“The preaching of the Bible is located at the
centre of Christian communication. While preaching is to be honoured, increasing
numbers of people in the Western world resist being drawn into the orbit of its
influence. There is a rising tide of scepticism, particularly among the young. This
project identifies perceptions and questions of sceptics as they face the
church. It then locates the sceptic within the postmodern turn and traces its
underlying presuppositions. It argues for a communication with sceptics that is
distinguished by its capacity to intrigue them, softening and opening them, and
nudging them towards the way of Jesus.
which intrigues is found in the parable. The history of parable interpretation
over one hundred and fifty years is traced through five seminal descriptions.
From these, nine distinct features of the parable are drawn, each of which
contributes to the parables’ capacity to intrigue. The intention is neither to
find a fresh way of preaching the parables of Jesus, nor even to replicate his
message [… although that is still a critical thing to be doing at another time]. The focus is on the medium of the parable form and the mechanism by
which it intrigues.
The focus then shifts to the question of whether
there is a dynamic equivalent to this parable located in the contemporary and
public world of the sceptic, that might be employed in order to communicate
with them. The world of advertising in general is examined, and the billboard
more specifically. An equivalence between the nine distinctive features of the
parable and Mario Pricken’s analysis of the communication strategy of the billboard
is established. The case for this equivalence is illustrated and deepened
through the evaluation of three contemporary examples of billboards. [NB: Just as easily, I could have focused on political cartoons as an equivalence with them can also be demonstrated].
Church billboards tend to be a collection of the
cliché and the strident. This project envisions a series of intriguing
billboards brought together by a team within a local church, and provoking
discussion among sceptics in the wider community. Guidelines are given on how
to commence with such an initiative.
Throughout the thesis care is taken to maintain a modest set of claims. The focus is on a mere nudge, albeit one that may open the way for a journey towards Christ. And while such a modesty characterizes the thesis, the implications are significant, inviting a re-examination of the way preaching and communication is understood and practised.”
nice chatting
Paul
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Football helps me train preachers. See, when you speak to me about football—or, ‘footie’—I need to know where your feet are before I can understand what you mean. Are your feet in Ireland, or Brazil, or the USA, or NZ—or in crazy Australia? It must be the most fanatical sporting nation in the world. Within…
Having been born in 1959, I don’t remember much about the 1960s. But I have heard a lot. Hippies. Drugs. Rock ‘n Roll. Assassinations. Moon-walking. A quick trip across to ChatGPT informs me immediately that it was ‘a transformative decade across the world’—marked by the civil rights and feminist movements, Cold War tensions, consumerism and…
As one who engages with sceptics regularly (and who probably could benefit from a more parabolic approach!), I LOVE the sound of this.
Don't know if you've seen it before, but I think Stephen Colbert does this quite well at the end of this clip!
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/224128/april-09-2009/bart-ehrman