
How Shall They Hear Him?
The uniqueness of the universe of images that surrounds us is the sheer number of them: Ministers of the Word find their hands full in an image-centered culture. Says Jacques Ellul, “this proliferation has become the spiritual question of our day.” Which begs the question as to whether preaching is out of sync with how people today process information. Do not preachers risk that perhaps too little of their intended messages is getting through?
Providing first an in-depth theology of preaching, the Preached Word digs deeply into the divine principle that faith comes by hearing— sine qua non for the pulpit. It then examines from a homiletics viewpoint the theological, historical and communications fields for how the use or absence of illustrations and examples, electronic media or other portrayals may enhance or diminish the hearing of the Word.
For, according to Calvin, “God does not wish to be heard but by the voice of His ministers.”