Contemporary Preaching Research Articles

Preaching from the depth

Responding to a letter that lamented the lack of aesthetics and erudition in the church’s liturgy and preaching, Bonhoeffer indicates that he thinks the simple language of the bible must be retained, but crucial for him is the “depths out of which it arises”. Expanding on what he means by the “depth”, Bonhoeffer points his questioner to the books of Bernanos and how they reflect something of what the daily and personal encounters of preachers with the crucified Christ looks like. What does this mean in the context of contemporary preaching and how does it help us to better understand and practise the art of preaching at a time and in a world that is home to diverse cultures and largely values very different and more popular aesthetic and cultural expressions? Which lessons can we learn from Bonhoeffer’s “preaching from the depth” for contemporary preaching?”

ISLAMIC SPIRITUALITY: REFLECTIONS ON CONTEMPORARY DA'WAH ISSUES

Islam is a da'wah religion, a religion that has a high religious side. Islamic da'wah has enjoyed various eras, from classic to contemporary, producing various da'wah methods and strategies. Rumors of contemporary da'wah have been heard, giving rise to various Muslim intellectual figures at home and abroad. This study aims to understand the concept of contemporary da'wah and the decadence of spirituality of contemporary Muslims. This research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach; the case is contemporary preaching and Muslim spirituality. The results of this study show that the da'wah in the contemporary era makes preachers more flexible in conveying da'wah messages, and the methods used get a variety of media. It is easier for Mad'u to access and receive da'wah messages whenever and wherever Mad'u is. However, this causes Muslim spirituality to decline.

Social Media Communication Strategy of Al-Izzah Campus Da'wah Institute UIN North Sumatra in Optimizing the Spread of Islamic Values on Social Media

This research aims to investigate how the communication strategy of the Al-Izzah UIN North Sumatra Campus Da'wah Institute (LDK) maximises the dissemination of Islamic ideals on social media. The research employed a descriptive qualitative research method. Qualitative research methods employ scientific techniques to elucidate a phenomenon by comprehensively summarising data and facts using language, with respect to the subject of study. The data collecting methods employed were interviews and observations of dakwah content on the LDK Al-Izzah UINSU Instagram social media account. The research incorporates the theories of New media proposed by Pierre Levy, the impact of dakwah on social media, and communication methods utilising SWOT analysis. The primary findings of this study reveal the effectiveness of utilising distinctive and innovative dakwah content, such as humorous videos, to captivate and engage the audience in the dakwah message. Furthermore, the deficiency in disseminating dakwah content on social media stems from a scarcity of manpower and the utilisation of rudimentary instruments for making dakwah content, hence leading to subpar outcomes in the created dakwah video content. Furthermore, there are potential to disseminate Islamic ideals on social media platforms, particularly through the emerging trend of providing innovative and contemporary preaching content. Furthermore, the Al-Izzah Campus Da'wah Institute faces a hindrance in disseminating Islamic ideals on social media due to the removal of parts of their dakwah content on LDK Al-Izzah's social media platforms.

“Christ Is Speaking”: The Psalms as the Grammar of Augustine’s Sermons

The Psalms saturated Augustine’s sermons. He believed they were God’s words to the church as inspired Scripture, and the church’s words to God as prayer and praise. In the Psalms, he saw kenosis, the downward-directed God in Christ who emptied himself to take on human nature to stand in solidarity with the church and creation. He saw, too, the possibility of deification, the upward-directed church in Christ raised to share in the divine nature. Furthermore, Augustine believed that Christ himself spoke in the Psalms so that in them the church could hear his voice and come to know its own voice. In this essay, I examine why Augustine cherished the Psalms, and I consider how this might inspire contemporary preachers to cherish them and preach them. Moreover, I offer Augustine’s Christocentric preaching of the Psalms as a paradigm for how preachers might facilitate Christological formation among their congregants.

