When reading the sermon expert "Never Quit" by Jerry Falwell, I immediately
thought of McDills 11th skill which is Aiming for a faith response. f McDill defines
a faith response as, "Since biblical faith is objective, the focus of preaching must
be the object of faith, the person of God. The preacher enhances faith by pointing
his hearers to God, his character, his capabilities, his intentions, and his record."[1]
Essentially this skill allows the listener to hear God and strengthen their faith in
who God is and who He is calling them to be. In the expert Falwell says this,
"Trouble is a basic ingredient for spiritual growth. God does not give us
overcoming life, He gives us life as we overcome."[2] Falwell in his expert
continues to point back to the character of God, and His purpose. He encourages
the listeners to look back at who God is with the truth. He explains well that in
this life there will be trouble, but it takes faith to know God will be with you as He
promises. He demonstrates this well by saying, "The three Hebrew children were
cast into the fiery furnace; they were not delivered from it. But, when they went
into the fiery furnace He, Christ, went in with them. He has promised not to
deliver us from trouble, but to walk with us through our troubles."[3] Falwell uses
this story to prove that God will provide in our troubles, and this shows the
listener an example of that faith.
Billy Graham's message excerpt "Things That Never Change" also made me think
of Skill 11 in McDills 12 Essential Skills. Skill 11 is Aiming for a faith response,
which is, "It seems reasonable to press for change in the hearer, whether that
change is born of faith or not. But, as is often the case, what seems reasonable
is not biblical. If the preacher hopes for obedience, he must preach for faith."[4]
Graham does this by explaining at the end of his excerpt point-by-point truths of
who God is. He explains points that can be manipulated by us the hearers of the
word and corrects the misconception. Graham presses for change to his listeners
by giving them these truth bombs and them wanting to make a response out of
faith.
