Introduction
The purpose of this Discussion Board post is to choose two
preachers and to analyze the sermon excerpts to determine where they fit
into a sermon.
Billy Graham
Billy Graham lived between 1918 and 2018 and was an evangelist
who encouraged people to commit their lives to Christ.[1]'According to'A
Legacy of Preaching,“In Billy Graham’s understanding, the gospel was
centered in what God had done for us in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of
God, who was sent by the Father to become the final and complete
sacrifice for human sin.”[2]'When reading Billy Graham’s excerpt from his
sermon “Things That Never Change,” it seemed that this part of the
sermon followed the “Aiming for Faith Response.” According to'Twelve
Essential Skills for Great Preaching,“The overarching aim of preaching is
to call for faith in the hearer. Preaching for faith means planning every
element of sermon design to achieve that aim.”[3]'Graham focuses on
five promises of hope as they relate to God and how those promises can
be applied to the life of a person if they choose to have Christ as their
Savior.[4]'Graham ‘s ultimate objective is to bring people into the family
of faith and save their soul.
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell was a social activist, educator, and Baptist minister
who founded Liberty University during his years on earth between 1933
and 2007.[5]'According to'A Legacy of Preaching,“His sermons were filled
with words of encouragement, practical application, calls to action, and a
belief that dynamic faith could move mountains.[6]'When reading Jerry
Falwell’s excerpt from his sermon “Never Quit,” it seemed that this part of
the sermon followed the outline of “Drawing Pictures, Telling Stories.”
According to'Twelve Essential Skills for Great Preaching,this skill deals
“with the preacher’s skill at vividly and imaginatively portraying biblical
and contemporary scenes and stories.”[7]'Falwell paints the picture of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego having Christ with them in the
furnace, and then he connects that to a story about Mr. Moody, and then
draws a line to present day life.[8]'This section from his sermon follows
the story outline of situation, stress, search, solution, and new situation.
[9]'Falwell ends this section of his sermon with an encouraging and
challenging phrase to the congregation.[10]'Falwell’s sermon really draws
a nice picture of the theme of his message by incorporating a bible story
with a modern day connection.
'
'
[1]'John N. Akers, “Billy Graham: Evangelist to the World” ” in'A Legacy of
Preaching: Volume Two Enlightenment to the Present Day, Benjamin K.
Forrest, Kevin L. King, Bill Curtis, and Dwayne Milioni (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2018),444.
'
[2]'Ibid., 455.
'
[3]'Wayne McDill,'12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching,2nd'Ed.(Austin,
TX: WORDsearch, 2013), 189.
'
[4]'Akers, “Billy Graham” in'A Legacy of Preaching,459.
'
[5]'Edward E. Hindson, “Jerry Falwell: Preaching Dynamic Faith” ” in'A
Legacy of Preaching: Volume Two Enlightenment to the Present Day,
Benjamin K. Forrest, Kevin L. King, Bill Curtis, and Dwayne Milioni (Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018),525.
'
[6]'Ibid., 525.
'
[7]'McDill,'12 Essential Skills,153.
'
[8]'Hindson, “Jerry Falwell” in'A Legacy of Preaching,536.
'
[9]'McDill,'12 Essential Skills,154.
'
[10]'Hindson, “Jerry Falwell” in'A Legacy of Preaching,536.