Reformation of marital laws in Hungary: Early reception of Luther, Calvin and Beza before and until 1667

The main achievements of the huge research on the history of the Hungarian Protestantism show that at the beginning of the Protestantism the local reformers and preachers were interpreting Luther’s ideas, but from the 1550s Calvin’s doctrines became decisive. The reception of the great reformers’ ideas was far from being evident in the practice. It means pastors and preachers in Hungary did not cite directly from the written heritage of Luther (Pelikan Helmut 1955-1986), Calvin (Calvin 1863–1900) or Beza. They used to use the Bible itself. Nevertheless, many new and unknown problems raised, which deserved prompt and clear theological and moral advice. Most of the challenges were related to the burning, everyday questions of sexual sins and of family life. Therefore, it is not surprising that contemporary preachers were trying to commit everything to renew the public morality of people. The article intends to illuminate the evolution of the early Protestant marriage law system and theological thinking in Hungary after the temporary ’collapse’ of the Roman Catholic Church and its canon law in the 1550s. At the same time, it is raising the question, how did the ’great reformers’ influence the early Protestant marriage law system and theological thinking in Hungary.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is based on the field of systematic theology. The study intends to understand the development of Hungarian Reformed regulations of marriage in the 16th and 17th century from theological, judicial and historical perspectives.

Eloquence and Wisdom in an Age of Authenticity: The Three Dimensions of Preaching

In our current age, authenticity is a highly regarded virtue which has very real implications for preachers in how they present themselves to their hearers and how they craft their homilies. The work of Charles Taylor will help us explore these implications. Building on an understanding of preaching as testimony and combining Taylor's insight with Augustine's timeless advice on preaching, we can then construct a three-dimensional framework for contemporary preaching in a Western context. We then reflect on the practical implications of a dimension of authenticity understood as appropriate self-disclosure. An exploration and critique of authenticity will lay the groundwork for an enhanced understanding of the contemporary preaching enterprise.

Islamic Televangelism: Controversy and Da'wah Contest in Television Media

Digital technology has had a significant impact on several aspects of human life, especially on religious aspects. The birth of this religious fragmentation encouraged the presence of new religious, contemporary preachers and new audiences who contribute to revitalizing the debate over religious symbols. This article proposes thinking around the aspects that led to the development of the debate and contestation surrounding da'wah within the context of Islamic televangelism. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method utilizing field observations and direct interviews with one of the Ustaz on television. The results of this study indicate that da'wah programs that are broadcast through television media give birth to a religious authority that is built between preaching actors thanks to the Islamic televangelism media. The contestation regarding religious authority, which was obtained thanks to its popularity in the television media, gave birth to the figure of a religious entrepreneur. Islamic televangelism has also sparked various controversies through preaching on television media, such as reprimands from KPI and even among fellow scholars.

PERANAN MEDIA DIGITAL DALAM DAKWAH KONTEMPORARI BAGI MEMBENTUK KESEPADUAN NASIONAL MASYARAKAT DI MALAYSIA

The call of dakwah towards community life should be carried out by every Muslim. The methods and manhaj dakwah applied by a Muslim must be in line with the tastes of the Mad'u group and in accordance with the current development of globalization. Contemporary preaching approach should be highlighted to establish good relations in forming an inter-ethnic understanding, in line with the plural society in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was carried out to look at the role of digital media in uniting the multi-racial community to accept the views and thoughts of other communities in a particular matter. In addition, this study also looked at the factors that constrain contemporary media in shaping national cohesion in Malaysia. This study uses the method of document analysis which is to look at past studies related to the role of digital media and contemporary preaching in shaping the national cohesion of society in Malaysia. The findings found that there are four roles of digital media in contemporary preaching which is to reach a greater number of listeners, two-pronged among the community, share and exchange opinions with individuals from various backgrounds and contemporary preaching is easily accepted by new brothers. In terms of digital media constraints in contemporary preaching, the researchers found four main constraints in shaping national cohesion, namely the absence of devices in accessing mass media, lack of knowledge in the use of technology, overly free video content and incorrect and inaccurate religious facts. Therefore, the preacher should prepare himself before venturing into the dakwah so that the dakwah effort is achieved successfully.

The ancient Greek Sophistry: A synthetic analysis of the 21stcentury prosperity gospel preachers

The Ancient Greek Sophists occupy a very important and a unique period in Western civilization, scholars are not certain if they should be considered as philosophers. This is largely due to their mode of operation. They were considered as corrupt people who made their way out of every opportunity at the detriment of others. Christianity in the 21st Century has taken a new dimension in several churches around the world; many contemporary preachers of the gospel have mastered the acts of preaching to convince their gullible followers into trusting and believing their teachings. On a daily basis people are falling prey to corrupt and unrealistic doctrines such as prosperity and healing. This has become easily possible because people, mostly Africans are going through very many difficult situations, they have grown ardent desires to better their lives, and perhaps prosperity gospel seems to be glaring opportunity to achieve such desires. Prosperity theology is commonly a part of the televangelist, Charismatic, and Pentecostal churches. Prosperity theology makes the claim that God wants Christians to be abundantly successful in every way including financially. This study seeks to draw a comparative study of the ancient Greek Sophists with our contemporary preachers, which many seem to be masters of all like the sophists. The study employs historical and analytic methods of research. The study concludes that people will always be deceived and manipulated by their desires or longings.

