{"id":431,"date":"2018-12-05T11:36:59","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T19:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/migrate.bettersermons.org\/?p=431"},"modified":"2020-06-01T11:39:21","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T18:39:21","slug":"great-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/great-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"
Great Expectations<\/span><\/div>\n

\".\"
\nBy Louis Venden, PhD<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Louis Venden<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

When it comes to preaching and sermons, regardless of a speaker\u2019s topic, style or text, there are some fundamental expectations that listeners have.<\/em><\/p>\n

A congregation\u2019s \u201cBill of Rights\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0(i.e. right expectations)<\/p>\n

Source<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are expecting that your sermon will have a clear and \u201csubstantial\u201d relationship to Scripture, and\u00a0that you will deliver \u201ca message you have received\u2014not just one you have concocted.\u201d We will look for Scripture to \u201cglow with new light.\u201d Remember, our deepest need and question: \u201cIs there any word from the Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll be expecting an introduction that shows you have thought carefully about just how you will begin. You have a clear way and a reason why you \u201cbreak the silence;\u201d why you start your sermon this way.<\/p>\n

Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n

While we listeners can only get your sermon\u2019s \u201cpieces\u201d in a time\/hearing sequence, we\u2019re going to expect to have a real sense of those elements \u201cfitting together\u201d \u2013 i.e. that what you are saying now has some connection with what you said a few moments or minutes ago and leads the way toward what you will be saying next. We\u2019ll find the sermon \u201cpuzzle\u201d coming together.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the beginning we\u2019re going to feel that your sermon is going somewhere. There is a goal\/destination to which you are leading\/guiding and we will feel we have \u201carrived\u201d with you.<\/p>\n

Passion<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to know that what you are talking about matters deeply to you: that you believe what you are saying, \u201cis worth a person risking their life to hear.\u201d (Remember Fred Craddock\u2019s observation that the most fatal comment about a preacher is that \u201cS\/he preached as though nothing were at stake.\u201d)<\/p>\n

Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n

We believe in and will be looking for the gentle but powerful work of the Spirit, present in your preparation and your delivery \u2013 and bringing us the Bread and Water of Life. We expect that through your preaching Christ will be in our midst mighty to save. That in and through your words His Word will be heard.
\n______________________________<\/p>\n

Louis Venden, PhD, Professor of Theology and Ministry, Faculty of Religion, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA. Better Sermons \u00a9 2005-2008. Click here for\u00a0usage guidelines<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Great Expectations By Louis Venden, PhD Louis Venden When it comes to preaching and sermons, regardless of a speaker\u2019s topic, style or text, there are some fundamental expectations that listeners …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":432,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431\/revisions\/432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}