The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

S T U D E N T W O R K B O O K

Module 15

Christian Ministry

The Ministry of Proclamation:

KERYGMA (PART 1)

The Ministry of Proclamation:

KERYGMA (PART 2)

The Ministry of Teaching:

DIDACHE (PART 1)

The Ministry of Teaching:

DIDACHE (PART 2)

This curriculum is the result of thousands of hours of work by The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) and should not be reproduced without their express permission. TUMI supports all who wish to use these materials for the advance of God’s Kingdom, and affordable licensing to reproduce them is available. Please confirm with your instructor that this book is properly licensed. For more information on TUMI and our licensing program, visit www.tumi.org and www.tumi.org/license .

Capstone Module 15: The Equipping Ministry Student Workbook

ISBN: 978-1-62932-015-1

© 2005, 2011, 2013, 2015. The Urban Ministry Institute. All Rights Reserved. First edition 2005, Second edition 2011, Third edition 2013, Fourth edition 2015.

Copying, redistribution and/or sale of these materials, or any unauthorized transmission, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher is prohibited. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to: The Urban Ministry Institute, 3701 E. 13th Street, Wichita, KS 67208.

The Urban Ministry Institute is a ministry of World Impact, Inc.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bible, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

Contents

Course Overview About the Instructor Introduction to the Module Course Requirements

3 5 7

Lesson 1 The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (Part 1)

13

1

Lesson 2 The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (Part 2)

55

2

Lesson 3 The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (Part 1)

95

3

Lesson 4 The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (Part 2)

135

4

Appendices

175

/ 3

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

About the Instructor

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis is the Executive Director of The Urban Ministry Institute and a Senior Vice President of World Impact. He attended Wheaton College and Wheaton Graduate School, and graduated summa cum laude in both his B.A. (1988) and M.A. (1989) degrees, in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. in Religion (Theology and Ethics) from the University of Iowa School of Religion. As the Institute’s Executive Director and World Impact’s Senior Vice President, he oversees the training of urban missionaries, church planters, and city pastors, and facilitates training opportunities for urban Christian workers in evangelism, church growth, and pioneer missions. He also leads the Institute’s extensive distance learning programs and facilitates leadership development efforts for organizations and denominations like Prison Fellowship, the Evangelical Free Church of America, and the Church of God in Christ. A recipient of numerous teaching and academic awards, Dr. Davis has served as professor and faculty at a number of fine academic institutions, having lectured and taught courses in religion, theology, philosophy, and biblical studies at schools such as Wheaton College, St. Ambrose University, the Houston Graduate School of Theology, the University of Iowa School of Religion, the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies. He has authored a number of books, curricula, and study materials to equip urban leaders, including The Capstone Curriculum , TUMI’s premiere sixteen-module distance education seminary instruction, Sacred Roots: A Primer on Retrieving the Great Tradition , which focuses on how urban churches can be renewed through a rediscovery of the historic orthodox faith, and Black and Human: Rediscovering King as a Resource for Black Theology and Ethics . Dr. Davis has participated in academic lectureships such as the Staley Lecture series, renewal conferences like the Promise Keepers rallies, and theological consortiums like the University of Virginia Lived Theology Project Series. He received the Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award from the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2009. Dr. Davis is also a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, and the American Academy of Religion.

/ 5

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Introduction to the Module

Greetings, in the strong name of Jesus Christ!

The ministry of the Word of God lies at the heart of the equipping ministry. Paul tells the Ephesians that God has given the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers in order that they might equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Eph. 4.11-12). There is no precedent for seeing a church as having a single minister: as believers we hold to the universal priesthood of believers (1 Pet. 2.8-9), in the universal ministry of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12.1-11), and the universal functioning of the members of the body of Christ (Romans 12.3-8). This module focuses on your role through preaching and teaching to equip believers to fulfill their God-given ministries in Christ. In the first lesson, The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (1) , we will define and provide an overview of the concept of preaching. We will look briefly at the distinctiveness of the preaching ministry to teaching, and speak about the development of preaching in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. We will then look at some of the difficulties we will have to overcome if we are to be the kind of messengers of the Lord we need to be in our very needy day and time. In the second segment of this important lesson we will also examine the call to preach, suggesting that God sends men and women to be his messengers to proclaim his Word. We will then look carefully at the kind of character that we need to have for effective preaching, and look at the content of effective biblical preaching–the biblical truth regarding Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. Next, we will explore in our second lesson, The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (2) , how the Holy Spirit affects every dimension of an effective preaching ministry. We will consider the kind of vessel or preacher the Spirit is most likely to use, and then look at some of the key aspects of the Spirit’s work in the proclamation of the Word. We will also examine the three steps of planning out, delivering, and following up on the preached Word. As communicators of the Word of God, we must first establish contact with hearers, communicate the content of the Word clearly and boldly, and make connections with the truth of the message and the lives of the audience, proclaiming all in dependence on the Holy Spirit. In the third lesson we will turn our attention to the ministry of teaching. In that teaching session, The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (1) , we will provide a

