREATIVE"?
W h a t a b o u t m a n ? C a n h e t o o b e classified a s a c r e a t o r ?
N o . A s s t a t e d p r e v i o u s l y , t o c r e a t e is to b r i n g i n t o e x i s t e n c e .
M a n c a n n o t d o t h a t . O n l y G o d c a n . A t t h e e n d o f t h e sixth
d a y G o d c o m p l e t e d H i s w o r k o f c r e a t i o n , certified its
i n t r i n s i c a n d s u p r e m e g o o d n e s s , a n d t o o k t h e n e x t d a y off.
C r e a t i o n , for t h i s life a n d in t h i s w o r l d , is f i n i s h e d .
G o d is c e r t a i n l y n o t n o w a n a b s e n t e e G o d ; H e c o n -
t i n u e s to b e p e r s o n a l l y a n d d y n a m i c a l l y i n v o l v e d : a s S u s t a i n -
er r a t h e r t h a n C r e a t o r ; as c r e a t i v e r a t h e r t h a n c r e a t i n g . B u t
1
w h e n G o d w e n t into His creative and sustaining m o d e , m a n

m o v e d into his ruling and subduing m o d e . He had within
h i m a n d a r o u n d h i m all t h e p o t e n t i a l r e s o u r c e s h e n e e d e d to
carry o u t h i s G o d - g i v e n m a n d a t e . N o w it w a s h i s r e s p o n s i -
bility, n o t to c r e a t e (that h a d a l r e a d y b e e n d o n e ) , b u t to t a k e
t h e t h i n g s that h a d b e e n c r e a t e d a n d u s e t h e m c r e a t i v e l y .
That would involve exploration, discovery, developing,
c o m b i n i n g , s e p a r a t i n g , t e s t i n g — a n d a w h o l e h o s t of o t h e r
procedures that constitute functioning creatively.
20
Creativity
M A N — T H E CREATIVE ONE
I s a y it a g a i n . T o b e c r e a t i v e is to t a k e t h e t h i n g s that
h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d a n d u s e t h e m in n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y s .
T h e G a r d e n of E d e n w a s t h e s e t t i n g f o r creativity at its
h i g h e s t l e v e l . T h e m o s t c r e a t i v e c o u p l e i n all h u m a n h i s t o r y
were A d a m a n d Eve. That w a s because A d a m and Eve were
d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g for the first time. E v e r y e v e n t w a s in a " s t a r t -
u p " p h a s e a s far a s t h e y w e r e c o n c e r n e d . T h e y h a d n o prior
experience. N o textbooks. N o owner's manuals. They un-
d o u b t e d l y c o n s u l t e d G o d , b u t t h e y still h a d to d i s c u s s ,
understand, remember, and so on, and I have a sneaking
s u s p i c i o n t h a t H e d i d n ' t tell t h e m all t h e y w a n t e d to k n o w .
H e still d o e s n ' t ( D e u t . 2 9 : 2 9 ) . 2
A d a m started his creative stewardship by n a m i n g the

b e a s t s o f t h e field a n d b i r d s of t h e air. G o d h a d c r e a t e d e a c h
o n e o f t h e m w i t h a distinctive s i z e , s h a p e , c o l o r , m o v e m e n t ,
h a b i t a t , m e a n s of d e f e n s e , a n d abilities. G o d h a d a l s o c r e a t e d
A d a m w i t h e y e s t o s e e , e a r s t o h e a r , a m i n d to a n a l y z e , a
m o u t h to f o r m s o u n d s . A d a m h a d to p u t all t h e s e factors
together and decide o n a s o u n d or s o u n d s , depending on
h o w m a n y syllables or w o r d s h e p u t i n e a c h n a m e , f o r e a c h
bird and beast.
N o t e , A d a m did n o t c r e a t e t h e rich v a r i e t y of a n i m a l s .
G o d d i d . N o r d i d A d a m c r e a t e h i s o w n c a p a c i t y to f o r m
various sounds and words. G o d did. A d a m , using what G o d
h a d c r e a t e d in h i m a n d i n t h e a n i m a l s , c r e a t i v e l y g a v e e a c h a
different n a m e . H e had n o dictionary, n o thesaurus, no
n a m e book. Working with the raw materials which G o d had
already brought into existence h e creatively fashioned a
n a m e . T h e n a n o t h e r n a m e . A n d a n o t h e r ; u n t i l all o f t h e b i r d s
a n d t h e b e a s t s w e r e n a m e d . T h a t little e x e r c i s e , m y f r i e n d ,
t o o k a lot o f c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g !
E v e r y t h i n g w a s n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t f o r t h a t first c o u p l e ;
so everything required s o m e creative thinking a n d acting.
W h a t to e a t , h o w t o c o o k , w h e r e t o s l e e p , h o w to e n g a g e in
s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s , h o w t o p r u n e t h e t r e e s , w h e n to p i c k t h e
fruit, e t c . , all d e m a n d e d c r e a t i v e d i s c u s s i o n s a n d d e c i s i o n s .
21
E s p e c i a l l y w h e n t h e y e n c o u n t e r e d t h e s e t h i n g s for t h e first
time.
I c a n j u s t i m a g i n e A d a m s i g h i n g d e e p l y at t h e e n d o f a
b u s y d a y , a n d as t h e air r u s h e d t h r o u g h his p u c k e r e d l i p s ,
h e a r i n g for t h e first t i m e — a w h i s t l e . N o w w h a t d o e s o n e d o
w i t h a w h i s t l e ? J u s t w h a t a n y g r o w i n g child t o d a y d o e s w i t h
s u c h a d i s c o v e r y . W o r k o n it. S o A d a m diligently p r a c t i c e d
u s i n g his p u l m o n a r y p o t e n t i a l c r e a t i v e l y s o a s to p r o d u c e all
k i n d s of n e w s o u n d s . H e d i d n ' t s t o p t h e r e . H e s o o n
d i s c o v e r e d that a l o w w h i s t l e w i t h a c e r t a i n flirtatious lilt to it
turned Eve o n , so he mastered that melody. By sticking two
f i n g e r s in h i s m o u t h a n d b l o w i n g h a r d h e c o u l d p r o d u c e a
s o u n d shrill e n o u g h to get t h e c o w s h e a d e d for t h e b a r n , t h e
kids h e a d e d f o r t h e s u p p e r t a b l e , t h e b i r d s o u t of t h e y a r d ,
a n d t h e d o g o u t o f t h e c h i c k e n c o o p . All of this b y c r e a t i v e l y
u s i n g h i s l u n g s a n d his l i p s .
T h e n E v e p i c k e d u p o n h e r h u s b a n d ' s b u d d i n g oral
a e r o d y n a m i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s a n d f o u n d that s h e h a d t h e
k n a c k of n o t o n l y w h i s t l i n g little ditties, b u t also of p u t t i n g
a p p r o p r i a t e w o r d s to t h e t u n e s . T h e n , o n o n e o c c a s i o n ,
w h e n h e r lips w e r e w o r n o u t f r o m w h i s t l i n g , s h e d i s c o v e r e d
a n o t h e r w a y to m a k e s o u n d s — w e call it h u m m i n g . T h e i r
two boys also got in on the creative process. Abel found h e
c o u l d elicit a v a r i e t y of s o u n d s f r o m a n old r a m ' s h o r n . C a i n
discovered the same thing while experimenting with a
hollowed-out b a m b o o shoot.
T h e same creative process has continued d o w n through
the centuries, and today w e have sophisticated wind instru-
m e n t s like t h e c l a r i n e t , o b o e , f l u t e , a n d b a s s o o n ; a n d n o
telling w h a t s o m e c r e a t i v e m u s i c i a n will c o m e u p w i t h n e x t .
C e r t a i n l y n o o n e w o u l d b e willing to s a y t h a t w e h a v e i n t h i s
area r e a c h e d t h e e n d of o u r c r e a t i v e p o t e n t i a l . T h a t ' s t h e
n a t u r e of G o d ' s c r e a t i o n — i t h a s u n l i m i t e d c r e a t i v e p o t e n t i a l .
CREATIVITY AND THE FALL
A d a m a n d Eve w e n t o n their merry w a y , creatively

e n j o y i n g E d e n a n d e a c h o t h e r ; carefully k e e p i n g t h e r u l e s set
22
Creativity
u p b y t h e i r C r e a t o r . T h e n it h a p p e n e d . S e d u c t i v e l y c h a l -
l e n g e d b y S a t a n t o t h i n k i n c o r r e c t l y a n d t o act d i s o b e d i e n t l y ,
t h e y w a v e r e d p r e c i p i t o u s l y o n t h e t h i n e d g e of d e c i s i o n a n d
finally p l u n g e d h e a d l o n g i n t o t h e d i s a s t r o u s c h o i c e t o pit
their h u m a n wills a g a i n s t t h e will of t h e i r s o v e r e i g n C r e a t o r .
T h e y sinned, and from that point o n the world has been
o c c u p i e d b y fallen, sinful h u m a n b e i n g s .
W e k n o w from Scripture and from experience that the
Fall a n d t h e c u r s e t h a t f o l l o w e d p r o f o u n d l y a f f e c t e d m a n ' s
mind. H e c a n still t h i n k , b u t h e c a n ' t a l w a y s t h i n k correctly.
A d a m ' s m i n d b e g a n to m a l f u n c t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y . H e lost t h e
p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e of n a k e d n e s s . H e tried t o h i d e f r o m G o d .
H e w a s s l o w to c o n f e s s his a c t i v e p a r t in t h e f o r b i d d e n
i n d u l g e n c e . H e tried t o p u t t h e b l a m e o n h i s p a r t n e r , E v e .
H i s s o n s i n h e r i t e d this f l a w e d t h i n k i n g p r o c e s s , s o m u c h s o
t h a t C a i n c a m e to t h e e r r o n e o u s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e b e s t w a y
to s o l v e a sibling s q u a b b l e w a s t o c o m m i t m u r d e r .
Within a few generations m a n ' s m i n d had deteriorated
to t h e p o i n t w h e r e " e v e r y i n c l i n a t i o n of t h e t h o u g h t s o f his
h e a r t w a s o n l y evil all t h e t i m e " ( G e n . 6 : 5 ) . E x c e p t f o r N o a h ' s
faithful r e m n a n t , t h e f l o o d d r o w n e d o u t all o f t h i s b i z a r r e
thinking, yet before things hardly had time to dry out, G o d ,
k n o w i n g m a n ' s b e l l i g e r e n t b e n t , i n s t i t u t e d capital p u n i s h -
ment (Gen. 9 : 5 - 6 ) .
T h e w o r l d , t h e f l e s h a n d t h e devil c o n t i n u e t o c o n s p i r e
to k e e p fallen p e o p l e t h i n k i n g h a l f a b u b b l e o f f p l u m b , at t h e
v e r y l e a s t . A classic a n a l y s i s o f m a n ' s c e r e b r a l c o r r u p t i o n is
contained in Ephesians 4 . T 7 - 1 9 :
You must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the
futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their
understanding and separated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is due to the hardening of
their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they~have given
themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every
kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
N o t i c e t h e v a r i o u s d e s c r i p t o r s u s e d i n t h i s text t h a t
underline our basic premise: the natural p e r s o n can't always
think correctly.
23
But c a n t h e y t h i n k creatively? D i d t h e Fall l o w e r t h e i r

I Q ? G r a n t e d s o m e o n e m a y b e afflicted w i t h a s a t a n i c
b l i n d n e s s ; d o e s t h a t m e a n h i s m i n d is b l a n k ? T o b e s u r e ,
s o m e o n e m a y b e p l a g u e d w i t h d e c e i t ; d o e s t h a t rule o u t
d i s c o v e r y ? C e r t a i n l y h e m a y b e s e l f - c e n t e r e d ; d o e s t h a t rule
o u t t h e ability to i m a g i n e a n d i n n o v a t e ? N o t at all. J u s t
because the natural person has problems thinkings correctly
d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t h e is u n a b j g J t Q t h i n k ~ c r e a t i v e l y .
L o o k a g a i n at E p h e s i a n s 4 : 1 7 - 1 9 . ^ F a l l e n folk a r e
classified a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , a s i g n o r a n t a n d i n s e n s i t i v e .
B u t t h a t d o e s n ' t s h u t t h e m d o w n . T h e y h a v e g o n e right
a h e a d a n d c o m m i t t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o " i n d u l g e in e v e r y k i n d
of i m p u r i t y , w i t h a c o n t i n u a l lust f o r m o r e . " T h e y a r e n o t
satisfied to b e dull, n a r r o w , traditional d e v i a t e s . T h e y sin
c r e a t i v e l y ! T h i s is r e i n f o r c e d in R o m a n s 1 : 2 8 - 3 2 w h e r e t h o s e
w i t h d e p r a v e d m i n d s a r e said to " i n v e n t w a y s of d o i n g e v i l . "
This does not m e a n , h o w e v e r , that non-Christians
s p e n d all of t h e i r t i m e t h i n k i n g a n d a c t i n g i m m o r a l l y . A s
R i c h a r d L o v e l a c e p o i n t s o u t , " t h e i r lives m a y b e m o r e
righteous in o u t w a r d a c t i o n s , t h o u g h not i n m o t i v a t i o n , t h a n
those of most Christians." Their basic motivation, Lovelace
s a y s , " m a y s i m p l y b e to h a n g o n t o r e s p e c t a b i l i t y , a n e e d
b a s e d o n t h e d e s i r e for s e l f - e s t e e m a n d t h e a f f e c t i o n o f
others." 3
A n o t h e r b a s i c m o t i v a t i o n in t h e n o n - C h r i s t i a n w o r l d is
t h e d e s i r e to m a k e life b e t t e r . T e c h n o l o g y is d e s i g n e d to d o
t h a t . S o is s e c u l a r h u m a n i s m . C r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g h a s s p a w n e d
t e c h n o l o g y . C o r r e c t t h i n k i n g is n o w n e e d e d to m a k e s u r e w e
u s e it rightly. I n c o r r e c t t h i n k i n g h a s g i v e n rise t o s e c u l a r
h u m a n i s m , a n d n o w c r e a t i v e m a r k e t i n g is b e i n g u s e d to sell
it to t h e m a s s e s ; a q u i c k l o o k a r o u n d u s at m a g a z i n e s a n d
t e l e v i s i o n d e m o n s t r a t e s h o w it's h a p p e n i n g . T h e C h r i s t i a n
c o m m u n i c a t o r m u s t s t e p b o l d l y i n t o this s c e n e a n d m a r k e t
correctly a n d creatively the insights n e e d e d to h a n d l e
t e c h n o l o g y a n d t h e a n t i d o t e n e e d e d to c o u n t e r a c t s e c u l a r
h u m a n i s m . C r e a t i v e biblical p r e a c h i n g is o n e o f t h e sig-
nificant w a y s to a c c o m p l i s h t h i s .
24
Creativity
CREATIVITY AND THE CHRISTIAN
T h e p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n e s t a b l i s h e d t h e fact t h a t t h e
u n s a v e d p e r s o n has both the propensity to think incorrectly
a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l to t h i n k c r e a t i v e l y . W e m u s t n o t let this
l e a d u s t o t h e e r r o n e o u s c o n c l u s i o n that b e c a u s e t h e s a v e d
p e r s o n n o w h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o t h i n k c o r r e c t l y , t h e r e is n o
reason to worry about thinking creatively. Correct thinking
neither rules out nor replaces creative thinking. Both are
m a n d a t o r y for the Christian.
S c r i p t u r e w e a v e s c o r r e c t n e s s a n d creativity t o g e t h e r .
F o r e x a m p l e , i n R o m a n s 12:2 t h e r e n e w i n g o f t h e m i n d is
v i e w e d a s b a s i c t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e i n t h e v e r s e . It e n a b l e s t h e
b e l i e v e r t o t h i n k a n d live c o r r e c t l y w i t h r e g a r d to c o n f o r m i t y
to t h e w o r l d , a n d it will g i v e h i m t h e ability t o test a n d
a p p r o v e w i t h a c c u r a c y w h a t G o d ' s will is in life s i t u a t i o n s .
W h e r e is creativity in this p a s s a g e ? It is i n h e r e n t in t h e
e x h o r t a t i o n t o " b e t r a n s f o r m e d . " T o b e t r a n s f o r m e d is to
c h a n g e , t o b e d i f f e r e n t , to b e n e w . T h i s h a p p e n s a s w e a l l o w
t h e Spirit o f G o d to b l e n d H i s p e r v a s i v e t r u t h i n t o o u r u n i q u e
personalities. T h e result: a c u s t o m - m a d e Christian. Not
a n o t h e r o n e i n all this w o r l d e x a c t l y like h i m . C r e a t i v i t y at its
highest!
T h e s e s a m e t w o factors a r e l a c e d t o g e t h e r in 1 C o r i n -
t h i a n s 1 5 : 5 8 . C o r r e c t n e s s is e m p h a s i z e d in t h e t w o p h r a s e s
" s t a n d f i r m " and "let nothing m o v e y o u . " A s the Christian
lives life a n d faces d e a t h h e n e e d s t o b e u n s h a k a b l y r o o t e d in
G o d a n d H i s W o r d . B u t t h e r e is m o r e . A l o n g w i t h a correct
r o o t e d n e s s , t h e r e is t o b e a c r e a t i v e f l o w e r i n g , d e s c r i b e d a s
" a l w a y s g i v i n g y o u r s e l v e s fully t o t h e w o r k o f t h e L o r d . "
T h e N A S B translates this as " a l w a y s a b o u n d i n g in the work
of t h e L o r d . " T h e r e a r e a n i n f i n i t e n u m b e r of w a y s w e c a n
g i v e o u r s e l v e s fully to t h e t a s k o f a b o u n d i n g , e s p e c i a l l y
w h e n w e u n d e r s t a n d that n o n e of o u r l a b o r will b e in v a i n .
P a u l ' s p h i l o s o p h y of e v a n g e l i s m c o m b i n e d c o r r e c t n e s s
a n d creativity. F i v e t i m e s in 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 9 : 1 9 - 2 3 h e
reiterates his g o a l — t o win others to Christ. M o s t assuredly,
that is a correct g o a l . It n e v e r c h a n g e s . P a u l ' s m e t h o d s ,
25
h o w e v e r , f r e q u e n t l y c h a n g e d , for h e c r e a t i v e l y a d a p t e d his
a p p r o a c h to t h e n a t u r e a n d n e e d s of his a u d i e n c e . H e
s u m m a r i z e d his i n n o v a t i v e m i n i s t r y b y s a y i n g , " I h a v e
b e c o m e all t h i n g s t o all m e n s o t h a t b y all p o s s i b l e m e a n s I
might save s o m e . "
N o t e t h e u s e of t h e w o r d all. " A l l t h i n g s . . . all m e n
. . . all p o s s i b l e m e a n s . " It is a little w o r d , b u t it h a s big
i m p l i c a t i o n s . W h i l e t h e r e is one reason to d o e v a n g e l i s m ,
t h e r e a r e many ways to d o it. T h e a p o s t l e w a s c o m m i t t e d to
creative outreach.
First C o r i n t h i a n s 10:31 is a g o o d v e r s e w i t h w h i c h to
c l o s e this s e c t i o n . " S o w h e t h e r y o u e a t or d r i n k or w h a t e v e r
y o u d o , d o it all for t h e glory of G o d . " T h e " g l o r y of G o d " is
t h e e s s e n t i a l c o r r e c t n e s s factor h e r e . H i s " g l o r y " r e f e r s to H i s
c h a r a c t e r — n a m e l y , all t h a t is t r u e o f G o d . All that w e d o
n e e d s to b e m o n i t o r e d b y a n d expressive of the glory of God.
Notice h o w the verse moves from the specific—"whether
y o u eat o r d r i n k " — t o t h e g e n e r a l — " o r w h a t e v e r y o u d o . "
T h e n c o m e s t h a t little w o r d " a l l . " W e c o u l d classify it a s a
creative " a l l , " r a t h e r t h a n a restrictive " a l l . " These are words
of c h a l l e n g e , e x p a n s i o n , e x p l o r a t i o n , i m a g i n a t i o n , i n n o v a -
tion, variation, invention.
All t h a t w e d o n e e d s to b e c a r e f u l l y a n a l y z e d t o b e s u r e
t h a t it c o n f o r m s to H i s c h a r a c t e r , b u t h a v i n g d o n e t h i s , w e
still h a v e a n " a l l " that is l a r g e r t h a n a n y t h i n g w e c a n
i m a g i n e . S o w h e n y o u p r e a c h , d o it " a l l ' * f o r t h e g l o r y of
G o d . R e a l i z e w h e n y o u take t h i s a p p r o a c h t h e r e will b e s o m e
things you would never say a n d do w h e n you preach, but
h a v i n g p u t t h e s e a w a y , y o u will still h a v e a n u n l i m i t e d
n u m b e r of w a y s y o u c a n p r e a c h a n d in s o d o i n g b r i n g g l o r y
to G o d .
CREATIVITY A N D COMPETENCY
W e a r e u s i n g t h e t e r m creativity in a b r o a d , g e n e r a l ,
n o n t e c h n i c a l s e n s e . Y o u will r e m e m b e r w e d e f i n e d it earlier
in this c h a p t e r a s " t h e ability t o t a k e the t h i n g s t h a t h a v e
b e e n created a n d u s e t h e m in n e w and different w a y s . "
26
Creativity
U s i n g t h i s d e f i n i t i o n , creativity c a n i n c l u d e s u c h t h i n g s as
innovation, imagination, invention, variety, originality, a n d
technique. Each of these terms can h a v e qualities which
w o u l d d i s t i n g u i s h it f r o m o t h e r s o n t h e list, b u t t h e y c a n a l s o
b e u s e d in w a y s t h a t m a k e t h e m e s s e n t i a l l y s y n o n y m o u s .
F o r t h e m o s t p a r t , w e will e m p l o y t h e m i n t h i s latter w a y ,
a n d w e will u s e creativity a s a b r o a d u m b r e l l a t e r m that
c o v e r s all t h e o t h e r s .
Anyone can be creative. T h i s is b e c a u s e a n y o n e c a n p u t

t h e a b o v e d e f i n i t i o n o f creativity i n t o e f f e c t , i . e . , h e c a n t a k e
s o m e t h i n g t h a t exists a n d u s e it in a n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y .
F u r t h e r m o r e , s i n c e e v e r y C h r i s t i a n is e x p e c t e d t o glorify G o d
in a n d t h r o u g h h i s u n i q u e p e r s o n a l i t y , a n d t h u s c r e a t i v e l y ,
w e c a n r i g h t l y c o n c l u d e that e v e r y C h r i s t i a n is a b l e t o d o s o .
There are no noncreative persons. There are, however, m a n y
p e r s o n s w h o h a v e n o t d i s c o v e r e d or w h o a r e n o t u s i n g a r e a s
of c r e a t i v e p o t e n t i a l in their l i v e s . T h i s b o o k is n o t w r i t t e n t o
a select f e w w h o m G o d h a s e q u i p p e d t o b e c r e a t i v e . T h e
a u t h o r ' s a s s u m p t i o n is t h a t e v e r y b e l i e v e r h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l
t o b e c r e a t i v e a n d s i m p l y n e e d s t o d i s c o v e r a n d d e v e l o p it.
Gifts a n d talents are g i v e n t o u s b y G o d . T a l e n t s are

b e s t o w e d b y G o d at c o n c e p t i o n . Gifts a r e b e s t o w e d b y G o d
at c o n v e r s i o n . T a l e n t s e n a b l e u s t o f u n c t i o n p r i m a r i l y i n t h e
w o r l d . G i f t s e n a b l e u s to f u n c t i o n p r i m a r i l y i n t h e c h u r c h .
T a l e n t s a r e r e l a t e d m o r e t o o u r v o c a t i o n ; gifts a r e
related m o r e t o o u r m i n i s t r y . B o t h t a l e n t s a n d gifts a r e
i n h e r e n t c a p a c i t i e s a s o p p o s e d t o l e a r n e d abilities. T h e r e f o r e ,
o u r t a s k is t o d i s c o v e r w h a t s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s w e i n h e r e n t l y
p o s s e s s , rather thar^decide w h a t particular abilities^ve^want
to a c q u i r e . W e s h o u l d b e a b l e t o t h i n k l m d " a l T 1 n w e ~ s k i l l f u l l y
in a r e a s w h e r e w e a r e gifted a n d t a l e n t e d , for t h e s e a r e o u r
God-given-places of strength and expertise, places w h e r e w e
c a n r y r f n r m p v r p p H i n g l y w p j l J H g i n frfipgp a r e a s t h a t w e will
be most creative—uniquely q u a l i f i e d j ^ t o put things to-
g e t h e r in n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y s . B e c a u s e n o . onfe-pergon
h a s a l H h e ^ g j f t s j m d t a l e n t s , n o o n e p e r s o n will b e skillful a n d
c r e a t i v e in e v e r y a r e a of e n d e a v o r . T h a t u n d e r s c o r e s t h e
27
d o c t r i n e of i n t e r d e p e n d e n c y . W e n e e d o n e a n o t h e r ' s c r e a t i v e
skills.
F r o m a biblical p e r s p e c t i v e , competency c a n b e v i e w e d at
t h r e e l e v e l s . A C h r i s t i a n w o u l d b e f u n c t i o n i n g below biblical
competency w h e n ignorant and/or disobedient with regard
to G o d ' s will in o n e or m o r e a r e a s of life. T h a t w a s t h e
problem with the Hebrew Christians (Heb. 5 : 1 1 - 1 4 ) . Enough
t i m e h a d e l a p s e d f o r t h e m to b e t e a c h e r s ; b u t b e c a u s e o f
ignorance and disobedience they weren't there. They needed
t o b e r e t a u g h t t h e b a s i c s . W i t h r e g a r d to t e a c h i n g t h e W o r d
to o t h e r s , t h e y w e r e w a l l o w i n g a r o u n d i n a n a r e a w e a r e
c l a s s i f y i n g a s b e l o w biblical c o m p e t e n c y . A n y c r e a t i v i t y t h e y
m a y h a v e h a d w a s p r o b a b l y b e i n g u s e d to f i n d n e w a n d
d i f f e r e n t w a y s to a v o i d t h e i r G o d - g i v e n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s !
A s e c o n d level c a n b e called within biblical c o m p e t e n c y .
That's where the Hebrew Christians should have been. T h e
i n d i c t m e n t l e v e l e d at t h e m w a s c a n d i d : " b y t h i s t i m e y o u
o u g h t to be t e a c h e r s . " T h e y should have b e e n competently
c o m m u n i c a t i n g t r u t h to o t h e r s . I n c o n t r a s t , n o t e h o w P a u l
c o m m e n d s t h e C h r i s t i a n s in R o m e for their p r o g r e s s w i t h
these words:
I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you

yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge
and competent to instruct one another (Rom. 15:14).
T h e s e b e l i e v e r s w e r e w i t h i n biblical c o m p e t e n c y in at
least three areas: g o o d n e s s , k n o w l e d g e , a n d instruction. T h e
b e t t e r t h e y g o t , t h e m o r e t h e p o t e n t i a l for t h e m to c r e a t i v e l y
f u n c t i o n in t h e s e t h r e e a r e a s . N o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t n e i t h e r
H e b r e w s 5 : 1 1 - 1 4 nor R o m a n s 15:14 contains a reference to
t h e spiritual gift o f t e a c h i n g . T h e s e p a s s a g e s r e f e r to t h e
m i n i s t r y of t e a c h i n g t h a t a n y b e l i e v e r c a n a n d s h o u l d b e
c o m p e t e n t to carry o u t .
T o a c c o u n t for t h e p r e s e n c e a n d u s e of spiritual gifts

a n d t a l e n t s , t h e r e m u s t b e o n e h i g h e r level of c o m p e t e n c y ,
w h i c h I h a v e c h o s e n to call skill. T h e p e r s o n w i t h t h e gift of
teaching will b e a b l e to t e a c h t h e W o r d o f G o d e x c e e d i n g l y
28
Creativity
w e l l , i . e . , w i t h skill. T h e p e r s o n w i t h artistic talent will b e able

t o e m p l o y t h a t talent w i t h e x p e r t i s e . If a p r e a c h e r h a s t h e gift
o f t e a c h i n g a n d a n artistic t a l e n t , t h e n h i s p r e a c h i n g c a n a n d
should c o m b i n e these two capacities creatively.
N o w , a w o r d a b o u t talents. O n e t a l e n t is that of
communication. It i n v o l v e s t h e i n h e r e n t c a p a c i t y t o w r i t e , or
c o n v e r s e , o r t o b r o a d c a s t . If y o u h a v e t h e gift o f t e a c h i n g a n d
t h e t a l e n t o f u s i n g w o r d s , y o u will b e a b l e t o creatively
v e r b a l i z e t h e W o r d o f G o d . Y o u will d o it b e c a u s e y o u h a v e a
k n a c k f o r it, a n d w h e n y o u d o it, y o u e x p e r i e n c e a g r o w i n g
s e n s e of fulfillment—because you are doing " y o u r t h i n g . "
O r b e t t e r , G o d is d o i n g " H i s t h i n g " in a n d t h r o u g h y o u . B u t
y o u r w o r d - u s i n g t a l e n t m a y b e in t h e field o f w r i t i n g a n d
t h u s y o u m i n i s t e r t h r o u g h t h e p r i n t m e d i a , or y o u m a n u -
script y o u r s e r m o n s a n d utilize y o u r w r i t i n g t a l e n t orally.
CREATIVITY A N D CHANGE
Roots become ruts. Ruts become routines. Routine,

