Author: Daron Lindemann
Last saved by: Barb Bartz
Company: Grace Lutheran Church

Study Guide #8 - Qualities to be Sought in the Sermon
Pages 153-169

“That the preacher has a message does not mean that the listeners will get the message” (p. 153). With this thought Craddock transitions us from discovering the message to designing a way to share that message. Which of the two is more of a joy for you at this time in your ministry? Why?

Unity

Read pp. 155-157. Why is unity and “singularity of direction” such a difficult task for the preacher? Why is it, however, well worth the effort?

Memory

Here we do not mean the preacher’s memorization of the sermon but the sermon’s recollection of the past. “Faith that can only witness to events within the parentheses of one’s own birth and death is undernourished and poorly resourced” (p. 158). What are some concerns when a preacher wants to connect his hearers to the past? Explain the four methods listed by Craddock. Refer to pp. 157-159. 

Recognition

The nod of recognition, that is, “the sense of already knowing and agreeing,” precedes the shock of recognition, that is, “the sudden realization that I am the one called, the one addressed, the one guilty, the one responsible, the one commissioned” (p. 160). How is this dynamic significant when applied to the “never exceed 10% new information” rule (p. 160) and the common fault of preachers to eliminate details of an event (p. 161)? List some Biblical examples of the nod and shock. 

Identification

Fill in the blanks to complete the six helpful practices Craddock suggests that prompt the listeners’ identification. Then, name the two or three practices that will likely take the most time and experience in preaching to develop (pp. 162-165).

a)	Hold up the contours of __________  ________________ to God’s grace.
b)	Give primary attention to the _____________ rather than the _______________.
c)	Avoid the _________ in preference for the _____________.
d)	Narration and description are with ________________ restraint and an ______________ of words.
e)	Events are viewed from a ____________ _____________________.
f)	The sermon material is _________________ as it is related.

Anticipation

“The preacher … designs sermons which create expectation with their early promise, but which delay the fulfillment of that promise until the listener is sufficiently engaged to own the message and take responsibility for what is heard” (p. 166). What reactions might a sermon that lacks anticipation produce in the hearers? Craddock scatters some possibilities throughout this section (pp. 165-168). Add one or two of your own.

Intimacy

“Intimacy is not a quality put into a sermon but a quality out of which preaching is done” (p. 168). How, then, can a preacher improve the intimacy of his sermons (pp. 168-169).