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Narrative Preaching: a Study of Contemporary Theory and the Development and Implementation of an Integrative Model in the Walla Walla College Church

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Narrative Preaching: a Study of Contemporary Theory and the Development and Implementation of an Integrative Model in the Walla Walla College Church Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2000 Narrative Preaching: A Study Of Contemporary Theory And The Development And Implementation Of An Integrative Model In The Walla Walla College Church John C. Cress Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Cress, John C., "Narrative Preaching: A Study Of Contemporary Theory And The Development And Implementation Of An Integrative Model In The Walla Walla College Church" (2000). Dissertation Projects DMin. 461. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/461 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT NARRATIVE PREACHING: A STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY THEORY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL IN THE WALLA WALLA COLLEGE CHURCH by John C. Cress Adviser: Kenneth B. Stout ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: NARRATIVE PREACHING: A STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY THEORY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL IN THE WALLA WALLA COLLEGE CHURCH Name of researcher: John C. Cress Name and degree of faculty adviser: Kenneth B. Stout, Ph.D. Date completed: May 2000 The Topic The topic of this project is narrative preaching. Post-modern culture is characterized by a surfeit of information and a famine of meaning. A cacophony of voices competes for its attention and in such an environment God’s Word frequently goes unheard. Thus it is of critical importance that the gospel be heard in a "language" this culture readily understands. Because it is specifically attuned to the contemporary sensibility of human beings (i.e., it is a “language” most individuals intuitively understand), narrative and narrative forms of preaching have particular power to assist individuals in coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ. The Purpose This project seeks to develop a model for narrative preaching, to implement the model through a series of narrative sermons presented in a collegiate church, and to evaluate the impact of the sermons on a representative group of listeners. Another goal of the project is to enhance the researcher’s skill in the development and performance of narrative sermons. The Sources Sources for this project include a select list of books and periodical articles, primarily published since 1970, on theories of time and narrative structure, foundational, historical, and practical theology, the Bible as literature, hermeneutics, general homiletics, and comparative narrative homiletics. Data pertaining to the evaluation of the narrative sermons and their presentation to the congregation were gathered by way of an evaluation instrument constructed specifically for this project. Conclusions The general conclusion is that narrative preaching is an effective means of reaching contemporary listeners, even for some who may not consider themselves narratively inclined. The integrative model presented in this project is based on a synthesis of the elements of several established models and appears to be a useful approach to narrative preaching. Further deployment and testing of the model are merited, based on the initial evaluations. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary NARRATIVE PREACHING: A STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY THEORY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL IN THE WALLA WALLA COLLEGE CHURCH A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by John C. Cress May 2000 NARRATIVE PREACHING: A STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY THEORY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL IN THE WALLA WALLA COLLEGE CHURCH A dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by John C. Cress APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Adviser, Director of D.Min. Program Kenneth B. Stout Ricardo Norton /'—s Dean ,^SD AHdrEoIo^i c a 1 Seminary Werner K. Vyhmeister frTtw 2.3, ^°QO Date approved Dedicated to Pamela, Jana, and Jaci, who lovingly and graciously share their lives and stories with me. m TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................... viii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................. 1 Justification of the Project............................................................ 1 Divine Nature and Purpose .................................................... 1 The Divine Call to Preach ...................................................... 3 Human Nature and Narrative.................................................. 5 Addressing Contemporary Culture........................................ 7 A Developing Discipline........................................................ 9 A Force in Transformation...................................................... 10 A Congregation in Which to Grow ........................................ 11 Description of the Project ............................................................ 12 Limitations of the Project.............................................................. 12 A Definition of Narrative.............................................................. 14 To Know and Tell .................................................................. 14 A Mode of Transport.............................................................. 15 II. A THEOLOGY OF NARRATIVE PREACHING ............................ 17 The Place of Preaching in the Theological Enterprise.................. 17 Characteristics of Practical Theology .......................................... 17 Local and Performative .......................................................... 18 Inductive and Interdisciplinary.............................................. 19 One Approach to Proclamation .................................................... 19 Toward a Definition of Narrative.................................................. 20 Distinctions between Narrative, Story, and Stage Performance...................................................... 21 A Functional Definition of Narrative and Its Function within This Study.......................................... 22 A Definition of Narrative Preaching ............................................ 22 The Bible as the Master S to ry...................................................... 23 Basic Theological Assumptions about the Master Story.............. 24 The Story Is Reliable, Understandable and Purposeful.......... 24 The Story of Ultimate Reality ................................................. 26 Happily Ever After.................................................................. 28 The Message............................................... 29 IV The Emphasis..................................................................................... 30 A Grace Orientation........................................................................... 31 The Source for Preaching................................................................... 32 A Narrative Hermeneutic................................................................... 35 A Whole Brain Approach............................................................. 36 Getting into the Story................................................................... 39 It Takes a Community ................................................................. 39 The Narrative Preacher and Personal Spirituality........................ 40 The Merging of Stories ............................................................... 45 Hearers of the W ord........................................................................... 46 The Narrative Life of a Congregation .......................................... 47 The Goal of Preaching....................................................................... 51 Preaching for a Response............................................................. 53 The Power of Preaching..................................................................... 53 Conclusion......................................................................................... 55 III. A DESIGN FOR NARRATIVE PREACHING: TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL........................ 57 Introduction .................................................................................. 57 Background to the Rise of Contemporary Models of Narrative Preaching .............................................. 57 Advantages and Disadvantages of Narrative Preaching.............. 59 The Narrative Advantage........................................................ 60 Limitations of Narrative Preaching ........................................ 64 A Survey of Narrative Homiletics at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century.............................................................. 68 Four Contemporary Models.......................................................... 69 Charles R ice............................................................................ 70 A Critique of Rice’s Story Sermon Approach........................ 72 Eugene Lowry ........................................................................ 73 A Critique of Eugene
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