The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

and Jesus as the firstborn of the new human race who will inherit eternal life. While the theological implications of this are clearly discussed by Paul in Romans 5, some have understood the idea of federal headship as saying that they personally were not responsible for their own sin, but only because of their association with Adam. Because Adam disobeyed God, and we are associated and connected to Adam’s sin by birth and inheritance, our sinfulness comes from our connectionwith Adam more than our own moral rebellion in our hearts. Why would such a view of the linkage between the human race and Adam be untrue? How does the interpretation of Paul of the relationship between Adam and Christ in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 help us properly explore and understand the link and connection between the two? What lessons can we learn about typology and analogy from Paul’s use of the connection here? The styles between those who preach and teach in urban congregations over and against middle class churches is plain enough. Some of the best presenters of the OT are urban preachers, and most of them use the OT’s own metaphors, symbols, stories, and images as the heart of their sermonizing. Some of the city’s best preachers are those who have tended to so focus on the analogical and typological method that they are considered too fluid by their more conservative kindred. They have tended to focus on stories, taking liberties in exploring linkages with the lives of those in the stories and those today, and often use exegetical and homiletical styles that take seriously their audiences identification with image and story. Sometimes, in trying to find linkages with the OT figures, they see connections that are not explicitly present. Of course, the claim is that Jesus is seen in their preaching of the stories of the OT, and they continue to explore the images and types of the OT with great liberty and flexibility. These preachers are the heroes of some, and used as negative examples by others, usually those who preach “safe” sermons, usually in non-urban settings. Admittedly, many of the “new jack preachers” are nonetheless hugely popular, entertaining, and effective with urban audiences. What do you make of this use of the OT to communicate the person and work of Christ? Ought we to join this new generation of preachers, or brand their use as somewhat reckless? What does their popularity with the urban audiences suggest about our use of image, symbol, type, and analogy in our preaching and teaching among the poor in the city? The Best (and the Worst) of Urban Preaching?

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