Homiletics

Teresa Fry Brown continues onto another point as she presents Charles Adams' 9 suggestions to preachers found on page 164 and 165 of her book Weary Throats and New Songs. This one has to do with imitating other preachers.

The thought here is to strive to be yourself. Certainly one can learn from other preachers. I have written about this in many other articles. Just as the Jazz musician listens to other musicians, certainly we will listen to preachers and gain something from them. However, it is very problematic to imitate someone, especially when one has heard the one that you are copying. The people have come to hear you preach so you preach. God has called us to preach in our own gender, ethnicity, and denominational tradition. Copying will short circuit your creativity and make you redundant. If I want some big name preacher to preach, I will get them, but if I have called you, I want you. Let God speak to the people with your voice.

Teresa Fry Brown hits on another important topic as she presents Charles Adams' 9 suggestions to preachers found on page 164 and 165 of her book Weary Throats and New Songs. This one has to do with re-using sermons.

The book argues that we should not repeat a sermon unless we "filter" it. I have heard homiletics instructors argue over this topic. One of my homiletics teachers stated that you should never re-use a sermon. In this instructors mind, the sermon is so tied to circumstances and situations that it can not legitimately be used again in another circumstance and situation. Certainly there is some truth here. The vast majority of sermons are so closely tied to this situation that it cannot be used again verbatim.

However, as one of my other professors stated, if it is worth preaching once, it is worth preaching again. However that professor would agree with Adams, through Brown, who states that "new experience, new information, [and] new communication" require that the sermon be recast into the new situation.

Read the Rest Here

Dr. Charles Adams presented a class entitled "Preaching, Black and White." During one of the lectures he gave some "do's and don'ts." Teresa Fry Brown wrote up notes from that lecture on page 164 and 165 of her book Weary Throats and New Songs. These were to help the preacher deliver their sermons more effectively. In the next few posts we are going to discuss these very important pointers.

The first point is to "Avoid being dull, tedious, or laborious." Then Adams (through Brown) stated that "Vocal energy paired with sound theology and knowledge of language give life to a sermon." There are three components to this pointer

Vocal Energy

First there is vocal energy. Here I think that Adams is getting at what I try to speak of as "sermon intensity." Here the preacher simply lets the natural enthusiasm of the preacher come through. If the preacher is not enthused about the message, then the preacher is not preaching the right message. Now one should hasten to add that enthusiasm will demonstrate itself in different ways as the different preachers allow their individuality to show, but there will be enthusiasm. that all deserve some illumination.

Read the Rest Here

One of the persistent questions that new preachers ask is where is a book to help me learn to preach? There are actually tons of such books. I have written on this question in the past on this website as well as another one. Even though that is true, I will take it up again in this article. I think that an African American Preacher needs a few resources to help them to preach.

General Introduction to Preaching Book

First, a general textbook on sermon construction is needed. For that I would suggest that one purchase the excellent book edited by one of my former homiletics professors, John McClure, entitled Best Advice for Preaching. The book can be read easily by preachers without a seminary education. Another nice thing is that you have many homilititians who have contributed to this book.

Read the Rest Here

Download this free ebook That provides:

1. Three simple ways to finding a text to preach
2. A 3-step method to interpreting the scripture for preaching
3. Find a purpose to your sermon
4. A simple technique to finding a sermon title.
5. The truth about Ending the sermon well
   

I took private lessons in trumpet for a few years while growing up. I remember that I had to practice playing the trumpet between 30 min and 1 hour everyday. Then sometimes I would add another 30 min of composition time. How did I spend those 30 minutes?

Fundamentals of Music

The Expository Thoughts Blog has a post up on Sermon Evaluation. He asked for the thoughts of his readers. I am in an evaluation class right now so it is sure to change, but here is mine now.

After listening to a sermon, I thought about what I want in the sermon. Here are a few of the primary things that I want from a sermon. I especially want these things from a black preacher preaching a black sermon.

1. One Thought