A Dialogical Evaluation of a Series of Eight Sermons Preached in the Benton Harbor Church of Seventh-Day Adventists from April 6 to June 1, 1974
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1975 A Dialogical Evaluation of a Series of Eight Sermons Preached in the Benton Harbor Church of Seventh-day Adventists From April 6 to June 1, 1974 Carl Raymond Holmes Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Holmes, Carl Raymond, "A Dialogical Evaluation of a Series of Eight Sermons Preached in the Benton Harbor Church of Seventh-day Adventists From April 6 to June 1, 1974" (1975). Dissertation Projects DMin. 315. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/315 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]. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A DIALOGICAL EVALUATION OF A SERIES OF EIGHT SERMONS PREACHED IN THE BENTON HARBOR CHURCH OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS FROM APRIL 6 TO JUNE 1, 1974- A Project Report Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Carl Raymond Holmes May 1975 Approved "Preaching is an activity of the whole Church, and there is an urgent need for a fresh understanding of its nature by those who listen, as well as those who speak." David H. G. Read, Sent Prom God, p. 12. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS After twenty-two years of- formal education it has been impressed upon me that an educated person is really the sum total of the influences made upon him by many people. It is to the people who have been involved with me in this study that I owe my appreciation. The members of my doctoral committee who have guided me so gently through the Doctor of Ministry program have earned my deep respect and gratitude. Dr. Thomas Blincoe was influential in helping me steer the pre carious course between the dangers of neo-orthodoxy on the one hand, and a theology of preaching unrelated to the human situation on the other. He represents a stable rock of conservative Adventism who at the same time is deeply concerned with the communication of the Biblical message in the context of contemporary human problems and need. In my judgment he personifies the task of theology which is to understand and articulate the meaning of Biblical revelation so that it might be communicated to man in preaching. Dr. Robert Moon, Jr., has given so generously of his much demanded time in the development of research instruments and a valid approach to evaluation. His expertise in getting to the heart of this project and helping to plan a methodology that would implement it was invaluable. Without his assistance I-would not have dared to begin. Dr. Louis Venden, who as Project Director carried the primary load of guidance and criticism, has not only been faithful in this capacity but has been my friend as well. He went the extra mile. His ii extremely careful reading of my work, and the critical questions his reading evoked, have contributed largely to whatever value and validity this study may have. He deserves my appreciation for the many hours we spent talking about the project and talking into the project. Dr. Arnold Kurtz, while he did not serve in my doctoral committee, got me started in this direction during the course on expository preach ing I took from him in 1972. If for no other reason, he deserves my undying gratitude for listening faithfully to my preaching week after week as a member of my parish. The fact that he continues to do so is encouraging indeed. My appreciation is also extended to the Michigan Conference of Seventh—day Adventists without whose generous sponsorship this work could never have been undertaken. It has been a source of great personal pleasure to be associated with the members of the first class of Doctor of Ministry candidates at Andrews University. I have enjoyed immensely their wit, penetrating insight, suggestions, and friendship. Most importantly of all my appreciation belongs to the members of my parish in Benton Harbor, and most especially to those who so faithfully and capably served as members of the treatment and control groups. Special thanks go to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Starkey, and to Mrs. Richard Lange who typed the final draft. iii INTRODUCTION It is the element of mystery that makes life exciting. The same is true of preaching. For twenty years I have been a student of preach ing, and a preacher. That study continues for there is an element of mystery in the unbelievably effective means of communication between God and man called preaching. One studies principles of speech, homiletical method, the preaching of Jesus and Paul and Spurgeon and Moody and Luther and Wesley; one agonizes over a Biblical text with all the historical, dogmatic, linguistic tools he is capable of using, cares and feels for his people, then goes to the pulpit with fear and trembling for when all is said and done preaching is a mystery. And he would have it no other way. The thrill is always there. The climactic moment of the preacher’s week has arrived. The.incisive moment. The responsible moment. The moment for which he lives and breathes. The moment which gives the preacher's life its meaning and coherence. For he doesn't become a preacher when he enters the pulpit. Pie is a preacher all the time. Because he is a preacher all the time everything he does every day is a part of that irresistible fact. That is why he cannot resist the urge to continue studying preaching. It is part of the upward call in Christ Jesus. That is why after twenty years of preaching, and studying preach ing, I am still preaching and studying preaching. This Doctor of Ministry project was undertaken because it is a part of continuing to learn how to preach. iv Project Design From April 6 to June 1, 1974» a series of eight sermons were preached to the .Benton Harbor, Michigan congregation of Seventh-day Adventists under the theme FAITH TO FACS THE FUTURE. Homiletical preparation was based on the method suggested by Lloyd M. Perry in his book Biblical Sermon Guide, and harmonized with methods consistent with my own theology of preaching. The series was preceded by two training sessions in listening skills for the Treatment Group designated throughout this report as Group A. Thesis That in order to communicate the Christian Gospel as it is pre sented in the letter to the Ephesians in such a way that personal insight and spiritual growth takes place in the listeners, the sermon must reflect the preachers interest in the individual as well as his concern for doctrine. The sermon must be person-centered rather than doctrine- centered. In other words, the language of the sermon must be directed toward the person in the pew instead of toward an objective doctrine which needs explanation. The emphasis is on the use of doctrine rather than on the explanation of doctrine, and the focus is on the individual. Task The preaching of a series of eight sermons based on the letter to the Ephesians designed to stimulate and encourage faith in facing the future, critiqued by a treatment group, designated A, and a control group, designated B, as to content, impact, and effect. Ob.i ectives 1 - More precise understanding of the relationship between v homiletical theory and actual practice. 2- Insight into homiletical style and method that will expose weaknesses as well as affirm strengths. 3- Testing of the validity of my own theology of preaching. U- Growth in understanding and practicing that which is homiletically valid. 5- Testing of the validity of current homiletical theory concern ing preaching as a dialogical event. 6- An awareness on the part of the listener of individual responsibility for, and participation in, the preaching event. 7- The development of keener listening perception on the part of the members of the congregation who participated in Treatment Group A. 8- On the basis of the results of the study to make recommenda tions concerning the need for, and the implementation of, a program of training in listening skills that would contribute toward spiritual growth in the lives of congregational members. Method Methodology was two-fold: theoretical and empirical. Research was done in selected works on homiletics and the theology of preaching which form the basis for the chapter on my theology of preaching. Research was also done in selected literature concerning the development of listening skills, which served as the basis for the chapter on listening. Material from this research formed the theory used in the training sessions for Treatment Group A. Empirical research was done by means of instruments in the form of questionnaires. After each of the sermons in the series Group A and B filled out the questionnaires. Following the fifth and the eighth sermon vi Group A met with the project director for dialogue which was taped and heard later by the preacher. Group B served as the control group in that they received no prior training in listening skills. Questions Examined 1- Is my preaching practice consistent with my theology of preaching? 2- Does training in listening skills increase ability to retain, and recall sermonic data thus contributing, hopefully, to Christian growth and attitudinal change? Limitations of Project The limitations of the project were inherent in the concept and philosophy of the Doctor of Ministry program at Andrews University.