carried o n i n t h e local c h u r c h , t e n d s t o b e c o m e " r i g h t e o u s . "
R i g h t e o u s r o u t i n e b e c o m e s u n a s s a i l a b l y , uncritically rigid—
the best and only way to do things. Along c o m e those w h o
w a n t t o m a k e a c h a n g e in t h i s rigidly righteous r o u t i n e . T h e y
m a y f i n d o u t that w h a t t h e y p r o p o s e t o c h a n g e is s o m e t h i n g
t h a t o t h e r s a r e d e e p l y a t t a c h e d to a n d n o t a b o u t t o c h a n g e .
S o , t o g e t to t h e j r o i n L . n o t e y e r y o n e _ i n t h e local c h u r c h , is
g o i n g t o a p p r e c i a t e y c j u x _ d e s i r e t o b e _.creatbze, e s p e c i a l l y
w h e n y o u a t t e m p t to b e c r e a t i v e in y o u r p r e a c h i n g . F i e r c e
d e f e n d e r s o f t h e e s t a b l i s h e d faith a r e a l s o o f t e n fierce
defenders of the established format.
T h e s o l u t i o n i s l í ó t l o w r i t e t h e m off a n d r u n o v e r t h e m ,
n o r is it t o let t h e m r u n o v e r y o u . T h e s o l u t i o n is t o h e l p
p e o p l e d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n biblical d o c t r i n e s a n d historical
p r a c t i c e s . D o c t r i n e s w e c h a n g e o n l y in o r d e r to b e c o m e m o r e
J y b l j c a L ^ r e a ' c T í í n g is a vital p a r t of a biblical m i n i s t r y . T h a t ' s
a d o c t r i n e w e o u g h t to b e u n a l t e r a b l y a t t a c h e d t o . P r a c t i c e s
w e c h a n g e , i n o r d e r to b e c o m e m o r e e f f e c t i v e in o u r biblical
m i n i s t r y . T h u s , w e h o l d firmly n o t o n l y to t h e p r i m a c y of
29
p r e a c h i n g b u t also t o t h e o n g o i n g d e v e l o p m e n t of e f f e c t i v e
p r e a c h i n g . T h i s a l l o w s u s , n a y , c o m p e l s u s , to l o o k f o r , f i n d
and use n e w and different and better ways of communicat-
i n g G o d ' s W o r d f r o m t h e p u l p i t . T h i s d e m a n d s creativity.
W i t h r e g a r d t o biblical d o c t r i n e w e a r e firm. W i t h r e g a r d t o
historical p r a c t i c e s w e a r e flexible. T h e rest o f this b o o k is
g o i n g to test h o w flexible y o u really a r e .
30
3
Creatively
Re-Creating
the Life-Setting
of the Text
E v e r y text of S c r i p t u r e h a s a c o n t e x t , or a n o r i g i n a l s e t t i n g ,
o r w h a t I call a life-setting. To discover the meaning, w e study
t h e text i n its l i f e - s e t t i n g . S o m e f a c t o r s i n t h i s a r e c u l t u r e ,
history, geography, thought, feelings, language, grammar,
names, and persons. Using these elements and a sound
hermeneutical system, the expositor seeks to step back into
b o t h t h e t i m e a n d t h e territory o f t h e text.
S t u d y i n g t h e text in its l i f e - s e t t i n g is i m p o r t a n t , f o r
S c r i p t u r e is m o r e t h a n w o r d s o n p a p e r ; S c r i p t u r e is p e o p l e .
In o n e s e n s e t h e Bible is a script a s f o r a d r a m a . O u r t a s k is to
re-create each scene, to identify the players a n d bring t h e m
o n t o t h e s t a g e , t o let t h e m p l a y their p a r t s . T o a c c o m p l i s h
this w e m u s t f e r v e n t l y s t i i d y t h e text and f r e q u e n t l y u s e o u r
i m a g i n a t i o n . L e t ' s d o it.
LIFE-SETTING A N D LANGUAGE
S u p p o s e y o u a r e speaking t o a live a u d i e n c e a n d w a n t t o
emphasize one main point. H o w do you go about this? Y o u
establish eye contact, u s e appropriate gestures, carefully
v a r y t h e v o l u m e a n d rate o f y o u r v o i c e , a n d u s e e f f e c t i v e
31
w o r d s . S u p p o s e y o u a r e writing r a t h e r t h a n s p e a k i n g . F o r
e m p h a s i s y o u m i g h t u s e italics, u n d e r l i n e s , b o l d - f a c e d t y p e ,
capital l e t t e r s , q u o t a t i o n m a r k s , g r a p h i c s , or i n d e n t a t i o n ,
along with carefully selected words.
S u p p o s e y o u w e r e d o i n g t h i s w r i t i n g in t h e first century
A.D. W h a t o p t i o n s for e m p h a s i s w o u l d y o u h a v e ? W e c a n
f i n d o u t b y e x a m i n i n g a w r i t e r like t h e a p o s t l e P a u l t o s e e
h o w he emphasized a major point. Let's w o r k with a well-
k n o w n passage from the pastoral epistles.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for

teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteous-
ness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3 : 1 6 - 1 7 ) .
In v e r s e 16 P a u l tells T i m o t h y a b o u t t h e s o u r c e a n d t h e
u s e of t h e S c r i p t u r e s . T h e y a r e " G o d - b r e a t h e d " a n d t h u s
e s s e n t i a l " f o r t e a c h i n g , r e b u k i n g , c o r r e c t i n g a n d t r a i n i n g in
r i g h t e o u s n e s s . " T h e overall p u r p o s e of t h e s e u s e s of S c r i p -
t u r e is g i v e n in t h e hina c l a u s e in v e r s e 17: " s o that t h e m a n
o f G o d m a y b e t h o r o u g h l y e q u i p p e d for e v e r y g o o d w o r k . "
T h e a p o s t l e ' s m a i n p o i n t is t h i s : T h e S c r i p t u r e s e q u i p
believers.
H o w d o e s P a u l e s t a b l i s h this e m p h a s i s ? H e c o u l d n ' t
write l o u d e r , o r s e n d a v i d e o t a p e . H e d i d n ' t c h o o s e to w r i t e
l a r g e r , o r u s e all c a p i t a l s , o r u n d e r l i n e , o r c h a n g e t h e c o l o r of
h i s i n k , or u s e a b r o a d e r - p o i n t e d quill. W h a t did h e d o to
d r i v e h o m e this b a s i c t r u t h ? A s w e c a r r y o n this i n v e s t i g a -
t i o n , b e a r in m i n d t h a t w e a r e e x p l o r i n g w h a t w e m i g h t call
t h e linguistic l i f e - s e t t i n g o f P a u l — f i n d i n g o u t h o w h e u s e d
w o r d s t o forcefully i n v a d e p e o p l e ' s l i v e s .
The phrase "thoroughly e q u i p p e d " needs our atten-
t i o n . It is t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of t w o s i m i l a r G r e e k w o r d s . First,
t h e n o u n artios, w h i c h m e a n s " e q u i p p e d , r e a d y , p r e p a r e d . "
T h e W o r d o f G o d is d e s i g n e d t o equip t h e m a n of G o d .
H o w e v e r , t h e p h r a s e s a y s " t h o r o u g h l y e q u i p p e d . " T h a t is
b e c a u s e in this v e r s e t h e r e • is a s e c o n d , similar w o r d ,
exertismenos, w h i c h is a v e r b d e r i v e d f r o m t h e n o u n artios. It
is a p e r f e c t p a s s i v e p a r t i c i p l e , u s e d to d e s c r i b e a n a c t i o n t h a t
32
Creatively Re-Creating the Life-Setting of the Text
h a s t a k e n p l a c e in t h e p a s t , t h e r e s u l t s of w h i c h c o n t i n u e i n t o
t h e p r e s e n t . A g a i n , it is t h e S c r i p t u r e s w h i c h will completely
1
equip t h e m a n of G o d w i t h i n s i g h t a b o u t e v e r y g o o d w o r k .
T h e S c r i p t u r e s s t a r t e d this w o r k at a p o i n t in t h e p a s t — i n
T i m o t h y ' s c a s e , i n f a n c y ( 3 : 1 5 ) — a n d c o n t i n u e it till n o w .
Biblical e q u i p p i n g c a n a n d s h o u l d b e a lifelong p r o c e s s .
D o y o u s e e w h a t is h a p p e n i n g ? T o forcefully u n d e r -
score t h e p u r p o s e c l a u s e in v e r s e 17, t h e writer r e p e a t s
h i m s e l f , e m p l o y i n g t h e w o r d equipped t w i c e in t h e s a m e
v e r s e . T h a t ' s a g o o d w a y to e m p h a s i z e . B u t h e is d o i n g m o r e
t h a n w r i t i n g t h e s a m e w o r d t w i c e . H e a t t a c h e s a prefix to the
s e c o n d w o r d . It is t h e p r e p o s i t i o n ex, w h i c h is u s e d h e r e to
e m p h a s i z e a n d i n t e n s i f y t h e w o r d ; t h u s t h e translation
"thoroughly e q u i p p e d . " The N e w International Version
2
s e e k s t o c a p t u r e t h e i m p a c t of b o t h t h e s e w o r d s in a single
p h r a s e , b u t in actuality t h e s e t w o w o r d s for " e q u i p p e d " d o
n o t o c c u r n e x t to e a c h o t h e r in t h e v e r s e . T h e b a s i c w o r d is at
t h e b e g i n n i n g , a n d t h e i n t e n s i f i e d w o r d is at t h e e n d . A m o r e
a c c u r a t e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e G r e e k text w o u l d b e : " s o that
equipped m a y b e t h e m a n of G o d , for e v e r y g o o d w o r k h e h a s
b e e n , a n d will c o n t i n u e to b e , thoroughly equipped."
L e d b y t h e Spirit of G o d , P a u l h a s c h o s e n certain w o r d s
a n d p u t t h e m t o g e t h e r in a c e r t a i n w a y .
• H e u s e s s e l e c t i o n — p i c k i n g o u t a c h o i c e w o r d f r o m his
v o c a b u l a r y to c o n v e y t h e c o n c e p t of e q u i p p i n g ;
• H e u s e s r e p e t i t i o n — t o g i v e t h e m a d o u b l e d o s e of
equipping;
• H e u s e s a n o u n a n d its v e r b f o r m — t o f e a t u r e b o t h t h e
p r o d u c t a n d t h e p r o c e s s of e q u i p p i n g ;
• He uses the perfect t e n s e — t o underline the ongoing
e f f e c t i v e n e s s of e q u i p p i n g ;
• H e u s e s a p r e p o s i t i o n a l p r e f i x — t o i n t e n s i f y t h e sig-
n i f i c a n c e of e q u i p p i n g ;
• He uses positioning—fore and a f t — t o remind us coming
and going about equipping.
W h y d i d P a u l u s e all t h e s e h i g h l i g h t i n g t e c h n i q u e s ?
B e c a u s e h e a r d e n t l y b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e Word equips Christians,
33
a n d h e w a n t e d to c o n v e y that c o m m i t m e n t to T i m o t h y ,
e x p e c t i n g h i m in t u r n to c o n v e y it to o t h e r s (2 T i m . 2 : 2 ) .
S o we h a v e m o r e t h a n a s e t o f e x e g e t i c a l facts in f r o n t of
u s . W e h a v e i n s i g h t i n t o t h e life of t h e h u m a n a u t h o r .
K n o w i n g h o w h e p u t v e r s e 17 t o g e t h e r , w e are g r i p p e d b y
h i s c o n f i d e n c e in t h e W o r d a n d b y h i s c o n c e r n for e q u i p p i n g .
If y o u w a n t to p r e a c h this p a s s a g e p o w e r f u l l y a n d c r e a t i v e l y ,
g e t s o c l o s e to t h e text that y o u r u b s h o u l d e r s w i t h t h e
a u t h o r a n d h i s c o n f i d e n c e a n d c o n c e r n w o r k their w a y i n t o
y o u r life.
Y o u m a y w a n t to u s e y o u r i m a g i n a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p a
c o n v e r s a t i o n P a u l c o u l d h a v e h a d w i t h h i m s e l f as h e
p r e p a r e d to write this v e r s e , sifting t h r o u g h t h e d i f f e r e n t
m e a n s h e m i g h t u s e t o get his p o i n t a c r o s s , a n d finally
d i s c o v e r i n g w h a t w a s to h i m ( a n d t h e Spirit) t h e b e s t w a y to
c o m m u n i c a t e to T i m o t h y t h e c o n c e p t of " e q u i p p i n g . " D o n ' t
b e afraid to d o t h i s , b e c a u s e t h e fact is that P a u l n o d o u b t did
m u l l v a r i o u s o p t i o n s o v e r in his m i n d b e f o r e a n d a s h e w a s
w r i t i n g . W e c e r t a i n l y d o it, a n d P a u l w a s n o less h u m a n t h a n
w e a r e . T h a t ' s o n e w a y of c r e a t i v e l y r e - c r e a t i n g t h e life-
s e t t i n g of t h e text.
If y o u w a n t to d o t h e s a m e k i n d of t h i n g s in o t h e r t e x t s ,
l o o k for r e p e t i t i o n of k e y w o r d s — s o m e t i m e s t h e s a m e w o r d ,
s o m e t i m e s a s y n o n y m . L o o k for t h e p r e p o s i t i o n a l p r e f i x e s ,
especially those that amplify and intensify.
A t this p o i n t I s u s p e c t that y o u w o u l d like m e to g i v e
y o u a list of o t h e r p a s s a g e s of S c r i p t u r e w h i c h h a v e
i n t e r e s t i n g u s e s of r e p e t i t i o n a n d i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . I p r e f e r to
c h a l l e n g e y o u t o l o o k for t h e s e k i n d s of f a c t o r s in t h e texts
f r o m w h i c h y o u c h o o s e to p r e a c h . H o w e v e r , I h a v e p r o v i d e d
a f e w i d e a s in a n o t e at t h e b a c k of this b o o k . 3
LIFE-SETTING AND HISTORY/CULTURE
N o w that w e h a v e s h a r p e n e d o u r linguistic sensitivity a

bit, let's vitalize o u r historical-cultural a w a r e n e s s . E v e r y
p o r t i o n of S c r i p t u r e w a s f o r m u l a t e d in a particular historical-
cultural s e t t i n g , m e a n i n g that it w a s w r i t t e n at a certain t i m e
34
in h i s t o r y , w r i t t e n in a c e r t a i n p l a c e , a n d i n v o l v e d certain
p e o p l e . T i m e is h i s t o r y , p l a c e is c u l t u r e , a n d p e o p l e a r e
g e r m a n e to b o t h . T h e m o r e w e c a n r e - c r e a t e this original life-
setting, the better w e can understand a n d transmit the truth
f o r m u l a t e d in it. I will s h o w y o u w h a t I m e a n .
W h o w r o t e t h e Epistle to t h e R o m a n s ? P a u l . In o n e
sense. A m a n n a m e d Tertius actually wrote d o w n the words
( 1 6 : 2 2 ) . S o t h e r e w e r e t w o p e o p l e vitally i n v o l v e d in t h e
p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e original m a n u s c r i p t . P r o b a b l y o t h e r s .
W h y d o I s a y this? In R o m a n s 16:23 w e a r e i n t r o d u c e d
to G a i u s , o w n e r of t h e h o u s e w h e r e Paul s t a y e d d u r i n g his
t h r e e m o n t h s in C o r i n t h . A s a m a t t e r o f fact, t h e e n t i r e
Corinthian church e n j o y e d Gaius' hospitality o n occasion. S o
if G a i u s lived t h e r e , a n d P a u l a n d T e r t i u s s t a y e d t h e r e a n d
c o m p o s e d t h e letter to t h e R o m a n s t h e r e , t h e n G a i u s n o
d o u b t l i s t e n e d in n o w a n d t h e n , a s k e d a q u e s t i o n o n c e in a
while, and perhaps even offered suggestions.
T h e s e m e n w e r e close friends, you k n o w ; Gaius was
o n e of t h e f e w b e l i e v e r s w h o m P a u l h i m s e l f b a p t i z e d . G a i u s ,
his wife, a n d their servants surely provided meals for Paul
and Tertius, along with mid-morning and mid-afternoon
" c o f f e e b r e a k s . " I c a n i m a g i n e that d u r i n g t h e s e lighter
m o m e n t s t h e conversation i n c l u d e d politics, b u s i n e s s ,
s p o r t s , a n d t h e w e a t h e r i n C o r i n t h , as well as t h e i m p u t a t i o n
of s i n , j u s t i f i c a t i o n b y faith, b e i n g m o r e t h a n c o n q u e r o r s ,
G o d ' s s o v e r e i g n t y , I s r a e l ' s f u t u r e , spiritual gifts, r e s p o n s i b i l -
ities of c i t i z e n s h i p , t h e g r a y a r e a s o f life, e t c . , d e p e n d i n g o n
w h e r e t h e y w e r e in t h e letter to t h e R o m a n s that particular
d a y . I c a n ' t c o n c e i v e of P a u l a n d T e r t i u s s h u t t i n g t h e m s e l v e s
u p in a r o o m for t w e l v e h o u r s e v e r y d a y , h a v i n g t h e i r f o o d
s l i p p e d u n d e r t h e d o o r , n o t e n g a g i n g in a n y s m a l l talk w i t h
e a c h o t h e r , o r r e f u s i n g to d i s c u s s t h e n a t u r e a n d p r o g r e s s of
their l o n g , i m p o r t a n t letter w i t h a n y o n e e l s e b e c a u s e it w a s
" t o p s e c r e t . " I feel c e r t a i n , a l s o , that E r a s t u s a n d Q u a r t u s
d r o p p e d by f r e q u e n t l y a n d g o t i n v o l v e d in n u m e r o u s
d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h P a u l a n d h i s f r i e n d s a b o u t life in g e n e r a l
a n d t h e letter to t h e R o m a n s j r L p a r t i c u l a r ( 1 6 : 2 3 ) . T h e s a m e
g o e s for T i m o t h y , L u c i u s , J a s o n , a n d S o s i p a t e r ( 1 6 : 2 1 ) .
35
T h e s e i n c i d e n t s a n d c o n v e r s a t i o n s could have happened.

T h e text d o e s n ' t s a y t h a t t h e y d i d , b u t g i v e n t h e p r e s e n c e o f
t h e i n d i v i d u a l s m e n t i o n e d in R o m a n s 1 6 : 2 1 - 2 3 , it is certainly
n o t w r o n g to a s s u m e that a lot of i n t e r p e r s o n a l i n t e r a c t i o n
t o o k p l a c e . S o , in t h e a b s e n c e of a n y " C o r i n t h i a n C a s s e t t e
T a p e s , " l e t ' s u s e o u r i m a g i n a t i o n w i t h r e g a r d to s o m e of t h e
t h i n g s that m i g h t h a v e h a p p e n e d .
E r a s t u s was a p r o m i n e n t f i g u r e in C o r i n t h — t h e city
treasurer no less. W h e n you preach R o m a n s 1 3 : 1 - 7 , bring
h i m i n t o a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Paul a b o u t civil g o v e r n m e n t
a n d , m o r e specifically, t a x e s . Q u a r t u s is d e s c r i b e d s i m p l y as
" o u r b r o t h e r . " W h i l e w r i t i n g R o m a n s 1 2 : 1 0 Paul m i g h t h a v e
a s k e d T e r t i u s w h o h a d b e e n t h e r e that m o r n i n g w h o
e x e m p l i f i e d this t r u t h . T e r t i u s m i g h t h a v e quickly i d e n t i f i e d
Q u a r t u s , g i v i n g a practical e x a m p l e of his b r o t h e r l y l o v e , a n d
t h e n c o m m e n t i n g o n t h e fact that it was unusua) for the
y o u n g e s t of f o u r b r o t h e r s ( Q u a r t u s = " f o u r t h " ) t o b e s o
m a t u r e in l o v i n g i n t e r p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s , or p e r h a p s it w a s
t h e p o w e r f u l , p o s i t i v e m o d e l i n g of h i s t h r e e o l d e r b r o t h e r s
that p r o d u c e d it. O r p e r h a p s h e w a s a n o n l y child b o r n o n
t h e f o u r t h d a y of the m o n t h a n d h i s p a r e n t s p r o v i d e d h i m
with a positive example.
T h e s e a r e t h e k i n d s of t h i n g s ^you c a n d o to c r e a t i v e l y
r e - c r e a t e t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g of t h e text. A t t i m e s , l i s t e n i n g to a n
e x p o s i t i o n of S c r i p t u r e is a b o u t a s e x c i t i n g a s w a t c h i n g h o u s e
p a i n t d r y . A d d a d a s h o f color t o y o u r c o m m u n i c a t i o n of t h e
W o r d . Y o u c a n b e faithful t o t h e text a n d still u s e y o u r
imagination.
S p i r i t e d i n t e r a c t i o n b e t w e e n Paul a n d T e r t i u s p r o b a b l y
w e n t o n f r e q u e n t l y d u r i n g t h e w r i t i n g of R o m a n s . T o
v i s u a l i z e Paul a s a n a l o o f , i m p e r s o n a l p u r v e y o r o f p r o s a i c ,
cold f a c t s , a n d T e r t i u s a s a p a s s i v e , s h a l l o w , r e c e i v e r of t h e s e
facts is u n r e a l i s t i c . Belief in t h e " G o d - b r e a t h e d n e s s " of t h e
W o r d d o e s n o t r e q u i r e u s to rule o u t h u m a n r e l a t i o n s
b e t w e e n c o m p o s e r a n d s e c r e t a r y . W e d o n o t h a v e to sacrifice
t h e h u m a n p e r s o n a l i t i e s o f P a u l a n d T e r t i u s o n the altar o f
inspiration. Let's creatively re-create what might have h a p -
p e n e d in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f R o m a n s 1 2 : 2 .
36
The time: Friday evening, about 9:30.
The place: C o r i n t h , at G a i u s ' l a r g e , c o m f o r t a b l e h o m e in

the suburbs.
The people: Paul a n d T e r t i u s . E r a s t u s got free t i c k e t s , a n d

h e a n d t h e r e s t of t h e h o u s e h o l d are off to t h e I s t h m i a n
G a m e s b e i n g h e l d at t h e C o r i n t h i a n C o l i s e u m . E x c e p t f o r
J a s o n , S o s i p a t e r , a n d T i m o t h y — i t ' s their n i g h t t o b o w l in t h e
Corinthian Christian League.
The room: A n e n c l o s e d p o r c h off t h e living r o o m . T h e

floor is m a d e of large s l a b s of l i m e s t o n e . T h e r o o f is
c o n s t r u c t e d o f large b e a m s fairly c l o s e t o g e t h e r , w i t h r e e d s
a n d b u s h e s laid o n t o p a n d a h a r d clay o v e r t h e s e . T h e w a l l s
are m u d bricks. T h e w o o d e n doors on the w i n d o w s are wide
o p e n t h i s fall e v e n i n g , w i t h a l a t t i c e - w o r k w o o d e n s c r e e n
that g i v e s s o m e p r i v a c y a n d a d m i t s t h e c o o l b r e e z e . T h e
d o o r s a r e m a d e of h e a v y s y c a m o r e , s a g g i n g a b i t o n t h e
heavy iron hinges.
The furnishings: A n oil l a m p o n t h e c o r n e r t a b l e ; a n o t h e r

one on the desk, where Tertius writes on sheets of papyrus
w i t h his quill a n d i n k . A stool i n t h e c o r n e r , a c o u c h a g a i n s t
t h e w a l l , a n d p l e n t y of r o o m in t h e m i d d l e for P a u l t o p o n d e r
and pace back and forth as h e formulates the Spirit-inspired
letter t o t h e b e l i e v e r s in R o m e .
T h a t s e t s t h e s c e n e . N o w w e o p e n t h e c u r t a i n s a n d listen to a
dialogue between Paul and Tertius.
P a u l p a u s e s for a m o m e n t , t h e n s l o w l y a d d s f o u r m o r e
words: "to thelema tou theou."
" ' T h e will of G o d . ' A h ! I a m b e g i n n i n g to s e e w h a t y o u

are driving at, Paul. A s our m i n d s are r e n e w e d by the
Scriptures, w e are b e i n g e q u i p p e d to figure out for ourselves
in v a r i o u s life s i t u a t i o n s w h a t t h e will of G o d i s . T h a t ' s a
great c o n c e p t , P a u l . T h e p e o p l e in R o m e s h o u l d a p p r e c i a t e
37
it. I k n o w I s u r e d o . O k a y , t h a t ' s e n o u g h ! It's late. C a n w e

p u t a p e r i o d t h e r e a n d quit till t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g ? I ' m
getting writer's c r a m p . "
T h e stocky apostle stood motionless, meditating. T h e n ,

d r i v i n g a c l e n c h e d fist i n t o t h e p a l m of h i s h a n d , h e b l u r t e d ,
" N o , T e r t i u s , w e c a n ' t s t o p y e t ! T h i s is t h e first t i m e in this
letter that I've u s e d ' t h e will of G o d ' in this w a y . It's too
i m p o r t a n t to l e a v e it d a n g l i n g there o n its o w n . W e n e e d to
add something."
" W e l l , . . . o k a y . . . b u t c o u l d w e m a k e it q u i c k ? I c a n
hardly focus on the papyrus, m y eyes are so tired."
" M i n e , t o o . . . n o w w h a t w e n e e d is a n a d j e c t i v e that
will c a p t u r e t h e n a t u r e of t h e will of G o d . H o w c o u l d w e d o
t h i s ? . . . y e s . . . h e r e . . . write this d o w n . . . to agathon."
" 'To agathon' it is. W h y this w o r d , P a u l ? "
" B e c a u s e it signifies that w h i c h is m o r a l l y g o o d in

r e l a t i o n t o G o d . I m i g h t h a v e u s e d kalos, b u t s o m e t i m e s it h a s
t h e i d e a of a e s t h e t i c b e a u t y . "
" A n d w h a t y o u a r e s a y i n g is t h a t t h e will o f G o d f o r t h e
b e l i e v e r will a l w a y s b e that w h i c h is e s s e n t i a l l y g o o d . "
"Exactly . . . as o p p o s e d to t h a t w h i c h is b a d . "
" T h e oil is g e t t i n g l o w in t h e l a m p . C a n w e call it a

day?"
" C a n ' t s t o p n o w , T e r t i u s ! P e o p l e m a y t e n d to t h i n k t h a t
t h e will of G o d is p r i m a r i l y 'list l i v i n g ' — s l a v i s h o b e d i e n c e to
t h i n g s that a r e right, r e j e c t i o n o f t h i n g s t h a t are w r o n g . It is
t h a t , b u t it is more t h a n t h a t . "
" I see your point, but ..."
"Euareston. W r i t e it d o w n , T e r t i u s , m y b o y . "
38
" N o t s u r e I k n o w h o w to spell it . . . "
"E-u-a-r-e-s-t-o-n. Y o u k n o w this w o r d . O f t e n u s e d in a
f a m i l y c o n t e x t w i t h r e f e r e n c e to t h e o b e d i e n t c h i l d . H e o r s h e
is euareston — p l e a s i n g to his p a r e n t s . " A brief p a u s e , t h e n
w i t h a t w i n k l e in h i s e y e , P a u l m u s e d , " M a y b e y o u r f a t h e r
d i d n ' t u s e it v e r y o f t e n w i t h r e g a r d to y o u r b e h a v i o r w h e n
you were growing u p ! "
" I g u e s s n o t . I w a s p r e t t y w i l d in m y y o u n g e r y e a r s . "
" W e l l , let m e tell y o u s o m e t h i n g v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g a b o u t

this w o r d . T h e o t h e r d a y I w a s r e a d i n g in t h e G r e e k
t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e H e b r e w S c r i p t u r e s — y o u k n o w , t h e S e p t u -
a g i n t — a n d e a r l y in G e n e s i s [5:22] t h e H e b r e w text s a y s t h a t
'Enoch walked with G o d . ' Guess h o w they translated
' w a l k e d ' ? 'Euareston.' E n o c h was 'pleasing' to G o d . "
" N o w y o u ' v e g o t m y j u i c e s f l o w i n g , P a u l . T h e last t i m e

I w a s in J e r u s a l e m I a t t e n d e d a s y m p o s i u m o n t h e s a y i n g s o f
C h r i s t , a n d I clearly recall t h e a p o s t l e J o h n q u o t i n g C h r i s t a s
s a y i n g t h a t H e a l w a y s did t h a t w h i c h w a s ' p l e a s i n g ' to H i s
heavenly Father."
" S e e h o w o n e little w o r d h e l p s , T e r t i u s ? D o t h e will of