6 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

definition and overview of the biblical concept of teaching. We will canvass the principles in the teaching ministry recorded in the NT, beginning with Jesus and the apostles, and outline the benefits of the teaching ministry in the Church. We will consider both the distinctives and difficulties associated with the ministry of teaching, and make a plea for us to recover the ministry of teaching in our urban churches in order to build the Kingdom in our communities. As with the preaching ministry, we will analyze the call, character, and content of the teaching ministry, highlighting the central virtues needed for a fruitful ministry. As those entrusted with the Word of God, we must recognize our call to teach, be humble enough to be clear in our presentation of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom, and teach for maturity and fruitfulness in the Church. By understanding the call, the character and the content of the teaching ministry, we will be better able to lead others into the truth. Finally, in lesson four, The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (2) , we will carefully examine how the Holy Spirit impacts and leads us in our ministry of teaching in the Church. The Holy Spirit selects particular members in the Church of Jesus Christ and supplies them with his own anointing, gifting, and call to teach. The called teacher is responsible for using his or her gift with all their energy, being faithful and teachable, while the Holy Spirit employs their gift for the sake of building up the body. We will close our module with a focus on the three steps in designing, delivering, and applying a teaching presentation. To teach our students well we must first establish contact with our students, then communicate the content of the Word of God in our lesson with clarity and boldness. Finally, we strive to make connections with the lives of the students and the truth of the Word of God. To teach is to strive to see individuals obey all that Christ has commanded us, through the leading of the Spirit. A revolution can occur in urban ministry when gifted and available men and women minister the Word of God in such a way as to raise up a new generation of laborers in the city–those who can care for the hurting, share the truth of God, and declare the Kingdom to their neighbors. Your role in this ministry is urgent and needed. May God bless your efforts as you seek to enhance your ability to know, preach, and teach God’s living Word of truth!

- Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

/ 7

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Course Requirements

• Bible (for the purposes of this course, your Bible should be a translation [ex. NIV, NASB, RSV, KJV, NKJV, etc.], and not a paraphrase [ex. The Living Bible, The Message]). • Each Capstone module has assigned textbooks which are read and discussed throughout the course. We encourage you to read, reflect upon, and respond to these with your professors, mentors, and fellow learners. Because of the fluid availability of the texts (e.g., books going out of print), we maintain our official Capstone Required Textbook list on our website. Please visit www.tumi.org/books to obtain the current listing of this module’s texts. • Hendricks, Howard. Teaching to Change Lives . Rev. ed. Sister, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc. 1987. • Robinson, Haddon W. Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages . 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic Books, 2001. • Stevens, R. Paul. The Equipping Pastor: A Systems Approach to Congregational Leadership . Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1993. • Stott, John R. W. Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today . Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. • Paper and pen for taking notes and completing in-class assignments.

Required Books and Materials

Suggested Readings

8 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Summary of Grade Categories and Weights

Course Requirements

Attendance & Class Participation . . . . . . . . . . .

30% 90 pts

Quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10% 30 pts

Memory Verses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15% 45 pts

Exegetical Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15% 45 pts

Ministry Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10% 30 pts

Readings and Homework Assignments. . . . . . . . .

