In picking two preachers from our textbook the first one I have chosen is D.L
Moody.
In this excerpt “The New Birth” I believe falls under persuasive speech. McDill
states that, “Preaching that does not aim to persuade is not preaching in the best
sense.”[1] In this excerpt Moody is trying to get his audience to understand that
Salvation is something that is worth working for but not received from working.
He tells of his desire to receive a letter from home and not having any money
because he had spent it all. The letter he finally receives is from his sister and
most of the letter is to inform him to watch out for pick pocketers within the city.
The problem here is that he has nothing in his pockets to pick. He paints a visual
for his listeners to persuade them that salvation is a gift and must be obtained
first before anything can be worked out. He plainly conveys that fact that one
cannot work with anything that they do not already have, and this includes
salvation that can only be accepted as a gift through Christ Jesus out Lord. f f f f f f f
f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f
The next preacher I have chosen is Jerry Falwell and in his sermon excerpt
“Never Quit”. This sermon I believe falls under the model of preaching for Faith.
In this excerpt Falwell let’s people know that just because you are a Christian
does not make you exempt from trouble. He states that “Knowing Christ simply
means deliverance in trouble, and that’s very different.”[2] He gives the example
of the fiery furnace and how they did not get to skip the furnace just because
they worshipped God. They did however get delivered from the trouble in the
furnace. Falwell encourages people to never quit and keep faith, face your
problems head on, and be champions for Christ. Which is still the model for
Liberty University today. This sermon excerpt is still very relevant today with
some people’s misconception that if I trust in God then all my trouble will go
away. Which is not what the Bible says as stated by Falwell in his sermon.
Falwell says that the reason most Christians are in trouble is because of their
wrong view of trouble. f f
f f f f f
[1] Wayne McDill (2015). (p. 118). 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching. B
& H Publishing Group. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com f
[2] Benjamin K Forrest (2019). (p. 536). A Legacy of Preaching, Volume Two:
Enlightenment to the Present Day. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com
