Theories of homiletics

Ross Woods, 2020

This short essay compares several views of homiletics. It is not an exhaustive study. Other views probably abound, although it depends on the way in which one divides a body of practice into types. It is also easy to create caricatures.

They vary in several ways:

1. The starting point (observations of life or Scripture)
2. The role and value of story-telling
3. The particular structure that each implies
4. The value of information
5. The way in which Scripture is perceived and used
6. Prescribed personal application vs personal meaning

Traditional expository

In this approach, preaching is the exposition of Scripture and its personal application in the life of the listener. The speaker takes a passage of scripture and goes through it exegetically, verse by verse. Depending on the content, it might be phrase by phrase and sometimes even word by word. The conclusion is the point of the the passage, which is used to challenge listeners.

Its view of essential elements:
• Biblical truth prescribes life.
• The Bible is a long, complex passage.

In a postmodern world, it is increasingly old-fashioned as it makes the primary assumption that the role of the sermon is to pass on information.

Variation on traditional expository

The points of the sermon follow a clear purpose. Each point comprises a simple Biblical truth, that is illustrated in one or more engaging stories. The conclusion is a challenge to accept the purpose. Its view of essential elements:
• Biblical truth explains life.
• Bible is seen as short, simple truths.

Illuminative 1

The speaker takes observations of life and compares them with Scripture. This enables the speaker to take a non-Christian's perspective of Christianity, so the relevance is immediate. In this view, preaching is the personal application of biblical truth to the life of the listener. Biblical truth explains life, and the Bible is seen as short, simple truths that explain a view of life.

Illuminative 2

The speaker starts a story that eventually concludes in a specific point. The speaker then repeats the process several times, tellling a very different story that concludes in the same specific point. Preaching is the illustration of biblical truth that the listener can then apply. Biblical truth explains life. The Bible is seen as short, simple truths.

Dialog

Preaching is a dialog between speaker and listener. In several on-Western cultures, the message is a dialog between speaker and listeners. The listeners' responses guide and motivate the speaker to keep going, and perhaps change direction.

What kind of response does it evoke?

1. Do people feel inspired or illuminated?
2. Do people feel rebuked or judged?
3. Do people feel preached at?
4. Can people identify with you or your illustrations?
5. Do you invite people in to your experience?

Other factors

1. What is the role of information?
2. What is the role of experience?
3. Do you have a biblical mandate to give rebuke?
4. Different people need different things. How will churches meet those different needs?
5. The same person might need different things at different stages of life.
6. Some cultures want or expect different things.