Homiletics and pastoral theology by William G T Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 9 (Extemporaneous preaching).
This week Shedd discusses extemporaneous preaching.
Firstly Shedd speaks about the nature of extemporaneous preaching. He suggests that it is not 'something hurried, off-hand and superficial'. The only difference betweent the two species of discourses is merely formal: 'In extemporaneous preaching the form is oral, while in other species it is written.'
Secondly Shedd outlines the chief requisites for extemporaneous preaching:
(i) a heart glowing and beating with evangelical affections;
(ii) a methodizing intellect;
(iii) the power of amplification;
(iv) a precise mode of expression;
(v) patient perseverance.
Shedd turns out to be quite an advocate for extemporaneous preaching: 'We are confident, that extemporaneous preaching should engage, far more than it does, the labor and study of the clergy. The more we think of it, the more clearly shall we see, that, as a species, it comes nearest to ideal perfection. It is a living utterance, out of a living heart and intellect, to living excited men, through no medium but the free air. It was the preaching of Christ and his apostles, of many of the early Fathers, of Luther and the Reformers. And whenever any great movement has been produced, either in Church or State, it has commonly taken its rise, so far as human agency is concerned, from the unwritten words of some man of sound knowledge, and thorough discipline, impelled to speak by strong feeling in his heart.'
I think this paragraph might be a bit of an overstatement.
Read
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment