Early on in those years, I started devising my own model of teaching preaching. Philips Brooks’ ‘truth through personality’ was no longer sufficient. A four corner model emerged – and keeps evolving, eventually becoming the five corner model I used in this recent module (see below).
But a few months ago Tim Keller’s new book fired my imagination for a new and necessary horizon: is there a biblical basis for these five corners? Keller opens up with 1 Corinthians 1.18 – 2.5 and as I read and re-read the passage, I became more and more convinced that the model was embedded in Paul’s philosophy. I hatched a plan. I made it an assignment for this eager bunch of 30 MTh students at SAIACS. Some A+ quality work was returned (including one from a young man from Myanmar) and I am now convinced of the legitimacy of the links. All five corners are there in the Pauline approach to preaching…
So – drum roll, please … I can announce that the Corinthian Columns of the first century have now morphed into the Corinthian Corners of the twenty-first century! š HaHa.
After putting students into groups in each of the four corners of the classroom, enabling them first to come up with their own ideas on what might occupy each of the four corners, this image is showed to them. This is followed by a description of the process in which every word outside the box is included in a short narrative (and the subsequent course is then about visiting each one of those words more fully). Here is the latest version of this description:
preachingā¦
Word of God, effective preaching commences with an openness of the Bible and an
openness to the Spirit as time is taken to observe
what the text is actually saying. It then draws on the best commentaries to
ensure the most accurate exegesis
of the text and it commits to clarity of design,
believing it to be a key ingredient in building the momentum of the sermon as
well as gaining and maintaining the attention of listeners.
virtually anything is permissible in the pursuit of rapport with a congregation. There just must be connection. A variation in all aspects of the
presentation will help, as will being natural in all aspects of delivery. But
the key is developing a specific application
which keeps in mind a congregationās diversity, capped-off by a capacity to start:stop in a creative and compelling manner.
assumption is that there are people who are not yet Christians who are listening.
And so the sermon is infused with a freshness and vibrancy, as people hear the
preacher speaking their language and
utilising illustrations (both image and story) from
their world. As this is done, there is a both a probing for the worldviews
at work in the world, as well as a lingering, wherever possible, with the logic of induction in order to respect this listener more fully.
away in the preparation, effective preaching never loses sight of the preacherās own
participation in the process. There is an authenticity
which seeps into every aspect of life and ministry and this is then fused with
both a warmth in the face and
eyes, as well as a passion in
the voice and manner. Furthermore, in a world overwhelmed by many words, the
words of this preacher stand out as different because they include words which
bear witness to the truth being proclaimed from the testimony of their own lives.
about taking the stories of the listeners, the world, and the preacher and
weaving them around the biblical story, which is based in the written Word and focused on the Living Word. It is about bringing to the exegesis of the listener, the world, and the preacher the very same skills
of exegesis which we bring to the biblical text. It is pursued in overt and
vocal dependence upon the Spirit of God who can be relied upon to superintend
the entire process because it acknowledges his inspiring, illuminating,
authenticating, and anointing work ā as he leads people to Jesus.ā
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 ā 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.
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Thank you Dr.Windsor for this update and the insights..have loved the idea of "corners" and if I might say so, working through the "corners" kind of makes it feel less "technical"… and this is just in time for the group to start next week. I am thinking that it will be good for us to begin with the explanation of the "model for effective preaching" (without showing the corners yet) and pick up the discussions from there.
Great stuff Paul, really good. Are there 'words' outside the box for the final corner? And will you develop Doric and Ionic versions? š
sorry, the last comment was from me, but it didn't have my name. Paul Barker
Thank you, Paul. I found this really excellent. Peter Anderson, Mairangi Bay Community Church
great stuff!
Thanks, Kelhu – hope it can provoke some good discussion for you.
Yes, Paul, the final corner is the recent addition and I'm still thinking about how to fill and focus it with words 'outside the box'. All contributions gratefully received. The other area I am not so sure of is the 'authenticates' one … I love the truth it communicates (that on hearing the truth, a listener recognises it to be the truth as the Spirit authenticates it for them) – but not sure yet whether it fits snugly in this corner.
Paul
Well done Paul on your milestone! Wish you many more with fruit following. This is my first time on your blog and you have great insights.
Mr Paul, was very nostalgic reading this. I wonder if you can help me, there was an article that you did on the four corners years ago, in Reality magazine? Do you have a copy or know where I could find it. Cheers, Rod Robson
Hi Rod ā good to hear from you. I hope you are well.
In recent years I've expanded it into Five Corners and it is available in an article. Happy to send it to you if you message me your email address. It was the Introduction to the Carey book on preaching, edited by John Tucker some years ago.
kind regards to you and to Steph
Paul