DEVISING A HOMILETICAL

Kenyatta R. Gilbert, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Homiletics

Howard University School of DivinityWashington, D.C.

Copyright © 2014 Kenyatta R. Gilbert

Four Claims

1. Preachers benefit from constructive homiletical criticism and theological reflection.

2. The sermon feedback loop is absolutely critical to a preacher’s professional development.

3. Every preacher ought to have a reliable homiletical plan—a working methodology that enables him or her to contribute something of theological significance in the preaching moment.

4. Without preparation there is no fitting and faithful speaking to one’s community, and certainly not beyond its borders.

THE PRINCIPAL QUESTION

How do we develop and shape

culturally relevant and

theologically-informed sermons?

Setting up a Trivocal Sermon

• A good sermon is a theological

conversation about what it means to

speak of a promise-bearing God who

addresses the real needs of real

people.

JESUS’ INAUGURAL VISION

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to bring good news

to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty

to the captives and recovery of sight to the

blind, to let the oppressed go free, to

proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:

16-21

Isaiah’s Vision revisited

• V. 2b and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

• 3. to provide for those who mourn in Zion—give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

•

Isa. 61:2b -4

V. 4-5a• 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall

raise up their former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generation.

• 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called

priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God

• .Isaiah 61-4-5a

Vision Particulars• Speaks of a Vision Not Fully Realized

• Declares that Community Wellness is a Divine Concern

• Self-portrait of the Gospel in Threefold Scope

Preacher as ProphetSpeaks of Divine Intentionality –

good news to the oppressed; proclaiming

release to the captives

• The Prophetic Voice – expresses unrelenting

hope about God’s activity to transform church and society in a present-future sense based on

the principles of justice.

CHARACTERISTIC MARKS

BIBLICAL- SOCIOCULTURAL

• OPPOSES IDOLATRY

• REFUSES TO ABSOLUTIZE THE PRESENT

• SPEAKS TO PREDICAMENT OF HUMAN SUFFERING

• CRITICAL STANCE AGAINST ESTABLISHED POWER

• REFUSES TO RELINQUISH HOPE

• CARRIES AN IMPULSE FOR BEAUTY

• CONNECTS THE SPEECH-ACT WITH CONCRETE

PRAXIS

Preacher as PriestThe “Ministry of Presence” – Comforting

those who mourn; regard for righteousness

• The Priestly Voice - encourages, through a variety of Christian practices, the

Christian formation of listeners in order to enhance themselves morally and ethically.

CHARACTERISTIC MARKS

• PLACES GREATER EMPHASIS ON MORALISTIC CONCERNS

• FOCUSES ON PRESERVATION OF THE CULTIC APPARATUS

• INTERPRETS REQUIREMENTS OF COVENANTAL OBLIGATION

• VOICE OF RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNAL SOCIALIZATION

Preacher as SageInterprets the Common Life of Community of

Worshipers – repairing the ruins, reclaiming

traditions; building up and salvaging memory from

past devastations.

• The Sagely Voice- confers the preacher and congregation’s

wisdom; daringly, it speaks within the context of radical social and ecclesial

change for the purpose of keeping vital the congregation’s mission and vision.

CHARACTERISTIC MARKS

• CARRIES AN ELDERING FUNCTION corresponds with community storytelling (jaili-poet)

• RESIDENT THEOLOGIAN WHO KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

• SEEKS TO DECODE COMPLEX SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND TEXTS

• BESTOWS BIBLICAL WISDOM AND REALISTIC HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

What is Trivocal Preaching?

A ministry of Christian proclamation—a theo-

rhetorical discourse about God’s good will toward

community with regard to divine intentionality,

communal care, and the active practice of hope

—that finds resources internal to Black life in the

North American context.

Crises of the Village• Health: Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer,

HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse.

• Relationship: Father/Mother Absenteeism, Teenage and Unwed Pregnancy, Incest, Child Molestation, Intimate Partner Violence.

• Socioeconomic: Unemployment, Underemployment Joblessness, Homelessness, High Foreclosures, Pay-day Lending.

• Societal: Racial profiling, Educational Disparity, Job Discrimination, Corporate Greed, Political Corruption.

FIVE BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

• DISCIPLINED PRAYER LIFE

• SENSE OF CALL

• BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURE AND CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

• CONFESSIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMITMENTS

• HIGH APPRECIATION FOR CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

Four Tasks of Sermon Preparation

• A roadmap for assisting the preacher to envision the preaching task more holistically and self-critically.

• A conversation partner…not fixed formula. Over time should become a “cheat sheet”.

Task 1Exploration

• Information gathering and listening stage.

• What has driven me to the task?

Revelation in the Biblical Text or

Response to a Rhetorical Situation?

Task 2Clarification

• Intensifies exploration by isolating rhetorical situation and biblical claim on text.

• Self-critical exegesis first. Biblical exegesis thru Sociocultural window follows.

• Claim statement: What? So what? Now what?

Task 3Internalization

• Preacher moves from exegetical reflection and issue clarification to crafting and indwelling.

• Draft –getting it out and talking it through.• Redraft—shaping content. • Third draft – polish to be rehearsed and

digested.

Effective Sermon DesignPOINT to make

IDEA to express

SCENE to share

CAUSE to promote

DOCTRINE to set forth and apply

ACTION to inspire

FEELING to arouse

DIRECTION to point out

DIVINE PROMISE to share

CAUTION to give

PERSON to claim

James Earl Massey,

Designing the Sermon

Task 4• Proclamation

• Final and riskiest task. Preacher gives voice to what has been interpreted, crafted, and indwelled.

• The preacher doesn’t preach exegesis but proclaims the gospel (which is informed by the exegetical process).

• Help people envision a God who comes near.

More Detailed Information

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• Subject areas: Gentrification, Youth and Family Services, Preaching, Health Disparities, Inclusion

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