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DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, 1985-86 MINISTERING TO THE DIVORCED..................... 4 CHRISTIAN PREACHING.......................................12 THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF THE PULPIT . .19 PASTORAL TRANSITION.......................................26 SPIRITUAL FORMATION.........................................32 THE MUSICIAN AS MINISTER............................. 36 SERMONS FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS . .58 ^u ita b le Fram ing Some men struggle into obscurity while others forget themselves into immortality. — Wendell Phillips THE ■ S s a r ARK ROCKER NOTES AND COMMENT ne must avoid parochialism in this column, but a Amplified Bible folks. Some of the ABVers walked out, report from the Universal Luau of One of the Larg exited, egressed, evacuated, departed when an impoli Oest Denominations in the Holiness Movement may edifytic Ohioan suggested that Roget’s Thesaurus is both and be useful to all readers of this good journal. Some uninspired and uninspiring, and that he needed a ver very commendable events transpired. But other hap sion that sounded less like a sermon. penings seemed expressly designed for this column. But the worst blow of all came from the realization The “Nuke the Pentecostals” campaign at one point that one-third of the delegates did not speak English and came close to victory on the UL floor. Several argued therefore preferred no English version at all. Those dele that nothing short of absolute extermination of the gates were left to their own communications problems, “tongues menace” would do. and the matter was dropped. It was a delegate from New Jersey who rallied the This did perturb some of the KJVers, who had left the forces for a milder statement, and he did it with an out- floor over a “mifquotation of Firft Theffalonians v:xxiii- of-order speech. The chair allowed the speech after the xxiv.” They did not want the “iffue” dropped. But, being question had actually been put, because the man’s “si “good fports,” they returned to the fray, thankful, at multaneous translation” was running about 15 minutes least, for the “fentiment againft gloffalalia.” behind, and he had just gotten the meat of the debate in his own language. The vote against the GB probably killed the Associ The man’s point was that if they destroyed the Pen ation of Old Bumper Sticker Witnessers. They rose to tecostals, at least two untoward things would ensue: It prominence 10 years back with the slogans “I Found would decimate the National Association of Evangeli It— I and II” and “Honk Twice if You Love Wesley,” and cals, making it of no use to have so recently joined it, were posed to spearhead the GB campaign with a and it would leave us with only ourselves to blame when sticker reading “If You Can Read the GENEVA BIBLE division and confusion came upon us. You’re as Close as You’ll Ever Get.” They appealed So taken was the UL by the argument of the man mostly to folks with big cars. from New Jersey that it began spontaneously to sing The vote on a more careful definition of Original Sin in that grand old chorus, “Makes Me Love [Almost] Every the Articles of Faith created a great deal of tension. No body.” And that closed the issue—for now. one wanted to admit having had sufficient recent experi The proposal that the denomination use the Geneva ence with the subject to speak authoritatively. The chair Bible, intended as a compromise measure, also failed. declared “out-of-order” several suggestions from the Supporters had wooed the right by pointing out that the floor as to who might respond. KJV had come from a bunch of Anglicans (Prayerbook One final note (as Peter Jennings says): Some of the sorts) on orders from an ex-Presbyterian king, an abso Handy-Pac Communion Kits unused at the opening ser lutist, “Divine Right” sort, who was also a homosexual. vice of the UL were picked up by enterprising youth This strategy was supposed to have worked because of choirs in attendance and are being sold to help pay for its similarity to the arguments used by the KJVers to the choirs’ next UL trip. Authorities urge us not to pur undermine the credibility of other versions, especially chase them, as the tradition stands four-square against the RSV. The GBers discovered how little logic had to do money-raising schemes, and instead urges freewill of with it. ferings. (They assure us that the matter of poor taste did More serious opposition to the GB came from the not enter their decision.) $ sjJh ts COJb IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE ARTICLES PASTORAL CARE: 4 Ministering to Divorced Persons...................................................................................... Jerry W. McCant The Church should should stop stuttering about this issue and find some redemptive words to say. 5 Divorce Among Evangelicals: Preventing the Problem.............................................. Harold Ivan Smith Seven things the Church can do to keep husband and wife living under the same roof. 10 Counseling Families of Stroke Victims............... ......................................................... Jack D. Anderson Few families of stroke victims know how to help or cope—the pastor can offer hope. PREACHING: 12 The Unitive Functions of Christian Preaching..................................................................... Wesley Tracy The preached word becomes the Living Word. The preacher becomes a little basket in which the Bread is laid. 19 The Teaching Ministry of the Pulpit...............................................................................Richard J. Bisson The historic method of teaching by preaching still maintains its preeminence. CHURCH ADMINISTRATION: 22 Facilitating Community: One Congregation’s Experience......................................................Bill Barnes Can what we have in common in Christ outweigh our cultural differences? THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY: 24 Journey.............................................................................. ....................................................... L G . Gordon One man’s reflections after 43 years of ministry. 26 Pastoral Transition: An Occupational H azard.........................................................................Carl Green The “no-man’s land” between pastors is thick with mines that the outgoing pastor can disarm if he will. 28 Voted O u t!.........................................................................................................................Marcus R. Briggs Is there life after The Vote? 30 Tread Lightly, Pastor............................................................................................................... Esme James A layperson counsels her new pastor. What is she really saying? CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE: 32 Spiritual Formation: Christ Formed in U s ................................................................... V. James Mannoia The downward path is the way of spiritual formation. FINANCE: 35 Regular Social Security Checkups May Prevent a Retirement Heartbreak CHURCH MUSIC: 36 The Musician as Pastor, Priest, and Prophet................................................................... Keith Schwanz The musician as minister is God’s loving hands and arms to needy people. WESLEYANA: 38 Being Dead, Yet They Speak........................................................................................ Wayne E. Caldwell Taking a look at the “Evangelists’ Hall of Fame.” CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: 40 Developing a Healthy Christian Education Program......................................................John R. Cionca The old trip-them-in-the-hallway trick just won’t work any longer. MULTIPLYING MINISTRY: 43 The Pastor as a W riter........................................................................................................Stephen A. Bly Most ministers are an “act of literature” about to burst into bloom. PASTORAL CLINIC: 44 Case Studies for Reflection and Discussion 2 THE MINISTER’S MATE: 46 A New Place to Grow......................................................................................................... Debbie Goodwin Role-playing worship and Christian busyness are hazardous to your soul. EVANGELISM: 48 How Evangelistic Work Helps Me to Lose...................................................................James N. Watkins Musings of a traveling evangelist. BIBLICAL STUDIES: 50 A Methodological Guide for Interpretive Bible S tudy..................................................Frank G. Carver VISITATION: 56 Our Pastor Makes House Calls............................................................................................Neil Hightower Visitation may be more than an old-fashioned activity. CHRISTMAS: 57 All I Want for Christmas Is a Day by Myself...............................................................J. Grant Swank, Jr. 58 Preaching Program for Advent and Christmas.................................................................Edward F. Cox REGULAR FEATURES Suitable for Framing...................................Inside Cover Today’s Books for Today’s Preacher........................... 54 Ark Rocker.................................................................... 1 Sermon Outlines............................................................61 Preacher’s Exchange.................................................. 42 New Testament Word Studies.....................................64 THE PREACHER’S MAGAZINE Proclaiming Christian Holiness Volume 61, Number 2 DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 1985-86 Wesley Tracy Contributing Editors Robert Kline Editor Eugene L. Stowe General Superintendent Charles H.