Polemic and Reasons for Reusing Wayang and Gamelan as A Medium for Contemporary Preaching Islam Religion in Central Java, Indonesia

This study aims to reveal the main reasons why wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and gamelan music were used again as tools of Islamic da’wah after the Wali Sanga era (Nine Saints). In Central Java (Banyumas, Solo, Demak, Pati), there has been a phenomenon of Islamic preaching and recitation performed by Kiai using wayang kulit and gamelan music. This study uses a phenomenological approach, which is to get an explanation of the apparent reality. This approach focuses on events that are seen as having an impact, polemic, and discourse on life. This study also uses a critical approach, looking critically at the phenomenon of -art- being researched to test how far the view that puts that wayang (and gamelan) is not by religious rules is accepted, rejected, and even opposed. The result shows that although da’wah using wayang and gamelan has sparked a lot of polemics, the use of wayang and gamelan music is considered more effective in spreading Islamic teachings to grassroots communities due to two factors. First, continuing the trace of tradition brought by the first Islamic missionaries in Java (Wali Sanga). Second, to make people aware, especially young santri (prospective preachers) or congregation today, realize that Islam is spread peacefully and without resistance through art.

Contemporary Da'wah Strategies to Educate the Religious Life of Minority Muslims

Contemporary preaching is not something easy for preachers to do, especially in the midst of a minority community an understanding of religion is still shallow. The preachers need intelligence so that there is no horizontal conflict. This study aims to discover how contemporary da'wah strategies foster religious life and the supporting factors and facilitating factors of contemporary da'wah strategies in promoting community religious life in Lau Gumba Village, Karo Regency. This study uses qualitative research methods using a case study approach, collecting data using observation techniques, interviews and documentation studies. The results of the research show that the strategies used are: (1) Preaching through media and equipment, such as projectors and PowerPoint slides, with the aim of making it easier for people to understand the material; (2) approaching religious leaders, village heads and traditional leaders to attract community sympathizers, (3) applying the notion of religious moderation which upholds the values ​​of religious tolerance. The supporting factor is the high motivation of the community to maintain religious harmony through a good understanding of religion. Meanwhile, the difficulty in the contemporary da'wah strategy is understanding the people's religion, which is still categorized as low.

Reforming Prank Content as a Media for Da'wah on Youtube Channels

The prank phenomenon has mushroomed in modern society, especially in a cyber society. Prank content is a joke, joke, or comedy activity for both personal and communal, which has become a trend among Indonesian people, especially since 2019. Prank content as a communication message aims to provide entertainment (entertainment) to other people or (communicant). Even for contemporary preachers, prank content is used as 'reform' for da'wah media, for example, on Gus Aldi's Youtube channel. The purpose of this study is to analyze how to reform the content of prank content as a medium of propaganda on Gus Aldi's Youtube channel. The researcher uses a virtual ethnography method with the Cyber Media Analysis (AMS) technique which consists of the media room level, media documents, media objects, and experiences. The results of the study concluded that; 1) the content of prank content on Gus Aldi's Youtube channel represents the productivity and creativity of preachers in cyberspace; 2) the selection of Youtube media as a stimulus for the object of da'wah (message recipients); 3) determining the material for da'wah (Shalawat Nabi) to be a 'reinforcement' in the spiritual fulfillment and religiosity of cyber society.

