The Practices of Christian Preaching

Essentials for Effective Proclamation

Chapter

5. Preach Concretely

Chapter 5 - Introduction


Chapter 5 - Collaborator Discussion


Learning Activities

Group Discussion Questions (could be offered as an individual activity as well)

    1. Watch the Craig Barnes sermon clip below. How does Craig Barnes “climb down the ladder of abstraction” in order to help his listeners understand the connection between justice and love?
  1. Romans 12:9 reads: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Offer at least five concrete answers to the question, “What does that look like in your context?”
  2. Read Genesis 16 in its entirety. Write down the concrete details in the biblical text that you think are the most important details for preachers to emphasize.
  3. Watch the Elizabeth Conde-Frazier sermon clip below. In this sermon excerpt, how does Elizabeth Conde-Frazier help her listeners understand the difference between fear and fearlessness?
  1. Read Luke 16:19–31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. How might this text be heard by different constituencies in your congregation and in society?
  2. Define the following terms in a way that a twenty-first-century listener might understand them: compassion, charity, evil, good.
  3. Watch the Eung Yul Ryoo sermon clip below. What strategies does Eung Yul Ryoo use in order to help listeners understand that the growth of the church in South Korea has come through major sacrifices?
  1. Think about hate as a category. Come up with at least six instances of hate in Scripture.
  2. Listen to the Pablow Jiménez sermon clip below.* In this sermon excerpt, Pablo Jiménez uses concreteness in order to help his listeners understand why those outside the church are not to sure that they can trust the church anymore. How does he do this?
  1. Here is an abstract category: greed. Find at least three different ways to talk about what greed might look like in your context. Climb down the ladder of abstraction.
  2. Think about the abstract category of happiness. Write down concrete objects, moments, etc., that you associate with it (e.g., opening Christmas presents, enjoying a meal, etc.). Be as specific as you can.
  3. Describe a scene from your day. Pay careful attention to the details of that scene and write down what you remember. Why did you remember these details?

Individual Reflection Activity (for preaching journal outside of class or in-class writing activity)

  1. Where do I locate myself in my attentiveness to preaching concretely? What do these insights reveal to me?

  2. If I were to solicit feedback, what would others tell me (or what have they already told me) about my attentiveness to preaching with concreteness?

  3. What would it look like for me to take greater risks (i.e., stretch myself) in preaching concretely so that I can grow in this area?

  4. Name two to three attainable goals that will help you grow in your capacity to preach concretely. In addition to writing down your goals, explain why you chose these goals.