10% 30 pts

Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10% 30 pts

Total:

100% 300 pts

Grade Requirements

Attendance at each class session is a course requirement. Absences will affect your grade. If an absence cannot be avoided, please let the Mentor know in advance. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to find out the assignments you missed, and to talk with the Mentor about turning in late work. Much of the learning associated with this course takes place through discussion. Therefore, your active involvement will be sought and expected in every class session. Every class will begin with a short quiz over the basic ideas from the last lesson. The best way to prepare for the quiz is to review the Student Workbook material and class notes taken during the last lesson. The memorized Word is a central priority for your life and ministry as a believer and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ. There are relatively few verses, but they are significant in their content. Each class session you will be expected to recite (orally or in writing) the assigned verses to your Mentor. The Scriptures are God’s potent instrument to equip the man or woman of God for every work of ministry he calls them to (2 Tim. 3.16-17). In order to complete the requirements for this course you must select a passage and do an inductive Bible study (i.e., an exegetical study) upon it. The study will have to be five pages in length (double-spaced, typed or neatly hand written) and deal with one of the four aspects of biblical preaching and teaching which are highlighted in this course. Our desire and hope is that you will be deeply convinced of Scripture’s ability to change and practically affect your life, and the lives of those to whom you minister. As you go

Attendance and Class Participation

Quizzes

Memory Verses

Exegetical Project

/ 9

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

through the course, be open to finding an extended passage (roughly 4-9 verses) on a subject you would like to study more intensely. The details of the project are covered on pages 10-11, and will be discussed in the introductory session of this course. Our expectation is that all students will apply their learning practically in their lives and in their ministry responsibilities. The student will be responsible for developing a ministry project that combines principles learned with practical ministry. The details of this project are covered on page 12, and will be discussed in the introductory session of the course. Classwork and homework of various types may be given during class by your Mentor or be written in your Student Workbook. If you have any question about what is required by these or when they are due, please ask your Mentor. It is important that the student read the assigned readings from the text and from the Scriptures in order to be prepared for class discussion. Please turn in the “Reading Completion Sheet” from your Student Workbook on a weekly basis. There will be an option to receive extra credit for extended readings. At the end of the course, your Mentor will give you a final exam (closed book) to be completed at home. You will be asked a question that helps you reflect on what you have learned in the course and how it affects the way you think about or practice ministry. Your Mentor will give you due dates and other information when the Final Exam is handed out.

Ministry Project

Class and Homework Assignments

Readings

Take-Home Final Exam

Grading

The following grades will be given in this class at the end of the session, and placed on each student’s record:

A - Superior work

D - Passing work

B - Excellent work

F - Unsatisfactory work

C - Satisfactory work

I - Incomplete

Letter grades with appropriate pluses and minuses will be given for each final grade, and grade points for your grade will be factored into your overall grade point average. Unexcused late work or failure to turn in assignments will affect your grade, so please plan ahead, and communicate conflicts with your instructor.

1 0 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Exegetical Project

As a part of your participation in the Capstone module The Equipping Ministry, you will be required to do an exegesis (inductive study) on one of the following passages on the practice of equipping others through preaching and teaching the Word of God:

Purpose

Ephesians 4.11-16

Acts 6.1-8

2 Timothy 4.1-5

Acts 20.17-35

Hebrews 5.11-6.3

2 Corinthians 4.1-12

1 Thessalonians 5.11-14

The purpose of this exegetical project is to give you an opportunity to do a detailed study of a major passage on the nature and practice of the ministry of equipping the saints for ministry. In many ways the example of the apostles provides us with a clear and compelling model of this expression of Christian leadership, and the texts above highlight this expression. Your task will be to discern some key insights in the equipping ministry, and then to think critically about how your selected text makes plain some aspect of that work. Your job will be to carefully analyze the text so as to add to your insight into the Bible’s teaching on ministering the Word of God with integrity. We also desire that the Spirit will give you insights that pertain to your own personal walk of discipleship, as well as to the specific ministries God has given to you currently in your local congregation or service to the Kingdom. This is a Bible study project, and, in order to do exegesis , you must be committed to understand the meaning of the passage in its own setting. Once you know what it meant, you can then draw out principles that apply to all of us, and then relate those principles to life. A simple three step process can guide you in your personal study of the Bible passage: 2. What principle(s) does the text teach that is true for all people everywhere , including today? 3. What is the Holy Spirit asking me to do with this principle here, today , in my life and ministry? Once you have answered these questions in your personal study, you are then ready to write out your insights for your paper assignment . 1. What was God saying to the people in the text’s original situation ?

