Religion and theology - Essay Example

Religion and Theology [Insert al Affiliation] In the contemporary spiritual world, preaching matters since it is an imperative activity in spreading the Gospel in and beyond the church and for the existences and growth of the church. In that sense, Long (2011), Lovell & Richardson (2011) advocate that for the preeminent practice of preaching to be realized in the current world, the preachers must seek for a conversational, collaborative and cross-cultural form of preaching. Theology is concerns with subjects such as; human nature, family issues like divorce, sex, marriage, female/male, and the elderly roles and this must be tackled with much cautiousness and not from outdated cultural dimension. Though, there are many far-reaching changes occurring in the post-modern society, the ministry of evangelization must seek to obtain a sustainable preaching central to the church’s life cycle and mission. As a consequence, in proclamation of the Word of God the evangelists must try to think deeper about what they do and why they are doing it since preaching call for the full engagement of their aptitudes superseded by God will. Subsequently, faithful stewardship of evangelists can be promulgated by encouraging them to inculcate convincing logic, sound exegesis, and a pleasing style hence accomplishing production of eminence sermons in our churches. Additionally, preachers of theology need to proclaim the Word of God with clarity, vividness, power, and eloquence. In regard to this, Long (2011), Lovell & Richardson (2011) use their books to equip preachers with necessary skills that will help them overcome cultural changes in secular society hence renewing preaching that is grounded in pray and scriptures and one that is inspired by the Holly Spirit. Therefore, we shall analyzes Long (2011), Lovell & Richardson (2011) perspectives on practice of preaching in dialogue and use it to evaluate our understanding of effective practices of preaching in the contemporary world. In “Sustaining preachers and preaching” Lovell & Richardson depict to us the effective practice of evangelization in our churches by elucidating on the importance of renewal of preaching style. Lovell & Richardson (2011) advocate an evangelization style that will endorse dialogical, and one that will hinder authoritarian and stentorian monolog. Thus, Lovell & Richardson (2011) coax ministers to inculcate the preaching elegance that is grounded in prayers and scriptures and one that is inspired by the Holly Spirit hence increasing the faith, love that will renew the hope and replenishes of those who hear it (Lovell & Richardson, 2011). Therefore, it is central for us to comprehend that preaching must be based on scriptures that are inspired by Holy Spirit that is necessary for increasing our faith and that of the congregation hence rekindling our hope in Jesus Christ. What’s more, they help us understand that preaching is “truth through personality” and they emphasize this by portraying preaching as a unique form of communication whose sources is God (Lovell & Richardson, 2011;12). Thus, the authors help us to comprehend that, the perseverance of evangelization is not real to revolutionize the congregation’s awareness about certain controversial issue but to bring the congregation into the presence of God (Lovell & Richardson, 2011; 91). Therefore, Lovell & Richardson (2011) see the need for preaching to be renewed hence assisting it to serve the right purpose envisioned by God. The authors also help us apprehend that preachers must take into consideration the existences of diversity in the congregation. Therefore, the only means of accommodating congregation diversity is through preachers using the sermon text drawn from the biblical context to develop deeper understanding. Additionally, the authors agree that there are challenges in the interpretation on the other hand they still ensure preachers that, above all, the Bible remain to be an imperative resource. The authors also help us to understand that we must renew the practices of preaching by allowing women, as well as men, to take part in church preaching ministry. In the Old Testament women were so isolated as compared to the new testament were St Paul encourage women participation in church ministry thus it is important for us to integrate all gender in proclaiming the word of God (Lovell & Richardson, 2011; 17). Subsequently, Lovell G and N, G Richardson reorients our perception about preaching by advocating that preachers need humility, disciplines, enthusiasm ebb and courage to enable evangelists open and close the doors between private and public affairs (Lovell & Richardson, 2011; 50). This means that preachers must seek to maintain one’s proper privacy in public yet again taking the concern of the congregation into account in one’s preparation to preach. Furthermore, Lovell & Richardson (2011) use their book to explicate the importance of what they refer as “the preaching circle”. The preaching circle advocates that preachers must renew their preaching by doing preparation, setting for feedback and enhancing reflection that they use to preach. Therefore, Lovell & Richardson (2011) help us to understanding that the theology and practice of preaching in the contemporary world require preachers to contemplate on the expectation of their particular congregation as this will help them to discern the focus and the vision of their evangelization. The pastoral ministry requires vivacious, lively preaching that can deliver the message to the congregation. In co-creation of the sermon, the preacher must not only preach in tongues, but must also adopt a relational approach that makes the congregation feel engaged, and fully participative. Preaching in tongue indicates that despite the millions of evangelists, only a few recognize and possess God’s truth, veracity, and actuality. In addition, Lovell & Richardson (2011) depict that preachers must be in position to use their evangelization to explicate God’s nature, God-reality and God’s purpose for us human beings and generally to the world (Lovell & Richardson, 2011; 2). As a result, we can now comprehend that preaching is meant to enlighten, liberate and give life to the Christians. Consequently, we are able to understand that preaching must enlighten Christian to enable them see life in clear focus than before as it liberate them by snowballing their faith, renew their hope and replenishes the heart thus making them grow spiritual. Similarly, for preachers to be able to enlighten and liberate the congregation, they must be faithful, considerate, and prayerful