Comparing Preaching in Acts and Contemporary Preaching in Kumasi-Ghana

Kumasi is saturated with preachers preaching all manner of messages. The media space, along major streets, the church space, as well as the market centres have all witnessed an insurgence of many different preachers. The preaching of the Gospel occupies a major place in the Christian church. Both Jesus and the Apostles as revealed in scripture made preaching and teaching an important part of their ministries. This paper examines the nature of Christian preaching in contemporary times in the city of Kumasi, Ghana. The nature of contemporary preaching is compared to that of preaching in the Book of Acts. Qualitative data was gathered through the preacher’s visits to six churches; sixty listeners and 22 preachers were interviewed in Kumasi. One of the major findings was that some preachers in the city of Kumasi today have turned the preaching of the gospel into a business venture. This study advocates the urgent need to guide preaching in the world today with a biblical motif. Sound biblical preaching is significant for the advancement of the Christian faith. It recommends that preaching must result in societal transformation so contemporary preachers must prioritize relating sermons that shoot down the growing ills in the Ghanaian society. The study adds to knowledge in biblical preaching and brings to bear how useful the guiding mirror of scripture could protect contemporary Christian ministry from destructive messages. Keywords: Contemporary Preaching, Book of Acts, Christian Ministry.

The Crisis of Preaching Politics: Homiletical Insights from the Young Karl Barth

Many contemporary preachers and homileticians address what they believe to be a “crisis” of preaching. Without denying these claims, this essay offers theological and homiletical insights from the young Karl Barth on what he believed to be a more fundamental and pervasive homiletical crisis subsuming all others. Just what this crisis was for Barth becomes clearer when we look to the sociopolitical commitments of two of Barth’s pastoral mentors: Friedrich Naumann and Christoph Blumhardt. Drawing from his theologico-political discernment leading up to the Great War, Barth offers us ways to challenge unjust and oppressive policies and systems through our preaching ministries today.

EXPLORING PROPHETIC APPROACH OF DAWAH IN EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

Education holds a central position in the empowerment of society as it directly influences social, political, economic, and cultural system. It is beautified and dignified with sublime manifestations of its custodians (the teachers) who enlighten the globe by sound knowledge, professional conduct, moral values in terms of inspirational talk, sympathetic attitude, modesty, courage, wisdom, and truthfulness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and explain the Dawah methodology of Holy Prophet PBUH in education. Qualitative and descriptive research approach was used for collection and analysis of data. The review of literature reveals that Holy Prophet (PBUH) considered education as a change agent in society as he wisely inculcated importance of education in the illiterate tribal society. He by using effective teaching methods conveyed the peaceful message of Islam, built strong positive relationship with people and preached them by showing sympathy, humbleness, patience and modesty. The article in this context is divided into two parts; first would address the significant of education to Prophet Muhammad PBUH in context of Dawah, second would address the strategy of Holy Prophet PBUH in Dawah and its usefulness for contemporary preachers. The research concluded that Holy Prophet PBUH has established a relationship with the audience of reverence, self-esteem, grace, courtesy and kindness. To an ordinary people he was very kind and soft-hearted. First, in front of the public he himself showed good deeds and then urged them to carry on his teachings. He proved to be a respectful, modest and soft-hearted preacher throughout his life. This was the reason that his perfect model of teaching changed the ignorant Bedouin society in a short span of time and as the Quran purports, brought them from darkness to light.

Głosiciel z Duchem. Rola Ducha Świętego w kaznodziejstwie według Evangelii gaudium

Papież Franciszek w adhortacji apostolskiej Evangelii gaudium o głoszeniu Ewangelii we współczesnym świecie z 2013 roku podejmuje wiele zagadnień dotyczących roli Ducha Świętego w praktyce kaznodziejskiej. W opracowaniu zostały podjęte zagadnienia dotyczącekwestii pneumatologicznych w przepowiadaniu kaznodziejskim, powołania do słuchania ludzi i głoszenia słowa Bożego, roli Ducha Świętego w przygotowaniu do głoszenia słowa Bożego, duchowości głosiciela słowa Bożego. Wskazane również zostały niebezpieczeństwa zagrażające współczesnym kaznodziejom. Podstawowym źródłem opracowania jest przesłanie Evangelii gaudium, z której powyższe zagadnienie zostały wydobyte i przeanalizowane.

The discourse of divorce in conservative Christian sermons

ABSTRACTWork on religious discourse is still limited and linguistic research on preaching scarce. The present study makes explicit the ways that pastors in the conservative Protestant Christian church preach about divorce. Relying on a corpus of sermons on divorce from SermonAudio, this study employs theoretical and methodological principles derived from corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis. In so doing, it explores in what terms pastors frame and approach the topic of divorce and what their language reveals about how they want their listeners to perceive divorce. Findings point to two dominant Discourses of divorce in popular conservative Christian sermons: Divorce as a Highly Restricted Space and Divorce as Male. These Discourses frame divorce in terms antithetical to the reality of divorce and likely bolster statistics on divorce in the Christian church. This study challenges existing linguistic work on sermons which often concludes that contemporary preaching has largely departed from presenting absolutes.