Outline and Composition

Here is a sample outline for your paper:

1. List out what you believe is the main theme or idea of the text you selected.

/ 1 1

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

2. Summarize the meaning of the passage (you may do this in two or three paragraphs, or, if you prefer, by writing a short verse-by-verse commentary on the passage). 3. Outline one to three key principles or insights this text provides on some aspect or dimension related to the equipping ministry. 4. Tell how one, some, or all of the principles may relate to one or more of the following:

a. Your personal spirituality and walk with Christ

b. Your life and ministry in your local church

c. Situations or challenges in your community and general society

As an aid or guide, please feel free to read the course texts and/or commentaries, and integrate insights from them into your work. Make sure that you give credit to whom credit is due if you borrow or build upon someone else’s insights. Use in-the-text references, footnotes, or endnotes. Any way you choose to cite your references will be acceptable, as long as you 1) use only one way consistently throughout your paper, and 2) indicate where you are using someone else’s ideas, and are giving them credit for it. (For more information, see Documenting Your Work: A Guide to Help You Give Credit Where Credit Is Due in the Appendix.) Make certain that your exegetical project, when turned in meets the following standards:

It is legibly written or typed.

•

• It is a study of one of the passages above.

It is turned in on time (not late).

•

It is 5 pages in length.

•

• It follows the outline given above, clearly laid out for the reader to follow.

• It shows how the passage relates to life and ministry today.

Do not let these instructions intimidate you; this is a Bible study project! All you need to show in this paper is that you studied the passage, summarized its meaning, drew out a few key principles from it, and related them to your own life and ministry. The exegetical project is worth 45 points, and represents 15% of your overall grade, so make certain that you make your project an excellent and informative study of the Word.

Grading

1 2 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Ministry Project

The Word of God is living and active, and penetrates to the very heart of our lives and innermost thoughts (Heb. 4.12). James the Apostle emphasizes the need to be doers of the Word of God, not hearers only, deceiving ourselves. We are exhorted to apply the Word, to obey it. Neglecting this discipline, he suggests, is analogous to a person viewing our natural face in a mirror and then forgetting who we are, and are meant to be. In every case, the doer of the Word of God will be blessed in what he or she does (James 1.22-25). Our sincere desire is that you will apply your learning practically, correlating your learning with real experiences and needs in your personal life, and in your ministry in and through your church. Therefore, a key part of completing this module will be for you to design a ministry project to help you share some of the insights you have learned from this course with others. There are many ways that you can fulfill this requirement of your study. You may choose to conduct a brief study of your insights with an individual, or a Sunday School class, youth or adult group or Bible study, or even at some ministry opportunity. What you must do is discuss some of the insights you have learned from class with your audience. (Of course, you may choose to share insights from your Exegetical Project in this module with them.) Feel free to be flexible in your project. Make it creative and open-ended. At the beginning of the course, you should decide on a context in which you will share your insights, and share that with your instructor. Plan ahead and avoid the last minute rush in selecting and carrying out your project. After you have carried out your plan, write and turn in to your Mentor a one-page summary or evaluation of your time of sharing. A sample outline of your Ministry Project summary is as follows:

Purpose

Planning and Summary

1. Your name

2. The place where you shared, and the audience with whom you shared

3. A brief summary of how your time went, how you felt, and how they responded

4. What you learned from the time

The Ministry Project is worth 30 points and represents 10% of your overall grade, so make certain to share your insights with confidence and make your summary clear.

Grading

/ 1 3

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

The Ministry of Proclamation Kerygma (Part 1)

Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! After your reading, study, discussion, and application of the materials in this lesson, you will be able to: • Define the preaching ministry according to the various terms used in the NT translated “preaching,” “preach,” etc., all of which contain an element of announcing a message to an audience, to proclaim a message publicly . • Outline the various models of preaching informed by the meanings of preaching in the NT, i.e., the preacher as herald (one who announces a message on behalf of another as a herald or messenger), the preacher as ambassador (i.e., the preacher as a representative of the Kingdom of God, speaking its message in a foreign land); the preacher as delivery man (i.e., in ways similar to the prophetic office, the preacher functions as one meant to ensure that a message gets safely and clearly to a predetermined audience). • Lay out some of the major distinctives of the preaching ministry, including its focus on mixed audiences, even sometime, wholly non-religious ones, its intimate connection to the Gospel of Christ and evangelistic activity, its focus on preaching to those who have never heard of the Good News of Christ before, and its concentration on public address, whether to those who are saved or lost. • Explain some of the major features of preaching in the ministry of Christ and the apostles, i.e., Jesus’ clear and compelling proclamation of the Kingdom of God come in his person in fulfillment of the OT Messianic hope, and the apostolic proclamation of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, and the call to repentance and faith to both Jew and Gentile in his name. • Give evidence of your understanding of the ways in which the Church historically has broadened the ministry of preaching, including views of preaching as the manifestation of the Incarnate Word from the written Word through the spoken word, as proclamation of divine truth, as a retelling of the biblical story, and as a spoken word that builds bridges between the hearer and Scripture.

