Every preacher, at some point in their ministry, will experience a sense that despite all their efforts and preparations during the week, no one is listening on Sunday morning, only receiving blanks stares from the people of the congregation. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can learn to preach in a way that will be readily, even eagerly, received by your congregation.
It’s all here: what inductive preaching is, how it works, why it’s effective, who’s used it—including Jesus, Peter, Paul, Augustine, St. Francis, Wesley, Edwards, and Moody, to name only a few.
“Almost 83 percent of the respondents judged warmth, friendliness, and kindness in a minister’s sermon just as important or more so than theological expertise or intellectual soundness.” (Page 24)
“A preacher can’t preach an inductive sermon without an attitude of tolerance, charity, respect, trust, cooperation and patience toward the hearers.” (Page 44)
“Induction begins with the particulars of life experience and points toward principles, concepts, conclusions. The inductive course can grow out of the hearer’s needs rather than the uncertainty of the preacher. The preacher seeks to lead rather than push. He explores with the people before he explains what they find. Inductive preaching is a quest for discovery. It can disarm, interest and involve the people in the exploration and capitalize on the psychological process of learning from experience.” (Page 32)
“Jesus used two distinct styles of communication, depending on the situation and audience. He did sometimes use a didactic, deductive approach—but only when speaking to his disciples and other believers. When he spoke to the public, to the multitudes, his approach was always indirect and inductive.” (Page 75)
“Some of these researchers are now concluding that humans learn only by participation, by involvement. They insist no one learns only by being told; what is learned must be anchored to our reality by experience.” (Page 29)
Ralph L. Lewis is professor of preaching at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, a post he has held since 1961. Dr. Lewis holds a PhD in speech from the University of Michigan and was a pastor for 12 years.
Gregg Lewis, his son, is editor of Campus Life magazine. A coauthor of The Hurting Parent, he holds an MA in communications from Wheaton College.
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Olli-Pekka Ylisuutari
11/8/2021