G o d , a n d y o u will b e e n g a g e d in a lifestyle p l e a s i n g t o H i m . "
" A n d if y o u a r e p l e a s i n g G o d , y o u w o u l d n o d o u b t b e
pleasing your parents, and your boss, even your pastor."
" P r e c i s e l y ! A n d w h e n o n e is d i s a p p o i n t i n g h i s p a r e n t s ,
h e is p r o b a b l y d i s a p p o i n t i n g G o d . S e e w h a t I a m d r i v i n g a t ? I
w a n t t h e m t o h a v e a c o n c e p t of t h e will of G o d t h a t is
personal, as well as propositional."
" R i g h t ! . . . All k i d d i n g a s i d e , P a u l , I a m really w i p e d

o u t ! It w o u l d b e p l e a s i n g t o m e if w e c o u l d e n d it right h e r e . "
" S t a y with m e , Tertius! Every sermon needs three

p o i n t s . L e t m e give y o u o n e m o r e a d j e c t i v e to s h e d
a d d i t i o n a l light o n t h e m e a n i n g of ' t h e will of G o d . ' "
39
" O k a y ! B u t m a k e it q u i c k , or w e a r e g o i n g to n e e d m o r e
oil to s h e d light o n t h e m a n u s c r i p t . "
"Teleion."
"T-e-l-e-i-o-n, m e a n i n g . . . d o n ' t tell m e . . . ' m a t u r e ,

grown up.'"
" A b s o l u t e l y ! T h e will of G o d will a l w a y s b e the m a t u r e

attitude. T h e grown-up action."
" A n d t h e o p p o s i t e a p p r o a c h to life is to t h i n k a n d act

i m m a t u r e l y , like a b a b y . I t h i n k I p e r f o r m e d like that t h e
o t h e r d a y w h e n I g o t s o f r u s t r a t e d at n o t b e i n g able t o find
m y s a n d a l s , a n d e v e n w e n t to t h e p o i n t of a c c u s i n g T i m o t h y
of t a k i n g t h e m . "
" G o o d i n s i g h t , T e r t i u s . S h o w s y o u a r e g r o w i n g . . . . All
r i g h t , w e a r e t h r o u g h for t h e d a y . S l e e p in a bit t o m o r r o w , if
y o u w a n t t o . W e w o n ' t start till s e v e n o ' c l o c k ! "
T h r o u g h an imaginative dialogue that could have

h a p p e n e d , w e h a v e d e v e l o p e d w h a t m i g h t b e p a r t or e v e n
all o f a s e r m o n o n t h r e e a d j e c t i v e s that a r e u s e d to d e s c r i b e
t h e n a t u r e o f t h e will o f G o d . Paul d i d n ' t h a v e to u s e a n y
descriptive words, but h e chose to. H e didn't have to u s e
t h r e e , b u t h e c h o s e t o . H e d i d n ' t h a v e to u s e t h e s e t h r e e , b u t
he chose to. H e didn't have to use Tertius, but he chose to.
H e d i d all t h e s e t h i n g s w i t h m e a n i n g a n d p u r p o s e .
W h a t w e are s e e k i n g to d o is c a p t u r e t h e m e a n i n g a n d
p u r p o s e of t h e text t h r o u g h t h e c r e a t i v e m e d i u m of a
d i a l o g u e , a d i a l o g u e that w e l l m i g h t h a v e o c c u r r e d . E v e n if it
d i d n ' t o c c u r a s w e h a v e i m a g i n e d , a s l o n g a s t h e r e is n o t h i n g
false o r m i s l e a d i n g in t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n w e h a v e d e s i g n e d , it
is c e r t a i n l y a l e g i t i m a t e m e t h o d of c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h e t r u t h
of t h e text.
T h i s k i n d of d i a l o g u e c a n b e d o n e a n y w h e r e in
R o m a n s , o r in a n y o t h e r p o r t i o n of S c r i p t u r e w h e r e a s c r i b e
a n d t h e a u t h o r w e r e f u n c t i o n i n g togeth&r. It c o u l d b e d o n e
40
as a d r a m a t i c m o n o l o g u e , w i t h o n e p e r s o n s p e a k i n g b o t h
p a r t s ; or t w o p e o p l e d o i n g it " l i v e " ; o r p r e r e c o r d e d and
p l a y e d t h r o u g h t h e s o u n d s y s t e m a s p a r t of t h e s e r m o n ; or
done with the preacher having a dialogue with an offstage,
live, v o i c e t h r o u g h t h e s o u n d s y s t e m . T h e p r e a c h e r c o u l d
play o n e o r b o t h r o l e s , or h e c o u l d t u r n it o v e r t o o t h e r staff
m e m b e r s , o r e n l i s t t h e s e r v i c e s of qualified l a y p e o p l e in t h e
congregation.
O u r sample from R o m a n s could be expanded into a
w h o l e s e r m o n , or c o n d e n s e d t o b e j u s t a brief illustration,
and/or the dialogue could be carried on into the realm of
p e r s o n a l , practical a p p l i c a t i o n . G a i u s a n d S o s i p a t e r could
arrive o n t h e s c e n e a n d g e t i n v o l v e d in t h e discussion.
R e g a r d l e s s of h o w it is d e v e l o p e d a n d d e l i v e r e d , d o n ' t l o s e
sight of t h e fact t h a t t h e p u r p o s e is to c r e a t i v e l y r e - c r e a t e t h e
l i f e - s e t t i n g o f t h e text a n d , i n s o d o i n g , t o e x p o u n d t h e text
with a d d e d historical, cultural, personal, a n d interpersonal
dimensions.
W e t u r n to t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t to illustrate a n o t h e r w a y
of c a p t u r i n g t h e historical-cultural life-setting o f t h e text. In
t h e B o o k o f E c c l e s i a s t e s , S o l o m o n is p r o b a b l y d e l i v e r i n g a
series o f i n s i g h t f u l f i r e s i d e c h a t s t o t h e o l d e r a n d y o u n g e r
m e m b e r s of h i s c o u r t . I n 7 : 1 3 - 1 4 h e r e l a t e s G o d to t h e g o o d
a n d b a d , s t r a i g h t a n d c r o o k e d e x p e r i e n c e s of life. T h i s brief,
i n s p i r e d , literary v i g n e t t e o n t h e s o v e r e i g n t y of G o d h a d
s o m e k i n d of life-setting. It m i g h t h a v e b e e n s o m e t h i n g like
this:
T h e sun sank slowly into the Mediterranean, bathing

t h e t e m p l e b u i l d i n g s in a w a r m , r e d g l o w . It w a s a b o u t s e v e n
o'clock w h e n Solomon wheeled his chariot into the palace
p a r k i n g lot a n d h e a d e d for h i s r e s e r v e d s p o t n e a r t h e
buildings. His weekly meeting with his Cabinet and other
l e a d e r s in t h e n a t i o n Israel w a s s c h e d u l e d for 7:30 o n this
T h u r s d a y e v e n i n g . A s t h e k i n g s t e p p e d d o w n f r o m his
c h a r i o t , h e p a u s e d to w a i t for T o n y , w h o h a d j u s t p u l l e d in
alongside him.
41
" H i there, Tony! Had a good d a y ? "
" N o t really! T e r r i b l e , as a m a t t e r o f f a c t . "
"What happened?"
" W e l l , I've b e e n u p w i t h m y little b o y , E b e n e z e r , s i n c e

t h r e e t h i s m o r n i n g . I t h i n k h e h a s t h e B a b y l o n i a n flu. It's
b e e n g o i n g a r o u n d t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d . T h e n o n t h e w a y to
w o r k , m y right c h a r i o t w h e e l fell off a n d I s p r a i n e d m y b a c k
g e t t i n g it o n . T h a t m e a n t I g o t to w o r k a b o u t a n h o u r a n d a
half l a t e .
" A n d w o u l d n ' t y o u k n o w i t — t h e c a m e l c a r a v a n d u e in
f r o m D a m a s c u s at n o o n w a s o v e r f o u r h o u r s late. I d e s p e r -
a t e l y n e e d e d that s h i p m e n t of M o a b m i n i s k i r t s a n d A s s y r i a n
s o c k e t w r e n c h e s this m o r n i n g .
" F i n a l l y , I g o t h o m e a n d w a s r e l a x i n g in t h e front r o o m
a n d g u e s s w h a t — t h e p a p e r b o y t h r e w t h e Jerusalem Journal
right t h r o u g h t h e f r o n t w i n d o w . A n d m a y I r e m i n d y o u —
w e t a k e t h e S a n d s t o n e e d i t i o n . W h a t a m e s s ! T o t o p it off,
w h i l e w e w e r e all c l e a n i n g u p t h e living r o o m , C l a u d i a ' s
s u p p e r b u r n e d to a crisp a n d w e e n d e d u p e a t i n g l e f t o v e r ,
cold C h a l d e a n c a s s e r o l e .
" A l l in all, it h a s b e e n a terrible, h o r r i b l e , n o - g o o d , v e r y
bad d a y ! "
" W h a t a d a y ! H o w d o y o u h a n d l e all t h o s e u n e x p e c t e d ,
unwelcome events?"
" I d o n ' t k n o w . S o m e t i m e s I try a n d figure o u t h o w I

c o u l d h a v e p l a n n e d a h e a d to a v o i d t h e i n t e r r u p t i o n s .
S o m e t i m e s I g e t g o o d a n d m a d . S o m e t i m e s I j u s t give u p ,
p a s s i v e l y r e s i g n i n g m y s e l f to t h e fact of f a t e — t h a t ' s t h e w a y
life i s . "
" L e t ' s g o i n s i d e , T o n y , t h e m e e t i n g is a b o u t to star*.

L i s t e n c a r e f u l l y ! W h a t I h a v e to s a y s h o u l d h e l p y o u w o r k
y o u r w a y t h r o u g h t h e s e k i n d s of d a y s . "
42
W e c a n sit in o n this m e s s a g e t o o , b e c a u s e it is r e c o r d e d
for u s in E c c l e s i a s t e s 7 : 1 3 - 1 4 .
T o n y w a s t h e f i g m e n t of m y i m a g i n a t i o n . B u t there
c o u l d h a v e b e e n a T o n y in S o l o m o n ' s c o u r t , a n d h e could
have had a bad day, and he could have been there when
t h e s e c o n c e p t s w e r e p r e s e n t e d . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e r e could
w e l l h a v e b e e n s o m e h u m o r in T o n y ' s e x p e r i e n c e . Life is
f u n n y a s w e l l a s s e r i o u s , a n d o u r p r e a c h i n g s h o u l d reflect
this b a l a n c e . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n w e h a v e s u g g e s t e d c o n t a i n s a
b r i e f d i a l o g u e of h u m o r o u s r e a l i s m — r e a l i s m that w o u l d
p a v e t h e w a y for a c a r e f u l e x p o s i t i o n of t w o v e r s e s that deal
p r o f o u n d l y a n d a n d practically w i t h t h e d o c t r i n e of the
s o v e r e i g n t y of G o d .
Y o u m i g h t b r i n g T o n y o n t o t h e p l a t f o r m live a n d
i n t e r v i e w h i m . Y o u m i g h t get t w o l a y m e n o r staff a n d h a v e
t h e m p r e s e n t this in skit f o r m a t at t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e
m e s s a g e . O r T o n y c o u l d b e i n t e r v i e w e d at t h e c l o s e of t h e
s e r m o n to s e e h o w h e is g o i n g to a p p l y t h e s e t r u t h s in the
f u t u r e . T o n y ' s w i f e , C l a u d i a , c o u l d also b e a part of a n y of
t h e s e s c e n e s , a s c o u l d his y o u n g c h i l d r e n o r t e e n a g e r s . T o n y
c o u l d b e a s e a s o n e d saint o r a b r a n d - n e w b e l i e v e r . U s e y o u r
i m a g i n a t i o n ! M a k e t h e S c r i p t u r e s c o m e alive!
INNER-LIFE-SETTING
T o t h i s p o i n t w e h a v e dealt w i t h l i f e - s e t t i n g s a s t h e y
relate to c e r t a i n a s p e c t s of l a n g u a g e , h i s t o r y , a n d c u l t u r e .
O u r a p p r o a c h h a s b e e n p r i m a r i l y i n t e r p e r s o n a l . B u t t h e r e is
a l s o a n intrapersonal a s p e c t — t h a t is, w h a t g o e s o n w i t h i n t h e
p e r s o n . F o r e x a m p l e , J e s u s told t h e d i s c i p l e s his h e a r t w a s
t r o u b l e d a s h e c o n t e m p l a t e d t h e a g o n y of t h e c r o s s ( J o h n
12:27). P a u l r e v e a l e d to t h e R o m a n s h i s p e r p e t u a l s o r r o w a n d
a n g u i s h o v e r h i s u n s a v e d b r e t h r e n in Israel ( 9 : 1 - 5 ) . In t h e
p a r a b l e of t h e P r o d i g a l S o n , w e k n o w w h a t t h e y o u n g m a n
said to h i m s e l f w h e n h e c a m e to his s e n s e s in t h e p i g p e n
( L u k e 1 5 : 1 7 - 1 9 ) . In t h e P s a l m s w e a r e f r e q u e n t l y g i v e n
i n s i g h t a b o u t t h e i n n e r state o f t h e a u t h o r , a s in P s a l m 4 3 : 5 .
H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e m a n y p o r t i o n s of S c r i p t u r e w h e r e
43
w h a t is g o i n g o n i n s i d e t h e i n d i v i d u a l is n o t explicitly
r e v e a l e d , y e t it w o u l d aid o u r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d a p p l i c a t i o n
of t h e text if w e k n e w w h a t t h e p e r s o n w a s t h i n k i n g a n d
feeling. That's w h e r e w e bring our imagination into play.
T h a t ' s w h e r e w e c r e a t i v e l y r e - c r e a t e t h e life-setting a n d t h e n
p r o b e t h e i n n e r r e c e s s e s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l ( s ) i n v o l v e d in t h e
text. W h a t w a s h e t h i n k i n g ? H o w w a s s h e r e a c t i n g ? H o w d o
t h e y feel a b o u t t h a t ? W h y did h e s a y t h a t ? W h y did s h e d o
t h a t ? A s k i n g a n d a n s w e r i n g s u c h q u e s t i o n s will e n a b l e u s to
d i s c o v e r a n d d e v e l o p t h e i n n e r - l i f e - s e t t i n g of t h e text.
A c t u a l l y , w e h a v e a l r e a d y d o n e s o m e o f this i n t e r n a l
i n v e s t i g a t i o n . W e h a v e s e e n h o w s t r o n g l y P a u l felt a b o u t t h e
" e q u i p p i n g " n a t u r e of t h e W o r d . W e h a v e t h o u g h t a l o n g
w i t h h i m a s h e m e n t a l l y d e c i d e d o n t h r e e a d j e c t i v e s to
a m p l i f y t h e m e a n i n g of t h e will of G o d . W e h a v e tried to
r e a d t h e m i n d o f a tired T e r t i u s . W e h a v e s u g g e s t e d a
p o s s i b l e i n c i d e n t that m i g h t h a v e c a u s e d S o l o m o n to a r r a n g e
h i s t h o u g h t s a s p r e s e n t e d t o u s in E c c l e s i a s t e s 7 : 1 3 - 1 4 .
P e t e r o f f e r s u s p l e n t y of i n n e r - l i f e d a t a . L e t ' s d o s o m e
p e r c e p t i v e p e e k i n g i n s i d e this o f t e n i m p e t u o u s m a n . In
M a t t h e w 1 6 : 1 3 - 1 5 , Jesus moved from a general question,
" W h o d o p e o p l e s a y t h e S o n of M a n i s ? " to a specific
question, " W h o do you say I a m ? "
H o w would you compare the internal pressure on the
d i s c i p l e s w i t h r e f e r e n c e to t h e s e t w o q u e s t i o n s ? T h e s e c o n d
i n v o l v e s m o r e p r e s s u r e b e c a u s e it is m o r e p e r s o n a l i z e d a n d
thus m o r e threatening. Right? S o y o u might profitably
a n a l y z e C h r i s t ' s p u r p o s e in g o i n g f r o m t h e g e n e r a l to t h e
s p e c i f i c w i t h H i s d i s c i p l e s . Y o u c o u l d also s e e k to c r a w l
i n s i d e t h e m i n d o f o n e or m o r e of t h e d i s c i p l e s a n d f i g u r e o u t
w h a t k i n d o f a trip h i s e g o w a s t a k i n g at t h a t m o m e n t . W a s
h e s o a r i n g w i t h i n s i g h t , o r s e a r c h i n g for i d e n t i t y ?
Peter c o m e s up with the a n s w e r , " Y o u are the Christ,
t h e S o n o f t h e living G o d " ( 1 6 : 1 6 ) . W h e n ? A f t e r a p e r i o d of
a w k w a r d s i l e n c e , or q u i c k l y b e f o r e a n y o f his c o l l e a g u e s h a d
t i m e to r e s p o n d ? W h y ? T o s h o w t h e m u p , or to h e l p t h e m
o u t ? W a s h e their r e c o g n i z e d s p o k e s m a n , o r a s e l f - a p p o i n t e d
know-it-all? Was he a quick thinker, or a p u s h y egotist? W a s
44
h e t r y i n g to get o n t o p , o r stay o n t o p ? T h e s e a r e t h e k i n d s of
q u e s t i o n s t h a t will h e l p u s u n d e r s t a n d t h e i n n e r - l i f e - s e t t i n g
of this text.
In M a t t h e w 1 6 : 1 7 - 1 9 J e s u s g i v e s w o r d s o f p r a i s e a n d
a f f i r m a t i o n to P e t e r , b u t m a k e s it quite c l e a r t h a t P e t e r h a d n ' t
c o m e to his c o r r e c t c o n c l u s i o n a b o u t w h o C h r i s t w a s o n his
o w n ; this t r u t h w a s r e v e a l e d to h i m b y t h e F a t h e r in h e a v e n .
I w o n d e r if P e t e r h e a r d t h e s e latter f a c t s . I w o n d e r if the
" b l e s s e d are y o u " w a s b o o m i n g a w a y , o v e r a n d o v e r in his
m i n d , e s s e n t i a l l y d r o w n i n g o u t e v e r y t h i n g else t h e L o r d h a d
to s a y . In m y o w n e x p e r i e n c e I find it t e m p t i n g to r e p l a y
a f f i r m a t i o n t a p e s o v e r a n d o v e r , letting t h e m inflate m y
fragile e g o , p o s s i b l y b l o c k i n g o u t o t h e r n e e d e d i n s i g h t s .
W h e n w e d o well a n d p e o p l e p r a i s e u s , w a t c h o u t . A t t h e
p o i n t of p r a i s e w e b e c o m e v e r y v u l n e r a b l e .
O n e of t h e m a i n r e a s o n s w h y w e s e n s e t h a t P e t e r w a s
m a j o r i n g o n h i m s e l f is w h a t h a p p e n e d in M a t t h e w 1 6 : 2 1 - 2 3 .
T h e L o r d b e g a n to t e a c h H i s d i s c i p l e s a b o u t H i s c o m i n g
suffering and death. Peter evaluated what the Lord was
s a y i n g , d e c i d e d h e d i d n ' t like it, t o o k H i m a s i d e , a n d tried to
straighten H i m out.
K n o w i n g t h a t h e h a d some of t h e right a n s w e r s , P e t e r
fell i n t o t h e t r a p of t h i n k i n g h e h a d all t h e right a n s w e r s — o r
at l e a s t more of t h e right a n s w e r s t h a n t h e L o r d h a d at this
point.
That's a glimpse of the inner-life-setting of M a t t h e w
16:22. W e are watching a m a n function with arrogant
sincerity. I n a c c u r a t e self-talk will p r o d u c e s u c h a p a r a d o x .
M a t t h e w 16:23 c o n t a i n s C h r i s t ' s r e b u k e to P e t e r . H e p u t t h e
disciple in S a t a n ' s c a m p . H o w d i d this m a k e P e t e r feel? D i d
h e have e n o u g h insight to work his w a y through such a
s t i n g i n g r e b u k e ? D i d t h e w o r d s in 1 6 : 2 4 - 2 8 s p e a k to P e t e r ' s
ego problems?
W e could go on through the Gospels and study Peter's
i n n e r - l i f e - s e t t i n g in v a r i o u s s i t u a t i o n s — h i s v o w n e v e r to
d i s o w n t h e L o r d , h i s t h r e e f o l d d e n i a l of C h r i s t , his bitter
w e e p i n g , his c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e r i s e n C h r i s t a b o u t l o v i n g
s h e e p . T h e n w e c o u l d t u r n t o A c t s , w h e r e P e t e r r e g a i n s his
45
b o l d n e s s a n d l o s e s his p r e j u d i c e . A n d finally i n t o his t w o

letters w h e r e , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , h e tells his r e a d e r s to
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty

hand, that He may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).
P e t e r k n e w w h a t h e w a s talking a b o u t .
A s w e h a v e s a i d , s o m e t e x t s clearly p r e s e n t t h e i n n e r -
l i f e - s e t t i n g . O t h e r s d o n o t . W h e r e t h e text d o e s d o it, w e
s h o u l d i n c l u d e it in o u r s t u d y a n d e x p o s i t i o n . W h e r e t h e
i n n e r - l i f e - s e t t i n g is n o t o v e r t l y s t a t e d , w e s h o u l d carefully
p r o b e t h e t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s of t h e p e o p l e i n v o l v e d a n d
u s e t h e s e i n s i g h t s t o e n h a n c e o u r c o m m u n i c a t i o n of t h e
t r u t h . T h e Bible s a y s too m u c h a b o u t t h e i n n e r m a n for u s to
n e g l e c t it in o u r p r e a c h i n g . D e v e l o p i n g t h e i n n e r - l i f e - s e t t i n g
4
will c a u s e u s t o b e m o r e b i o g r a p h i c a l i n o u r s t u d y a n d o u r
p r e a c h i n g of t h e biblical text. It will s t i m u l a t e u s to t h i n k
p e r s o n a l l y a s w e l l as p r o p o s i t i o n a l l y . It will e n a b l e u s to
d e v e l o p n o t o n l y t h e d o c t r i n e of t h e text, b u t also t h e d r a m a
of t h e text.
W h o s e i n n e r life a r e w e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t ? M o s e s ' i n n e r
life. J o b ' s i n n e r life. T h e p s a l m i s t s ' i n n e r lives. S o l o m o n ' s
i n n e r life. T h e p r o p h e t s ' i n n e r lives. T h e d i s c i p l e s ' i n n e r
lives. L u k e ' s i n n e r life. P a u l ' s i n n e r life. In s h o r t , t h e i n n e r
lives of all t h e biblical a u t h o r s . W h a t is g o i n g o n i n s i d e t h e s e
biblical a u t h o r s a s t h e y w r o t e t h e i n s p i r e d text is h i g h l y
s i g n i f i c a n t , b e c a u s e h o w t h e y felt a n d t h o u g h t i n f l u e n c e d
w h a t t h e y said a n d h o w t h e y said it. It is u p to t h e p r e a c h e r
to w o r k diligently to u n d e r s t a n d b o t h t h e text a n d w h a t w a s
g o i n g o n in t h e life o f t h e a u t h o r s a s t h e y c o m p o s e d t h e text.
W e a r e also to b e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e i n n e r lives o f t h e
r e c i p i e n t s of t h e text. W h a t w e r e t h e y t h i n k i n g a n d f e e l i n g a s
t h e y r e a d it or l i s t e n e d t o s o m e o n e e l s e r e a d it? W a s t h i s
t r u t h n e w to t h e m ? R e m i n d i n g a n d r e i n f o r c i n g w h a t t h e y
already k n e w ? Correcting them? Convicting them? Compli-
menting them? W e r e they resisting? Accepting? T h e better
w e u n d e r s t a n d t h e i n n e r life of t h e original r e c i p i e n t s , t h e
m o r e r e l e v a n t w e c a n b e to t h e i n n e r life of t h e c u r r e n t
recipients—namely, your congregation and you.
46
IN SUMMARY
T h e c h a l l e n g e o f this c h a p t e r h a s b e e n to creatively r e -
c r e a t e t h e life-setting of t h e biblical text. " L i f e - s e t t i n g "
s i m p l y m e a n s t h e t h i n g s t h a t g o o n in a n d around a n d between
t h e i n d i v i d u a l ( s ) a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e text. T h e S c r i p t u r e d o e s
n o t a l w a y s r e v e a l to u s w h a t t h e s e t h i n g s a r e . T o the e x t e n t
t h a t t h e y w o u l d b e h e l p f u l to o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d
a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e text, w e c a n l e g i t i m a t e l y u s e o u r i m a g i n a -
tion to c r e a t i v e l y r e - c r e a t e c e r t a i n s i g n i f i c a n t a s p e c t s of t h e
life-setting of t h a t text. O u r p u r p o s e is n o t t o i m p o s e o u r
c u l t u r e a n d i d e a s o n S c r i p t u r e , b u t to e x p o s e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d
i n f o r m a t i v e d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e t e x t — t h e o b v i o u s , a n d the n o t -
s o - o b v i o u s . C r e a t i v i t y a n d i m a g i n a t i o n a r e u s e d to d e v e l o p
those things that are not immediately obvious.
W e f o c u s e d o u r a t t e n t i o n o n t h r e e s e l e c t e d f a c e t s of t h e
life-setting o f t h e text. First, w e l o o k e d at d i f f e r e n t w a y s a n
a u t h o r u s e s w o r d s to e m p h a s i z e a n d i n t e n s i f y . G r a n t e d , it is
all G o d ' s W o r d , b u t G o d d o e s n o t c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h a n
i n s i p i d m o n o t o n e . W e n e e d to p a y c l o s e a t t e n t i o n to w h a t
H e s a y s a n d h o w H e s a y s it. S e c o n d , w e d e v o t e d t i m e to life-
s e t t i n g in its i n t e r p e r s o n a l d i m e n s i o n , s h o w i n g h o w w e c a n
raise o u r a n t e n n a e a n d f i n e - t u n e o u r r e c e i v e r s to p i c k u p
biblical c o n v e r s a t i o n s that will h e l p u s to u n d e r s t a n d a n d to
a p p l y t h e t r u t h s of t h e text. T h i r d , w e i n v e s t i g a t e d i n n e r - l i f e -
s e t t i n g s , d i r e c t i n g o u r a t t e n t i o n to w h a t is o r c o u l d b e g o i n g
o n i n s i d e biblical c h a r a c t e r s . T h e s e p e o p l e w e r e n o t h o l l o w
s e r v a n t s . T h e y w e r e full o f v i m , v i g o r , a n d vitality, a s w e l l a s
some problems.
Life-settings are helpful. U s e them!
47
4
Creatively Relating
to the Life-Setting
of the Congregation
W e h a v e b e e n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e life-setting of t h e text.
N o w it is t i m e t o m o v e t o t h e o t h e r s i d e of t h e d i a g r a m a n d
d e a l w i t h t h e life-setting of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n .
PREACHER
TEXT CONGREGATION
PREACHING
Figure 4.1
J u s t a s e v e r y text o f S c r i p t u r e h a s a life-setting, s o e v e r y
h u m a n b e i n g h a s a life-setting. J u s t as it is i m p o r t a n t for u s
to d i s c o v e r a n d d e v e l o p t h e life-setting of t h e text, s o it is
a l s o i m p o r t a n t for u s to b e a w a r e of t h e life-setting of e a c h
m e m b e r of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . In this c h a p t e r w e s u g g e s t a
n u m b e r of t h i n g s t h a t will h e l p u s b e c o m e a w a r e of a n d
r e m a i n s e n s i t i v e to t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g of t h e p e o p l e to w h o m w e
minister.
49
IDENTIFY Y O U R PEOPLE: W H O ARE THEY?
Y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n is m o r e t h a n a g r o u p of p e o p l e w h o
sit a n d listen to y o u p r e a c h e v e r y S u n d a y . E a c h p e r s o n is
unique, with n u m e r o u s identities a n d multiple roles. Unless
w e k e e p t h e s e f e a t u r e s in m i n d , w e will easily r e v e r t to
g e n e r a l i z e d p r e a c h i n g to a s t e r e o t y p e d a u d i e n c e .
" N o , " you say, " I offer m y people a sermonic m e n u
t h a t h a s s o m e t h i n g for e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l ; t r u t h to m e e t e v e r y
n e e d . " P e r h a p s y o u d o n o w a n d t h e n , b u t m o s t of t h e t i m e
t h e m e n u s t a y s in t h e s t u d y a n d all y o u c^fer is " T o d a y ' s
S p e c i a l , " w h i c h is u s u a l l y d e s i g n e d f o r t h e w h i t e , m i d d l e -
class, middle-aged, suburban male.
W h o , then, are these customers w h o c o m e your w a y
e a c h w e e k to i n g e s t y o u r spiritual f o o d ? W e l l , for s t a r t e r s ,
t h e y a r e male and female. A r e y o u c o n s c i o u s l y , specifically
s p e a k i n g to b o t h s e x e s in e v e r y s e r m o n ? A r e y o u clearly a n d
c o n s i s t e n t l y s e r v i n g t h e text to b o t h m e n a n d w o m e n ?
Let's k e e p going. You can identify your people as they
relate to t h e area o f m a r r i a g e a n d f a m i l y . H e r e is a s u g g e s t e d
list:
children mothers separated

adopted parents fathers
divorced childless husbands
in-laws remarried relatives
wives sisters engaged
singles grandparents brothers
widowed single parents
E v e r y p e r s o n in y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n fits into a n u m b e r o f
t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s . T h e y a r e p a r t o f h i s or h e r life-setting.
Every time you preach, single out o n e or more of these
c a t e g o r i e s a n d relate t h e text to t h o s e n e e d s .
H e r e is a list t h a t m o v e s into a number of other
categories:
poor y o u n g adult sick

jogger healthy addicted
50
Creatively Relating to the Life-Setting of the Congregation
athlete retired failure

black unemployed successful
professional pastor minority
student wealthy dying
elderly Hispanic youth
disabled career woman deacon
self-employed teacher
A s y o u p r e p a r e for a c o m i n g s e r m o n , let y o u r m i n d
r o a m t h r o u g h y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n . T h e y o u n g p e o p l e usually
sit n e a r t h e f r o n t o n t h e left s i d e . T h e y a r e a f u n - l o v i n g g r o u p
of f e l l o w s a n d g a l s . D o y o u u s e h u m o r n o w a n d t h e n in y o u r
s e r m o n ? I h o p e s o , b e c a u s e t e e n a g e r s like to l a u g h , e v e n in
church.
S o m e o f t h e t e e n a g e r s a r e athletes. Is t h e r e s o m e w a y
y o u c a n tie t h e biblical text t o w i n n i n g a n d l o s i n g , p l a y i n g
first string or sitting o n t h e b e n c h , h i g h s c o r i n g v e r s u s h a r d l y
ever scoring, submitting to the coach or " d o i n g your o w n
t h i n g , " l o s i n g y o u r t e m p e r i n s t e a d of k e e p i n g y o u r c o o l ,
s t e w a r d s h i p o f o u r p h y s i c a l r e s o u r c e s , a c c e p t a n c e o f limita-
tions?
O u r four offspring w e r e quite involved in junior high
a n d h i g h s c h o o l s p o r t s . A u d r e y a n d I s o u g h t to i n t e g r a t e
biblical p r i n c i p l e s w i t h t h e i r a t h l e t i c l i f e - s e t t i n g s , h o p i n g t h a t
o u r c h u r c h w o u l d r e i n f o r c e o u r m e s s a g e s to t h e m . It d i d n ' t
h a p p e n very often.
CONTEXTUALIZE YOUR PEOPLE:

WHERE ARE THEY?
Y o u r p e o p l e live a n d w o r k in a v a r i e t y o f e n v i r o n m e n t s .
Life-setting preaching should prepare t h e m to handle the
problems a n d the opportunities w h e r e v e r they find t h e m -
s e l v e s . H e r e is a s a m p l i n g o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s to w h i c h
w e are e x p o s e d :
politics pornography leisure

taxes newspapers advertising
inflation industry motor homes
51
fitness war drugs

education technology movies
hijacking magazines economics
recreation television materialism
aerobics nuclear p o w e r prisons
business humanism nursing homes
unions sex job
money feminism vacations
radio AIDS computers
dating medicine art
science death birth
sports credit abortion
authority pregnancy crime
euthanasia music government
accidents morality terrorism
hospitals prostitution homosexuality
s p a c e travel
T h e list o b v i o u s l y c o u l d go o n i n t e r m i n a b l y . E v e r y t i m e
w e t u r n a r o u n d , t h e r e is s o m e t h i n g n e w in o u r w o r l d to
c h a l l e n g e u s . O f w h a t v a l u e is s u £ h a list to t h e p r e a c h e r ?
W e l l , his a s s i g n e d t a s k is to e q u i p p e o p l e " t o live self-
c o n t r o l l e d , u p r i g h t a n d g o d l y lives in this p r e s e n t a g e " (Titus
2 : 1 2 ) . T h e list a b o v e is a g o o d s a m p l i n g of w h a t t h e C h r i s t i a n
h a s to face now in this p r e s e n t a g e . I l l u s t r a t i o n s c a n c o m e
f r o m t h e s e a r e a s . A p p l i c a t i o n s c a n b e m a d e to t h e s e a r e a s .
V i c t o r i e s c a n b e g a i n e d in t h e s e a r e a s .
N o w , w i t h t h e s e r m o n in m i n d t h a t y o u a r e p r e p a r i n g
for n e x t S u n d a y , let y o u r e y e s r o a m u p a n d d o w n the t h r e e
c o l u m n s a b o v e . D o y o u s e e a n area of o b v i o u s a p p l i c a t i o n ?
D o s o m e of y o u r p e o p l e w o r k in o n e of t h e s e fields? H a s o n e
of t h e s e topics b e e n p r o m i n e n t in t h e n e w s this w e e k ? H a v e
y o u a v o i d e d o n e of t h e s e i s s u e s l o n g e n o u g h ?
C o n s i d e r o n e c a t e g o r y : advertising. Is t h e r e a c l e v e r ,
s u b t l e ad t h e m e d i a is c u r r e n t l y u s i n g to e n t i c e p e o p l e — y e s ,
e v e n y o u r p e o p l e — t o c o m p r o m i s e their v a l u e s ? T o s p e n d
m o n e y t h e y d o n ' t h a v e ? T o b e m o r e m a t e r i a l i s t i c ? C o u l d this
p a s s a g e of S c r i p t u r e alert t h e m to the d a n g e r of c o m p r o m i s e ?
D o e s it teach t h e m h o w to b e m o r e d i s c e r n i n g ? A r e t h e r e a n y
52
o t h e r w a y s y o u c o u l d relate t h e t r u t h of t h e text to t h e subtle

d e c e p t i o n of t h e ad?
W h a t w e a r e s a y i n g is that w e n e e d to t e a c h p e o p l e
h o w to e v a l u a t e c o m m e r c i a l s o n radio a n d T V , h o w to
b r o w s e t h r o u g h n e w s p a p e r s a n d m a g a z i n e s , h o w to r e s p o n d
to half-price s a l e s , h o w to h a n d l e c o u p o n s a n d r e b a t e s ,
b e c a u s e t h a t ' s w h e r e p e o p l e l i v e — i n a n e n v i r o n m e n t that is
s u p e r s a t u r a t e d w i t h a materialistic s y s t e m that is n o t heartily
in favor of s e l f - c o n t r o l a n d u p r i g h t a n d g o d l y living. Y o u , the
p r e a c h e r , m a y b e t h e o n l y anti-materialistic v o i c e t h e y will
h e a r c r y i n g in t h e w i l d e r n e s s of a d v e r t i s i n g , w h i c h u b i q u i -
tously s u r r o u n d s t h e m a n d s u b t l y s e e k s to s e d u c e t h e m .
ANALYZE YOUR PEOPLE: WHAT ARE

