Preaching and Chronological Bible Storying Literate Preachers Confront Orality

Preaching and Chronological Bible Storying

Literate Preachers Confront Orality

Pastor, they’ve found the black box from Sunday’s sermon!

Classic Baptist Preaching“A speaker must always subordinate narration to the object of his discourse, the conviction or persuasion which he wishes to effect. He must not elaborate or enlarge upon some narrative merely because it is in itself interesting, or follow the story step by step according to its own laws.”--John A. Broadus, On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons (1870)

Implications of Broadus’ View

Implications of Broadus’ View

• Narration is somehow detrimental to efforts to persuade.

Implications of Broadus’ View

• Narration is somehow detrimental to efforts to persuade.

• Narratives are inherently interesting.

Implications of Broadus’ View

• Narration is somehow detrimental to efforts to persuade.

• Narratives are inherently interesting.

• Narratives have their own “laws,” or methods of communicating a message.

Understanding “Exposition”

Understanding “Exposition”

Root meaning: “to put on display” or “to set forth”

Connotations Added to “Exposition” by Homiletics

Connotations Added to “Exposition”

• Sermons must have an outline.

Connotations Added to “Exposition”

• Sermons must have an outline

• Sermons must have points and sub-points derived from the biblical passage

Connotations Added to “Exposition”

• Sermons must have an outline

• Sermons must have points and sub-points derived from the biblical passage

• Sermons must cover the passage in detail.

“Exposition” in Education

Exposition is a mode of thought, a method of learning, and a meansof expression. Almost all the characteristics we associate withmature discourse were amplified by typography, which has thestrongest possible bias toward exposition . . .” --Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Marks of the “Expository” Mind

It demonstrates a “. . . sophisticated ability to think conceptually, deductively, and sequentially; a high valuation of reason and order; an abhorrence of contradiction; a large capacity for detachment and objectivity; and a tolerance for delayed response.” --Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Literacy Affects Thinking

• “Without writing, the literate mind would not and could not think as it does, not only when engaged in writing but normally even when it is composing its thoughts in oral form.” --Walter Ong

Oral versus Print Learners

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like lists (of points, principles, steps)

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like to keep things intact (wholistic)

• Like lists (of points, principles, steps)

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like to keep things intact (wholistic)

• Like lists (of points, principles, steps)

• Like to break things apart (analytical)

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like to keep things intact (wholistic)

• Use intuitive reasoning

• Like lists (of points, principles, steps)

• Like to break things apart (analytical)

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like to keep things intact (wholistic)

• Use intuitive reasoning

• Like lists (of points, principles, steps)

• Like to break things apart (analytical)

• Use formally logical reasoning

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like to keep things intact (wholistic)

• Use intuitive reasoning

• Store truth in remembered stories and proverbs

• Use lists (of points, principles, steps)

• Like to break things apart (analytical)

• Use formally logical reasoning

Oral versus Print Learners

• Learn best through stories

• Like to keep things intact (wholistic)

• Use intuitive reasoning

• Store truth in remembered stories and proverbs

• Use lists (of points, principles, steps)

• Like to break things apart (analytical)

• Use formally logical reasoning

• Store truth in written, abstract principles

Changes in Homiletics

Changes in Homiletics

• “Preaching and Story” was the theme of the 1979 Academy of Homiletics meeting

Changes in Homiletics

• “Preaching and Story” was the theme of the 1979 Academy of Homiletics meeting

• A steady stream of books on narrative preaching (3 in 1980 alone)

Changes in Homiletics

• “Preaching and Story” was the theme of the 1979 Academy of Homiletics meeting

• A steady stream of books on narrative preaching (3 in 1980 alone)

• Narrative preaching accepted among even conservative evangelical seminaries

Development of Chronological Bible

Communication

Development of Chronological Bible

Communication• Hans Rudi Weber, The Communication of

the Gospel to Illiterates (Indonesia)

Development of Chronological Bible

Communication• Hans Rudi Weber, The Communication of

the Gospel to Illiterates (Indonesia)

• Trevor McIlwain, Firm Foundations (Philippines)

Development of Chronological Bible

Communication• Hans Rudi Weber, The Communication of

the Gospel to Illiterates (Indonesia)

• Trevor McIlwain, Firm Foundations (Philippines)

• Bryan and Diane Thomas, 54 Bible Stories (Philippines)

Development of Chronological Bible

Communication• Hans Rudi Weber, The Communication of

the Gospel to Illiterates (Indonesia)

• Trevor McIlwain, Firm Foundations (Philippines)

• Bryan and Diane Thomas, 54 Bible Stories (Philippines)

• Slack and Terry, Chronological Bible Storying (Philippines and beyond)

Chronological Bible Storying

Chronological Bible Storying (CBS) is a method of oral presentation that tells selected biblical stories in chronological order in the power of the Holy Spirit so as to bring people to genuine faith in Christ, mature discipleship, and fruitful Christian service. Ordinarily CBS includes a time of dialog after the story. In the dialog the storyteller uses questions to guide listeners to discover the meaning and significance of the biblical story.

Preaching for Oral Learners

• Preach from biblical stories frequently

• Keep the narrative quality of the passage intact in the sermon

Preaching for Oral Learners

• Preach from biblical stories frequently

• Keep the narrative quality of the passage intact in the sermon

• Sprinkle the sermon with proverbial sayings

Preparing Narrative Messages

Preparing Narrative Sermons

• Respect the power of the biblical story

Preparing Narrative Sermons

• Respect the power of the biblical story

• Retain the suspense and drama of the biblical story.

Preparing Narrative Sermons

• Respect the power of the biblical story

• Retain the suspense and drama of the biblical story.

• Help listeners relive the story.

Preparing Narrative Sermons

• Respect the power of the biblical story.

• Retain the suspense and drama of the biblical story.

• Help listeners relive the story.

• Resist the temptation to over-explain.

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Pure Narrative Sermon

S T 0 R Y

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Framed Narrative Sermon

[ . . S T 0 R Y . . ]

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Delayed Narrative Sermon

. . . . . . . S T 0 R Y

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Suspended Narrative Sermon

S T 0 R (Y) . . . . . . . (Y)

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Alternating Narrative Sermon

S . T . 0 . . R . Y

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Alternating Narrative Sermon

S . . . . T . . . .0 . . . R . . . . Y

Shaping Narrative Sermons

The Multiple-Story Narrative Sermon

STORY . STORY . STORY