Lesson Objectives

1

1 4 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

• List out some of the major difficulties in the preaching ministry, including the inability of people to understand God’s Word due to satanic interference, the weakness of the human vessels who proclaim the message, the number of issues seen as critical to preaching, and the ever present need to rediscover God’s power as the key to effective preaching. • Demonstrate a knowledge of the call to the preaching ministry, including the call of a divine unction and compulsion to proclaim God’s Gospel in Christ, Paul’s selection as Christ’s chosen instrument to carry his name to the nations, the Holy Spirit’s movement in the heart and life of the one so called, understanding preaching as a response to the divine call, not as a job, and its association with God’s gifts, endowments, and direction. • Outline the importance of the role of character in the preaching ministry, especially the idea that “who we are is more important than what we do,” the cardinal virtue of preaching being courage and its cardinal vice being cowardice . • Detail the content of the preaching ministry which includes the Good News of Jesus Christ, i.e., salvation and life through faith in his name, the message of Christ crucified for the sins of the world, the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ, and the whole counsel of God about the Messiah and the rule of God in him. Eph. 3.1-13 - For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles- [2] assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, [3] how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. [6] This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. [7] Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. [8] To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, [10] so that through the Church the manifold wisdom Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ

1

Devotion

/ 1 5

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. [11] This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12] in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. [13] So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. An old blues song by the blues great Muddy Waters has a line that says, “You cain’t give what you ain’t got, and you cain’t lose what you ain’t never had.” The heart of this message is that you give out of the store of your own richness and health. Without possessing a depth and fullness in the Lord Jesus, without sensing his call and living obediently to his direction, you simply will have little or nothing to say to others, despite your knowledge of the text, or ability to deliver. Preaching focuses on the message being communicated, and, for better or worse, the preacher is a part of that message. Amazingly, God has connected his own reputation and the veracity (truthfulness) of his Gospel to vessels which are weak, prone to error, and subject to sin. He did not do this without knowing who and what we are! He has provided his own with his Holy Spirit in order that his preachers may declare the truth with boldness and clarity, and endure the trials and tribulations associated with the message. Paul highlights his special calling as a preacher of the Gospel in Ephesians 3. On the occasion of his imprisonment for the Gospel, Paul declares the special stewardship of grace he had received from the Lord on behalf of the Gentiles, to testify truly that Gentiles are fellow heirs with the Jews of the salvation of God, a mystery revealed only recently in salvation through the prophets and the apostles. For Paul, to preach this mystery, to declare without shame and clarity this Gospel, is the heart of his ministry and stewardship. This ministry is “according to the gift of God’s grace,” which he received not on the basis of his background, training, and sincerity but rather “by the working of [God’s] power.” Though he considered himself less than the least of all the saints, to him was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles “the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God” (verses 8-9). Paul was able to declare much because he had received much from the Lord. He was not searching for a message nor a method; he was charged with the very revelation of God about a mystery which alone could save and transform humankind. In a real sense, all good biblical preaching is just like Paul’s: it is rooted in the truth of God, delivered with passion and clarity by a God called person, and is shared without

1

1 6 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

shame or equivocation wherever God leads, regardless of the consequences of the preaching. Fruitful preaching is grounded in the stewardship of the grace of God given to every man or woman called to proclaim God’s eternal word, that divine mystery described by Paul as the unsearchable riches of Christ. These deep claims reveal the nature of the preaching ministry. First, it is not of mere human will and effort. Paul was given a stewardship to declare the riches of Christ from God himself, a special endowment of grace that God alone could provide. Second, to Paul, preaching was not about gimmicks, tricks, technology, or the latest fad in communication. He was called by God to “preach the unsearchable riches of Christ,” in other words, to lay out for everyone the plan and purpose of God as he has been working it from the beginning through the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Third, his intention is not merely local but global, even cosmic. Paul saw that when he preached the truth concerning God’s salvation in Christ, he was collaborating with God Godself to declare to all the nations, and even the angels, the majesty of the purpose of God which was conceived in eternity and was now being played out here and now in the earth. Preaching was not merely saying a few words in a boring way to a group of people largely unconcerned about its content. Preaching was an event where the very mind of God was being made clear to those who needed to know of his mercy and grace in Christ. If you sense a call of God to preach, understand that you have been called to one of the greatest vocations that any human being could ever do. Resolve right here and right now to sharpen every faculty, learn every truth, prepare every work, fulfill every effort required in order to proclaim the Gospel with the same integrity and willingness to suffer displayed by Paul in his testimony to the Ephesians. Only when we are ready to be filled with all the fullness of God can we then be in a position to fill the souls of others with the Word of the Lord. Remember the words of Muddy Waters: “You cain’t give what you ain’t got, and you cain’t lose what you ain’t never had.” May God grant you all the grace, wisdom, and insight necessary in order to steward the grace that God has given to you, in order that you may faithfully proclaim through the Holy Spirit the unsearchable riches of Christ.