and have unpretentious love to the congregation receiving the gospel. Moreover, true gospel preachers need moral, theological intellectual, and spiritual knowledge to help them overcome real-world and theoretical problems that occur in their vocational life cycle. The existence of moral, intellectual, theological and spiritual knowledge in a preacher is vital at helping them to study and prepare the sermon to preach thus making them meditative. In depicting this, the authors help us to comprehend the importance of the preacher to undertake professional learning as this will influence their theological intellectual and spiritual knowledge essential in renewing the practice of evangelization. Conversely, Tom Long used his book “The witness of preaching” to give a solid impression of the exegetical method essential in each sermon. Long helps us understand that to be a good preacher one has to prepare sermons that have titles, introductions, transitions, illustrations, children’s sermons, length, conclusions, and with other a numerous homiletic concerns (Long, 2011; 24). In elucidating this, Long helps us to apprehend that effective sermons must be well thought of, and a well-researched in the biblical context for it to be used to witness. Subsequently, Long emphasizes that to be a preacher means one is called to witness the word of God thus preachers are called to stand in the pulpit, and preach the truth gospel and not personal truth. He also educates us that the preachers must not be welling up their speech, but the form and the content they preach must be an exposition of scripture (Long, 2011; 97). In that sense, an evangelist is not just an ordinary person, but an individual who was called by God to witness His word to the congregation. Moreover, Long (2011) reminds the preachers that they are neither guest from clergy-land nor prophet from the wilds, but the members of the body of Christ thus preacher must also built a mutual understanding of the people they preach to. Consequently, Long (2011) retells that evangelists are affiliate of the community around them, and the community set apart preachers and send them to the scripture to study, search and listen obediently to what God is saying to us. Therefore, during the presentation of the sermon preacher should depict to the congregation a function statement that will give a succinct explanation of the central and unifying theme of the sermon (Long, 2011; 86). This helps us to apprehend that preachers must explore the scripture text and content to enable them to draw a clear focus, reflection and function of the sermon. Similarly, Long (2011) also decrees that preachers must develop effective communication strategies that will not make them be perceived as storytellers. Subsequently, Long (2011) supports Lovell & Richardson (2011) claim which help us to recognize that the gospel has not actually been preached till it has been received by the intended congregation (Lovell & Richardson, 2011; 210) .So, it is imperative for evangelists to give cautious thoughtfulness to the structure and rhetorical form of the scriptures’ meaning in order to converse the testimony hence witnessing the word of God. Therefore, Long advocate that preachers must be able to learn and understand the language of the gospel and correctly interpret it into the language of the modern-day culture. Long (2011) has also recommended that witnessing the word God "underscores the ecclesiastical and liturgical setting of evangelization." Hence, Long (2011) assists us to understand that the preacher have to create sermons that possess unity, clarity, and a steady association to the biblical script. In relation to this, Long (2011) urges evangelists not to fudge the witness, neither should they try to make it more pleasant, nor more attractive, but they should use the scriptures to tell entire truth and nothing more than facts. Long (2011) also depicts that evangelists must be exemplary moral characters. He claims that people tend not to believe the message preached unless the ethical life of the evangelist is morally trustworthy to be emulated. Therefore, it is significant for us understand that the totality of the moral life is important for preachers. Additionally, good preachers must show the willingness to witness the word of God as this will help them to manifested God presence in the form and in the content they preached. In conclusion, evangelization can be complex in the fast-changing world, and can be a disheartening task. Besides this, preaching remain to overcome the current challenges used this as an opportunity to discover what was hidden from them hence effective witnessing God word. Long, Lovell G and N, G Richardson used their perspectives on practice of preaching to build a better understanding of effective preaching in the contemporary world. The authors emphasize on the renewal of preaching by educating us on purpose of preaching, sermon construction and delivery style and the dynamic of scriptural interpretation. Additionally, the author also highlighted specifics recommendations that will help the preacher witness God word in preaching hence empowering the post-modern churches to attaining a sustainable practice of evangelization (Lovell & Richardson, 2011; 213). Preaching that is grounded in pray and scriptures and one that is inspired by the Holly Spirit is required in the contemporary society. Thus, Long (2011) and Lovell & Richardson (2011) urge evangelists to give an attentive thoughtfulness to the structure and rhetorical form of the scripture meaning in order to converse the testimony hence, enabling them to witness the word of God. Above all, the authors help us understand that for every single time we preach, we should cast ourselves on the compassion and mercy of God. For Without God’s mercy, compassion and grace neither a single of us can ever achieve anything praiseworthy nor ever be worthy to set a foot on an altar at all. Therefore, re-discovering an effective practice of preaching in the contemporary world means transforming experience and finding the truth we have not experienced before from the biblical context and that will help us feed our souls rekindling Christ’s presence in our hearts, and build our hope in him. (2024 words) Bibliography Lovell, G., & Richardson, N. (2011). Sustaining preachers and preaching: A practical guide. London: T & T Clark. Retrieved From http://servantofmessiah.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/12/Sustaining-Preachers-and-Preaching.pdf Long, T. G. (2011). The witness of preaching 2nd edition. Louisville, Ky: Westminster/J. Knox Press. Read More