The "informational" view of preaching conceives of preaching as changing people's lives after the sermon. They listen to the sermon, take notes, and then apply the Biblical principles during the week. But this assumes that our main problem is a lack of compliance to Biblical principles, when (as we saw above) all our problems are actually due to a lack of joy and belief in the gospel. Our real problem is that Jesus' salvation is not as real to our hearts as the significance and security our idols promise us. If that’s our real problem, then the purpose of preaching is to make Christ so real to the heart that in the sermon people have an experience of his grace, and the false saviors that drive us lose their power and grip on us on the spot. That’s the "experiential" view of preaching (Jonathan Edwards.)
Tim Keller in "Ministering in the New Global Culture of Major City-Centers, Part II"
Other Tim Keller Resources
I was checking out the full article where you got this quote from. That is such a radically different environment from where I do ministry in the Midwest. Their ministry and vision is really beautiful.
Posted by: jason woolever | 03/14/2006 at 01:31 PM
I met with Dick Kaufman (right hand man to Keller and now church movement leader in San Diego) yesterday and this was brought up:
The difference of 'Christ-centered' preaching (information) versus 'gospel-centered' preaching (using multi-perspectival approach) is HUGE. You can preach Christ and crush your people. It is only gospel (the news - the change of idenity - application) that brings hope.
Posted by: D. Goodmanson | 03/15/2006 at 01:23 PM
Thanks Drew. I was just reviewing Dick's church planting action plan in the Redeemer Church Planting Manual. Good stuff.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 03/15/2006 at 01:31 PM
Yes, it must be good news. It needs to go beyond just information, to impact God's people. But teaching and instruction is certainly a part of it.
Posted by: Ted Gossard | 03/17/2006 at 02:36 AM