1

/ 1 7

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

After reciting and/or singing the Nicene Creed (located in the Appendix), pray the following prayer: God of the ages, you call the church to keep watch in the world and to discern the signs of the times. Grant us the wisdom which your Spirit bestows, that with courage we may proclaim your prophetic word, and complete the work that you have set before us; through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Nicene Creed and Prayer

~ Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Theology and Worship Ministry Unit. Book of Common Worship . Louisville: Westminister/John Knox Press, 1993. p. 373.

1

No quiz this lesson

Quiz

Scripture Memorization Review

No Scripture memorization this lesson

No assignments due this lesson

Assignments Due

Is Preaching an Issue of Content, Delivery, or Both (or Neither)?

Many preachers today gear their messages around easy topics delivered in a way that neither challenges nor offends. Those who preach in some of the largest congregations in the country deliver cheery messages on banking and family vacations, and rarely are any messages ever given on doctrine, theology, or the hard sayings of Christ and the Bible. As one popular teacher said, “It is necessary in this day of the decline of Christianity, to travel light, in terms of theological baggage.” Other preachers, aware of this downward trend, have ramped up their preaching with sermons dealing with difficult doctrinal or moral questions delivered in a tone that is nearly angry, believing that they and their preaching are the true message of the Gospel today. When you consider these alternatives, what do you believe the essence of preaching ought to be in terms of focus: on the content of the preaching, the delivery of the sermon, the needs of the audience, something else entirely?

The preacher’s task is to speak as a personal witness to God’s revelation, interpreting it, explaining it, and applying it to the needs of the people. ~ J. S. Baird.

1 8 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Effective Preaching: Is it Persuasion or Proclamation?

Many tens of thousands of books have been written by evangelicals on the manner and method of good preaching. One needs only to go to the local Christian bookstore to find a wealth of texts on preaching from every vantage point, from expository preaching (i.e., that which focuses on the verse-by-verse explanation of the Bible) to topical sermons and addresses (i.e., that kind of preaching that is built on developing themes and topics of interest to the preacher and the congregation). Whatever the strategy provided, most books focus on the goal of persuasion, that is, the preacher’s responsibility to persuade an audience through good organization, clear presentation, and passionate delivery. Others are convinced that a focus on persuasion only makes the preacher oriented around manipulation or coercion. They would argue that the preacher delivers the truth but leaves the repentance and obedience to the hearer. Less focus is placed on methods of persuasion than clarity in presentation. What is your view about the purpose of good biblical preaching: is it to persuade the hearer or merely to present the truth so the hearer can determine what they want to do with the message? Could it be both persuasion and proclamation? Depending on the Christian tradition you grew up in or currently worship within, you probably have your own opinion on the nature of preaching itself. Some see preaching essentially as a call, something that God grants to certain individuals whom he desires to declare his message of Christ. For them, the ground of preaching is divine selection and appointment. Others believe that preaching is the job of the minister or official persons charged with that task. In other words, it is the preacher’s job to preach, as it is a mechanic’s job to fix engines, and a doctor’s job to practice medicine. The focus of this view is the professional nature of the preaching task: ministers (professional religious persons) go to a professional school (seminary) in order to carry out their professional task (preaching). How have you conceived the role of preaching in the past? What is your current understanding of the nature of preaching itself? The Heart of the Matter: Is Preaching a Call, a Job, or a Task?

