Effective First-Person Biblical Preaching
Overview
First-person biblical preaching is a creative way to reach people who tune out traditional sermons.
A large portion of the Bible is narrative. This fact, coupled with our culture’s fascination with story (as evidenced by its ever-increasing consumption of television, movies, and DVDs), presents the preacher with a tremendous opportunity to communicate powerful, life-changing truth in a way that is biblically honoring and culturally relevant.
In first-person biblical preaching, the preacher enters into the story via one of the characters, bringing the biblical text to life in the imaginations of the congregation. After making a case for this type of sermon, Kent Edwards takes the reader step-by-step through the process of crafting a dynamic first-person sermon that is faithful to the text. Along the way, he gives numerous examples, answers practical questions, and identifies pitfalls to avoid. He addresses both the exegetical task and the homiletical task as they relate to this approach.
As Seen on Faithlife Today
- Forward by Haddon W. Robinson
- Step-by-step instructions
- Appendixes contain examples of narrative preaching by J. Kent Edwards, Don Sunakjian, and Alice Matthews
- Part 1: Steps in the Exegetical Task
- Part 2: Steps in the Homiletical Task
- Part 3: Questions and Alternatives
- Appendix 1: Examples of Narrative Preaching
- Appendix 2: Implementation Worksheets
- Indexes
Not only details the means of preparation for first-person sermons, but for narrative sermons of every description.
—Kenton C. Anderson, ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University
How we communicate in our emerging culture is of critical importance, and this book gives wonderful and practical insights on how to do this.
—Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church
What a refreshing new marriage of biblical authority and compelling homiletics!
—Calvin Miller, Beeson Divinity School
J. Kent Edwards is professor of preaching and leadership as well as director of doctor of ministry program at Talbot School of Theology of Biola University. In addition to ministering regularly at churches throughout the country, Dr. Edwards is a popular conference and seminar speaker and lectures internationally in academic settings. He has published numerous articles and papers in the area of homiletics and has served as the president of the Evangelical Homiletic Society. He and his wife and family live in southern California.