Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-First Century Listeners

by Graham M. Johnston

Publisher:

Baker

, 2001

Overview

To communicate God’s Word effectively in the twenty-first century, you need to know how to connect with and confront an audience of postmodern listeners. With this book, you’ll learn how to change your style of preaching without compromising the substance, take advantage of new opportunities provided by the cultural shift, and show an inattentive society the relevance of God’s truth.

The Logos edition of this work on preaching is fully searchable and easily accessible. Scripture passages link directly to your English translations and to the original language texts, and important theological concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the wealth of resources in your digital library.

Key Features

• Explains postmodernity and some of its related concepts
• Offers help on how to approach preaching to a postmodern audience without changing values
• Includes tips on how to engage listeners while preaching

Contents

• “Toto, We’re Not in Kansas Anymore”
• Postmodernity: Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral?
• Rules for Engagement
• Challenging Listeners
• Obstacles
• Inroads
• Practices for Engagement

Praise for the Print Edition

The world has gone through a major shift in thinking and communication into a postmodern mode, yet much preaching is still ‘pre-modern’ and very out of touch. Graham Johnston has done a significant contribution in his book, showing how preaching can be thoroughly biblical, opening up the text of the Bible but also concerned with the openings in the minds of contemporary people. I plan to recommend it to young preachers in our leadership programs.

—Leighton Ford, president, Leighton Ford Ministries

Here is a significant book, one that urgently needs to be in print. Well written, biblical, and practical, it opens the stained glass windows. For anyone desiring a ministry of impact in today’s postmodern society, Graham Johnston has provided an understandable and useful focus for both the professional and the casual reader.

—Howard G. Hendricks, emeritus distinguished professor of Christian education and leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary

Communicating God’s Word is more than just speaking the truth; it’s being heard and understood as well. We are living amid one of the greatest cultural shifts in history, where most young people and adults don’t even speak the same language. The world is becoming increasingly cynical and biblically illiterate, yet people are still searching for spiritual answers. This book is designed to help Christian leaders better understand their listeners, so they can communicate biblical truths with effectiveness and clarity.

—Josh McDowell, author and evangelist

The desire to communicate effectively is a basic but neglected priority for leaders of a missionary faith. Graham Johnston not only brings a shrewd analysis of the present changes in our culture, he also contributes from the perspective of a skilled practitioner. Such a combination is both rare and valuable.

—Martin Robinson, national director, Together in Mission

This book provides a very clear and helpful approach to communicating Christian truth in our postmodern context. While it is popular in its style, it is also academically respectable.

—Susan Perlman, director of communications, Jews for Jesus

Product Details

• Title: Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-First-Century Listeners
• Author: Graham M. Johnston
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 2001
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 192
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Preaching; Postmodernism › Religious aspects--Christianity
• ISBNs: 9781441255976, 9780801063671, 9780851114903, 1441255974, 0801063671, 0851114903
• Resource ID: LLS:PREACHPSTMDRNWRLD
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:22:28Z

About Graham MacPherson Johnston

Graham MacPherson Johnston was senior pastor of Subiaco Church of Christ in Western Australia and an adjunct lecturer in homiletics at Perth Bible College. He held degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary.