Journal: Michigan Theological Journal
Volume: MTJ 02:1 (Spring 1991)
Article: The Art Of Narrative Preaching
Author: John G. Gueh

MTJ 2:1 (Spring 1991) p. 49

The Art Of Narrative Preaching

John G. Gueh

The last twenty-five years have witnessed the emergence of the dramatic narrative sermon phenomenon in America. Today several evangelical seminaries offer an elective course in the composition and presentation of ‘first person” sermons. This article will cover a practical rationale and approach for incorporating narrative sermons into the pastor’s preaching repertoire.

Many congregations go to church services expecting the sermon to be a joke followed by three points, a poem and a prayer. After hearing hundreds of messages, the average believer knows what the format of the typical sermon will be. Variety is an essential for staying fresh and potent in preaching. Freeman warns:

A Major League pitcher who can throw only a good fast ball has too limited a repertoire. If that’s all he has the batter soon learns to anticipate what is coming and hit it. He needs to develop a variety of pitches: a slider, a curve ball, a knuckle ball, a change of pace. The element of surprise will enhance his effectiveness with his standard fast ball. When it comes, it too can surprise the batter.1

Like a major league pitcher, a preacher needs to develop a repertoire of sermon technique. If the preacher only delivers traditional expository sermons the hearers will learn to anticipate what is coming and the effectiveness will decrease. Drama in the pulpit is one way to develop that change of pace. It not only breaks up the monotony of the usual fare but it recreates the excitement and flavor that is present in much of the biblical literature.

MTJ 2:1 (Spring 1991) p. 50

Drama In The Bible

In Ezekiel 4:1–8, God tells Ezekiel to dramatically portray the siege of Jerusalem. The Lord felt that this would be a good way to communicate to the nation because it would graphically impress upon them the message. Much of the Old Testament is very dramatic in its descriptions and for that matter all of narrative literature conveys a dramatic flow. One cannot help but feel the drama of Adam and Eve hiding from God in the Garden of Eden or Nathan confronting David concerning his sin. The sense of dramatic flow and plot is essential to the Old Testament and this should be expressed in our preaching, whether expository, topical or narrative. Freeman elaborates:

The dramatic monologue can help recapture the excitement originally associated with biblical revelation. The narratives about mighty acts of God for Israel must have been stirring when they passed from generation to generation.2

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