THEY THINKING? H O W ARE THEY FEELING?
T h e t w o p r e c e d i n g s u b j e c t s t e n d to h i g h l i g h t t h e
i n t e r p e r s o n a l a s p e c t s of life: w h o a n d w h e r e o u r p e o p l e a r e ,
their roles a n d their r e l a t i o n s h i p s . N o w w e m o v e i n s i d e a n d
direct o u r a t t e n t i o n to t h e zrcfrapersonal—the i n n e r - l i f e - s e t -
t i n g of t h e p e o p l e in t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . H e r e a r e s o m e o f t h e
m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l o p t i o n s y o u r p e o p l e c a n b r i n g to
church with them.
interested neutral frustrated

proud pessimistic challenged
confused rejoicing apathetic
convicted preoccupied threatened
surprised bored motivated
peaceful skeptical afraid
optimistic accepting compassionate
excited grieving guilty
sobered suspicious rejected
inferior worried lonely
happy tired depressed
angry antagonistic tempted
L e t ' s d i s c u s s a f e w of t h e s e e m o t i o n s . M a n y p e o p l e a r e
interested in e v e r y t h i n g y o u s a y a n d in e v e r y t h i n g t h e c h u r c h
53
d o e s ; k e e p f a n n i n g their f l a m e . S o m e a r e i n t e r e s t e d in
g a i n i n g k n o w l e d g e , b u t a r e n o t i n t e r e s t e d in m a k i n g a
c o m m i t m e n t ; a l o n g w i t h t h e data y o u d e l i v e r , c h a l l e n g e
t h e m to a d e c i s i o n . A f e w are p r o b a b l y t h e r e u n d e r p r o t e s t —
p e r h a p s a t e e n a g e r , sitting in silent, s u l l e n rebellion a g a i n s t
her parents w h o m a d e her c o m e , or an unsaved spouse
w h o s e m a t e c a j o l e d h i m i n t o a t t e n d i n g . In e i t h e r c a s e , y o u r
task is to s a y a n d d o t h i n g s that will s t i m u l a t e i n t e r e s t in G o d
and the gospel.
S o m e a r e confused. T h e y d o n ' t clearly u n d e r s t a n d w h a t
it t a k e s to b e a C h r i s t i a n , or t h e y h a v e b e e n talking w i t h a
m e m b e r of a cult w h o lives n e x t d o o r . T h e y n e e d c l e a r ,
specific t r u t h s r e l a t e d to their p e r s o n a l d i l e m m a s . F u r t h e r -
m o r e , t h e y n e e d to k n o w it is n o t w r o n g to b e c o n f u s e d ; it is
w r o n g to stay c o n f u s e d .
A f e w are grieving. Bill's f i a n c é e j u s t b r o k e their
e n g a g e m e n t . S a l l y ' s m o t h e r h a s c a n c e r . W e n d e l l got laid off.
M a r t h a failed h e r d r i v e r ' s l i c e n s e e x a m . S h o w y o u r s e l f
s e n s i t i v e to t h e s e k i n d s o f s i t u a t i o n s a n d p e o p l e will n o t o n l y
c o m e to h e a r y o u p r e a c h , t h e y will sit n e a r t h e f r o n t !
Happiness is t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f s o m e . T h e kids h a v e
r e c o v e r e d f r o m t h e c h i c k e n p o x , C h a r l i e g o t a r a i s e , P a m got
a d a t e , H a l got a t e n - s p e e d b i k e — a n d t h e y a r e all in t h e
S u n d a y morning service, each so excited that they have
t r o u b l e c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n y o u r s e r m o n . Y o u h a v e to m a k e
t h e m believe that w h a t y o u h a v e to s a y is m o r e i m p o r t a n t
a n d m o r e e x c i t i n g t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e in all this w o r l d , and/or
y o u h a v e to relate t h e i r h a p p i n e s s to G o d a n d H i s W o r d .
T h e s e are not only w o r d s that describe w h e r e people
are; they are w o r d s that indicate w h e r e people can a n d
s h o u l d b e . T h e p e r s o n w h o c o m e s to c h u r c h f e e l i n g r e j e c t e d
should leave feeling accepted. T h e envious should go a w a y
w i t h a n e w level o f c o n t e n t m e n t . T h e b o r e d s h o u l d b e
c h a l l e n g e d . A n d b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e t h i n g s in life t h a t m a y
a l w a y s b e b o r i n g ( s u c h as p u l l i n g w e e d s o r s w e e p i n g f l o o r s ) ,
t h e b o r e d s h o u l d l e a r n to c o p e w i t h b o r e d o m . Let it n o t b e a
b o r i n g s e r m o n w i t h w h i c h t h e y h a v e to c o p e !
T h e s e are n o t o n l y w o r d s t h a t d e s c r i b e t h e c o n g r e g a -
54
tion; t h e y m i g h t w e l l d e s c r i b e t h e p r e a c h e r . Ideally^ t h e m a n
in the^_pjujj£i^sJTouki b e p e a c e f u l , m o t i v a t e d , conffHent,
a c c e p t e d , a n d o p t i m i s t i c . Realistically, h e m a y o n o c c a s i o n b e
c o n f u s e d , t h r e a t e n e d , w o r r i e d , a n d tired. T h i s is w h e r e
o p e n n e s s c a n b e p o w e r f u l , for t h i s is w h e r e t h e t r a n s p a r e n t
preacher can function, in Henri N o u w e n ' s words, as " t h e
w o u n d e d h e a l e r . " It t a k e s o n e to k n o w o n e , a n d t o b e o n e .
1
N o o n e c o m e s to c h u r c h v o i d o f all t h o u g h t s a n d
feelings. Everyone brings certain pieces of mental a n d
e m o t i o n a l b a g g a g e t o t h e p r e a c h i n g s e r v i c e . W e w o u l d like
for t h e p e o p l e to c h e c k their b a g s at t h e d o o r a n d c o m e in
e m p t y , r e a d y a n d willing to b e filled. If t h a t d o e s n ' t h a p p e n ,
w e w o u l d like to h a v e security c h e c k p o i n t s i n t h e n a r t h e x ,
a n d as each o n e w e n t through the scanner, w e would get a
c o m p u t e r s c r e e n r e a d o u t o f t h e m e n t a l a n d e m o t i o n a l state
o f e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l . I n s t e a d , in t h e y c o m e , b a g s a n d all, a n d
it t h e n b e c o m e s t h e a w e s o m e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e p r e a c h e r
to h e l p p e o p l e u n l o c k , u n z i p , u n p a c k , e v a l u a t e , a n d t h r o w
a w a y or k e e p , r e p a c k , z i p , a n d l o c k . Y o u m a y w a n t t o " b a g "
t h i s w h o l e illustration, b u t it is o n e w a y to p i c t u r e t h e
p r o c e s s o f p r e a c h i n g . If, d u r i n g t h e w e e k , a lot o f suit(able)
c a s e s e a r c h i n g is g o i n g o n in t h e life o f t h e p r e a c h e r a n d t h e
p e o p l e , t h i n g s will o p e n u p b e t t e r o n S u n d a y .
W H A T T O DO WITH LIFE-SETTING DATA
W e h a v e d e v e l o p e d t h r e e e x t e n s i v e lists. T h e first
identifies t h e p e o p l e : w h o t h e y a r e . T h e s e c o n d c o n t e x t u a l -
izes t h e p e o p l e : w h e r e t h e y a r e . T h e third a n a l y z e s t h e
people: w h a t they are thinking a n d feeling. H o w can w e use
this d a t a ? T y p e it all o n o n e p a g e , p u t t i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
w o r d lists u n d e r e a c h h e a d i n g . K e e p this s h e e t s o m e p l a c e in
y o u r s t u d y w h e r e it is a l w a y s h a n d y f o r y o u to l o o k a t —
p r e f e r a b l y w h e r e it is s t a r i n g y o u right in t h e f a c e . A s y o u
p r e p a r e y o u r m e s s a g e s , p e r i o d i c a l l y g a z e a t this list, a s k i n g
y o u r s e l f h o w y o u c a n r e l a t e t h i s t r u t h to i n - l a w s , retired
persons, a coming election, and so on.
As I gaze through the words on these lines, I think
55
a b o u t m y s e r m o n introduction. P e r h a p s t h e r e is s o m e antago-
nism o n t h e p a r t of y o u t h . T h e n I m i g h t start o u t w i t h : " I t is
q u i t e p o s s i b l e that s o m e of y o u m a y n o t a g r e e w i t h w h a t I
h a v e to s a y this m o r n i n g . . . s o I a s k all of y o u to p l e a s e
listen carefully to t h e s e r m o n . . . . " O r , " Y o u ' v e h a d a g o o d
w e e k . . . t h i n g s w e n t w e l l at h o m e a n d o n t h e j o b . . . in a
w o r d , y o u w e r e successful. W h y ? W h y did y o u s u c c e e d ?
W h a t did y o u d o t h a t m a d e y o u s u c c e s s f u l ? Is t h e r e
s o m e t h i n g b a s i c a n d f o u n d a t i o n a l to s u c c e s s ? T h e W o r d of
G o d p r o v i d e s i n s i g h t i n t o t h e a n s w e r to t h e s e q u e s t i o n s .
O p e n y o u r B i b l e s to . . . " I n t r o d u c t i o n s c a n easily a n d o f t e n
b e d r a w n f r o m t h e life-settings of t h e p e o p l e in y o u r c h u r c h .
G l a n c i n g t h r o u g h t h e s e lists will p r o v i d e t h e s t i m u l u s y o u
n e e d to d e v e l o p m e a n i n g f u l a n d v a r i e d i n t r o d u c t i o n s .
Y o u c a n a l s o u s e t h e s e life-setting lists to p r o m p t
illustrations. F o r e x a m p l e , e v e r y p e r s o n falls i n t o o n e of t h r e e
c a t e g o r i e s — c h i l d r e n , y o u t h , o r a d u l t s — a n d , to a g r e a t e r or
l e s s e r e x t e n t , t h e y a r e all a w a r e of t h e o t h e r t w o c a t e g o r i e s
b e s i d e s their o w n . S o illustrations f r o m t h e e x p e r i e n c e s of
a d u l t s , y o u t h , a n d c h i l d r e n o u g h t to b e d e v e l o p e d a n d u s e d
f r e q u e n t l y , b e c a u s e w h e n y o u d o this y o u get o n t h e
w a v e l e n g t h of e v e r y p e r s o n in y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n . B u t
r e m e m b e r , w e said earlier that o u r b i a s is t o w a r d w h i t e ,
middle-aged, middle-income, suburban males. To balance
t h a t , I s t r o n g l y s u g g e s t that y o u a l s o u s e p l e n t y of illustra-
t i o n s f r o m a n d for t h e lives of c h i l d r e n , y o u t h , a n d w o m e n .
A d u l t s will a l w a y s l i s t e n to w h a t y o u s a y to a n d a b o u t t h e i r
c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e . T h e r e v e r s e is n o t t r u e .
C o n t e x t u a l i z e y o u r i l l u s t r a t i o n s . If y o u r y o u t h a r e
d a t i n g , illustrate f r o m boy-girl r e l a t i o n s h i p s . If s o m e of y o u r
m e n travel, illustrate f r o m t h e t e m p t i n g m a g a z i n e s in t h e
airport s h o p s . In t h e s u m m e r , illustrate f r o m v a c a t i o n s .
D e a l i n g w i t h c h e a t i n g ? Illustrate j u s t b e f o r e final e x a m s a r e
g i v e n . D o y o u s e e m y p o i n t ? T h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l list is
r e p l e t e w i t h s e r m o n illustration p o t e n t i a l . S o is t h e
t h o u g h t / f e e l i n g list. Y o u c a n illustrate w i t h stories of s o r r o w ,
a n g e r , h a p p i n e s s , a n d e v e r y t h i n g in b e t w e e n . T h a t ' s w h e r e
p e o p l e live. E n r i c h t h e text a n d e n l i g h t e n y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n
with life-centered illustrations.
56
H O W TO SECURE THIS LIFE-SETTING DATA
H o w d o w e g e t this k i n d of b i o g r a p h i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n
a b o u t p e o p l e that will c o n t i n u a l l y a p p r i s e u s a s to w h o t h e y
a r e , w h e r e t h e y a r e , w h a t t h e y a r e t h i n k i n g , h o w t h e y are
f e e l i n g ? H e r e a r e s o m e w a y s t h a t w o r k for m e . T r y t h e m o n
a n d s e e h o w t h e y fit y o u .
1. Visit y o u r p e o p l e in t h e i r h o m e s , s c h o o l s , j o b s , a n d
leisure p u r s u i t s . T h e c h u r c h is y o u r turf. T h o s e o t h e r
p l a c e s c o n s t i t u t e their turf. M e e t t h e m t h e r e . T a l k w i t h
t h e m t h e r e . T h i s is their w o r l d . K n o w w h e r e t h e y live,
w h e r e t h e y w o r k , w h e r e t h e y g o to s c h o o l , w h a t their
h o b b i e s a r e . F i n d o u t w h a t is i n v o l v e d in t h e life o f B e n ,
Carla, a n d the rest.
2. A s k q u e s t i o n s . G o o d p r e a c h e r s k n o w h o w to a s k q u e s -
t i o n s a n d listen to t h e a n s w e r s . L e a r n f r o m t h e m a n d
about them. Ernest H e m i n g w a y said, " I have never spent
a n h o u r w i t h a m a n that I c o u l d n ' t w r i t e his b i o g r a p h y . "
D e v e l o p this k i n d of a n i n s a t i a b l e a p p e t i t e for i n f o r m a t i o n
about people.
3. R e a d . Y o u c a n l e a r n m u c h a b o u t t h e w o r l d in w h i c h y o u r
p e o p l e live b y r e a d i n g b o o k s a n d m a g a z i n e s . Business
Week, Sports Illustrated, Psychology Today, Reader's Digest
will p r o v i d e all k i n d s o f i n s i g h t s for r e l e v a n t i n t r o d u c -
tions, illustrations, a n d applications. Dip into best sellers,
b o t h fiction a n d n o n f i c t i o n ; f i n d o u t w h y t h e y a r e s o
p o p u l a r . I k n o w — y o u c a n ' t a f f o r d all this r e a d i n g
m a t e r i a l . S o u s e t h e p u b l i c library. F i n d o u t w h o r e a d s in
your congregation, and borrow from them. I k n o w — y o u
d o n ' t h a v e t i m e to r e a d . M a k e t i m e . I k n o w — y o u ' r e a
slow reader. Take a rapid reading course. I k n o w — y o u
r e a d t h e n e w s p a p e r , Leadership, Christianity Today, and
Moody Monthly. Broaden your horizons.
4 . L i s t e n to N a t i o n a l Public R a d i o . W a t c h e d u c a t i o n a l televi-
sion. Both these organizations do s o m e fine reporting
j o u r n a l i s m , m o s t of t h e t i m e in g r e a t e r d e p t h t h a n r e g u l a r
57
r a d i o a n d T V s t a t i o n s . All Things Considered is a late

a f t e r n o o n p r o g r a m of N P R that p r o v i d e s e x c e l l e n t e x p o -
s u r e to a b r o a d r a n g e o f n e w s . W i t h o u t c o m m e r c i a l s .
5. C o n s i d e r s e r v i c e c l u b s : R o t a r y , K i w a n i s , the L i o n s , a n d s o
o n . If y o u j o i n , y o u h a v e to g e t i n v o l v e d t h r o u g h b o t h
r e g u l a r a t t e n d a n c e a n d active s e r v i c e . W e e k l y p r o g r a m s
e x p o s e y o u to w h a t ' s g o i n g o n in y o u r c o m m u n i t y . If y o u
d o n ' t c h o o s e to j o i n , a s k o t h e r s w h o a r e m e m b e r s to t a k e
you now and then.
6. T a k e a d v a n t a g e of o p p o r t u n i t i e s p r o v i d e d b y local col-
leges and universities. Continuing education courses are
a l w a y s a v a i l a b l e . T h e y will e n r i c h y o u r o w n life a n d y o u r
m i n i s t r y . S p e c i a l l e c t u r e s a r e o f t e n h e l d in d i f f e r e n t
colleges, different departments. Encourage college stu-
d e n t s in y o u r c h u r c h to let y o u k n o w w h e n s p e c i a l
programs are scheduled.
7. A t t e n d p r o f e s s i o n a l s e m i n a r s . I a l m o s t h e s i t a t e to m e n -
tion t h e s e , s i n c e w e a r e s e m i n a r s a t u r a t e d to t h e p o i n t
that local c h u r c h m i n i s t r y is s o m e t h i n g w e d o b e t w e e n
seminars. But there are m a n y g o o d o n e s . C o n s i d e r
i n v i t i n g s o m e of y o u r lay l e a d e r s to a t t e n d m i n i s t r y
s e m i n a r s w i t h y o u . It will h e l p to e q u i p t h e m , a n d it will
h e l p t h e m b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d w h a t y o u d o . T h e n t u r n that
a r o u n d a n d a s k t h e m o n o c c a s i o n t o t a k e y o u t o o n e of
t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l m e e t i n g s or s e m i n a r s . It m a y h e l p to
s h a r p e n s o m e of y o u r o w n skills, i n t r o d u c e y o u to n e w
s u b j e c t s a n d i d e a s , a n d i n c r e a s e y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of
t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g of s o m e m e m b e r s of y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n .
8. F o r m a s e r m o n p r e p a r a t i o n a n d e v a l u a t i o n t e a m . T h i s is
o n e o f t h e m o s t p r o d u c t i v e t h i n g s I h a v e e v e r d o n e in m y
p a s t o r a l m i n i s t r y . F o r m a t e a m t h a t is r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f
your c o n g r e g a t i o n — m a l e , female, young, old, thinker,
d o e r , t r a d i t i o n a l , c o n t e m p o r a r y , a n d s o o n . S i x to t e n
p e o p l e w o u l d b e a g o o d n u m b e r . A s k t h e m to m e e t w i t h
y o u for a n h o u r a n d half in t h e m i d d l e of t h e w e e k for a
p e r i o d of o n e to t h r e e m o n t h s .
58
THE PREPARATION AND EVALUATION TEAM
T h e r e a r e t w o i t e m s o n t h e a g e n d a at a m i d w e e k
sermon preparation and evaluation meeting as suggested
a b o v e . First, a n e v a l u a t i o n of last S u n d a y ' s m e s s a g e . S e c o n d ,
p r e p a r a t i o n of n e x t S u n d a y ' s m e s s a g e . E v a l u a t i o n d o e s n ' t
c o m e e a s y . L a y p e o p l e a r e n o t u s e d to d o i n g it, a r e o f t e n n o t
t r a i n e d t o d o it, a n d in s o m e i n s t a n c e s d o n ' t t h i n k it s h o u l d
b e d o n e : t h e L o r d ' s a n o i n t e d are n o t t o b e t o u c h e d ! B u t w i t h
a n o p e n n e s s o n t h e part of t h e rest o f t h e t e a m , it c a n b e c o m e
a v e r y p r o f i t a b l e s e s s i o n , w i t h p l e n t y of p o s i t i v e a s w e l l as
some negative feedback.
H e l p in p r e p a r a t i o n g o e s like t h i s : T h e p a s t o r s h a r e s t h e
p a s s a g e h e will b e u s i n g , g i v e s t h e m t h e g e n e r a l o u t l i n e h e
will f o l l o w , a n d t h e overall t h r u s t h e e x p e c t s t h e m e s s a g e t o
have. T h e t e a m m e m b e r s point out w h e r e they n e e d a clearer
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e text; h o w t h e y s e e t h e t r u t h a p p l y i n g to
t h e i r lives a n d t h e lives of t h e i r c h i l d r e n , their f r i e n d s ; w a y s
in w h i c h t h e t r u t h c o u l d b e i l l u s t r a t e d ; a n d w h a t s h o u l d b e
e m p h a s i z e d . T h e r e s u l t s : a p a s t o r w h o starts p r e p a r i n g
earlier, a g r o u p of l a y p e o p l e w h o b e c o m e m o r e intelligently
i n v o l v e d in helping t h e p a s t o r d e v e l o p h i s s e r m o n , w h o listen
i n t e n t l y o n S u n d a y m o r n i n g to s e e h o w h e and they a r e
d o i n g , a n d w h o e v a l u a t e b o t h s t r e n g t h s a n d w e a k n e s s e s in
order to help their pastor grow.
A t t i m e s I h a v e g o n e t h r o u g h t h i s p r o c e s s w i t h adult
a n d y o u t h S u n d a y s c h o o l t e a c h e r s a n d tied t h e s e r m o n a n d
Sunday school lesson together. O n occasion I have met
i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e m o r n i n g s e r v i c e w i t h t h e t e a m for a n
e v a l u a t i o n w h i l e t h i n g s w e r e f r e s h in t h e i r m i n d s . I h a v e
used the entire midweek prayer and study group as a
p r e p a r a t i o n a n d e v a l u a t i o n t e a m . Y o u c o u l d u s e m e m b e r s of
y o u r staff, m e m b e r s of y o u r b o a r d , i n t e r n s , o r B i b l e c o l l e g e
a n d s e m i n a r y s t u d e n t s t o t e a m u p w i t h y o u i n this k i n d o f
e n d e a v o r . It will m a k e y o u a b e t t e r p r e a c h e r , n o t o n l y
b e c a u s e y o u a r e a s k i n g f o r a n d r e c e i v i n g e v a l u a t i o n , b u t also
b e c a u s e y o u a r e p r e p a r i n g y o u r s e r m o n s with p e o p l e a s well
a s for p e o p l e . 2
59
IN SUMMARY
Nobody " j u s t preaches the W o r d . " W h e n you preach,

y o u a l w a y s p r e a c h t h e W o r d to people. T h e crucial q u e s t i o n
is, h o w w e l l d o y o u k n o w p e o p l e ? T h i s c h a p t e r h a s b e e n
d e s i g n e d to r e m i n d y o u of v a r i o u s w a y s y o u c a n d e t e r m i n e
a n d use the current life-settings of the people. R e m a i n i n g
e v e r - s e n s i t i v e to w h o t h e y a r e , w h e r e t h e y a r e , w h a t t h e y a r e
t h i n k i n g , a n d h o w t h e y are f e e l i n g will a l l o w u s to s c r a t c h
w h e r e t h e y itch.
60
5
Creatively Using
the Life-Setting
of the Preacher
I n t h e p r e c e d i n g c h a p t e r s w e h a v e dealt w i t h t h e life-setting
of t h e a n c i e n t biblical text a n d t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g o f t h e p r e s e n t -
d a y c o n g r e g a t i o n . W h o l i n k s t h e text a n d t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n
t o g e t h e r ? T h e p r e a c h e r . H o w d o e s h e d o it? With his own life-
setting. H e h a s o n e , y o u k n o w . J u s t b e c a u s e h e is o n his w a y
to h e a v e n d o e s n ' t m e a n h e h a s c h e c k e d o u t of this w o r l d .
U p o n g r a d u a t i n g f r o m B i b l e c o l l e g e or s e m i n a r y , h e d i d n ' t
h a v e to t u r n i n h i s h u m a n i t y t o r e c e i v e h i s d i p l o m a . E v e r y
p r e a c h e r b r i n g s to t h e t a s k of p r e a c h i n g h i s o w n p e r s o n a l ,
u n i q u e life-setting. W e n e e d t o e x p l o r e this c o n c e p t .
YOUR PERSONAL ENDOWMENTS
Your sex, size, shape, strength, coordination, face,

v o i c e — i n s h o r t , all of y o u r p h y s i c a l e n d o w m e n t s — m a k e
y o u a h u m a n b e i n g similar to all o t h e r s . Y e t e x p e r i e n c e
p r o v e s that n o b o d y l o o k s , w a l k s , o r talks e x a c t l y like y o u .
Y o u a r e a u n i q u e p e r s o n , r e c o g n i z a b l y d i s t i n c t f r o m all o t h e r
h u m a n s . F u r t h e r m o r e , like o t h e r s , y o u h a v e a m i n d , e m o -
t i o n s , a n d will. B u t y o u d o n ' t t h i n k , f e e l , a n d act e x a c t l y like
a n y o n e e l s e , s o o n c e a g a i n y o u m u s t r e g a r d y o u r s e l f as
61
u n i q u e , w i t h a p e r s o n a l i t y t h a t is r e c o g n i z a b l y distinct f r o m
e v e r y o n e e l s e . F i n a l l y , y o u h a v e c e r t a i n gifts a n d talents that
m a k e it p o s s i b l e for y o u to d o c e r t a i n t h i n g s e x c e e d i n g l y
w e l l . O t h e r h u m a n b e i n g s also h a v e skills, e v e n s o m e of t h e
s a m e ones you have, but each person packages and delivers
t h e s e skills in a n d t h r o u g h u n i q u e i n d i v i d u a l i t i e s . Y o u are a
custom-made person.
C u s t o m - m a d e b y w h o m ? U l t i m a t e l y , b y G o d . " I t is h e
w h o m a d e u s , " said t h e p s a l m i s t ( 1 0 0 : 3 ) . D a v i d p e r s o n a l i z e s
a n d localizes G o d ' s c r e a t i v e h a n d i w o r k : " F o r y o u c r e a t e d m y
i n m o s t b e i n g ; y o u k n i t m e t o g e t h e r in m y m o t h e r ' s
w o m b . . . . I a m fearfully a n d w o n d e r f u l l y m a d e ; y o u r w o r k s
a r e w o n d e r f u l , I k n o w that full w e l l " ( 1 3 9 : 1 3 - 1 4 ) . Isaiah
c o m e s to t h e s a m e c o n c l u s i o n : " W e a r e t h e clay, y o u a r e t h e
p o t t e r ; w e a r e all t h e w o r k of y o u r h a n d " (64:8). T o a n y
d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e divine d e s i g n in u s , Isaiah i s s u e s a
s o l e m n w a r n i n g : " W o e to h i m w h o q u a r r e l s w i t h his M a k e r "
( 4 5 : 9 ) . T h e clay d o e s n o t talk b a c k to t h e P o t t e r .
M o s e s e x p a n d s o u r c o n c e p t of c u s t o m i z i n g w i t h t h e
r e v e l a t i o n t h a t G o d g a v e t h e Israelite c r a f t s m e n all t h e skills
n e e d e d to b u i l d t h e t a b e r n a c l e ( E x o d . 3 1 : 1 - 6 ) . A n d of
c o u r s e , t h e gifts of t h e Spirit, w h i c h all b e l i e v e r s p o s s e s s , a r e
n o t t h e r e s u l t of o u r c h o i c e or of m e r e c h a n c e . T h e H o l y
Spirit " g i v e s t h e m to e a c h o n e , j u s t a s h e d e t e r m i n e s "
(1 C o r . 1 2 : 1 1 ) .
Y o u r p h y s i c a l b e i n g , t h e c o m p o n e n t s of y o u r p e r s o n a l -
ity, y o u r t a l e n t s a n d gifts all c o m b i n e t o m a k e y o u a u n i q u e
p e r s o n . B e h i n d y o u r u n i q u e n e s s is a s o v e r e i g n , c r e a t i v e
G o d . H e h a s a n i n f i n i t e n u m b e r of p a t t e r n s to c h o o s e f r o m .
W h e n He made you, He chose one He had never used
before; w h e n H e finished you, H e retired the pattern. T h e r e
n e v e r h a s b e e n o n e exactly like y o u . T h e r e will n e v e r b e
a n o t h e r e x a c t l y like y o u . Y o u a r e o n e of a k i n d . 1
YOUR RESPONSE TO YOUR ENDOWMENTS
G e t in c l o s e t o u c h w i t h y o u r G o d - o r d a i n e d u n i q u e n e s s .
Discover and develop your God-given strengths. Identify
62
Creatively Using the Life-Setting of the Preacher
and accept your God-allowed limitations. Find out w h o you

are p h y s i c a l l y , m e n t a l l y , e m o t i o n a l l y , a n d volitionally. D e -
t e r m i n e w h a t y o u can d o w i t h y o u r t a l e n t s a n d gifts. A s y o u
d i s c o v e r a n d d e v e l o p y o u r u n i q u e n e s s a s a person, realize
that y o u a r e also d i s c o v e r i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g y o u r u n i q u e -
n e s s a s a preacher. T h e r e i s o n l y o n e p e r s o n like y o u . T h u s
t h e r e is o n l y o n e p r e a c h e r like y o u . Y o u r o b l i g a t i o n is to find
out w h o y o u are a n d t h e n be y o u r s e l f to t h e full, w i t h
excellence.
Y o u will discover t h i n g s a b o u t y o u r s e l f t h a t y o u w i s h
were different. Some you can change, s o m e you can't. You
m a y w i s h y o u w e r e taller, b u t y o u a r e n ' t a n d n e v e r will b e .
A c c e p t y o u r s e l f at 5 ' 6 " a n d l o w e r t h e p u l p i t o r s t a n d o n a
stool. Y o u l o n g for a m e l l i f l u o u s b a s s v o i c e , b u t y o u r vocal
c o r d s o p e r a t e to deliver a h i g h - p i t c h e d , slightly r a s p y t o n e .
V o i c e l e s s o n s m a y h e l p , b u t y o u will p r o b a b l y h a v e to settle
for s o m e t h i n g less t h a n b a s s , u n l e s s y o u c a n live w i t h a l o w -
level c o l d f o r t h e rest of y o u r m i n i s t r y ! Y o u w i s h y o u c o u l d
p r o b e d e e p e r in y o u r s t u d y o f t h e W o r d , b u t y o u ' r e j u s t n o t
a s a n a l y t i c as o t h e r s y o u k n o w . H o w e v e r , y o u d e l i g h t in
s y n t h e s i z i n g — t h a t is, p u t t i n g i d e a s t o g e t h e r s o t h e y f o r m a n
understandable whole. G o d has fashioned you as H e wanted
y o u to b e f a s h i o n e d . D o n ' t q u a r r e l w i t h y o u r M a k e r .
Coopej^te^v^^JTim.
M a n y t l u n g s can be Changed. Your teeth are crooked?
A n orthodontist can help. Have a shoulder slump? Stand up
straight. Y o u lisp? S e e a s p e e c h t h e r a p i s t . H a v e a facial tic o r
body twitch? Consult a physician or psychologist. A mole on
y o u r c h i n ? T r y a d e r m a t o l o g i s t . T e n d to b e s o f t - s p o k e n ?
L e a r n to p r o j e c t y o u r v o i c e , a n d t u r n u p t h e v o l u m e o n t h e
P A system. Carrying too m u c h weight? Eat less a n d exercise
m o r e . C o l o r b l i n d ? H a v e y o u r w i f e c h o o s e y o u r ties. P u t
y o u r h a n d in y o u r p o c k e t w h e n y o u p r e a c h ? S e w t h e p o c k e t
shut. Too m a n y " y o u k n o w s " and " u h s " ? Listen to yourself
on tape. H a v e s o m e o n e count t h e m for y o u . E x p u n g e the
m a j o r i t y o f these, " f i l l e r " w o r d s f r o m y o u r s p e a k i n g . Y o u
k n o w , y o u d o n ' t h a v e to s a y t h e m , y o u k n o w . U h . . . y a
know whatta mean?
63
E v e n w h e n y o u c h a n g e m a n y of t h e s e k i n d s of
i d i o s y n c r a s i e s , y o u will still b e t h e u n i q u e y o u . T h i s u n i q u e
y o u is o n e m a j o r p a r t of y o u r l i f e - s e t t i n g . W h a t y o u h a v e
b e e n e n d o w e d w i t h , y o u p r e a c h w i t h . W a t c h o u t for t h e
c o p y - c a t m e n t a l i t y that p r e s s u r e s y o u to b e like s o m e o n e
e l s e . T h e o t h e r g u y a p p e a r s to b e p o p u l a r a n d s u c c e s s f u l ,
a n d h e w e l l m a y b e , b u t t h e r e is o n l y o n e p e r s o n in all this
w o r l d exactly like h i m — t h a t ' s h e . Y o u c a n ' t b e his c l o n e .
D o n ' t try to b e . B e y o u r G o d - o r d a i n e d self. Y o u r i n h e r e n t ,
intrinsic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d qualities a r e w h a t m a k e y o u y o u .
S t a y c o n s i s t e n t l y a n d clearly in t o u c h w i t h w h o y o u a r e a n d
w h a t y o u c a n a n d c a n ' t d o . In o t h e r w o r d s , d i s c o v e r y o u r
own personal equation: John Jones = a + b + c - d . Your
l i f e - s e t t i n g is n o t j u s t where y o u a r e , it is a l s o who y o u a r e ,
a n d w h o y o u a r e will significantly i n f l u e n c e how y o u p r e p a r e
and preach.
YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
Your persona] e n d o w m e n t s are the inherent character-