Przepowiadanie homilijne i katechetyczne w kontekście regionalnym

Every individual listening to the word of God, delivered either in the Holy Mass homily or parish catechesis, lives in a speci c cultural environment, sometimes referred to as a “small home- land”. It provides the “regional context” of preaching.This paper presents the inspiring role of this “context” in contemporary preaching of the Gos- pel. In view of dominant globalization trends, this context seems to gain increasing importance. To avoid misunderstanding, the paper starts with presenting necessary de nitions, such as the meaning of the term: “homily”, “parish catechesis” or “regional context”. Since the realization of the word of God delivered during the homily or parish catechesis always takes place in a speci c life of an individual who lives, works or rests in a speci c local community and who is immersed in its cul- ture, the signi cance of this context in preaching the word of God is demonstrated. Additionally, the paper presents the content of the regional culture to be used both in the homily and in the parish catechesis.In this context, homiletic and catechetical suggestions are indicated, among which the need for spiritual sensitivity and openness of homilists and catechists to the values of cultural heritage of the region comes to the fore.

Uporabnost filma pri verskem izobraževanju

Odnos med filmom in religijo že od začetkov filma zaznamuje napeta, prepletajoča se in včasih tudi ustvarjalna dinamika, ki ne glede na sekularizacijo vedno znova odpira vprašanje o povezanosti med filmom, teologijo in religioznimi vsebinami. Napetost v tem odnosu je vplivala tudi na manjšo uporabo filma v okviru verskih dejavnosti in verskega izobraževanja. Film lahko služi kot uporabno in kakovostno didaktično sredstvo pri verskem izobraževanju za otroke, mlade in različne skupine odraslih in starejših odraslih. Ustrezna uporaba filma je odvisna od kakovostne priprave, ustvarjalnosti in usposobljenosti pastoralnega delavca.

Book Review: Talking God: Preaching to Contemporary Congregations

Talking God: Preaching to Contemporary Congregations. By Albert R. Cutie. New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2016. ix + 128 pp. $16.00 (paper).How can preaching more effectively meet the needs of our changing world? Exploring this challenge is Cuties project in this slim volume based on his D.Min. thesis for the School of Theology, University of the South. Talking God's overarching aim is practical. After describing the challenges presented by the present context, which Cutie maintains are driven by the ongoing media revolution of the last two centuries, he considers six iconic preachers who illustrate an evolutionary are in style and methodology in the post-Reformation era (p. 9). John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Fulton Sheen, Billy Graham, Joyce Meyers, and Michael Curry responded to their cultural milieus in ways that were contextually media-aware. Cutie identifies key learnings for contemporary preachers: breaking the mold by taking preaching out of doors; promoting widespread publication to a larger audience; conversation with other religious traditions; using biblical images to speak to concerns of both believers and non-believers; adapting contemporary styles (self-help guru, life-help coach) to offer guidance for everyday life; and connecting the Word, with energy and enthusiasm, to immediate realities (p. 36).Cutie then turns to our present context. There simply is not yet enough research to understand how listening works in the twenty-first century, especially as multitasking and decreasing attention spans are normative (p. 40). The use of technology, especially the internet, will continue to demonstrably affect both preachers and hearers, so much so that traditional understandings of church itself need to be rethought. New models of communication that are interactive rather that preacher-to-listener may be more effective- and closer to the practice of early Christian communities. People shop for church by going online, checking out websites, and reading reviews, and the once common foundation of biblical/religious understanding is a thing of the past.More than ever it is incumbent upon preachers to be mindful of and committed to effective communications practices, and to understand themselves as professional communicators. To be more effective, Cutie proposes that preachers need to know their audience: its demographics, traditions, and core commitments. Preachers should include humor and anecdotes, which help engage listeners and make preachers more accessible and interesting. Those who are serious about reaching their audiences must dispense with manuscripts. Like the pulpit, they are a barrier to authenticity, credibility, and the connection that needs to take place in order for the gospel to be heard. …