1

/ 1 9

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (Part 1)

Segment 1: Foundations of the Preaching Ministry

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The terms for preaching and its related terms are numerous in the NT, and regardless of the various terms used to translate “preaching,” “preach,” they all contain an element of announcing a message to an audience, to proclaim a message publicly. The preacher is a herald ( crying out news as a messenger ), an ambassador (a representative of Christ and his Kingdom), and a prophet (charged to get a message clearly and unchanged to a predetermined audience). Preaching focuses upon mixed audiences, is connected to the Gospel of Christ and evangelistic activity, seeks to win those who have never heard of the Good News of Christ , and is given publicly. Jesus and the apostles preached extensively through their entire ministries, and the Church built on this foundation and extended its meaning through their own theological perspectives down through history. Satanic interference may impede the Word, as may the moral and spiritual weakness of the preachers themselves, and the tendency to “major on the minors” in preaching themes. Absolute dependence on God’s power has been and will always be the key to effective preaching. Our objective for this segment, Foundations of the Preaching Ministry , is to enable you to see that: • The terms for preaching and its related terms are numerous in the NT, and regardless of the various words used to translate “preaching,” “preach,” they all contain an element of announcing a message to an audience, to proclaim a message publicly . • We can outline various models of preaching based on our readings and understanding of the usage of the terms in the NT. These models include our viewing the preacher as herald (one who announces a message on behalf of another as one crying out news as a messenger ), the model of the preacher as ambassador (i.e., one called to represent the Kingdom of God, as it were, in a foreign land), and the model of the preacher as prophet (“ Fed-ex delivery man ”), as one who like the prophets were charged to get a message clearly and unchanged to a predetermined audience.

Summary of Segment 1

1

• The preaching ministry is distinctive among all the NT ministries of communication. These distinctives include its focus on mixed audiences ,

2 0 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

even sometimes wholly non-religious ones, its intimate connection to the Gospel of Christ and evangelistic activity, its focus on those who have never heard of the Good News of Christ , and its concentration on public address, whether to those who are saved or lost. • Jesus and the apostles preached extensively through their entire ministries. Some of the key features of their preaching involved Jesus’ clear and compelling proclamation of the Kingdom of God come in his person , in fulfillment of the OT Messianic hope. The apostles extended this preaching ministry, proclaiming the risen and ascended Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, and the Gospel as God’s call to repentance and faith to both Jew and Gentile, in his name. • The Church built on the foundation of preaching of Jesus and the apostles, and extended its meaning through their own theological perspectives down through history. These enriched themes included viewing preaching as the manifestation of the Incarnate Word from the written Word through the spoken word, preaching as the clear declaration of divine truth , preaching as the retelling of the biblical story , and preaching as a spoken word that builds bridges between the hearer and Scripture. • Effective preaching has challenges associated with it. Some of major difficulties in the preaching ministry include satanic interference in the communication of the Word to the lost, the moral and spiritual weakness of the preachers themselves, the tendency to “major on the minors” in selecting issues to address in preaching, and the ever-present need to rediscover God’s power as the key to effective preaching.

1

I. The Definition of the Preaching Ministry

Video Segment 1 Outline

The terms in the NT which are translated into “preaching,” “preach,” etc. (i.e., kerysso , katangello , evangelidzo , etc.) contain an element of announcing a message to an audience, to proclaim a message publicly.

Preaching is the communication of truth through personality. ~ Phillips Brooks

A. A preacher is a herald : the NT preacher proclaims God’s message regarding Messiah Jesus and his Kingdom. (The verb used most often in the NT is kerusso , [61 times] and means “to announce as a herald or messenger.”)

/ 2 1

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

1. A herald (a town crier of early Greek times) did not make up his message ; his role was to simply declare the word that had been given to him.

2. A herald’s word carried genuine authority ; the message they cried as they went through the town was an official message, and therefore carried clout.

3. Acts 9.15 - But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

1

4. Eph. 3.7-8 - Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. [8] To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

5. 1 Tim. 2.7 - For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle ( I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

6. 2 Tim. 1.11 - . . . for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.

7. Acts 28.31 - . . . proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

8. 2 Cor. 11.4 - For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

2 2 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

B. A preacher is an ambassador : The preacher of the NT is a representative of the Kingdom of God and speaks the message of the King in a foreign land.

The notion of being an envoy, a messenger, of being one sent to represent and speak on behalf of another is a repeated idea in the Scriptures.

1. Prov. 13.17 - A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

2. John 20.21 - Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

1

3. Acts 26.17-18 - . . . delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles— to whom I am sending you [18] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

4. Eph. 6.20 - . . . for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Preaching can be understood as truth through personality to constrain conscience at once. ~ Henry Sloane Coffin

5. 2 Cor. 5.20 - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

C. A preacher is a “Fed Ex” delivery man : he delivers a message which is meant to be delivered to a particular person or group.