istics, q u a l i t i e s , a n d a p t i t u d e s t h a t G o d h a s b e s t o w e d o n
y o u . Y o u r p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s a r e t h e e v e n t s t h a t h a p p e n in
y o u r life. W e k n o w t h a t all t h e s e e v e n t s a r e a p a r t of G o d ' s
s o v e r e i g n p l a n for u s . W h a t w e m a y classify as g o o d a n d b a d
u l t i m a t e l y all w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r o u r g o o d ( R o m . 8 : 2 8 ) .
S o l o m o n listed t w e n t y - e i g h t d i f f e r e n t h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e s ,
f o u r t e e n of t h e m p o s i t i v e , f o u r t e e n of t h e m n e g a t i v e , at l e a s t
f r o m o u r s t a n d p o i n t . Y e t f r o m his i n s p i r e d p e r s p e c t i v e h e
w e n t o n to classify all t w e n t y - e i g h t of t h e m as " b e a u t i f u l "
(Eccl. 3 : 1 - 1 1 ) .
Paul s p e a k s t o t h e s a m e c o n c e p t w h e n h e d e c l a r e s t h a t
G o d " w o r k s o u t e v e r y t h i n g in c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e p u r p o s e
o f his w i l l " ( E p h . 1:11). E a c h a n d e v e r y e x p e r i e n c e in life is a
p a r t of G o d ' s p u r p o s e a n d p l a n . It is for y o u r l e a r n i n g a n d
H i s g l o r y . All t h e s e d i v i n e l y a r r a n g e d e x p e r i e n c e s c o n s t i t u t e
y o u r life-setting, f r o m b i r t h t o d e a t h . T h e " y o u " t h a t
p r e a c h e s is t h e " y o u " that w a s b o r n , r a i s e d , f e d , c l o t h e d ,
spanked, educated, hurt, employed, married, misunder-
64
s t o o d , h o n o r e d — a n d all t h e myriad o t h e r experiences that

m a k e y o u a n a u t h e n t i c m e m b e r of the h u m a n race. All the
e x p e r i e n c e s y o u h a v e h a d a n d will have a r e p o t e n t i a l bridges
linking t h e text to t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n and t h e congregation to
t h e text. L e t ' s e x p l o r e t h i s bridging o p e r a t i o n .
Y O U R USE OF Y O U R EXPERIENCES
1. R e m e m b e r i n g Your P a s t
T w o t h i n g s y o u c a n b e s u r e of. You h a d many, many

e x p e r i e n c e s w h i l e y o u w e r e g r o w i n g up t h a t a r e common to
e v e r y o n e e l s e . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , you h a d s o m e experiences
u n i q u e to y o u . All t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s can b e u s e d to enhance
y o u r p r e a c h i n g . O n e of t h e b a s i c p r o b l e m s is that you have
f o r g o t t e n m u c h of t h e s e d a t a . T h e y a r e p i l e d up in the
v a r i o u s s t o r e r o o m s o f y o u r m i n d , and m a n y of t h e doors are
s h u t , s o m e e v e n l o c k e d . W h a t to do? S t a r t writing your
a u t o b i o g r a p h y . N o t a f o r m a l , f a n c y t r e a t m e n t of your life,
b u t a listing o f _ J h e _ _ y a r i a u s — t h i n g s - 4 h * t - y o u remember
h a p p e n i n g a l o n g j h e ^ j w a y , K e e p this list h a n d y , andjjyery
t i m e y o u t h i n k of a n o t h e r e x p e r i e n c e , w r i t e . i l down. Here
a r e s o m e t h i n g s f r o m m y list ( m o s t I r e m e m b e r , some my
p a r e n t s told m e a b o u t ) :
Born in Prescott, the mile-high city of Arizona

Hospital I was born in burned down shortly thereaf-
ter
Remember going down steep, snow-covered hill on
sled in winter
Big bonfires at top and bottom of sledding hill
Played under the ironing board and it collapsed on
me
Fell out of our moving car when I was f o u r — n o t hurt
badly
Used to watch Dad shovel coal into the basement
furnace
Stuffed leaves way up both nostrils—had to go to
the doctor
65
Played with Tommy who lived next door

Had difficulty learning to ride bike, kept running
into the wall
Rode a school bus to kindergarten
Hit a kid over the head with my chocolate milk bottle
on the school bus
Some older kids pushed me into a trench and
wouldn't let me out till supper
Fell out of bed and hurt my back on my mucilage
bottle
Had one sister, three years younger than I
Got sick and had to come home and take a nap every
day in third grade
Shattered my parents' bedroom window with my BB
gun
Had a crush on Prina Stanley in fourth grade
Member of a gang that harassed kids who weren't for
Franklin D. Roosevelt in fifth grade
These incidents are a mere beginning. I use these kinds

o f p e r s o n a l v i g n e t t e s p r i m a r i l y f o r illustrations a n d a p p l i c a -
t i o n s . T h e s e c h i l d h o o d life-settings will c a p t u r e t h e a t t e n t i o n
of e v e r y p e r s o n i n y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n , y o u n g a n d o l d .
W h a t I a m s u g g e s t i n g is t h a t y o u d e v e l o p a similar list
of y o u r o w n c h i l d h o o d e x p e r i e n c e s — a list that y o u c a n l o o k
at a s y o u p r e p a r e y o u r s e r m o n s , a n d a list that y o u c a n a d d
to a l o n g t h e w a y a s o t h e r e v e n t s c o m e t o m i n d . J u s t a s G o d
h a s u n i q u e l y e n d o w e d e a c h of u s , s o H e h a s g i v e n e a c h of u s
a u n i q u e set of g r o w i n g - u p e x p e r i e n c e s .
Next m o v e into your teenage years. Record some of the
e x p e r i e n c e s y o u h a d at h o m e w i t h p a r e n t s , b r o t h e r s a n d
s i s t e r s , o t h e r r e l a t i v e s , a n d f r i e n d s . List all t h e d i f f e r e n t
places you w e n t on family vacations. Jot d o w n the n a m e s of
the teachers you r e m e m b e r , the subjects you took, the teams
you played on, the embarrassing m o m e n t s you agonized
t h r o u g h , h i g h l i g h t s of y o u r b o y - g i r l r e l a t i o n s h i p s , h i l a r i o u s
things that h a p p e n e d to y o u , w a y s a n d m e a n s y o u w e r e
disciplined, honors and awards you received, whether you
w e r e an introvert or an extrovert, a leader or a follower,
66
intelligent or n o t s o , all t h e h o b b i e s y o u h a d , g r e g a r i o u s or a
l o n e r , s h y o r o u t g o i n g . In o t h e r w o r d s , b e g i n t o r e m e m b e r
a n d w r i t e d o w n s o m e of t h e specific, i n t e n s e l y personal
details of y o u r y o u t h .
H e r e is a c a t e g o r y y o u w o n ' t w a n t t o l e a v e o u t : all t h e
j o b s y o u h a d w h i l e y o u w e r e g r o w i n g u p . H e r e ' s m y list:
washed windows picked cotton worked on ranch

stock clerk trained horses cleaned test tubes
picked acorns swept floors cleaned stables
drove a tractor sales clerk built fences
mowed lawns baling hay delivery boy
milked cows night irrigator drove a truck
camp counselor dynamite blasting worked for
veterinarian
A w e a l t h o f i l l u s t r a t i o n s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s is b o u n d u p
in all t h e s e p a r t - t i m e j o b s . T h e y will h e l p y o u r e c o g n i z e h o w
v a r i e d y o u r e x p e r i e n c e i s , a n d it will alert y o u r l i s t e n e r s to
t h e fact t h a t y o u h a v e d o n e s o m e t h i n g b e s i d e s p r e a c h .
Naturally you would want to trace your spiritual
pilgrimage through your childhood and teenage years. Did
y o u g r o w u p in a C h r i s t i a n h o m e ? W a s c h u r c h a vital p a r t of
y o u r earlier y e a r s ? Did you run around with Christian
friends? W h e n did you b e c o m e a Christian? Did you pray?
R e a d y o u r B i b l e ? D i d y o u e v e r g e t in b i g t r o u b l e ? D i d y o u
attend Christian_or public schools? Did y o u u s e profanity?
D r u g s ? . T o b a c c o ? A l c o h o l ? W h a t k i n d jof s e x u a l t e m p t a t i o n s
did y o u s t r u g g T e ~ w i t h ? ^ V n a t p e o p l e w e r e p o s i t i y e / n e g a t i v e
role m o d e l s for y o u ? W e r e y o u r e b e l l i o u s ? D i d y o u e v e r r u n
a w a y f r o m h o m e ? D i d y o u e v e r w a n t t o ? W h a t k i n d s of
t h i n g s d o m i n a t e d y o u r l i f e — s p o r t s , j o b , girlfriend o r b o y -
friend, cars, music, hobbies?
I stress writing these things d o w n , because y o u won't
remember all o f t h e m w h e n y o u are putting a sermon
t o g e t h e r . If y o u h a v e a list, y o u c a n q u i c k l y p e r u s e it a n d
p i c k o u t s o m e t h i n g t h a t ties r i g h t in w i t h y o u r m e s s a g e .
A word to those who want to forget their past,
67
e s p e c i a l l y w h e n it c o n t a i n s a lot of g r o s s sin: Y o u w o u l d
r a t h e r n o t t h i n k a b o u t it or talk a b o u t it. Y o u w o u l d like to
b u r y it o n c e a n d for all. In the w o r d s of P a u l , y o u w o u l d like
to f o r g e t t h e p a s t a n d f o c u s o n t h e f u t u r e (Phil. 3 : 1 2 - 1 4 ) .
C e r t a i n l y that is a w o r t h y g o a l , b u t r e m e m b e r also t h a t G o d
a l l o w e d y o u t o h a v e t h o s e v a r i e d e x p e r i e n c e s in y o u r
b a c k g r o u n d a n d m a y w a n t to u s e y o u to w a r n o t h e r s .
I n s i g h t s f r o m y o u r e x p e r i e n c e c a n b e p o w e r f u l p e r s u a d e r s to
h e l p y o u n g p e o p l e a v o i d t h o s e s i n s or extract t h e m s e l v e s
f r o m t h e m . Y o u n e e d n o t p a r a d e y o u r p a s t in f r o n t of
p e o p l e , b u t y o u s h o u l d n o t h i d e it e i t h e r .
I a l s o f i n d that u n i q u e l y t a l e n t e d p e o p l e w h o g e t s a v e d
o f t e n w a n t to w a l k a w a y f r o m their field of e x p e r t i s e b e c a u s e
t h e y u s e d it i n a s e c u l a r , n o n - C h r i s t i a n c o n t e x t . F o r i n s t a n c e ,
t h e brilliant t r u m p e t p l a y e r w h o m e e t s C h r i s t a n d d e c i d e s to
g o i n t o the m i n i s t r y . H i s t r u m p e t b e c o m e s a s y m b o l of his
p r e - s a l v a t i o n d a y s — w i t h all t h e i r sin a n d s e l f - c e n t e r e d -
n e s s — a n d t h u s h e w a n t s to p u t it a w a y a n d c l o s e that
c h a p t e r o f h i s life. A s a result, a lot of t a l e n t will n o t b e u s e d
for t h e glory o f t h e G o d w h o b e s t o w e d it.
2. R e v e a l i n g Y o u r P r e s e n t
W e h a v e b e e n u r g i n g y o u to dig i n t o y o u r p a s t a n d u s e
it i n y o u r p r e a c h i n g . It will d o w o n d e r s to h e l p y o u
a u t h e n t i c a t e y o u r h u m a n i t y a n d v a l i d a t e y o u r credibility. It
is a n a t u r a l w a y of u s i n g y o u r p a s t life-setting to creatively
c o m m u n i c a t e t r u t h to p e o p l e . A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t d i m e n s i o n
of y o u r l i f e - s e t t i n g is y o u r i m m e d i a t e p r e s e n t , t h a t is, w h a t is
h a p p e n i n g n o w in y o u r life.
It is e a s i e r to c a p t u r e a n d r e c o r d o u r p r e s e n t e x p e r i e n c e
t h a n it is to r e m e m b e r o u r p a s t . P a s t e x p e r i e n c e s h a v e a w a y
of s l i p p i n g a w a y f r o m u s . H o w e v e r , it is p r o b a b l y h a r d e r to
r e v e a l t o o t h e r s w h a t is h a p p e n i n g right n o w in o u r lives
t h a n it is t o tell w h a t h a p p e n e d w a y b a c k w h e n . Y e t
e v e r y b o d y e l s e h a s a p r e s e n t life-setting w i t h w h i c h t h e y a r e
h a v i n g to d e # l . W h y n o t u s ? W h a t is h a p p e n i n g n o w in y o u r
marriage? W h a t n e w things are you learning about marriage
68
in g e n e r a l , y o u r p a r t n e r a n d y o u in particular? W h e n d o y o u
find t i m e in y o u r b u s y s c h e d u l e s to talk? W h a t is fairly e a s y
to talk a b o u t , a n d w h a t is m o r e difficult? W h a t a r e y o u r
d i f f e r e n c e s ? A r e y o u c u r r e n t l y w o r k i n g o n a n y g o a l s in y o u r
marriage? D o you m a k e yourselves accountable to each other
w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e s e g o a l s ? A n y a c c o u n t a b i l i t y to a third
p a r t y , a n o t h e r c o u p l e , a small g r o u p , o r t h e e n t i r e c o n g r e g a -
tion? W h a t c r e a t e s p r o b l e m s in y o u r m a r r i a g e ? W h a t h e l p s to
solve the problems?
If y o u s e l d o m o r n e v e r s a y a n y t h i n g f r o m t h e pulpit
about your marriage, what messages may you be conveying?
T h a t it is n o t i m p o r t a n t . T h a t it is n o n e of t h e i r b u s i n e s s .
T h a t e v e r y t h i n g is j u s t great. T h a t t h e r e a r e p r o b l e m s , b u t
y o u w o n ' t say a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h e m . T h a t t h e w h o l e s u b j e c t
is t o o i n t i m a t e to b e d i s c u s s e d p u b l i c l y . T h i s last s t a t e m e n t is
p r o b a b l y t h e c l i n c h e r . W e s t r u g g l e w i t h h o w to deal w i t h
i n t i m a t e i s s u e s in o u r p r e a c h i n g a n d u s u a l l y o p t f o r silence
or superficiality. If w e d o d e c i d e to deal w i t h t h e i n t i m a t e
i s s u e s , w e still t e n d to s a y little o r n o t h i n g a b o u t o u r s e l v e s in
relation t o t h e i s s u e .
If y o u a r e m a r r i e d , y o u h a v e a m a r i t a l life-setting j u s t a s
all t h e m a r r i e d c o u p l e s in y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n d o . T h e o n l y
w a y y o u c a n really c o n n e c t w i t h t h e m is t o m e n t i o n y o u r
m a r r i a g e a s w e l l a s t h e i r s . D o it d i s c r e e t l y a n d w i t h d i g n i t y .
D o it o p e n l y a n d h o n e s t l y , y e t s e n s i t i v e l y a n d a p p r o p r i a t e l y .
D o it n o t t o e m b a r r a s s , b u t t o e d i f y . K e e p it in b a l a n c e .
P r e s e n t t h e p o s i t i v e ( c h a n g e s , p r o g r e s s , victories) a s well a s
the negative (struggles, frustrations, failures).
W h a t is h a p p e n i n g n o w in y o u r family? H o w old a r e
your children? H o w are they different from each other and
f r o m t h e i r p a r e n t s ? H o w a r e t h e y similar t o M o m a n d D a d ?
H o w d o t h e y like s c h o o l , c h u r c h , s p o r t s , o r m u s i c ? D o t h e y
fight? W h i n e ? Resist? Forget? Rebel? Sulk? S c r e a m ? Every-
body else's kids do, h o w c o m e yours don't? O h , they do,
y o u s a y . W e l l , h o w c o m e y o u n e v e r m e n t i o n it f r o m t h e
pulpit? B e c a u s e d o w n in t h e i n n e r r e c e s s e s of y o u r b e i n g
t h e r e is a little v o i c e called " e g o " a n d w h e n e v e r y o u a r e
t e m p t e d t o a d m i t t h a t y o u r o f f s p r i n g a r e n o r m a l , at t i m e s
69
s u b n o r m a l , y o u r e g o w h i s p e r s , " D o n ' t tell ' e m , p r e a c h e r ;

t h e y d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d s o m e o n e to look u p t o , a n d for s u c h a
t i m e as t h i s , y o u ' r e t h e m a n . " T h e m a s k is p u t in p l a c e .
W h a t a b o u t y o u r p a r e n t a l b e h a v i o r in t h e h o m e ? A r e
y o u c o n s i s t e n t in e s t a b l i s h i n g a n d e n f o r c i n g t h e r u l e s ? A r e
you a n d your wife a parenting team? Does M o m do the
threatening while Dad does the thrashing? Are you so
c a u g h t u p in t r y i n g t o c o u n t e r a c t y o u r o w n family b a c k -
g r o u n d that y o u h a v e s w u n g p a s t t h e m i d p o i n t a n d g o n e to
t h e o t h e r e x t r e m e ? W o u l d y o u d a r e b r e a t h e a w o r d o f this to
y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n , o r a r e y o u letting t h e e g o c o n v i n c e y o u
that y o u s h o u l d k e e p q u i e t a b o u t y o u r f a m i l y affairs until
y o u h a v e y o u r p a r e n t i n g act t o g e t h e r . T h e n y o u will tell all.
T h e m a s k r e m a i n s i n p l a c e — t o t h e d e t r i m e n t of e v e r y o n e .
W h a t is h a p p e n i n g in you? P l e n t y . All w e e k l o n g y o u
h a v e b e e n b u s y in t h e m i n i s t r y . B u s y s t u d y i n g . B u s y w r i t i n g .
Busy talking. Busy listening. Busy praying. Busy helping.
B u s y c o u n s e l i n g . Y o u h a v e h a d to c o p e w i t h f a i l u r e ,
f r u s t r a t i o n , a bit of d e p r e s s i o n , s o m e a n g e r , criticism, a n d
inadequacies. At the same time you have helped three
p e o p l e c o m e to k n o w C h r i s t as t h e i r L o r d a n d S a v i o r . T h e
monthly board meeting went smoothly. Congregational
g i v i n g is u p . Y o u r s e r m o n o u t l i n e j e l l e d o n T u e s d a y . T h a t
n o t e of a p p r e c i a t i o n c a m e in t h e m a i l o n T h u r s d a y . N o w it is
S u n d a y m o r n i n g . In a f e w m o m e n t s y o u will s t e p t o t h e
pulpit a n d preach. Y o u have d o n e your h o m e w o r k — y o u
k n o w what y o u a r e g o i n g to p r e a c h . Y o u h a v e b e e n w i t h y o u r
p e o p l e — y o u k n o w to whom y o u a r e g o i n g to p r e a c h . Y o u r
text is 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 2 5 - 2 6 :
. . . so that there should be no division in the body,

but that its parts should have equal concern for each
other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if
one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
In y o u r s e r m o n y o u p o i n t o u t that this text is u s i n g t h e

h u m a n b o d y to illustrate h o w t h e spiritual b o d y , t h e c h u r c h ,
s h o u l d f u n c t i o n . P e o p l e in t h e c h u r c h s h o u l d h a v e m u t u a l
c o n c e r n for e a c h o t h e r . T h a t is t h e p r i n c i p l e in v e r s e 2 5 .
70
T w o specific i m p l i c a t i o n s o r illustrations a r e g i v e n in
v e r s e 2 6 . If a m e m b e r of t h e c h u r c h is s u f f e r i n g , all t h e o t h e r
m e m b e r s o f t h e c h u r c h s h o u l d s u f f e r w i t h t h a t o n e , a n d if a
m e m b e r is h o n o r e d , all t h e o t h e r m e m b e r s s h o u l d r e j o i c e
w i t h t h a t o n e . T h a t is t h e w a y a h e a l t h y h u m a n b o d y
f u n c t i o n s . If t h e r e is p l e a s u r e in t h e t a s t e b u d s , t h e w h o l e
b o d y licks its l i p s . T h a t ' s a s s u m i n g t h e r e is a h e a l t h y
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s y s t e m o p e r a t i n g in t h e h u m a n b o d y . T h e
s a m e o u g h t to b e true in t h e c h u r c h . If t h e r e a r e o p e n ,
h o n e s t r e l a t i o n s h i p s in t h e local c h u r c h , t h e n n o o n e s u f f e r s
alone a n d n o o n e rejoices alone.
A t t h i s p o i n t y o u relate t h i s t r u t h t o t h e life-setting of
y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n b y m e n t i o n i n g t h e fact t h a t F r e d M a r t i n
g o t laid off f r o m h i s j o b last w e e k a n d their third b a b y is d u e
in a m o n t h . T h e M a r t i n s a r e h u r t i n g — a n d t h e e n t i r e b o d y is
g o i n g to h e l p t h e m b e a r t h e b u r d e n . Y o u also a n n o u n c e that
Jody Bird and Chet Jordan have just b e c o m e engaged and
will b e m a r r i e d s o o n . T h e i n f o r m e d b o d y r e j o i c e s w i t h J o d y
a n d C h e t . In t h e c o m i n g w e e k s , m a n y m e m b e r s will b e
i n v o l v e d i n h e l p i n g this y o u n g c o u p l e p r e p a r e for t h e
w e d d i n g a n d m a r r i e d life.
N o w c o m e s a crucial m o m e n t in y o u r s e r m o n . Y o u
h a v e s t r u g g l e d all w e e k w i t h t h e i d e a o f s h a r i n g s o m e t h i n g
f r o m y o u r o w n l i f e - s e t t i n g — a m a t t e r of s u f f e r i n g , a m a t t e r o f
r e j o i c i n g . Y o u r i n t e r n a l d i a l o g u e h a s g o n e like t h i s :
" T h e t r u t h s o f this p a s s a g e a p p l y to all m e m b e r s o f t h e

body, pastors included."
" I k n o w t h a t , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e I a m t o b e o n e t h e y
l o o k u p t o , a l e a d e r w h o is m o r e t h a n a c o n q u e r o r , o n e w h o
s h o u l d b e m a s t e r i n g t h e p r o b l e m s o f life o n a d a y - t o - d a y
basis."
" O k a y , t h e n tell t h e m all a b o u t t h e s e daily v i c t o r i e s . "
" W e l l , a s a m a t t e r o f fact, I h a v e a d a y o f d e f e a t n o w
and t h e n . "
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" T e l l t h e m a b o u t that t o o . "
" I ' m afraid t h e y will lose c o n f i d e n c e in m e if I s h a r e a

personal problem from the pulpit."
" A n d I ' m afraid t h a t I'll c o m e a c r o s s as b o a s t i n g , if I

s h a r e a n area of s u c c e s s . "
" S o y o u w a n t to b e o n e of t h o s e m i d d l e - o f - t h e - r o a d
m i n i s t e r s — n i c e , neat, and neutral, a cool d u d e w h o conveys
to e v e r y o n e that y o u ' v e got y o u r act t o g e t h e r . "
" N o , I w o u l d really like to b e a p p r o p r i a t e l y h o n e s t

a b o u t s o m e of t h e p o s i t i v e s a n d n e g a t i v e s in m y life, b u t
f r a n k l y , I ' m afraid t o try i t . "
B u t y o u d i d ! Y o u m e n t i o n e d that y o u c o n s t a n t l y
s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e p r o b l e m of d o i n g t h i n g s at t h e last
m o m e n t , a n d a s k e d y o u r p e o p l e to p r a y for y o u a n d h o l d
y o u accountable. T h e n you took a few m o m e n t s and detailed
a c o u p l e of t h i n g s y o u did last w e e k t o b u i l d y o u r r e l a t i o n -
s h i p w i t h y o u r w i f e a n d c h i l d r e n . A s a r e s u l t of t h e s e t w o
u n v e i l i n g s , y o u r credibility a s a p e r s o n , p a s t o r , a n d p r e a c h e r
is o n t h e r i s e . 2
3. Projecting Into the Future
W e h a v e talked a b o u t r e m e m b e r i n g y o u r p a s t a n d
r e v e a l i n g y o u r p r e s e n t . D o i n g t h e s e a l l o w s y o u to c r e a t i v e l y
u s e y o u r life-setting in y o u r p r e a c h i n g . T h e r e is o n e m o r e
d i m e n s i o n to y o u r life-setting t h a t n e e d s a t t e n t i o n . It is t h e
future.
W e all like to t h i n k a n d p l a n a h e a d . W e l o o k f o r w a r d t o
Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then N e w Year's, then spring
break, then s u m m e r vacation. W e anticipate events such as
birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, buying a n e w car,
t a k i n g a trip, a d d i n g a r o o m to t h e h o u s e , a d d i n g a b a b y to
the f a m i l y , a n d s o o n . T h o u g h e a r t h b o u n d a n d t i m e - c o n -
s t r a i n e d , w e h a v e b e e n g i v e n t h e ability b y G o d t o t h i n k
72
beyond the here, beyond the now. So we dream dreams and

set g o a l s — f o r tomorrow, next w e e k , next m o n t h , next year.
W e project ourselves, our ministries, our churches, into the
future. W h y ?
B e c a u s e t h e just a r e to live b y faith, a n d faith h a s to d o
w i t h w h a t w e h o p e for, y e t w h a t w e d o n o t s e e ( H e b . 11:1). If
y o u h a v e t h e gift of faith, t h e n y o u a r e e n d o w e d w i t h t h e
u n i q u e , G o d - g i v e n ability to e n v i s i o n w h a t n e e d s to b e d o n e ;
w h a t c a n b e d o n e . G o d h a s b e s t o w e d o n y o u t h e c a p a c i t y to
c o m b i n e i n s i g h t a n d f o r e s i g h t . Y o u h a v e t h e v i r t u e s of a
f a n a t i c , w i t h o u t the v i c e s . S u c h a gift t e n d s t o m a k e y o u a
futurist. A s i g n i f i c a n t a s p e c t of y o u r l i f e - s e t t i n g is p r o p h e t i c .
A s y o u link t h e text o f S c r i p t u r e t o t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n , y o u a r e
n o t d o i n g it j u s t to i n f o r m t h e m , b u t a l s o t o m o t i v a t e a n d
m o b i l i z e t h e m w i t h r e f e r e n c e to w h a t G o d c a n a n d will d o in
t h e f u t u r e — t h e f u t u r e of t h e i r c h u r c h a n d t h e i r lives.
E v e n if y o u d o n ' t p o s s e s s t h e gift o f f a i t h , y o u a r e still
o b l i g a t e d to b e c o m p e t e n t i n b e l i e v i n g , for w i t h o u t faith it is
i m p o s s i b l e t o p l e a s e G o d ( H e b . 11:6; cf. M a t t . 6:30; G a l . 3 : 1 1 ;
C o l . 2 : 6 - 7 ) . T h u s , a n y a n d all p r e a c h e r s s h o u l d b e p e r s o n s of
f a i t h , p e r s o n s w h o a r e c o n s t a n t l y e x t e n d i n g t h e i r life-setting
i n t o t h e f u t u r e . S o let y o u r p e o p l e i n o n w h a t y o u s e e G o d
d o i n g in y o u r life a n d t h e i r s i n t h e c o m i n g d a y s . W h a t
c h a r a c t e r qualities d o y o u w a n t to d e v e l o p ? W h a t w e a k -
n e s s e s d o y o u w a n t t o s t r e n g t h e n ? W h a t skills d o y o u w a n t
to s h a r p e n a n d r e f i n e ? W h a t h a b i t s of h o l i n e s s d o y o u w a n t
to inculcate?
In w h a t d i r e c t i o n d o y o u s e e t h e c h u r c h g o i n g ? W h a t
n e w p r o g r a m s d o y o u s e e n e e d e d ? W h a t staff n e e d s a r e y o u
p r o j e c t i n g ? W h e r e d o y o u w a n t to p l a n t a n e w c h u r c h ? W h a t
target g r o u p s s h o u l d b e e v a n g e l i z e d ? W h a t n u m e r i c a l
g r o w t h a r e y o u a i m i n g for? It w o n ' t all b e p o s i t i v e . F a i t h s e e s
w h a t G o d c a n d o in u s a n d t h r o u g h u s . F a i t h a l s o s e e s w h a t
c a n h a p p e n if w e r e m a i n i g n o r a n t or c o n t i n u e to d i s o b e y
G o d . T h e preacher m u s t w a r n as well as c o m m a n d a n d
c h a l l e n g e . H e m u s t s h a r e his b u r d e n s a n d fears a s w e l l a s h i s
aspirations.
It's r i s k y to d r e a m o u t l o u d . Y o u will r e c e i v e criticism
73
a n d r e j e c t i o n . T h e r e m a y b e n o n c h a l a n c e a n d a p a t h y that
will s l o w l y deflate y o u r e g o a n d e n t h u s i a s m . T h e r e c a n b e
premature commitment, where people jump on your band-
w a g o n for a w h i l e a n d t h e n slide off w h e n t h e r o a d g e t s
rough and you aren't looking. Share your burdens and your
visions. Introduce t h e m slowly. Explain t h e m carefully. Be
persistent without being obnoxious. Be patient without
g e t t i n g d e p r e s s e d . T r y o u t t h e radical i d e a s first o n y o u r
b o a r d , y o u r staff, a n d o t h e r o p i n i o n l e a d e r s in y o u r c o n g r e -
g a t i o n . I n e v i t a b l y y o u will f i n d o t h e r v i s i o n a r i e s in y o u r
c h u r c h . T h e y m a y b e o n y o u r w a v e l e n g t h or o n o n e of t h e i r
o w n . S o y o u will h a v e to l i s t e n as w e l l a s talk. Y o u will h a v e
to b e o p e n to their s u g g e s t i o n s , as y o u e x p e c t t h e m to b e
o p e n to y o u r s . P r e a c h e r s d o n o t h a v e a m o n o p o l y o n n e w
ideas.
W e r e p e a t , it is r i s k y t o d r e a m o u t l o u d . It is t h r e a t e n -
i n g t o p r y t h e lid off y o u r f a n t a s i e s a n d d r e a m s a n d t h e n
p o u r t h e m o u t in p u b l i c w h e r e p e o p l e c a n listen to t h e m ,
analyze t h e m , evaluate t h e m , and accept or reject t h e m . W e
all h a v e a f e a r o f i n t i m a c y . E v e n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n is a bit
uneasy w h e n the preacher bares his soul, because that forces
e a c h l i s t e n e r to g r a p p l e w i t h h i s o r h e r g o a l s for t h e f u t u r e —
goals that m a y be diametrically different from the preacher's,
or g o a l s t h a t m a y b e n o n e x i s t e n t .
A well-rounded life-setting can a n d should include
o n e ' s t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s a b o u t t h e f u t u r e . It is a t r a g e d y
for t h e p r e a c h e r t o o m i t t h e s e factors f r o m h i s s e r m o n s . It
o n l y s e r v e s t o d i l u t e h i s m e s s a g e b y d e l e t i n g a critical
d i m e n s i o n f r o m t h e act of p r e a c h i n g .
IN SUMMARY
W e h a v e h i g h l i g h t e d t h e s o v e r e i g n t y of G o d as it r e l a t e s
to y o u r p e r s o n a l e n d o w m e n t s a n d y o u r p e r s o n a l e x p e r i -
ences. W e then underscored the importance of appropriate
self-disclosure, w h e r e b y your s e r m o n s can b e creatively
enhanced by remembering your past, revealing your pre-
s e n t , a n d p r o j e c t i n g y o u r f u t u r e . T h e g o a l of t h e c h a p t e r is t o
74
make you more human, more transparent, more competent,

