The first excerpt that I have chosen to analyze is that of Charles Haddon
Spurgeon. 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] In Forrest’s excerpt of Spurgeon you can find
Spurgeon’s masterful use of Natural Analogies. 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] In the
excerpt Spurgeon dose an excellent job of “particularizing.” 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] 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.” 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.
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] Packers excerpt best display the model from McDill of Scene and
Stories. 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] 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.
