You really ought to take a look at Tim Keel's "An Efficient Gospel?" He challenges the reader/preacher with a number of provocative thoughts, including this:
In a modern world, we tend to reduce the complexity and diversity of the Scriptures to simple systems, even when our systems flatten the diversity and integrity of the biblical witness. We reduce our sermons to consumer messages that reduce God to a resource that helps the individual secure a reduced version of the "abundant life" Jesus promised (John 10:10).
How do we contend with the common reductions of the gospel that have come with modernism? In that contention, the over/under factor in championing the gospel's complexity and diversity runs awfully high—you can overwhelm your audience and just as quickly underwhelm them. How have you navigated that tension in your preaching? When was the last time you challenged the gospel presuppositions of your audience, and how did you do it? Any series ideas you'd like to share? Textual ideas? Thematic ideas? Illustrations? Helpful resources?
Posted by Brian Lowery at 9:08 AM on February 18, 2008
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I have used Stuart Olyott's method of State, Illustrate & Apply based on the Sermon on the Mount. I usually look for the meaning of the text, then the significance and finally how God would have us respond to Him. One series that stretched our congregation was "God is Able," using texts such as Eph.3:20; Jude 24; 2 Tim.1:12; Dan.3:16-18; Dan.4:27-37; 2 Cor.9:8; Matt.9:27-31; etc.
One helpful resource would be the Jonathan Edwards volume of The Puritan Pulpit published by Soli Deo Gloria. These sermons especially deal with how God is NOT like us. The one on Hosea 11:9 is worth the whole book!
Posted by: Shawn on February 19, 2008
John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul all preached the "gospel of the Kingdom." This good news involved hope for the poor, healing for the sick, deliverance for the oppressed and those troubled by evil spirits, and that sinners were accepted on the basis of grace that came through faith. This was appropriated by changing the way one thought about reality now that the Kingdom of God was accessible. When we limit the good news to less than this we are not preaching the whole gospel.
Posted by: Randy Clark on February 19, 2008