The first excerpt that I have chosen to analyze is that of Charles Haddon
Spurgeon. j Forrest says this when he speaks of Spurgeon’s preaching
“Fundamental to Spurgeon’s theology for preaching was a commitment to the sole
authority and infallible truthfulness of the Bible as the book of revealed truth.”[1] j In
Forrest’s excerpt of Spurgeon you can find Spurgeon’s masterful use of Natural
Analogies. j McDill describes the final step of Natural Analogies by saying “The fifth
step for exploring natural analogies calls for particularizing your analogies by
tailoring them for specific use in the sermon. To be effective for development, your
analogies will need to be true to life, concrete, and believable.”[2] j In the excerpt
Spurgeon dose an excellent job of “particularizing.” j Spurgeon is imploring his
audience to listen and head the message of God through his sermon by saying “My
inmost soul is speaking out to you, my poor brother, when I beseech you by Him
who lives and was dead and is alive for evermore! Consider my Master’s
message”[3] j Spurgeon then takes and applies this to Revelation 3:20 where it says
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” j Spurgeon is
illustrating that God too pleads for us to listen and hear the message.
The second excerpt is of J.I. Packer and his sermon from Luke 10:38-42. j Packer
says the about the story of Martha and Mary “You and I should bear in mind that
our Lord Jesus always knows. He never forgets those who are his. Though we may
ourselves forget him, he never in fact forgets us.”[4] j Packers excerpt best display
the model from McDill of Scene and Stories. j McDill says this about Scenes and
Stories “Each story in the Bible can be analyzed according to this pattern.
Analyzing a narrative text in this way will help you notice insights into the meaning
of the account, outline the writer”[5] j Packer does an excellent job of pulling out
the meaning and purpose of the story and applying it to his modern day audience.
[1] Benjamin K Forrest (2019). (p. 111). A Legacy of Preaching, Volume Two:
Enlightenment to the Present Day.
[2] Wayne McDill (2015). (p. 147). 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching.
[3] Benjamin K Forrest (2019). (p. 121). A Legacy of Preaching, Volume Two:
Enlightenment to the Present Day.
[4] Benjamin K Forrest (2019). (p. 550). A Legacy of Preaching, Volume Two:
Enlightenment to the Present Day.
[5] Wayne McDill (2015). (p. 154). 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching.
