031020755X_relation_fm.qxp 9/8/06 2:21 PM Page 1 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/15/08 10:39 AM Page 1 This page is intentionally left blank 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/15/08 10:39 AM Page 1 EFFECTIVE FIRST-PERSON BIBLICAL PREACHING 031020755X_relation_fm.qxp 9/8/06 2:21 PM Page 1 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/15/08 10:39 AM Page 1 This page is intentionally left blank 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/15/08 10:49 AM Page 3 EFFECTIVE FIRST-PERSON BIBLICAL PREACHING The Steps from Text to Narrative Sermon J. KENT EDWARDS 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/9/08 9:43 AM Page 4 Effective First-Person Biblical Preaching Copyright © 2005 by J. Kent Edwards All rights reserved under International and Pan -American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non -exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down - loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan. AER Edition January 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-31456-1 Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edwards, J. Kent, 1958– Effective first-person biblical preaching : the steps from text to narrative sermon / J. Kent Edwards. p. cm. Summary: “A practical resource to help students and pastors understand why and how first- person sermons can be preached with biblical integrity. Includes extensive examples and worksheets”—Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and indexes ISBN 978-0-310-26309-8 (hardcover) 1. Narrative preaching. I. Title. BV4235.S76 E39 2005 251—dc22 2005003954 Individuals may make photocopies of the material on pp. 167–181 (in appendix 2) for personal use or for classroom or seminar use, not to exceed one copy per attendee. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan, nor do we vouch for their content for the life of this book. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other— except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 • 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/8/08 3:27 PM Page 5 To Nola My wife. My love. 031020755X_relation_fm.qxp 9/8/06 2:21 PM Page 1 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/15/08 10:39 AM Page 1 This page is intentionally left blank 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/8/08 3:27 PM Page 7 CONTENTS Foreword by Haddon W. Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Introduction: What I Have Learned along the Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1. Why Preach Expository First-Person Sermons? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Part One: STEPS IN THE EXEGETICAL TASK 2. Beginning to Use the Narrative Exegetical Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Step One: Adjust your interpretive paradigm. Step Two: Understand the larger context of the story you want to preach. 3. Determining the Story’s Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Step Three: Determine the structure of your story. 4. What Comes Next? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Step Four: Analyze the characters. Step Five: Discover the setting of the story. Step Six: State the “big idea” of the narrative. Step Seven: Double-check your big idea. Step Eight: Make the application. Part Two: STEPS IN THE HOMILETICAL TASK 5. Taking the First Steps in the Homiletical Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Step One: Select an appropriate text. Step Two: Ensure that you have identified the “big idea” of your narrative. Step Three: Develop the protagonist for your story. Step Four: Create your antagonist. 7 0310263093_firstperson.qxp 5/8/08 3:27 PM Page 8 6. Completing the Homiletical Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Step Five: Set the story. Step Six: Plot the action. Step Seven: Determine the perspective. Step Eight: Create your lesser characters. Step Nine: Write the manuscript. Step Ten: Decide about props. Step Eleven: Refine your manuscript. Step Twelve: Block your sermon (optional). Step Thirteen: Rehearse your sermon. Step Fourteen: Decide about costuming. Step Fifteen: Deliver your sermon. Part Three: QUESTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES 7. Practical Questions about First-Person Preaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 8. Narrative Alternatives to First-Person Preaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Appendixes Appendix 1: EXAMPLES OF NARRATIVE PREACHING 1. Samson: The Strong Weak Man (Judges 13–16), by J. Kent Edwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 2. The Cripple’s Story (2 Samuel 1–9), by Don Sunukjian . . . . . . . 156 3. Mary of Bethany (Mark 14:1–11), by Alice Mathews . . . . . . . . . . 162 Appendix 2: IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHEETS 1. Understanding Narrative Literature: Worksheet Summarizing Steps in the Exegetical Task . . . . . . . . . 167 2. Scene Analysis Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 3. Character Identification Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 4. Scene Development Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 5. Developing a First-Person Sermon: Worksheet Summarizing Steps in the Homiletical Task . . . . . . . . 178 Indexes Scripture Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Subject Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 About the Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Share Your Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193