What is the purpose of the pulpit in the postmodern church? Pagitt invites you to a new vision of the goals and roles of preaching---not "speaching"---as you discover how to truly connect with your listeners. Create and encourage followers of God by learning to catalyze open dialogue with active participants! 248 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.
What is the role of preaching in the postmodern church? Doug Pagitt takes on this pivotal question as he invites you to reimagine the goals and roles of preaching. Using a few questions as guides, learn how to create followers of God who thrive amidst the complexities of life. Perfect for pastors and emergent thinkers, this book is a hopeful look at the present and future of preaching.
Average Rating: 1 out of 5 stars(1 out of 5 stars)
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1 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Dave Cook (Louisville, KY), April 15, 2009
Main Idea: preaching as we know it ("speaching") is a dead way of communication and should be replaced by conversations about the Bible ("progressive dialogue.")
I appreciate a fresh perspective, but the insights in this book are foolish, uninformed, and unbiblical. It is helpful to remember that preaching is not enough, but what should be a supplement to preaching is proposed here as a replacement.
Some pointed remarks:
Preaching doesn't work?
His basis: preaching doesn't work. But the Spirit of God has always worked through preaching and continues to, it just isn't cool.
“Speaching”
Pagitt coins this term as a combination of preaching and giving a speech. While the invention of new terms is sometimes necessary for discussion, Pagitt's manner is clearly derogatory and aims to make preaching sound less credible.
Lack of Authority
A mis-application of the priesthood of believers leads Pagitt to confuse equality in access to God with equality in function. The preached word has authority, even of the preacher himself is imperfect and equal to his congregation.
Church History
For one example, Pagitt asserts that "Speaching" was a development of Enlightenment Christianity, was popularized by our love for the theatre, and is not a part of historical preaching. In reality, I have access to sermons from Luther, Augustine, Josephus, Peter, Jesus, and Nehemiah in my own library. Sermons and the oral tradition are as old as humanity.
Slander
Oftentimes the author characterizes poor preaching and then draws conclusions as if all preaching were like this. This is demonizing and slanderous to preachers of the Gospel, an accusation I give with sorrow. I pray the Lord will be merciful when he answers for this.
2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Russell (CA), October 29, 2008
"Biblical Preaching" is proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God to non-believers.
This book gives a descent alternative (a biblical one e.g. Acts 20:7 "dielegeto" = dialogued) to the Protestant weekly lecture, monologue, and atrophy causation …the sermon.
0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Robb Brunansky (Wichita, KS), July 26, 2007
A serious move away from biblical preaching. Perhaps helpful for understanding the EC, but not helpful at all for preaching method. This book is not recommended.
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