a n d m o r e a w a r e of y o u r u n i q u e n e s s a s a p r e a c h e r . N o w it is
u p to y o u . M a k e u p t h e s u g g e s t e d lists a n d u s e t h e m
regularly.
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6
Creative Audio
and Print Media
in Preaching
C ^ u e s t i o n : If t h e H o l y Spirit w e r e t o write a b o o k on
creative p r e a c h i n g , h o w m a n y p a g e s w o u l d it h a v e ?
A n s w e r : It w o u l d h a v e a n infinite n u m b e r of p a g e s .
T h a t ' s a lot of p a g e s . B u t t h e fact t h a t t h e H o l y Spirit is

o m n i s c i e n t d e m a n d s t h e a n s w e r s t a t e d a b o v e . T h e r e a r e an
infinite n u m b e r of w a y s H e c a n c o m m u n i c a t e t r u t h . T h e fact
t h a t e v e r y h u m a n b e i n g is a u n i q u e l y e n d o w e d a n d u n i q u e l y
e x p e r i e n c e d i n d i v i d u a l a l s o s u p p o r t s t h e a n s w e r . T h e r e are
a n infinite n u m b e r o f w a y s t h e H o l y Spirit c a n c o m m u n i c a t e
t r u t h through us. T h o u g h w e all p r e a c h t h e s a m e W o r d , a n d
t h o u g h w e a r e all i n d w e l t b y t h e s a m e Spirit, n o b o d y
p r e a c h e s e x a c t l y like a n y o n e e l s e .
N o , w e a r e n o t g o i n g t o try t o stuff infinity i n t o t h e n e x t
t w o c h a p t e r s . R a t h e r , w e a r e g o i n g to c o n t i n u e to e x p a n d
o u r h o m i l e t i c a l h o r i z o n s to a l l o w u s to s e e m o r e o p t i o n s a n d
a l t e r n a t i v e s in o u r p r e a c h i n g . W e h a v e d e f i n e d creativity as
t h e ability to t a k e t h e t h i n g s t h a t h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d a n d u s e
t h e m in n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y s . T h e text of S c r i p t u r e h a s
b e e n b r o u g h t i n t o b e i n g b y G o d . W e d o n ' t c r e a t e t h e text.
W e s e e k to u n d e r s t a n d it a n d c o m m u n i c a t e it creatively, that
is, in n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t w a y s .
77
It w o u l d b e p r e s u m p t u o u s of m e to i n t i m a t e that
e v e r y t h i n g I p r e s e n t is n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t a n d that m y i d e a s
are c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d c o m p l e t e . I a m in p r o c e s s , j u s t as
y o u a r e . S o m e of m y i d e a s will b e familiar. Let t h e m b e a n
e n c o u r a g i n g r e i n f o r c e m e n t t o y o u r m i n i s t r y . S o m e will b e
n e w . L e t t h e m b e a c h a l l e n g e to y o u . B e s l o w to r e j e c t t h e m .
B e w i l l i n g to try t h e m . A d a p t t h e m to y o u r G o d - g i v e n
uniqueness.
W h e n w e e x p l o r e c r e a t i v e w a y s of c o m m u n i c a t i n g
t r u t h , w e h a v e to b e careful n o t to a l l o w t h e m e t h o d to
dominate the message. W e have an unbridled commitment
to s t u d y t h e W o r d carefully a n d to p r e a c h it c o n s i s t e n t l y . A
s e l e c t e d a s s o r t m e n t o f d i f f e r e n t w a y s to d o this is n o t to
p r o m p t p r e a c h e r s t o b e c l e v e r , c u t e or w e i r d . It is to
s t i m u l a t e t h e m to realize that t h e r e is m o r e t h a n o n e b e s t
w a y t o p r e a c h ; as a m a t t e r of fact, t h e r e a r e m o r e t h a n a f e w
g o o d w a y s t o p r e a c h . F o r e a c h of u s , t h e r e a r e a n u n l i m i t e d
n u m b e r of g o o d w a y s t o p r e a c h . W e a r e n ' t t r y i n g to f o m e n t
f a d s ; w e a r e e a r n e s t l y s e e k i n g t o facilitate t h e t r a n s f e r of
i d e a s a n d t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of i n d i v i d u a l s .
A WORD ABOUT VARIETY
V a r i e t y n o t o n l y k e e p s u s o n t h e H o l y S p i r i t ' s track, b u t
a l s o facilitates a n effective redundancy. People n e e d re-
m i n d e r s a n d r e v i e w t o r e i n f o r c e w h a t t h e y k n o w (2 P e t e r
1 : 1 2 - 1 5 ) . W h e n w e s a y the s a m e t h i n g s o v e r a n d o v e r , w e
a r e b e i n g r e d u n d a n t . T h e r e is a p u r p o s e f u l r e d u n d a n c y ,
d e s i g n e d t o r e d u c e u n c e r t a i n t y . H o w e v e r , if w e r e p e a t
t h i n g s o v e r a n d o v e r in e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s a m e w a y , w e a r e
being boringly repetitious—I say, boringly repetitious. Hear
m e n o w , I m e a n boringly repetitious. Vary the ways you
c o m m u n i c a t e t h e s a m e t r u t h , a n d y o u will h a v e a m o r e
effective r e d u n d a n c y .
If w e u s e t h e s a m e t e c h n i q u e s o v e r a n d o v e r , e v e n t u -
ally o u r p r e a c h i n g will b e c o m e t o o predictable. High predict-
ability c a n l e s s e n l i s t e n e r a t t e n t i o n a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n . It c a n
h a v e a n u m b i n g , n e u t r a l i z i n g effect o n t h o s e m e m b e r s of t h e
78
Creative Audio and Print Media in Preaching
c o n g r e g a t i o n w h o a r e still a w a k e . V a r i e t y will p r o d u c e a
m e a s u r e o f a n t i c i p a t i o n t h a t will attract a n d h o l d t h e
l i s t e n e r s ' a t t e n t i o n . B u t d o n ' t p u s h a g o o d t h i n g t o o far. T o
b e totally u n p r e d i c t a b l e in y o u r p r e a c h i n g m e t h o d o l o g y is
t o o u n s e t t l i n g for p e o p l e . W e all n e e d a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of
routine.
V a r i e t y facilitates o u r ability to r e l a t e to individual
m e m b e r s of the congregation. People listen, learn, a n d
r e s p o n d in d i f f e r e n t w a y s a n d at d i f f e r e n t r a t e s . W e v a r y o u r
p r e a c h i n g m e t h o d s to t a k e t h e s e i n d i v i d u a l d i f f e r e n c e s i n t o
a c c o u n t . F u r t h e r m o r e , if w e u s e a v a r i e t y of p r e a c h i n g
m e t h o d s and employ t h e m effectively, w e provide a power-
ful, p o s i t i v e m o d e l for t h e p r e a c h i n g a n d t e a c h i n g staff a n d
for t h e y o u n g m e n a n d w o m e n i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n w h o will
o n e d a y b e in t h e m i n i s t r y .
T h a t is h o w t h e t h e o r y w o r k s . N o w l e t ' s t u r n t o specific
practice.
USING THE TAPE RECORDER
T h e first a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t u s e o f t h e t a p e r e c o r d e r is
to r e c o r d o u r s e r m o n s a n d l i s t e n t o t h e m . D o it at l e a s t o n c e a
m o n t h for t h e first t h r e e y e a r s o f y o u r m i n i s t r y ; t w o or t h r e e
t i m e s a y e a r a f t e r t h a t . T h e t a p e r e c o r d e r d o e s n o t lie.
P u t S c r i p t u r e r e a d i n g s o n t a p e for a c h a n g e o f p a c e in
the morning worship service. Use s o m e o n e w h o has a good
v o i c e a n d k n o w s h o w to d o i n t e r p r e t i v e r e a d i n g . P u t a c r o s s
1
r e f e r e n c e o n t a p e i n s t e a d o f h a v i n g e v e r y b o d y l o o k it u p a n d
t h e n r e a d i n g it to t h e m . S u p p o s e y o u a r e p r e a c h i n g o n t h e
nature of the h u m a n heart from Mark 7 : 1 7 - 2 3 . You might
p a u s e for a m o m e n t a n d s a y :
" T h e prophet Jeremiah also understood the nature of

the human heart, and spoke clearly about it. Listen
carefully to what he had to s a y . "
O n tape, and probably best w h e n put through your

sound system, b o o m s the voice of Jeremiah, slowly and
deliberately saying:
79
" T h e heart is deceitful above all things and beyond

cure" (Jeremiah 17:9).
J e r e m i a h m i g h t r e p e a t it f o r e m p h a s i s o r a d d v e r s e 10.
S u p p o s e t h e r e is a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e text totally
d i f f e r e n t f r o m y o u r s . Y o u w a n t to m e n t i o n it a n d d e a l w i t h
it. W h y n o t p u t it o n t a p e a n d r u n it t h r o u g h y o u r s o u n d
s y s t e m at t h e a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e in t h e s e r m o n ? O r y o u t a l k e d
with s o m e o n e during the w e e k w h o has been struggling
w i t h t h e p r o b l e m o n w h i c h y o u are p r e a c h i n g . C a p t u r e in
capsule form your conversation on tape.
Y o u m i g h t p u t s o m e live o p i n i o n i n t e r v i e w s o n t a p e .
A p p r o a c h p e o p l e in t h e s h o p p i n g m a l l , o r in t h e c h u r c h
p a r k i n g lot, a n d a s k t h e m w h a t t h e y t h i n k a b o u t capital
p u n i s h m e n t , n u c l e a r w a r , C h r i s t i a n s r u n n i n g for p r e s i d e n t ,
G o d , t h e c h u r c h — w h a t e v e r it is y o u a r e p r e a c h i n g a b o u t .
P u t g e r m a n e c o m m e n t s t h r o u g h t h e s o u n d s y s t e m . T h e y will
a d d a f r e s h b r e a t h of s e c u l a r reality to y o u r s e r m o n .
T h e i n n e r s t r u g g l e s of o n e ' s c o n s c i e n c e in t h e h e a t of
temptation can be recorded and played. Even possible
a t t i t u d e s o r q u e s t i o n s that m e m b e r s of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n
might have about the message could be put on tape. At the
b e g i n n i n g of t h e s e r m o n y o u s a y :
"I'm preaching on prophecy this morning. I wish I

could read some of your minds. I'd sure like to know
. . . honestly now . . . what you really think about
prophecy . . . "
A n d o n t a p e c o m e s a n u m b e r of i n d i v i d u a l s c a n d i d l y v o i c i n g
their opinions:
"Prophecy scares m e to death. If I wasn't sitting up
near the front, I'd leave right n o w . "
"It's all about the future . . . way up in heaven. Why
don't you talk about something p r a c t i c a l . . . for me . . .
right here and n o w . "
" O h boy, another eschatological escapade . . . telling
us which prophetic prefix we hold to . . . pre-, post-,
mid-, or a-! I'm confused! Why didn't God give us a
simple timetable that everybody can agree o n . "
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T h e r e a r e s o m e u s e f u l g u i d e l i n e s for u s i n g a t a p e
r e c o r d e r in w o r s h i p . U s e g o o d e q u i p m e n t — t a p e s , r e c o r d e r s ,
a n d P A . D o n ' t talk t o o fast. R e h e a r s e until it b e c o m e s
n a t u r a l . A script will s a v e y o u lots of t i m e . A v o i d l a s t - m i n u t e
p r e p a r a t i o n ; y o u will s e l d o m g e t quality u n d e r p r e s s u r e .
K e e p it s h o r t ; o n e or t w o m i n u t e s is p l e n t y . D o n ' t u s e your
v o i c e o n t a p e , u n l e s s it's y o u r c o n s c i e n c e or y o u r s t r u g g l e s ;
u s e t h e v o i c e s o f p e o p l e i n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . L o o k for t h o s e
w i t h skills in r e a d i n g , i n t e r p r e t i n g , a n d a c t i n g . U s e m e n ' s
and w o m e n ' s voices. Use children, youth, and adults.
USING LIVE VOICES
E v e r y t h i n g w e h a v e j u s t m e n t i o n e d w i t h r e g a r d to t h e
t a p e r e c o r d e r c a n also b e d o n e l i v e , w i t h t h e p e r s o n visible in
t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n or u n s e e n o f f s t a g e . T h e m a i n p o i n t of this
is to m o v e a w a y f r o m m o n o l o g u e f o r a m o m e n t a n d e n g a g e
in d i a l o g u e . B e c a u s e it is d i f f e r e n t , a n d t h u s relatively
u n p r e d i c t a b l e , it will a l w a y s c a p t u r e t h e i m m e d i a t e , total
a t t e n t i o n of e a c h p e r s o n in t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . Y o u m i g h t p l a n
t o h a v e s o m e o n e i n t e r r u p t y o u at a p r e a r r a n g e d p o i n t to
c h a l l e n g e a c o n c e p t y o u a r e d e v e l o p i n g , o r to a s k a q u e s t i o n
p r o m p t e d b y y o u r m e s s a g e , o r t o s e e k clarification.
S u p p o s e y o u are preaching on 2 T i m o t h y 2:22 and are
d e v e l o p i n g t h e first c l a u s e : " F l e e t h e evil d e s i r e s o f y o u t h . "
A t e e n a g e r ' s v o i c e m i g h t c o m e i n t o t h e r o o m f r o m an
offstage mike, saying:
" M y friends and I need a bit of help. Every time we

hear this from you adults, it seems to end up as a
reference to sex. We are beginning to get the impression
that life for us teenagers is basically staying away from
each other."
N o w you have everyone's undivided attention. You can

g o a h e a d a n d d i a l o g u e w i t h t h e o f f s t a g e t e e n a g e r , letting t h e
c o n g r e g a t i o n listen in o n y o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n , o r y o u c a n
i n f o r m t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n is valid a n d y o u
i n t e n d to a d d r e s s it.
81
W h e n y o u u s e this m e t h o d , realize that y o u a r e

a t t e m p t i n g to raise a n d deal w i t h t h e k i n d s of q u e s t i o n s t h a t
m e m b e r s of y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n a r e or s h o u l d b e a s k i n g . O n
occasion you or another person can play the devil's advocate.
Or one person can represent the entire congregation and
b e c o m e its alter e g o .
O n e Sunday evening I was preaching on the authority
of S c r i p t u r e . T h e r e w e r e m a n y c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s in t h e
c o n g r e g a t i o n , s o m e of w h o m I k n e w w e r e s t r u g g l i n g w i t h
b e l i e v i n g in t h e a u t h o r i t y of a text w r i t t e n t h o u s a n d s of y e a r s
a g o ; skeptical a b o u t i n s p i r a t i o n , i n e r r a n c y , a n d s o o n . S o I
worked with a layman during the week; then, while I w a s
p r e a c h i n g , h e w o u l d p o s e , at p r e a r r a n g e d p o i n t s in a slightly
s k e p t i c a l w a y , t h e k i n d s of q u e s t i o n s the c o l l e g i a n s w e r e
a s k i n g or w e r e b e i n g a s k e d b y their s k e p t i c a l , u n s a v e d p e e r s .
W e a n s w e r e d t h e q u e s t i o n s f r o m t h e text. D i a l o g u e o f this
sort n e e d n o t e l i m i n a t e e x p o s i t i o n .
T h e person can dialogue with you in the s a n c t u a r y —
from the platform, from the choir, from the balcony, from
t h e m a i n floor. S o m e o n e m i g h t a s k f o r , o r g i v e , a n illustra-
tion o r a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e t r u t h y o u a r e p r e s e n t i n g . O n e c o u l d
h e a r t i l y a g r e e w i t h a n i d e a y o u a r e p r e s e n t i n g . If y o u a r e
p r e s e n t i n g s o m e t h i n g t h a t is a bit d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e tradi-
tional a p p r o a c h — s a y , f o r e x a m p l e , a c o n t e x t u a l i n t e r p r e t a -
tion of R e v e l a t i o n 3 : 2 0 — y o u will h a v e s o m e u n e a s y , s t a r t l e d
p e o p l e . W h y n o t h e a r f r o m o n e o r t w o of t h e m ?
S o m e guidelines for planned dialogue are appropriate.
A g o o d s o u n d s y s t e m h e l p s . A l s o b e a w a r e of t h e p o t e n t i a l
s h o c k to t h e a u d i e n c e w h e n a v o i c e cries o u t of t h e
wilderness! Your response should be somewhere between
s u r p r i s e a n d n o n c h a l a n c e . R e s i s t t h e t e m p t a t i o n to o v e r s t a t e
y o u r c a s e or o v e r w h e l m t h e o t h e r p e r s o n in t h e d i a l o g u e .
R e l a t e y o u r c o m m e n t s to t h e biblical text. Y o u can h a v e t h e
person spontaneously interrupt you, or you can request the
r e s p o n s e . If y o u d o t h e latter, m a k e s u r e y o u r p l a n n e d
p a r t n e r s p e a k s o u t quickly; s o m e b o d y e l s e m a y w a n t to g e t
i n t o t h e act w i t h o u t a script! N a t u r a l h u m o r a r i s e s easily o u t
of t h e s e d i a l o g u e s ; j u s t d o n ' t let it get o u t of h a n d . P r a c t i c e .
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Practice o n l o c a t i o n . Q u i t w h i l e y o u a r e a h e a d ; allow t w o to
t h r e e m i n u t e s at t h e m o s t for this e x e r c i s e .
INTERVIEWING INDIVIDUALS
Tuesday n o o n you have lunch with Dan Wright. He

s h a r e s w i t h y o u h o w h e is h a n d l i n g t h e fact that h e w a s laid
off t h r e e w e e k s a g o a n d h a s n o t yet f o u n d a n o t h e r j o b . In a
unique way h e has been drawing on God's varied resources
to carry h i m a n d his family t h r o u g h this p r e s s u r e p e r i o d .
Y o u k n o w t h e rest of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n w o u l d profit f r o m
h e a r i n g D a n a n d y o u a s k h i m to s h a r e t h e s e i n s i g h t s n e x t
S u n d a y in the e v e n i n g s e r v i c e . H e a g r e e s . B u t S u n d a y
e v e n i n g is a d i s a s t e r . D a n is afraid of t h e m i k e a n d d o e s n ' t
u s e it. H i s soft v o i c e b a r e l y m a k e s it to t h e first r o w . H e
l e a v e s out t w o - t h i r d s of w h a t h e told y o u , a n d t h e third h e
p r e s e n t s is d i s o r g a n i z e d a n d r a m b l i n g . Y o u r r e s p o n s e ? " I ' l l
n e v e r d o that a g a i n . "
W a i t a m i n u t e ! B e f o r e y o u t h r o w in t h e t e s t i m o n y
t o w e l , try t h e i n t e r v i e w m e t h o d . W h a t y o u really w a n t is to
duplicate the conversation you and D a n had over lunch on
Tuesday. You can accomplish that by interviewing Dan on
S u n d a y e v e n i n g . P u t a l a p e l m i k e o n h i m . H a v e h i m sit o n a
stool or a n e a s y c h a i r a c r o s s f r o m y o u o n t h e p l a t f o r m , a n d in
a casual interview draw out the insights he shared with you.
P e o p l e e n j o y l i s t e n i n g to a c o n v e r s a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y
w h e n it c o n t a i n s p e r s o n a l d e t a i l s a b o u t i n d i v i d u a l s , d i f f e r i n g
p o i n t s of v i e w , a n d h u m o r . I n t e r v i e w i n g a l l o w s y o u to t a p
o n e or m o r e of t h e s e a r e a s . H e r e are s o m e w a y s to u s e t h e
interview m e t h o d :
• N e w believers—incidents and individuals that G o d used

in their c o n v e r s i o n e x p e r i e n c e .
• N e w m e m b e r s — w h o are they? W h e r e do they c o m e
from? W h a t d o they do? W h y did they c h o o s e this church?
• Missionaries—candidates on deputation, those on h o m e
a s s i g n m e n t . T h e i r w o r k , their n e e d s , their p l a n s , their
frustrations.
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• C o l l e g e or s e m i n a r y s t u d e n t s h o m e o n vacation—their
studies, future plans.
• N e w l e a d e r s in t h e c h u r c h — t h e i r gifts, their g o a l s .
• Special occasions—anniversaries, m o v i n g away, gradua-
tion, e n g a g e m e n t , marriage, short-term missionaries, re-
tirement, etc.
T h e s e k i n d s of i n t e r v i e w s c o u l d b e i n t e g r a t e d i n t o s e r m o n s
or s t a n d a l o n e in o t h e r p a r t s of t h e s e r v i c e .
D o n ' t stop with the foregoing suggestions. Put your
c r e a t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n to w o r k . S t a r t i n g a series o n G a l a t i a n s ?
In y o u r first m e s s a g e i n t e r v i e w t h e a u t h o r — t h e a p o s t l e P a u l .
A s k h i m w h y h e w r o t e t h e l e t t e r , w h e r e h e w a s at t h e t i m e ,
to w h o m h e w r o t e it, h o w h e is g e t t i n g a l o n g w i t h P e t e r ,
h o w h e feels a b o u t t h e G a l a t i a n s , w h a t p r o m p t e d h i m t o u s e
s u c h s t r o n g l a n g u a g e in 3 : 1 , w h a t h e did for t h r e e y e a r s in
A r a b i a ( 1 : 1 7 ) , a n d w h y h e calls a t t e n t i o n to his w r i t i n g in
6 : 1 1 . T h i s m e t h o d will a l l o w y o u t o c o v e r w h a t is o f t e n
p e d a n t i c i n t r o d u c t o r y m a t e r i a l in a n i n t e r e s t i n g , u n u s u a l
way.
Y o u c o u l d u s e t h e s a m e t e c h n i q u e w i t h r e f e r e n c e to a n y
biblical c h a r a c t e r — a b o u t a p a r t i c u l a r e x p e r i e n c e h e o r s h e
h a d w h i c h is r e c o r d e d in S c r i p t u r e , o r a b o u t a l e s s o n
l e a r n e d , a d e c i s i o n m a d e , a t r u t h p r e s e n t e d , or w h a t w a s
r e a l l y m e a n t i n a g i v e n v e r s e of S c r i p t u r e .
N o w a n d t h e n m a k e a s e c o n d h a n d illustration y o u r
o w n by using an interview approach. Betty related an
i n c i d e n t d u r i n g t h e w e e k that b e a u t i f u l l y illustrates a p o i n t
y o u a r e g o i n g to m a k e in y o u r s e r m o n . I n s t e a d of telling t h e
c o n g r e g a t i o n w h a t s h e s a i d , p a u s e a n d interact w i t h h e r
right t h e r e in t h e s a n c t u a r y d u r i n g t h e s e r m o n . Y o u c a n
dialogue b e t w e e n pulpit and p e w , or y o u can ask her to
c o m e u p to t h e p l a t f o r m a n d i n t e r a c t w i t h h e r t h e r e , p u t t i n g
h e r a t a m i c r o p h o n e t o b e s u r e s h e i s h e a r d b y e v e r y o n e . All
t h i s , of c o u r s e , w o u l d b e p l a n n e d a h e a d a n d r e h e a r s e d .
H e r e a r e s o m e h i n t s for b e t t e r i n t e r v i e w i n g . D o n ' t
preface your questions with unnecessary words such as " L e t
m e a s k y o u a q u e s t i o n . " A s k s i m p l e , specific q u e s t i o n s :
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" H o w w e r e y o u s a v e d ? " is t o o c o m p l e x a n d t o o g e n e r a l ;
" W h a t i n c i d e n t did G o d first u s e to m a k e y o u a w a r e of y o u r
spiritual n e e d ? " is s i m p l e a n d s i n g u l a r .
U s e b o t h fact a n d f e e l i n g q u e s t i o n s . " W h e n d i d y o u get
m a r r i e d ? " " W h o told y o u it w a s w r o n g ? " T h e s e a r e fact
questions; ask plenty of t h e m . " H o w did you k n o w you were
in l o v e ? " " H o w did y o u r e a c t w h e n y o u f o u n d o u t it w a s
w r o n g ? " T h e s e a r e f e e l i n g q u e s t i o n s ; a s k p l e n t y of t h e m t o o .
T h e i n t e r v i e w e e s a r e a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t y t o this dia-
l o g u e . T h e y s h o u l d a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s briefly a n d t o t h e
p o i n t . D r a w o u t m o r e detail w i t h f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n s . If y o u
a s k , " W h e r e w e r e y o u b o r n ? " a n d t h e y p r o c e e d t o give their
life h i s t o r y , d i a l o g u e s h u t s d o w n a n d y o u l o s e t h e d y n a m i c
of a g o o d i n t e r v i e w . L a s t b u t n o t l e a s t , e v e n t h o u g h a n
i n t e r v i e w c a n a n d s h o u l d h a v e f r e s h n e s s a n d s p o n t a n e i t y , it
s h o u l d b e r e h e a r s e d ; and it is perfectly acceptable to u s e
notes.
PRINTED MATERIALS
A s k e l e t a l s e r m o n o u t l i n e in t h e b u l l e t i n will p r o m p t
m a n y p e o p l e to follow t h e s e r m o n m o r e c l o s e l y a n d t a k e
n o t e s . A c o m p l e t e o u t l i n e g i v e s t h e m m o r e d e t a i l b u t less
i n c e n t i v e to w r i t e . S o m e " f i l l - i n - t h e - b l a n k " o u t l i n e s m a y
stimulate m o r e active involvement. H o w about a pre-sermon
q u i z in t h e b u l l e t i n t o w h e t t h e i r a p p e t i t e for w h a t is c o m i n g ,
or to test their k n o w l e d g e o f t h e s u b j e c t o r t h e i r a t t i t u d e s
t o w a r d it? Y o u m i g h t try a q u e s t i o n in t h e b u l l e t i n for p e o p l e
to p o n d e r b e f o r e t h e m e s s a g e , o r a t e a s e r q u e s t i o n o r
i n t e r e s t - c a t c h i n g s t a t e m e n t i n t h i s w e e k ' s b u l l e t i n for n e x t
week's sermon.
D e v e l o p a brief set of a g r e e / d i s a g r e e s t a t e m e n t s that
relate t o t o d a y ' s or n e x t w e e k ' s s e r m o n , o r a d i a g r a m t h a t
g r a p h i c a l l y relates to t h e s e r m o n t o p i c — f o r e x a m p l e , a
t e e t e r - t o t t e r d r a w n in t h e b u l l e t i n e a c h S u n d a y f o r a series o n
living t h e b a l a n c e d life. H a v e y o u tried a practical a p p l i c a t i o n
a s s i g n m e n t p r i n t e d u p a n d p a s s e d o u t t o m e m b e r s of t h e
c o n g r e g a t i o n a s t h e y l e a v e , d e s i g n e d for d i s c u s s i o n at t h e
85
n o o n m e a l or to b e u s e d in p e r s o n a l d e v o t i o n s d u r i n g t h e
week? M a p s , charts, stimulating or controversial quotes,
s e r m o n s y n o p s e s , a n d t h e like c a n a l s o be p r i n t e d .
H e r e a r e s o m e g u i d e l i n e s for u s i n g print m e d i a . K e e p
t h e material s i m p l e a n d u n c l u t t e r e d . (It h e l p s if y o u r s e r m o n
also h a s t h o s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . ) R e f e r to p r i n t e d h e l p s .
E n c o u r a g e u s e of t h e m . D o n ' t a s s u m e p e o p l e l o v e to r e a d
and write. Stimulate writing and preserving by furnishing
B i b l e - s i z e d (4>/4 x 5Vi) p u n c h e d n o t e s , l o o s e - l e a f n o t e b o o k s ,
a n d d i f f e r e n t c o l o r e d p a p e r for d i f f e r e n t s e r i e s .
SECURING FEEDBACK
W e c o n t i n u e t o s u f f e r f r o m w h a t R e u e l H o w e calls t h e
" m o n o l o g i c a l i l l u s i o n . " T h e illusion is t h a t c o m m u n i c a t i o n
2
is a c c o m p l i s h e d b y telling p e o p l e w h a t t h e y o u g h t t o k n o w .
D i s c u s s i o n a n d f e e d b a c k greatly facilitate t h e p r e a c h e r ' s
a w a r e n e s s of w h a t h a s actually b e e n c o m m u n i c a t e d a n d
w h a t p e o p l e w a n t a n d n e e d to k n o w . S u n d a y e v e n i n g is a
g o o d t i m e a n d p l a c e to d i s c u s s t h e m e a n i n g a n d i m p l i c a t i o n s
of t h e m o r n i n g m e s s a g e . Y o u c a n u s e i n d i v i d u a l r e a c t o r s or a
reaction panel immediately after the s e r m o n .
I o n c e a s k e d o u r h e a d u s h e r if h e w o u l d a s k t w o
p e r s o n s to b e r e a d y t o a s k t w o k e y q u e s t i o n s a f t e r t h e
s e r m o n . I told h i m n o t to tell m e w h o t h e y w e r e . A t t h e c l o s e
of t h i s m e s s a g e I i n f o r m e d t h e a u d i e n c e t h a t t w o of t h e m
w e r e p r i m e d to r e s p o n d . T h e y d i d — p u t t i n g m e o n t h e s p o t !
Discussion questions can b e given to people to take
h o m e and use. After a message, the congregation can be
d i v i d e d i n t o small g r o u p s , a n d right t h e r e i n t h e s a n c t u a r y a
g u i d e d d i s c u s s i o n of t h e m e s s a g e c a n b e o r g a n i z e d . If y o u r
S u n d a y school m e e t s after the service, consider having the
c l a s s e s d i s c u s s t h e s e r m o n . A t that p o i n t y o u will h a v e w h a t
e v e r y e d u c a t o r w a n t s — p r e p a r e d p u p i l s ! Y o u c a n also a p -
p o i n t c e r t a i n p e o p l e t o g i v e y o u w r i t t e n o r oral f e e d b a c k o n
the message; they become your sermon response team. A
c a r d in t h e p e w r a c k s o r a tear-off in t h e b u l l e t i n will a l l o w
a n y o n e to give y o u t h e i r p e r s p e c t i v e o n t h e m e s s a g e .
86
It is e v e n in t h e r e a l m of possibility to h a v e S u n d a y
s c h o o l c l a s s e s that m e e t b e f o r e t h e w o r s h i p service to d o
s o m e p r e l i m i n a r y s t u d y in t h e text to b e p r e a c h e d . O r y o u
m i g h t h a v e a " S e r m o n D i s c u s s i o n C l a s s " that m e e t s periodi-
cally o r r e g u l a r l y e i t h e r b e f o r e or a f t e r t h e w o r s h i p service to
a l l o w t h o s e w h o w i s h to d i s c u s s t h e m e s s a g e t h e y are g o i n g
to h e a r or h a v e j u s t h e a r d . T h e p r e a c h e r c a n c o n d u c t t h i s , or
a n y qualified t e a c h e r c a n d o it. K e e p this t h o u g h t in m i n d :
you are always stimulating feedback w h e n you preach. The
o n l y q u e s t i o n i s , is it h a r n e s s e d a n d h e a l t h y a n d b e i n g h e a r d
b y y o u a n d o t h e r s w h o n e e d to h e a r it, or is it g o i n g
u n d e r g r o u n d as g o s s i p ?
DIALOGUE PREACHING
T w o people, preferably you being o n e of them, can