The biblical sense of a prophet is akin to the preaching office and task.

1. Peter being sent to Cornelius, Acts 10.32-35

/ 2 3

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

2. Phillip being sent to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8.26-29

II. The Distinctiveness of the Preaching Ministry

A. While teaching concentrates on building up disciples, preaching is focused on mixed audiences, and often upon the lost.

1. The sermon at Pentecost, Acts 2.37-39

1

2. The sermon at Mars Hill, Acts 17.30-31

3. Paul’s testimony before Agrippa, Acts 26.16-18

B. Preaching is connected to the Gospel ministry.

1. The call to preach is a call to preach the Gospel of Christ, 1 Cor. 1.16-17.

2. Preaching is directly connected to evangelistic activity, Rom. 10.13-15.

C. Preaching therefore is spoken of in conjunction with people and places which have never heard of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

1. The Macedonian call, Acts 16.9-10

2. Paul’s desire was to go and preach to those who had never heard the Gospel, Rom. 15.18-21.

2 4 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

D. Preaching is a public address aiming both at salvation of the lost and edification of the saved.

1. Good preaching will invite men and women to repent and receive salvation in Christ, Acts 2.38-40.

2. Good preaching will edify and build up all believers who hear it, 1 Cor. 1.22-24.

1

Preaching is divine truth voiced by a chosen personality to meet human need.

III. The Development of the Preaching Ministry

A. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God present in himself.

~ Andrew W. Blackwood, Sr.

1. John the Baptist preached repentance and good works in light of the announcement and appearing of Jesus, Matt. 3.1-3.

2. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God through the towns and cities of Israel.

a. Matt. 4.17

b. Matt. 4.23-25

3. His preaching was rooted in the OT message related to the people of Israel, Luke 4.16-19.

a. Matt. 13.54

/ 2 5

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

b. Mark 1.39

c. Luke 4.44

B. The Apostles preached Jesus as the Messiah, and repentance and faith in his name.

1. They preached the message of the Good News to all people because of the work of Jesus Christ.

1

a. 2 Cor. 4.5

b. Acts 2.22-24

2. They preached Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the teaching regarding the Messiah.

a. Luke 24.46-47

b. Acts 2.22

c. Acts 4.11-12

d. Acts 5.30-31

e. Acts 10.38-40

2 6 /

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

3. The Apostles viewed the preaching of the cross as the power of God.

a. 1 Cor. 1.18

b. 1 Cor. 2.2

c. Gal. 6.14

1

C. The Church historically has broadened the act of preaching.

1. As a manifestation of the Incarnate Word: “Preaching is a manifestation of the incarnate Word from the written word through the spoken word” (Bishop B. L. Manning).

2. As a proclamation of divine truth: “Preaching is divine truth voiced by a chosen personality to meet human need” (Andrew W. Blackwood, Sr.).

3. As a retelling of the biblical story: “[Preaching is] retelling the biblical story in an honest, exciting, informative, and engaging way. Yet it is more than biblical storytelling because the sermon reflects dialogue between contemporary human experience and the message of Scripture” (James H. Harris).

4. As a spoken word that builds bridges: “Preaching is . . . a spoken word that builds a bridge between hearer and Scripture” (Thomas Oden).

/ 2 7

T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

IV. The Difficulty of the Preaching Ministry

Preaching means interpreting life today with light from the Scriptures so as to meet the needs of the hearer now, and guide the hearer in doing God’s will tomorrow.

A. Preaching the message of God is hindered by the inability of lost people to understand God’s truth .

1. The Scriptures contain some topics and themes which are simply hard to understand, 2 Pet. 3.15-16.

~ Andrew W. Blackwood, Sr.

2. The devil has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, 2 Cor. 4.3-5.

1

3. The hearts of many have grown cold, and may not be in a position to listen to the truth, 2 Thess. 2.7-12.

B. Preaching employs human messengers as its vessel , who sometimes give mixed signals between their message and their lives, Phil. 1.15.

1. People who do not know Christ will preach Christ with the wrong motive.

2. Preaching may only concentrate on those aspects of Christ’s person that focus on his blessings and provisions, and not his justice and truth.

C. Preaching has become extremely scattered today, too many items dealing with small ideas .

1. Preaching today in many venues purposely ignores all citations of the Scriptures on judgment, wrath, or any of the “severity of God” texts.