

The art of preaching is called homiletics, and it is mostly bad art. I've heard so many bad sermons in my life that at times I wish the sermon was abolished. When the terrible sermons are finally over, I remember that the proclamation of the church (even in its worst form), is still one of the threefold forms of the Word of God (as Karl Barth said). The art of preaching is not judged by the performance of the speaker (and maybe this is why Paul described preaching as foolishness c.f. 1 Cor 1:21 KJV). An excellent example is the conversation of the famous baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon, when he wandered into a church during a blizzard when he was 15 years old, and was subjected to a terrible sermon by a "Primitive Methodist" who shouted one verse over-and-over: "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22 KJV).

Is there any solution to the constant torture of the Sunday sermon? I don't have an answer to this homiletical question. One suggestion is to study the preaching of the Apostles, and imitate them. Charles Harold Dodd wrote a famous short 100 page book called Apostolic Preaching and Its Developments, that is an excellent analysis of the preaching of the Apostles. It's a short dense book that is difficult to summarize. In the book, C. H. Dodd studies the early apostolic preaching and discovered that all the New Testament sermons typically include the same six or seven points. The greatest utility of C. H. Dodd's study of apostolic preaching (known as kerygma) is that it provides us an example that we may use to compare and contrast our modern sermons with the way in which the first Christians preached. I'd wager, that the art of preaching is worst where preachers do not imitate the apostles.

C. H. Dodd provides many outlines of Apostolic preaching in the book, and I will share two of them as an example. The first example is an outline of Paul's preaching:

It is true that the kerygma as we have recovered it from the Pauline epistles is fragmentary. No complete statement of it is, in the nature of the case, available. But we may restore it in outline somewhat after this fashion: The prophecies are fulfilled, and the new Age is inaugurated by the coming of Christ.

He was born of the seed of David.

He died according to the Scriptures, to deliver us out of the present evil age.

He was buried.

He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures.

He is exalted at the right hand of God, as Son of God and Lord of quick and dead.

He will come again as Judge and Saviour of men. [1]

The second example is of the Apostles' preaching based on Acts 2:

We have seen that the apostolic Preaching according to Acts ii included an appeal to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the Church as evidence that the age of fulfilment had dawned, and that Jesus Christ was its Lord. "This is that which was spoken by the prophet. . . .

I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. . . .

He being exalted at the right hand of God,

and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father,

has poured out that which you see and hear";

and it includes also an assurance that those who join the Christian community "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." [2]

C. H. Dodd also provides analysis of John, and much more. I highly recommend reading this book. In conclusion, I'll share a famous poem about C. H. Dodd that any reader will appreciate after encountering C. H. Dodd's unique bravado in his writings:

I think it extremely odd

That a little professor named Dodd

Should spell, if you please,

his name with three D's

When one is sufficient for God. [3]

Sources:

1. Charles Harold Dodd, The Apostolic Preaching and Its Developments: with an Appendix on Eschatology and History, Harper & Row, 1964.

2. Ibid.

3. Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters. Ed. Donald K. McKim. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998. 481. Print.

4. Header background: By John Pettie - Bonhams auctions, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44945383