s t u d y a p a s s a g e of S c r i p t u r e t o g e t h e r , p r e p a r e a s e r m o n
t o g e t h e r , a n d p r e a c h it t o g e t h e r . T h e t e a m c a n a l t e r n a t e o n
w o r d s , p h r a s e s , c l a u s e s , or v e r s e s . O n e c a n h a n d l e t h e
observation p h a s e , the other providing the interpretation.
O n e could illustrate, a n d the other deal with application.
O n e c a n c h a l l e n g e t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , t h e o t h e r c a n d e f e n d it.
Y o u c a n b o t h u s e t h e s a m e p u l p i t , b u t it is b e t t e r to h a v e
s e p a r a t e s p e a k e r ' s s t a n d s . It is p r o b a b l y b e s t to sit o n s t o o l s
o r c h a i r s a n d c l e a r t h e p l a t f o r m o f t h e large pulpit a n d o t h e r
f u r n i t u r e t h a t m a y b e in t h e w a y .
If d i a l o g u e p r e a c h i n g is to s u c c e e d , t h e r e m u s t b e g o o d
preparation, and dynamic, aggressive interaction. Though
y o u c a n u s e n o t e s , t h e r e n e e d s t o b e a s p o n t a n e i t y to t h e
presentation. In other words, be natural and be professional.
T h i s m e t h o d is a f i n e w a y to train y o u n g e r staff m e m b e r s
a n d l a y p e o p l e to p r e a c h . Y o u h a v e t h e e x p e r i e n c e in
p r e a c h i n g , s o y o u c a n e n s u r e that t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n d o e s n o t
b o g d o w n o r g e t o f f t h e track. T h e d y n a m i c s of d i a l o g u e will
a l l o w y o u to u s e a lot of n a t u r a l h u m o r , y e t in t h e s a m e
message you can be deeply serious.
O n occasion I have shortened a dialogue sermon and
u s e d t h e last t e n m i n u t e s for q u e s t i o n s a n d c o m m e n t s f r o m
87
t h e a u d i e n c e . D i a l o g u e p r e a c h i n g will a l s o facilitate u s i n g a
r e s o u r c e p e r s o n w h o h a s i n s i g h t s in c e r t a i n a r e a s g e r m a n e to
the text. For example, I once had a dialogue with a counselor
in a n e x p o s i t i o n of t h e story of t h e P r o d i g a l S o n ( L u k e
1 5 : 1 1 - 3 2 ) . I developed the theological aspects and h e
handled the psychological. W e spent hours going over this
p a s s a g e t o g e t h e r . T h e i n t e n s e p r e p a r a t i o n paid off.
DRAMATIZING THE BIBLE A N D DOCTRINE
D r a m a t i c p o t e n t i a l r e s i d e s in m a n y p o r t i o n s of t h e
S c r i p t u r e s . T h e scripts n e e d n o t b e l o n g a n d c o m p l e x . All
t h a t is r e q u i r e d is a fairly fertile i m a g i n a t i o n a n d s o m e t i m e .
F o r i n s t a n c e , e v e r y b o d y in y o u r c h u r c h l i s t e n s to n e w s o n
t h e r a d i o . W h y n o t p r e s e n t a p o r t i o n of t h e Bible f r a m e d in
this f o r m a t ? T u n e in a n d listen to a n e x a m p l e .
D r a m a in D a n i e l
Ann:
Y o u a r e l i s t e n i n g to t h e n u m b e r o n e station in B a b y -
l o n — K N E B — w i t h s t u d i o s a t o p t h e S h i n a r S h e r a t o n in
beautiful d o w n t o w n B a b y l o n — s e r v i n g the greater Tigris a n d
Euphrates valleys.
T h e t i m e o n o u r M e s o p o t a m i a n m o o n d i a l is n o w 7:30 i n
the evening.
T h e f o l l o w i n g a n n o u n c e m e n t is b r o u g h t t o y o u a s a
p u b l i c service b y t h i s station in c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e
B a b y l o n i a n Big B r o t h e r s a n d t h e C h a l d e a n C o m m u n i t y
Chest.
T h e Big B r o t h e r s a n d t h e C o m m u n i t y C h e s t a r e s p o n -
s o r i n g a b e n e f i t b a r b e c u e a n d c h a r i o t s h o w at t h e local
f a i r g r o u n d s t o m o r r o w e v e n i n g f r o m five until t e n . F o o d will
be served during the entire time. As y o u eat delicious m e a t
r o a s t e d o v e r coals f r o m t h e f i n e s t L e b a n e s e l o g s , y o u m a y
w a n d e r t h r o u g h t h e m a g n i f i c e n t d i s p l a y of c h a r i o t s . Y o u will
88
s e e t h e n e w e s t in s t y l e s a n d t h e latest i d e a s in d e s i g n . D o n ' t
m i s s t h e slick w h e e l s , p a d d e d d a s h , d i s c b r a k e s , s u s p e n s i o n
ride, b u c k e t s e a t s . A n d t h e r e will b e f r e e c h a r i o t rides for all
t h e c h i l d r e n . All this f o r j u s t t e n s h e k e l s f o r a d u l t s a n d five
s h e k e l s f o r c h i l d r e n . All p r o c e e d s g o t o h e l p t h e B a b y l o n i a n
Big B r o t h e r s a n d t h e C h a l d e a n C o m m u n i t y C h e s t . D o n ' t
miss this exciting evening a n d the opportunity to help these
worthy projects.
Y o u ' v e j u s t f i n i s h e d a m e a l of t a s t y t r o u t f r o m the
Tigris—and you're comfortable—with KNEB.
S o n o w — f o r t h e latest n e w s — h e r e ' s o u r m a n of t h e
h o u r w i t h n e w s u p to t h e m i n u t e — H a u l P a r v e y .
Haul:
H e l l o , B a b y l o n i a n s — t h i s is H a u l P a r v e y !
A chariot was hijacked three hours ago on route 666

j u s t w e s t o f t h e city. T w o m e n d r e w t h e i r s w o r d s a n d
o r d e r e d t h e d r i v e r t o c h a n g e h i s c o u r s e a n d t a k e t h e m to
M a c e d o n i a . It is s u s p e c t e d that t h e s e m e n a r e w i s e m e n f r o m
K i n g N e b u c h a d n e z z a r ' s c o u r t a n d t h a t t h e y a r e s e e k i n g to
f i n d a s y l u m in a n e u t r a l c o u n t r y .
T h i s is j u s t o n e of t h e m a n y e x c i t i n g e v e n t s that h a v e
b e e n o c c u r r i n g all d a y l o n g s i n c e t h e e x e c u t i o n edict w a s
i s s u e d b y t h e k i n g this m o r n i n g . A s y o u k n o w , earlier t o d a y
t h e k i n g i s s u e d a c o m m a n d t h a t all t h e c o u r t - a p p o i n t e d w i s e
m e n o f t h e n a t i o n w e r e to b e t a k e n i n t o c u s t o d y a n d b e p u t
to d e a t h . T h i s o r d e r w a s p r o m p t e d by t h e failure o f this
g r o u p to r e v e a l t o t h e k i n g b o t h t h e c o n t e n t a n d m e a n i n g of
a strange d r e a m he recently h a d . Special agents from the
p a l a c e s e c u r i t y f o r c e h a v e b e e n r o u n d i n g u p all t h e w i s e m e n
t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y . T h e d a t e of e x e c u t i o n will b e
a n n o u n c e d s o o n . T h i s station will carry t h e e v e n t live.
A n d n o w h e r e ' s a bulletin j u s t h a n d e d m e direct f r o m

t h e p a l a c e p r e s s s e c r e t a r y : " T h e o r d e r to e x e c u t e t h e w i s e
m e n has been temporarily suspended by the king. T h e
89
o c c a s i o n for s u c h a c t i o n is to allow o n e of t h e w i s e m e n — a
y o u n g J e w n a m e d B e l t e s h a z z a r — t o s e e if h e c a n e x p l a i n t h e
d r e a m to t h e k i n g . T h e k i n g h a s a l l o w e d h i m f o r t y - e i g h t
h o u r s to s e c u r e t h e n e e d e d i n f o r m a t i o n . In t h e m e a n t i m e , n o
w i s e m e n will b e a l l o w e d to l e a v e t h e c o u n t r y . " W h a t a
f a s c i n a t i n g story! B e s u r e a n d stay t u n e d to this station for
t h e latest d e v e l o p m e n t s a s t h e y o c c u r . H a u l P a r v e y . . . g o o d
day!
T h i s d r a m a , b a s e d o n D a n i e l 2 , w a s d e s i g n e d to
h i g h l i g h t t h e c o n t e n t s of t h e c h a p t e r t h r o u g h a c o n t e m p o -
r a r y m e d i u m , r a d i o . T w o o f f s t a g e v o i c e s p r e s e n t e d this
m a t e r i a l , after w h i c h I r e i n f o r c e d t h e b r o a d c a s t w i t h a n
e x p o s i t i o n of the text itself.
O n another occasion I was preaching on the passage
c o n c e r n i n g d e m o n s in M a r k 1 : 2 5 - 2 8 . I w a n t e d to g i v e t h e
congregation an orientation to these nefarious characters. I
w r o t e t h e script a n d e n l i s t e d a y o u n g m a n w i t h a h i g h -
p i t c h e d v o i c e to d i a l o g u e w i t h m e o n S u n d a y . H e w a s at a n
o f f s t a g e m i k e a n d I w a s s t a n d i n g at t h e p u l p i t . I m a d e m y
beginning statement and he came screeching through the
speakers. I focused m y attention on the speakers and w e
w e n t at it, p r o v i d i n g t h e p e o p l e w i t h a s h o r t c o u r s e o n
biblical d e m o n o l o g y .
A n I n t e r v i e w W i t h D i r k the D e m o n
P: I d o n ' t k n o w a b o u t y o u , b u t I ' m a l w a y s a bit l e e r y o f

s o m e t h i n g that actually e x i s t s , y e t I c a n ' t s e e it.
D : T h a t d o e s n ' t b o t h e r m e o n e bit.
P: W e l l , w h o are y o u ?
D : W e l l , I g u e s s I a m t h e k i n d of t h i n g y o u a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t .
I exist, b u t y o u c a n ' t s e e m e .
P: I c a n c e r t a i n l y hear you. W h o did y o u say you are?
D: I'm D i r k — D i r k the D e m o n . I h a n g around here quite a

lot.
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P: A r e y o u especially a s s i g n e d to p u b l i c a d d r e s s s y s t e m s ? I'll
b e t y o u ' r e t h e o n e w h o p u t s t h e h u m in t h e s p e a k e r s ,
b u r n s o u t t h e a m p l i f i e r s , b l o w s the f u s e s , l o o s e n s t h e
connections . . .
D : L o o k — I ' m in t h e b u s i n e s s of f o u l i n g u p t h e c o m m u n i c a -
tion of t h e W o r d of G o d . B u t I m u s t s a y , t h e r e a r e u s u a l l y
e n o u g h d u m - d u m C h r i s t i a n s b o t c h i n g it u p s o w e l l ,
t h e r e ' s little left for m e to d o . Y o u k n o w — p r e a c h e r s a n d
t e a c h e r s w h o a r e n ' t w e l l - p r e p a r e d , m a t e r i a l that is p o o r l y
p r e s e n t e d , s o m e o n e w h o f o r g e t s to t u r n o n t h e m i c r o -
p h o n e , c o n n e c t i o n s that a r e h a l f - s o l d e r e d . . . C h r i s t i a n s
a r e g e t t i n g s o s l o p p y — b l e s s their h e a r t s — I love ' e m !
P: W h e r e d i d y o u c o m e f r o m ?
D: H e a v e n . You might say I'm o n e of those individuals w h o

s t a r t e d at t h e t o p , a n d I ' m w o r k i n g m y w a y d o w n . I u s e d
to b e a n a n g e l . . .
P: A n angel?
D : Y e h — a n a n g e l ! J u s t sitting a r o u n d s t r u m m i n g a n d sing-
i n g a n d s e r v i n g . T h e n I g o t i n v o l v e d in t h e ACLU.
P: T h e ACLU?
D : R i g h t — t h e A n g e l s C e l e s t i a l L i b e r t i e s U n i o n . A b u n c h of
u s g o t t o g e t h e r a n d d e c i d e d w e d i d n ' t w a n t Him t o r u n
t h e w h o l e s h o w . O u r celestial r i g h t s w e r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d .
S o w e started planning a revolution.
P: W h a t happened?
D : M a n , w h a t a c o u n t e r i n t e l l i g e n c e s y s t e m He's g o t ! W e w e r e
discovered before w e hardly got g o i n g — a n d w e were
t h r o w n o u t . I ' m still t r y i n g to figure o u t h o w He k n e w
what w e were thinking . . .
P: S o y o u u s e d t o b e a n a n g e l in h e a v e n , b u t y o u w e r e
t h r o w n out because you were trying to take over?
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D : T h a t ' s right! K i c k e d o u t ! L e a d e r a n d all. S e n t to e a r t h , of

all p l a c e s ! B u t o u r l e a d e r is s o m e t h i n g e l s e — h e j u s t
t r a n s f e r r e d t h e r e v o l t to this s c e n e , a n d w e h a v e b e e n
g i v i n g t h e M a n U p s t a i r s fits e v e r s i n c e .
P: H o w m a n y d e m o n s a r e t h e r e ?
D : S o r r y , I c a n ' t tell y o u ! T h a t ' s — u h — c l a s s i f i e d i n f o r m a -

t i o n . But b e l i e v e m e , y o u c a n ' t c o u n t t h a t h i g h .
P: W e l l n o w ! J u s t w h a t d o y o u d o ?
D : S i m p l e ! I d o e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e t o g e t p e o p l e to l e a v e
Him o u t . S o m e t i m e s I m a k e p e o p l e m i s e r a b l e — a n d t h e n I
sit b a c k a n d w a t c h t h e m b l a m e Him. O r f r e q u e n t l y I m a k e
p e o p l e real h a p p y a n d p r o s p e r o u s — s o t h e y figure t h e y
d o n ' t n e e d Him. Y o u k n o w , I really g e t a thrill o u t of m y
w o r k — d e v i s i n g w a y s to s t i m u l a t e p e o p l e to r e v o l t
a g a i n s t Him.
P: H a s y o u r a p p r o a c h c h a n g e d d o w n t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s ?
D : O h m y , y e s ! W e u s e d to m o v e in a n d c o m p l e t e l y
d o m i n a t e a p e r s o n ' s l i f e — t a k e o v e r a n d m a k e t h e m act
like w e w a n t e d t h e m t o .
P: T h a t ' s p r o b a b l y w h a t w e call d e m o n p o s s e s s i o n . D o y o u
still d o t h a t ?
D : W e s u r e d o . I n s o m e p l a c e s w e c a n control a f e w
superstitious souls and get them so scared and confused
t h e y ' l l w o r s h i p a n y t h i n g . B u t in p l a c e s like
[ n a m e of t o w n ] w h e r e p e o p l e a r e e d u c a t e d , c u l t u r e d ,
religious, and s o m e are even Christians, w e have devel-
o p e d a m o r e s u b t l e a p p r o a c h . W e ' v e g o t a s y s t e m t h a t is
absolutely s a t a n i c — i f you'll pardon the expression. W e
infiltrate life w i t h R . M . N .
P: R . M . N . ? W h a t d o e s t h a t s t a n d for?
D: Rationalism . . . Materialism . . . Naturalism. W e have

filtered t h e s e i d e a s i n t o e v e r y a r e a o f s o c i e t y . A n d , b o y , is
it w o r k i n g ! P e o p l e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e y a r e s m a r t
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e n o u g h to solve all t h e i r p r o b l e m s — t h a t ' s r a t i o n a l i s m .

T h e y w o r s h i p m o n e y a n d p o s s e s s i o n s — t h a t ' s material-
ism. A n d they are sure that supernatural things don't
h a p p e n — t h a t ' s naturalism.
P: B u t d o e s t h a t m a k e p e o p l e r e v o l t a g a i n s t G o d ?
D : W e l l , it s u r e d o e s n ' t m a k e t h e m b o w d o w n b e f o r e Him! It
j u s t m a k e s t h e m h a p p y w i t h o u t Him. A n d t h a t ' s w h a t w e
w a n t — a pleasant revolution!
P: D i r k , y o u s e e m s o p o s i t i v e a n d c o n f i d e n t . E v e n a bit
c o c k y , I'd say! A s if t h e r e v o l u t i o n is s u c c e s s f u l . T h e w o r l d
is y o u r s .
D : It is! It is! W e try h a r d e r ! W e ' r e n u m b e r o n e !
P: A r e n ' t y o u afraid of a n y t h i n g ?
D : O n l y o n e p e r s o n — H i m . W e ' r e all afraid of Him. Y o u c a n

s t u d y t h e first c h a p t e r o f t h e G o s p e l of M a r k a n d
understand why.
P: T h a t ' s e x a c t l y w h a t w e i n t e n d t o d o . R i g h t n o w ! How
a b o u t s t a y i n g a r o u n d a n d s t u d y i n g it w i t h u s ?
D : N o w a y ! I ' v e g o t m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s to d o ! T h e r e a r e
s o m e o f y o u r p e o p l e w h o a r e still in b e d . I ' m g o i n g to
c o n f i r m i n their m i n d s t h a t t h e y a r e right w h e r e t h e y
ought to be . . .
T h i s d r a m a w a s p r e s e n t e d in a fairly f o r m a l S u n d a y
morning worship service. T h o s e w h o were expecting the
n o r m w e r e a bit s t a r t l e d , b u t b y t h a t t i m e I h a d b e e n t h e r e for
seven years, and they trusted m e . T h e y k n e w that even
w h e n m y methodology was unpredictably creative, m y
t h e o l o g y w a s still s o u n d l y c o n s e r v a t i v e !
T h e B i b l e o o z e s w i t h d r a m a t i c possibilities. W a n t to
d e a l w i t h conflict? L e t P a u l a n d B a r n a b a s g e t i n t o t h e act
( A c t s 1 5 ) . W a n t to give y o u r p e o p l e i n s i g h t o n Bible s t u d y
and teaching/preaching? Walk t h e m through the entire
s e r m o n - b u i l d i n g p r o c e s s i n s t e a d of g i v i n g t h e m t h e p r o d u c t .
93
W a n t to a p p e a l to e v e r y a g e ? Let a p u p p e t rise out of t h e

baptistry and c o m m e n t on your sermon. N e e d insight on
failure? T a l k w i t h P e t e r . O r b e P e t e r a n d talk to y o u r s e l f .
W a n t perspective on sovereignty? Chat with Nebuchadnez-
zar. I n t e r e s t e d in f i n d i n g out h o w S a t a n o p e r a t e s ? I n t e r v i e w
J o b . W a n t to k n o w m o r e a b o u t h e a v e n ? C o n s u l t a n a n g e l —
M i c h a e l , for i n s t a n c e . D e a l i n g w i t h t h e fall of m a n ? C o n t a c t
A d a m and Eve.
Y o u m a y n o t b e s t r o n g in s e e i n g t h e s e possibilities, n o r
s t r o n g in p u t t i n g t h e m i n t o effect. If y o u still w a n t to e x p l o r e
t h e p o t e n t i a l , l o o k for t h o s e i n y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n w h o are
willing and able.
IN SUMMARY
W e all gravitate t o w a r d c e r t a i n p r e a c h i n g m e t h o d s a n d
p r e a c h i n g s t y l e s . It is in t h e s e a r e a s w e a r e c o m f o r t a b l e a n d
r e a s o n a b l y s u c c e s s f u l . W e o u g h t to i d e n t i f y t h e m a n d u s e
t h e m o f t e n , c o n s t a n t l y s t r i v i n g to r a i s e o u r level of e x c e l -
lence.
A g r o w i n g p r e a c h e r , h o w e v e r , s h o u l d also b e e x p l o r i n g
o t h e r w a y s of c o m m u n i c a t i n g t r u t h , n o t t o r e p l a c e t h e tried
a n d t r u e , b u t to e x p a n d o n e ' s G o d - g i v e n p o t e n t i a l . S o m e -
t i m e s t h e p o o r e s t m e t h o d is t h e o n e w e u s e all t h e t i m e ,
s i m p l y b e c a u s e w e m a y start t a k i n g it for g r a n t e d a n d
b e c o m e a bit s l o p p y , o r b e c a u s e w e start to b e c o m e
p r e d i c t a b l e . T h i s c h a p t e r h a s b e e n w r i t t e n to c h a l l e n g e y o u
to b e a little less p r e d i c t a b l e b y b e i n g a little m o r e c r e a t i v e .
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7
Creative Use
of Visual Aids
in Preaching
Seeing a d d s a vital d i m e n s i o n to t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n
process. Y o u r congregation usually sees the pulpit, your
Bible, a n d y o u . T h e s i z e a n d s u b s t a n c e o f t h e p u l p i t , as w e l l
as the a m o u n t of roaming that you do while you are
p r e a c h i n g , will d e t e r m i n e h o w m u c h t h e y s e e o f y o u . Y o u r
b o d y l a n g u a g e will a d d f u r t h e r v i s u a l m e s s a g e s . It w o u l d b e
wise periodically to have your preaching videotaped and see
w h a t o t h e r s s e e w h e n y o u p r e a c h . T h e c a m e r a d o e s n o t lie.
OBJECT LESSONS
T h e r e are as m a n y object lessons as there are objects.

B r i n g i n g a n o b j e c t i n t o t h e p u l p i t to d i s p l a y a n d u s e at t h e
o p p o r t u n e t i m e will e n h a n c e y o u r c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d
r e i n f o r c e y o u r a p p e a l t o p e o p l e ' s s e n s e of s i g h t . T h e r e a r e
n u m e r o u s good object-lesson books; stop b y the bookstore
a n d b u y o n e . E n l i s t t h e a i d o f o t h e r s in y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n
w h o m a y h a v e skill w i t h v i s u a l a i d s .
S u p p o s e y o u a r e p r e a c h i n g o n c o m m i t m e n t in m a r r i a g e
from a passage such as Genesis 2:24. W h a t object lesson
c o u l d y o u u s e ? G o to y o u r t o o l b o x a n d f i n d t w o s m a l l ,
95
d i f f e r e n t - s h a p e d p i e c e s of w o o d , t h e n c l a m p t h e m t o g e t h e r
with a " C - c l a m p . " During the sermon use the object lesson
to p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e r e a r e n u m e r o u s e x t e r n a l p r e s s u r e s that
p u s h c o u p l e s i n t o e n g a g e m e n t a n d m a r r i a g e , s u c h as p e e r
pressure, parents, pregnancy, infatuation, or desperation.
A f t e r y o u h a v e b e e n m a r r i e d for a w h i l e , t h e s e p r e s s u r e s
t e n d to d r o p off ( r e m o v e t h e c l a m p ) , a n d w h a t is between
h o l d s y o u t o g e t h e r . If it i s a superficial c o m m i t m e n t , y o u c a n
easily drift a p a r t . If it is a d e e p , g e n u i n e , loving c o m m i t -
m e n t , y o u will stick w i t h e a c h o t h e r a n d w o r k o u t y o u r
difficulties in t h e light of y o u r m u t u a l c o m m i t m e n t . (If y o u
w a n t to f o c u s o n a s u p e r f i c i a l , e x t e r n a l l y o r i e n t e d c o m m i t -
m e n t , d o n ' t g l u e t h e p i e c e s of w o o d t o g e t h e r ; if y o u w a n t t o
e m p h a s i z e an internally oriented c o m m i t m e n t , do glue.)
H o w a b o u t a n o b j e c t l e s s o n to illustrate y o u r p h i l o s o -
p h y of p r e a c h i n g ? O b t a i n a n e m p t y , o p a q u e , plastic b l e a c h
b o t t l e . P u t a n i n c h o r t w o of dirt i n it a n d s c r e w t h e c a p o n .
H o l d it u p a n d a s k e a c h m e m b e r of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n to t h i n k
of h i m s e l f o r h e r s e l f a s o n e o f t h e s e s m a l l - n e c k e d b o t t l e s .
Y o u r p r e a c h i n g t a s k is t o i n s e r t biblical t r u t h i n t o t h e p e r s o n
(bottle). P e o p l e c a n h e l p b y b e i n g o p e n a n d r e a d y to r e c e i v e
t r u t h ( r e m o v i n g t h e i r " c a p s " ) a n d b y ridding t h e m s e l v e s of
t h e i r sin t h r o u g h c o n f e s s i o n a n d c l e a n s i n g . ( A s y o u s a y t h e s e
w o r d s , u n s c r e w t h e c a p a n d p o u r o u t t h e dirt.)
N o w c o m e s t h e p r e a c h i n g . Y o u r c h a l l e n g e is to g e t a lot
of t r u t h i n t o e v e r y p e r s o n . A t this p o i n t lift a large t u b o f
w a t e r , telling t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t h a t y o u w a n t to fill all t h e
b o t t l e s w i t h " t r u t h " w i t h o n e flip of t h e t u b . ( D e m o n s t r a t e
y o u r t u b - f l i p p i n g t e c h n i q u e . ) A l a s , y o u c a n ' t d o it! T h e
o p e n i n g s a r e t o o s m a l l . M o s t o f t h e " t r u t h " will d e c e p t i v e l y
r u n d o w n the outside of the bottles a n d e n d u p o n the floor.
T h e s o l u t i o n is n o t m o r e " t r u t h t u b s " o r b i g g e r b o t t l e s . T h e
s o l u t i o n is t o fill a n eyedropper with water from the tub and
walk a m o n g the b o t t l e s — g i v i n g each person an individual-
ized, internal injection of truth from G o d ' s W o r d . That's
y o u r p h i l o s o p h y of p e r s o n a l i z e d p r e a c h i n g a n d , i n c i d e n t a l l y ,
the congregation's philosophy of personalized listening.
P r e a c h i n g o n J o h n 15? B r i n g a v i n e i n t o t h e p u l p i t .
96
Creative Use of Visual Aids in Preaching
Expounding o n James 1 : 2 2 - 2 5 ? Use a mirror. Dealing with

