Crossing the Homiletical Bridge
You can get an e-version for the next little while for $6. I've read more than a few books on homiletics, sermon/Bible study prep, hermeneutics, etc., and what I like about this one so much is that it is so down to earth and plain easy to read. Compare it to, say, Power in the Pulpit or Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, both of which I literally fell asleep (multiple times) reading . . . I read this entire book through in a couple of sittings. I actually found myself looking forward to the next page.
If you do any sort of sermon or Bible study prep, you should definitely get this. Even if you don't, and you just want to know "how does this passage apply to me?" it's still a great book, because it teaches you to to do real exegesis (rather than what Guthrie calls "guessegesis.") One of my favorite parts is where he walks through Mark 1:1-8. I'll quote the section dealing with that (from pages 104-106), just to give you a flavor of the text:
- Mark 1:1-8 focuses on several important truths. One can easily make the case that the passage deals with the fulfillment of biblical prophecy (verses 1-3). The passage also highlights the meaningfulness and place of repentance and baptism (verses 4 and
. One also could argue for the superiority of the ministry of Jesus (verses 7-8). If a preacher were to emphasize any of these concepts (or others he may see in the passage) he would not be doing anything wrong per se. However, the questions that should race through his mind are, “What can my listeners do with that information?” or “What in this passage will directly touch a listener’s heart, spirit, or life?”
The reason the preacher should ask these questions is because of the basic reality that listeners either already know those general truths or simply are not as moved by them as the preacher is. For example, the fact that the passage deals with the fulfillment of prophecy may be interesting to every Christian, but what can a listener do with such information outside of just “know” it? The same can be said for the place of repentance and baptism (unless one is preaching an evangelistic message) and the superiority of the ministry of Jesus.
I am not minimizing these truths. They are important and have a necessary place in the grand scheme of theological and spiritual development. But whoever said that the only way to share those truths is by merely picking one of them and explaining it topically? Why not look at the entire passage with the listener in mind? Then the obvious follow-up question would be, “Where does the action/application reside for the listener?" The star of the passage is John the Baptist. This reality should grab the attention of the preacher. He should, therefore, investigate John. What can he learn about John? Among the many
truths he could uncover by studying The Baptist, he will certainly discover that John was a common man. In fact, he was a common man by choice. But this common man was used in a significantly powerful way for the purposes of God and that is the emphasis of Mark 1:1-8. For the most part preachers tend to preach to the common people. Therefore, the passage already possesses a natural relevance for the listener.
Once the preacher determines that the passage is about John being used for the purposes of God, he then should begin to study just what the passage says or reveals about that purposeful usage (probing question). Then, and quite importantly, that probing question would lead him to discover at least two ministerial traits that John possessed that the common listener possesses, or can possess, as well:
1. John’s ministry was connected to the power of God (vss. 1-5)
2. John’s ministry was complimented with humility (vss. 6-8)
Once these traits are revealed in the preacher’s study, the homiletical process is now quite simple. All the preacher has to do is share with the congregation what those traits mean to and for them.
