When reading the sermon expert "Never Quit" by Jerry Falwell, I
immediately thought of McDills 11th skill which is Aiming for a faith
response.& 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.&
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