H e b r e w s 10:24? C o n s i d e r h a v i n g a pair of s p u r s or a cattle
p r o d . H a n d l i n g H e b r e w s 5 : 1 1 - 1 4 ? D r i n k a g l a s s of milk a n d
e a t a r a w c a r r o t — d u r i n g t h e s e r m o n . T h e n e x p l a i n that w h a t
t h e milk a n d c a r r o t d o f o r y o u p h y s i c a l l y , t h e W o r d of G o d
will d o f o r y o u spiritually. I n c i d e n t a l l y , e x p l a i n i n g t h e latter
p o i n t will n o t b e a s e a s y as y o u m i g h t t h i n k .
Are you getting the picture? There are object lessons
right in t h e text a s w e l l as b e y o n d t h e text. L o o k for b o t h . S e t
a g o a l : a n o b j e c t l e s s o n in a s e r m o n at l e a s t o n c e a m o n t h .
OVERHEAD PROJECTION
T h e o v e r h e a d p r o j e c t o r a l l o w s u s to p r o j e c t t h i n g s o n
t h e s c r e e n w i t h o u t t u r n i n g o f f t h e lights or l o s i n g e y e c o n t a c t
w i t h o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n . H o w c a n w e u s e this visual aid in o u r
preaching? Everything that w e can print in the bulletin, w e
c a n also p r i n t o n a t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d p r o j e c t o n t o t h e s c r e e n .
Quizzes, quotes, agree/disagree statements, outlines, verses
of S c r i p t u r e , k e y w o r d s a n d p h r a s e s , c r o s s r e f e r e n c e s , t h e m e
or proposition statements, questions, case studies, " W h a t
would you d o ? " situations, and more.
F o r e x a m p l e , a s p e o p l e sit in t h e s a n c t u a r y w a i t i n g for
t h e service t o start, t h e i r t h i n k i n g c o u l d b e s t i m u l a t e d a n d
directed by a quote on the screen that reads:
" W h e n Christians don't suffer, the church d o e s . "
P o n d e r i n g this s t a t e m e n t w o u l d h e l p p r e p a r e t h e c o n g r e g a -
tion to listen c a r e f u l l y t o a s e r m o n t h a t will e x p l a i n i t . O r , o n
1
t h e lighter s i d e , a m e s s a g e o n faith a n d d o u b t c o u l d b e
f o c u s e d in a w o r d p i c t u r e like t h i s :
"Doubts are ants in the pants of faith." 2
T h i s is a totally d i f f e r e n t w a y of e x p r e s s i n g t r u t h . It h a s a bite
to it. It will s t i n g y o u i n t o i n v o l v e m e n t . O r a n o t h e r :
"Always pray about a matter before you talk to

anyone else about it." Agree? Disagree?
97
WORD
PREACHER
Figure 7.1
E t c h truth i n t o t h e m i n d s o f p e o p l e n o t o n l y by t h e s e r m o n s
y o u p r e a c h , b u t also b y t h e s h o r t , p i t h y s t a t e m e n t s y o u
p r o j e c t o n t h e s c r e e n t h a t boil y o u r s e r m o n d o w n i n t o a f e w
choice words.
Graphics—vivid visual w a y s o f s h o w i n g s i g n i f i c a n t
relationships and responsibilities—can and should occasion-
ally b e u s e d i n y o u r p r e a c h i n g . L i n e s , c i r c l e s , a r r o w s , a n d
b o x e s , a l o n g w i t h k e y w o r d s , a r e e f f e c t i v e w a y s of d e p i c t i n g
concepts, organization, order, structure, integration, separa-
t i o n , d e p e n d e n c y , i n t e r d e p e n d e n c y , s e q u e n c e , origin, a n d
o t h e r c o n c e p t s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e t w o a r r o w s in f i g u r e 7.1
c o n v e y t h e c o n c e p t t h a t t h e t a s k of t h e p r e a c h e r is t w o f o l d —
t o g e t i n t o t h e W o r d a n d to let t h e W o r d get i n t o h i m .
These two responsibilities d e m a n d study a n d an open-

n e s s t o G o d o n t h e p a r t of t h e p r e a c h e r . If y o u a r e n o t s t r o n g
in b o t h , y o u r p r e a c h i n g will b e w e a k , s h a l l o w , a n d
s u p e r f i c i a l . In f i g u r e 7.2 w e a d d t w o m o r e a r r o w s t h a t s h o w
t h a t t h e p r e a c h e r is also t o get i n t o t h e lives of h i s
c o n g r e g a t i o n a n d let t h e m g e t i n t o his life.
G e t t i n g i n t o t h e W o r d a n d letting t h e W o r d g e t i n t o y o u
r e q u i r e a n o n g o i n g d e s i r e to get t o k n o w o t h e r s , a n d a
w i l l i n g n e s s to let t h e m g e t t o k n o w y o u . If y o u a r e n o t s t r o n g
in b o t h , y o u r p r e a c h i n g will b e at b e s t t h e o r e t i c a l ; at w o r s t ,
sterile. Finally, in f i g u r e 7.3 w e a d d t w o m o r e a r r o w s to
i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n is t o g e t i n t o t h e W o r d a n d
a l l o w t h e W o r d t o g e t i n t o their e x p e r i e n c e .
98
WORD
PRFAPHFI? K » - CONGREGATION
Figure 7.2
WORD
Figure 7.3
T h e s e t w o responsibilities can only b e accomplished

w h e n y o u d e c i d e t h a t y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n m u s t l e a r n h o w to
s t u d y a n d a p p l y t h e Bible o n t h e i r o w n , i n s t e a d of j u s t
l e a r n i n g h o w to l i s t e n to t h e r e s u l t s o f y o u r s t u d y o f t h e
W o r d . T h r e e k e y w o r d s a n d six significant a r r o w s h a v e b e e n
e m p l o y e d t o visually articulate a biblical p h i l o s o p h y of
p r e a c h i n g — i n fact, a biblical p h i l o s o p h y of m i n i s t r y . A
simple diagram. A significant a n d complex idea. O u r tempta-
tion is t o c l u t t e r u p i m p o r t a n t biblical c o n c e p t s w i t h a lot of
v e r b i a g e . S i m p l i f y ! G o o d v i s u a l a i d s will h e l p .
R e m e m b e r , y o u are a person, preaching to persons.
O n e of t h e b e s t w a y s t o p e r s o n a l i z e y o u r p r e a c h i n g is to
p r o j e c t p e o p l e o n t o t h e s c r e e n . All k i n d s o f p e o p l e : m e n a n d
w o m e n , y o u n g a n d old, h a p p y and sad, black a n d white.
99
Give t h e m n a m e s . Focus on their faces. Portray different

facial expressions, b e c a u s e e a c h facial e x p r e s s i o n a r i s e s o u t of,
a n d g i v e s e v i d e n c e for, a particular life-setting.
C o n s i d e r T o m a n d C h e r y l , a typical c o u p l e in their m i d -
thirties (fig. 7 . 4 ) . C h e r y l is a h o m e m a k e r , h a s t w o g r a d e -
s c h o o l c h i l d r e n , a n d w o r k s t w o n i g h t s a w e e k a s a n u r s e at a
local h o s p i t a l . T o m is a n a c c o u n t a n t w h o is w i t h a g r o u p , b u t
is t h i n k i n g s e r i o u s l y of g o i n g i n t o b u s i n e s s f o r h i m s e l f . T h e y
m e t in c o l l e g e a n d w e r e m a r r i e d a f t e r g r a d u a t i o n .
Figure 7.4
In a s e r m o n y o u c o u l d p r o j e c t T o m a n d C h e r y l o n t o t h e
s c r e e n a n d g i v e y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n b i o g r a p h i c a l d a t a like t h a t
g i v e n a b o v e . A d a p t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n to y o u r s e t t i n g . If t h e y
live i n a rural c o m m u n i t y , y o u m i g h t w a n t t o c h a n g e t h e
d e s c r i p t i o n . Y o u r m a i n p u r p o s e is t o r e l a t e t h e text y o u a r e
p r e a c h i n g to t h e life-setting o f this c o u p l e . T h e y a p p e a r
h a p p y — a n d it c o u l d b e b e c a u s e t h e y a r e a p p l y i n g this t r u t h
t o t h e i r lives. Y o u m a y w i s h to e l a b o r a t e o n t h i s c o n d i t i o n .
T o m is c o n t e m p l a t i n g a m a j o r j o b - c h a n g e d e c i s i o n .
C o u l d t h e t r u t h of t h e text b e r e l a t e d t o this d e c i s i o n ?
C h e r y l is g o n e t w o n i g h t s a w e e k f r o m t h e h o u s e . Is
t h i s a t r u t h that c o u l d tie in w i t h t h e fulfillment s h e
e x p e r i e n c e s as a n u r s e ? C o u l d it relate t o t h e fact that T o m
b o u g h t a f a n c y s p o r t s c a r a n d t h a t is o n e o f t h e m a i n r e a s o n s
C h e r y l h a d to g o b a c k t o w o r k ?
A r e T o m a n d C h e r y l h a p p y in p a r t i c u l a r a r e a s o f t h e i r
100
m a r r i a g e ? If s o , is it b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e b e e n p u t t i n g this
t r u t h i n t o p r a c t i c e ? D o t h e y j u s t l o o k h a p p y , w h e n in fact
t h e y a r e n ' t , a n d is it all a f a c a d e ? Is it b e c a u s e t h e y a r e
i g n o r a n t o f t h i s t r u t h ? O r c o u l d it b e that t h e y k n o w it, b u t
a r e n ' t d o i n g it?
O b v i o u s l y y o u d o n ' t try to f o r c e t h e text i n t o all t h e s e
m a t t e r s , b u t s e e k to i n t e r p r e t a n d a p p l y it w h e r e it clearly
i m p i n g e s o n life. W h i l e y o u a r e c a r r y i n g o n this l i f e - s e t t i n g
p r e a c h i n g , a d d i n g visual i m p a c t to y o u r v e r b a l p r e s e n t a t i o n ,
members of your congregation are with you, not only
because of w h a t you are saying, but also because of w h o m
t h e y a r e s e e i n g . In v a r i o u s w a y s t h e y a r e i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h
T o m a n d / o r C h e r y l . T h e y o u n g e r o n e s a r e h e a d e d in that
d i r e c t i o n in t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e , a n d y o u a r e p r o m p t i n g t h e m t o
think about w h a t they should do n o w to e n s u r e a positive
f u t u r e for t h e m a n d their m a r r i a g e . O t h e r s a r e r i g h t w h e r e
T o m a n d Cheryl are n o w ; from the W o r d you can give t h e m
insight they can use immediately. T h e older ones are looking
back, a n d with a seasoned maturity they are thinking about
h o w they made some of the same mistakes and solved some
o f t h e s a m e k i n d s o f p r o b l e m s b y a p p l y i n g G o d ' s t r u t h to
their lives. Putting T o m a n d Cheryl on the screen, e v e n for a
m o m e n t , will e n h a n c e t h e ability t o relate t h e t r u t h to life.
T h i s is C h a r l i e (fig. 7 . 5 ) .
W h a t is h e r e a d i n g ? P e r h a p s a
layoff notice, an unexpected
bill, a letter o f r e j e c t i o n , a l o w e r
grade than h e anticipated. Sug-
gest to your congregation a
n u m b e r of options.
Life is like this. W e all g e t
bad news. Your sermon may be
along the lines of J o h n 16:33,
h e l p i n g p e o p l e a c c e p t t h e real-
ity of p r o b l e m s . O r it m a y b e a
text s u c h a s P h i l i p p i a n s 4 : 6 - 7 ,
helping people to realize the Figure 7.5
101
p o w e r of p r a y e r . U s i n g t h e s e t e x t s g i v e s t h e i m p r e s s i o n that
w h a t h a s h a p p e n e d w a s n o t C h a r l i e ' s fault. It c o u l d h a v e
b e e n , a n d y o u m a y w a n t to e x p l o r e t h a t a v e n u e w i t h a
p a s s a g e s u c h as G a l a t i a n s 6 : 7 - 8 .
V i s u a l s c a n h e l p i n application. You have expounded the
t r u t h o f a g i v e n text a n d n o w y o u i n t e n d to m o u n t a full-
scale i n v a s i o n i n t o t h e lives o f y o u r p e o p l e . Y o u c o u l d s a y
t h e s e w o r d s , o r h a v e s o m e o n e e l s e (visible o r h i d d e n ) s a y
t h e m , o r p u t t h e m o n t h e s c r e e n ( s e e fig. 7 . 6 ) .
"If that's what the Word of God says, and if that's what
it means, and if it is really true, and I believe it is, then I
think I had better start making some changes."
" G o o d thinking, Fred. Now, " Y o u are right on target, Nor-

based on this truth, what spe- ma. How would these biblical
cific things can you start doing imperatives affect your attitude
this week in your relationship toward your invalid husband
to your customers and fellow and those rambunctious grand-
employees at the office?" children?"
Figure 7.6
Y o u c o u l d f u r n i s h t h e s e a n s w e r s y o u r s e l f , or y o u c o u l d
draw them from a Fred and Norma offstage. You might
make a suggestion and have one or both of them disagree
a n d o f f e r s o m e t h i n g m u c h m o r e p e r t i n e n t t o their r e s p e c t i v e
102
Figure 7.7
s i t u a t i o n s . In t h e final a n a l y s i s , y o u w a n t t o i n j e c t t r u t h i n t o
their l i f e - s e t t i n g s a n d to train t h e m to d o it o n their o w n . T o
d o this y o u m a y h a v e t o c o m e a c r o s s a s s o m e o n e w h o
d o e s n ' t h a v e all t h e a n s w e r s . W h a t a b l o w !
Occupations a r e a n o t h e r crucial area (fig. 7 . 7 ) . Y o u r
p e o p l e s p e n d f o r t y h o u r s a w e e k at their j o b s . W h a t t h e y d o
is i m p o r t a n t . H o w t h e y d o it is a l s o i m p o r t a n t . G i v e y o u r
p e o p l e n a m e s : S h e i l a S e c r e t a r y , B e r t B u i l d e r . T h e n relate t h e
W o r d to t h e i m p o r t a n c e of their j o b s a n d t o t h e quality o f
their w o r k . H o w d o t h e y feel a b o u t w h a t t h e y a r e d o i n g ?
W h a t d o e s it m e a n f o r e a c h of t h e m to b e s u c c e s s f u l ? H o w
c a n t h e y w i t n e s s o n t h e j o b ? W h a t p r e s s u r e s a r e t h e r e to b e
s l o p p y , s l o w , d i s h o n e s t ? W h a t p o t e n t i a l f o r a d v a n c e m e n t is
there? C a n w h a t they are doing b e classified as " t h e Lord's
work"?
Be sure to use pictures that can b e related to m e m b e r s

o f y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n . T h e v i s u a l s i n f i g u r e 7.7 a r e q u i t e
relevant to t h e building trades or office work. T o touch other
p e o p l e y o u m i g h t d e p i c t , o r at l e a s t r e f e r t o , B o s s B a r n e y ,
w h o s u p e r v i s e s B e r t ' s c a r p e n t r y , o r B a n k e r Bill, w h o p u t s u p
t h e m o n e y for t h e e n t i r e p r o j e c t . S h e i l a m a y w o r k for
M a n a g e r M a u d e — w h o n o r m a l l y is a t e d d y b e a r b u t n o w
a n d t h e n a t y r a n t . It is y o u r p r i v i l e g e a s t h e p r e a c h e r to b r i n g
the truth of the W o r d into the world w h e r e your people
work.
103
Figure 7.8
Overlays g i v e u s t h e c h a n c e to d e v e l o p a sequence. T h a t ' s

the w a y w e live, in s e q u e n c e , constantly processing data
from within and beyond ourselves and then responding with
our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
H e r e is S e n s i t i v e S t e v e (fig. 7 . 8 ) . I n s c e n e 1, h e d o e s n ' t
look too happy. W h y not? A customer just worked h i m over
o n t h e p h o n e f o r n o t d e l i v e r i n g a n o r d e r o n t i m e . It c a u g h t
S t e v e off g u a r d , a n d h i s i m m e d i a t e r e a c t i o n w a s t o b e
miserable, m a d , and sad. H e might be saying things to
h i m s e l f like " I t ' s n o t m y fault, it's t h e s h i p p i n g d e p a r t -
m e n t ' s " o r " T h a t ' s t h e third t i m e t h i s w e e k t h i s h a s
h a p p e n e d ; I c a n ' t s e e m to d o a n y t h i n g right."
Y o u m i g h t a s k y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n to c o m e u p w i t h
w o r d s a n d p h r a s e s t h a t c o u l d d e s c r i b e w h a t is g o i n g o n
inside Steve. They k n o w . They've been there.
N o w project the second panel onto the screen, overlap-
p i n g t h e first illustration. T h e facial e x p r e s s i o n a n d t h e size
104
of t h e c l o u d w o u l d i n d i c a t e t h a t S t e v e is m u l l i n g his w a y
t h r o u g h this e x p e r i e n c e in a fairly h e a l t h y , positive w a y .
C o u l d t h a t b e b e c a u s e h e is b r i n g i n g t h e W o r d of G o d into
t h i s s i t u a t i o n ? It c e r t a i n l y c o u l d b e . A s a m a t t e r of fact, it
c o u l d b e t h e v e r y p o r t i o n o f S c r i p t u r e o n w h i c h y o u are
preaching. T h e Scriptures say something about making
p r o m i s e s y o u c a n ' t k e e p ; a b o u t d e a l i n g w i t h p e o p l e w h o are
angry and overbearing; about learning from adversity.
N e x t c o m e s p a n e l 3 , o v e r l a p p i n g t h e o t h e r s : t h e s u n is
s h i n i n g a n d S t e v e is s m i l i n g . H o w l o n g did it take h i m to
work his w a y through these issues? A few m o m e n t s , a
n u m b e r of h o u r s , m a y b e all d a y , or e v e n all w e e k . B u t h e
w a s s e n s i t i v e e n o u g h to relate t h e W o r d of G o d to his life-
s e t t i n g , a n d t h a t ' s w h a t y o u w a n t y o u r p e o p l e to b e able to
d o . A r e y o u e q u i p p i n g t h e m to d o t h a t ? D o y o u s e e h o w
p i c t u r e s will h e l p ?
S t e v e c a m e t h r o u g h h i s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h flying colors
a n d e n d e d u p w i t h a s m i l e o n his f a c e . It d o e s n ' t a l w a y s
w o r k like t h a t . S o m e t i m e s m a t t e r s g o f r o m b a d to w o r s e .
M e e t m y f r i e n d , G l o r i a , f o r i n s t a n c e . I call h e r " G l o o m y
G l o r i a , " b e c a u s e s h e t e n d s t o t u r n n u m e r o u s n e g a t i v e facts
l o o s e in h e r m i n d . A s t h e y r o a m a r o u n d i n s i d e h e r , t h e y n o t
only bruise h e r ego, but also tend to color h e r outlook o n
l i f e — a t b e s t , b l u e ; at w o r s t , b l a c k .
I n t h e first s c e n e (fig. 7 . 9 ) y o u c a n s e e a c l o u d w i t h a
s o m b e r l i n i n g b e g i n n i n g t o f o r m . W h y ? G l o r i a is t h i n k i n g o f
t h e never-ending d e m a n d s placed u p o n h e r to b e a gorgeous
w i f e a n d a m o d e l m o t h e r . In s c e n e 2 s h e a d d s t o h e r list t h e
c h a l l e n g e o f b e i n g a g o u r m e t c o o k a n d a n efficient h o u s e -
keeper. T h e cloud gets bigger, lower, darker; the look o n her
f a c e , m o r e p e r p l e x e d . I n s c e n e 3 s h e p o n d e r s t h e probability
t h a t s h e will n e v e r g e t t o e n g a g e i n t h e m e d - t e c h c a r e e r s h e
w a s t r a i n e d for. L i v i n g w i t h u n f u l f i l l e d d e s i r e s a n d d r e a m s
can b e frustrating a n d depressing, especially w h e n y o u are a
p e r f e c t i o n i s t , a s Gloria is.
P r e a c h e r , like it o r n o t , y o u a r e m i n i s t e r i n g t o p e o p l e
like G l o r i a . O n c e in a w h i l e , e x p o u n d o n a text t h a t will a l l o w
105
Figure 7.9
y o u t o v i s u a l i z e a n d relate t o t h e t h r e e p h a s e s of G l o r i a ' s
d e p r e s s i o n . D o t h i s , a n d I g u a r a n t e e t h a t y o u will h a v e t h e
r a p t a t t e n t i o n of e v e r y w o m a n in y o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n . T h e y
will n o t o n l y l i s t e n t o y o u , b u t a l s o i d e n t i f y w i t h G l o r i a — a n d
t h e y will b e l o o k i n g f o r a n s w e r s f r o m t h e W o r d of G o d .
F u r t h e r m o r e , y o u will r e a c h t h e m e n i n y o u r a u d i e n c e , f o r
t h e y will b e a s k i n g t h e m s e l v e s t w o p r i m e q u e s t i o n s : " W h a t
a m I d o i n g t o f o s t e r t h i s d e p r e s s i o n ? " a n d " W h a t c a n I d o to
h e l p ? " Give them answers.
T h e n t h e r e is S t r e s s e d - o u t S a m (fig. 7 . 1 0 ) . ( O r it c o u l d
be Burned-out Becky? W o m e n are not i m m u n e from pres-
s u r e . ) E v e r y d a y S a m p l a y s this g a m e c a l l e d " P e r f e c t i o n . " H e
shuffles the cards, cuts the deck, a n d deals himself a h a n d ,
h o p i n g to g e t t h e c a r d s l a b e l e d " B e e v e r y w h e r e , " " K n o w
everything," " D o everything," "Judge everyone," "Equip
e v e r y o n e . " H e n e v e r s e e m s to d r a w t h e s e c a r d s , b u t b e i n g
the driven person that h e is, he h a s fine-tuned his " b l u f f i n g "
106
Figure 7.10
skills a n d p l a y s a m e a n g a m e o f p e r f e c t i o n , e v e n t h o u g h , in
his i n f r e q u e n t m o m e n t s o f r a t i o n a l t h i n k i n g , h e k n o w s it's
n o t in t h e c a r d s for h i m s e l f o r a n y o n e e l s e .
W h a t biblical p r i n c i p l e s is S a m violating to get h i m s e l f

i n t o t h i s m o d e o f t h i n k i n g a n d living? W h a t biblical i n s i g h t s
w o u l d h e l p h i m l o w e r his t e n s i o n a n d f r e n z y ? W h a t d o
p e o p l e w h o live w i t h h i m a n d w o r k w i t h h i m n e e d ?
E v e r y o n e e x p e r i e n c e s s t r e s s . T h e p i c t u r e a b o v e m a y over-
state t h e c o n d i t i o n o f a p e r s o n u n d e r a l o t o f s t r e s s , b u t it is
s o g r a p h i c it will g e t e v e r y o n e ' s a t t e n t i o n . W e m a g n i f y t h e
p r o b l e m in o r d e r t o facilitate e v a l u a t i o n a n d s o l u t i o n .
H e r e a r e s o m e g u i d e l i n e s f o r o v e r h e a d p r o j e c t i o n . It is a
p o w e r f u l v i s u a l a i d , s o u s e it. D o n ' t u s e it all t h e t i m e , lest
y o u b e c o m e t o o d e p e n d e n t o n it a n d t o o p r e d i c t a b l e with it.
B u y a g o o d s c r e e n ; p o s i t i o n it s o that it c a n b e s e e n b y
everyone without a " k e y s t o n e " distortion. Secure a good
o v e r h e a d p r o j e c t o r ; p u t it o n a s t a n d that is solid a n d t h e
right h e i g h t . F u r n i s h a n d a r r a n g e y o u r p l a t f o r m a n d pulpit
s o that t h e p r o j e c t o r is n o t a n u n s i g h t l y i n t r u s i o n . L o o k for
p e o p l e i n y o u r c h u r c h w h o h a v e artistic o r g r a p h i c s i n t e r e s t s
o r e x p e r i e n c e . R e c r u i t t h e m a n d u s e t h e m . S e c u r e t h e basic
e q u i p m e n t y o u n e e d to m a k e quality t r a n s p a r e n c i e s — q u a l -
ity in c o l o r a n d d e s i g n . T h e w o r l d a r o u n d u s is p r o f u s e w i t h
107
quality m e d i a . D o n ' t let y o u r c h u r c h g o s e c o n d - r a t e . E v e n if

y o u c a n ' t start w i t h h i g h q u a l i t y , a i m t o w a r d it.
IN CONCLUSION
There are m a n y , m a n y m o r e creative things you can d o

with the overhead projector, and other visual aids. W e h a v e
m e n t i o n e d a f e w a n d p u r p o s e f u l l y tied t h e m in w i t h o u r life-
s e t t i n g p e r s p e c t i v e . If y o u a r e n ' t u s i n g visual a i d s r e g u l a r l y ,
y o u o u g h t to c h a n g e . T h e p r e a c h i n g m i n i s t r y is too signific-
a n t for u s to set n a r r o w , rigid limits o n h o w w e p r e a c h .
P e o p l e a n d their c u l t u r e s a r e t o o d i v e r s e f o r u s to a s s u m e
t h e r e is o n e b e s t w a y to c o m m u n i c a t e t r u t h t o t h e m . A n d
finally, e a c h p r e a c h e r is s o u n i q u e t h a t it is a t r a g e d y f o r h i m
n o t to d i s c o v e r , d e v e l o p , a n d u s e t h i s G o d - g i v e n u n i q u e n e s s
c r e a t i v e l y in h i s o w n p r e a c h i n g .
108
Epilogue
This is a book about preaching.
About preaching creatively.
T h i s is a b o o k a b o u t l i f e - s e t t i n g s .
About discovering and using them.
T h i s b o o k s a y s that g o o d p r e a c h i n g will . . .
creatively r e - c r e a t e t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g of t h e t e x t ,
creatively relate t o t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g of t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ,
creatively u s e t h e l i f e - s e t t i n g of t h e p r e a c h e r , a n d
creatively e m p l o y life-setting preaching m e t h o d s .
This b o o k says that you can be a m o r e creative preacher.

If y o u w a n t t o .
If y o u w o r k a t it.
T h i s b o o k will p r o b a b l y c a u s e one of t h e f o l l o w i n g re-

sponses:
Resignation: " N o t m e . "
Procrastination: " N o t n o w . "
Consecration: "I'll do i t . "
T h i s b o o k h a s g o n e a s far a s it c a n g o .
N o w it's u p t o y o u .
109
Notes
Chapter 1
1. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21: "All this" would relate to the truth in

the text about being a new creation in Christ. The reality of this
truth is "from G o d . " " W h o reconciled us to himself through Christ"
is also part of the text to be proclaimed. It is a clear, simple
statement of the message of reconciliation. "Gave u s " emphasizes
the preachers who were assigned the task of preaching. " T h e
ministry of reconciliation" stresses the preaching, with "ministry"
(Gr., diakoniari) giving attention to the loving activity of the preacher
as a servant.
"That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting men's sins against t h e m " — a n enlarged restatement of the
text, i.e., the message of reconciliation. Note, however, that here
" h e has committed to us the message of reconciliation." Message
(Gr., logon) underscores the importance of the text. The preacher is
an "ambassador" who communicates important messages (tots) to
those in other countries. He seeks to present and explain (preach) as
clearly and as accurately as he can. "Making his appeal through u s "
combines the preacher and his preaching, as does also " w e implore
y o u . " Verse 21 is a climaxing, reconfirming condensation of the
message of the text.
Chapter 2
1. See Acts 14:15; 17:24-28; Colossians 1:15-17, and 2 Peter

3 : 1 - 1 6 for further insights on God as creator, sustainer, and re-
creator.
2. See the author's book The Trauma of Transparency (Portland,
Oreg.: Multnomah, 1979), ch. 1, for additional thoughts on the
relationship between Adam and Eve before the Fall.
110
Notes
3. Richard F. Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life (Downers Grove,

111.: InterVarsity, 1985), pp. 7 5 - 7 6 . Lovelace has three excellent
chapters on the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Chapter 3
1. Paul L. Kaufman, An Introductory Grammar of New Testament

Greek (Palm Springs, Calif.: Ronald N. Haynes, 1982), p. 136.
2. Ibid., p. 32. For further insight on the different uses of ex as

a prefix, see A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament
in the Light of Historical Research (Nashville: Broadman, 1934). The
terms artios and exertismenos are discussed in The New International
Dictionary of New Testament Theology, ed. Colin Brown (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1978), 3:350.
3. Here are some data for you. The couplets in 2 Corinthians

4 : 8 - 9 are instructive. Note the intensifying prefix that moves one
from perplexity to despair. The power of God will keep that from
happening (4:7). The double prefixed word in Romans 15:32 will
help you better to understand Paul's concept of how believers
rejuvenate and refresh one another. It seems redundant to add syn
before koinoneo as Paul did in Philippians 4:14. Why would he have
done this?
4. See the author's book The Trauma of Transparency (Portland,

Oreg.: Multnomah, 1979), ch. 8, for insight on "Communicating
With Yourself."
Chapter 4
1. Henri J . M. Nouwen, The Wounded Healer (Garden City, N.Y.:

Doubleday, 1972).
2. For additional information on using laypeople in sermon

preparation and evaluation, see Reuel L. Howe, Partners in Preaching
(New York: Seabury, 1967).
Ill
C R E A T I V I T Y IN PREACHING
Chapter 5
1. IDAK Research Associates, Inc., has developed a simple

Talent Discovery Guide and a more detailed Career Match, both of
which are designed to help people discover their God-given talents.
For information, write IDAK, 7931 N.E. Halsey, Portland, OR
97213.
2. See Myron R. Chartier, Preaching as Communication (Nash-

ville: Abingdon, 1981). Chapter 2 contains an excellent treatment of
"Self-disclosure in Preaching." I recommend that the entire book be
read by every preacher.
Chapter 6
1. Charlotte I. Lee, Oral Reading of the Scriptures. (Boston:

Houghton Mifflin, 1974). The author provides insights for the public
oral reading of the Scriptures with attention to their different
literary styles.
2. Reuel L. Howe, The Miracle of Dialogue (New York: Seabury,

1963), p. 32.
Chapter 7
1. This is a sermon based on Philippians 1:27-30. The thrust is

that the church is supposed to prepare its people to live in the world
in such a way that they may have to suffer hostility, rejection, and
so on. The same church is then available to help us when we do
suffer. But when Christians don't suffer, the church does. It suffers
from a lack of purpose and a failure to do what it is supposed to do.
It is existing, but not ministering; therefore it is suffering.
2. Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking—A Theological ABC

(New York: Harper & Row, 1973), p. 20. A theological dictionary
with brief, pithy definitions of many biblical terms and theological
concepts.
112

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THE CRAFT OF PREACHING

jERVaN PUBllCSTION BL888

MINISTRY RESOURCES LIBRARY

Introducing the Sermon

Zondervan Publishing House • Grand Rapids, Ml

MINISTRY RESOURCES LIBRARY is an imprint of Zondervan Publishing

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

All rights reserved. N o part of this publication may be reproduced,

Edited by Joseph Comanda

Printed in the United States of America

There a r e f o u r e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s in preaching: t h e text, the

THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL

T h e Bible clearly a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y r e c o g n i z e s all f o u r o f

2 Timothy 3:16 2 Timothy 4:2 2 Timothy 3:17

"All Scripture is God- "Preach the Word; " . . . so that the

. . . because our gospel came to you not simply with

"gospel" "came" "to you"

"not simply with "You know how we

We loved you so much that we were delighted to

T h e " g o s p e l o f G o d " is t h e i r text, h i g h l i g h t i n g b o t h its

TESTING THE PRINCIPLE

In 5:18 what would "all this" relate to on the model?

In 5:19 where would you assign the first part of the

What will you do with the concept of "ambassadors"

Finally, to which part of the model would you relate

w h e n G o d w e n t into His creative and sustaining m o d e , m a n

A d a m started his creative stewardship by n a m i n g the

CREATIVITY AND THE FALL

A d a m a n d Eve w e n t o n their merry w a y , creatively

But c a n t h e y t h i n k creatively? D i d t h e Fall l o w e r t h e i r

CREATIVITY AND THE CHRISTIAN

Anyone can be creative. T h i s is b e c a u s e a n y o n e c a n p u t

Gifts a n d talents are g i v e n t o u s b y G o d . T a l e n t s are

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you

T o a c c o u n t for t h e p r e s e n c e a n d u s e of spiritual gifts

w e l l , i . e . , w i t h skill. T h e p e r s o n w i t h artistic talent will b e able

Roots become ruts. Ruts become routines. Routine,

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for

LIFE-SETTING AND HISTORY/CULTURE

N o w that w e h a v e s h a r p e n e d o u r linguistic sensitivity a

T h e s e i n c i d e n t s a n d c o n v e r s a t i o n s could have happened.

The time: Friday evening, about 9:30.

The place: C o r i n t h , at G a i u s ' l a r g e , c o m f o r t a b l e h o m e in

The people: Paul a n d T e r t i u s . E r a s t u s got free t i c k e t s , a n d

The room: A n e n c l o s e d p o r c h off t h e living r o o m . T h e

The furnishings: A n oil l a m p o n t h e c o r n e r t a b l e ; a n o t h e r

" ' T h e will of G o d . ' A h ! I a m b e g i n n i n g to s e e w h a t y o u

it. I k n o w I s u r e d o . O k a y , t h a t ' s e n o u g h ! It's late. C a n w e

T h e stocky apostle stood motionless, meditating. T h e n ,

" 'To agathon' it is. W h y this w o r d , P a u l ? "

" B e c a u s e it signifies that w h i c h is m o r a l l y g o o d in

" T h e oil is g e t t i n g l o w in t h e l a m p . C a n w e call it a

" I see your point, but ..."

" N o t s u r e I k n o w h o w to spell it . . . "

" W e l l , let m e tell y o u s o m e t h i n g v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g a b o u t

" N o w y o u ' v e g o t m y j u i c e s f l o w i n g , P a u l . T h e last t i m e

" S e e h o w o n e little w o r d h e l p s , T e r t i u s ? D o t h e will of

" R i g h t ! . . . All k i d d i n g a s i d e , P a u l , I a m really w i p e d

" S t a y with m e , Tertius! Every sermon needs three

"T-e-l-e-i-o-n, m e a n i n g . . . d o n ' t tell m e . . . ' m a t u r e ,

" A b s o l u t e l y ! T h e will of G o d will a l w a y s b e the m a t u r e

" A n d t h e o p p o s i t e a p p r o a c h to life is to t h i n k a n d act

T h r o u g h an imaginative dialogue that could have