The Teaching Sermon

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Summary: To preach and to teach...
Review: One of the primary duties of a preacher is to be a teacher. This aspect of preaching often gets buried under other considerations; depending upon the denomination, preachers can see their primary duty as preparation for an altar call, preparation for communion, explaining aspects of the Bible for today's context, identifying issues of concern for the congregation and community, energising and/or consoling the congregation, and a host of other concerns. Some of these have an element of teaching implicit in the consideration, and for others it becomes somewhat of a stretch. However, preachers are, in many respects, the one and only trained teacher of Christianity with whom many people will ever come into contact.

In this volume, The Teaching Sermon, Allen gives strategies and techniques for developing sermons that can embody this teaching element for the congregation. Churches often have Sunday school, adult forums, and other events in which 'education' is the primary focus, but there is something special about the sermon that makes it ultimately a better vehicle for teaching the Christian faith. Allen states he has two main goals for this text:

'One is to reconnoiter the ways specific sermons can have teaching and learning as their fundamental purpose. The other is to help pastors reflect on their teaching and learning possibilities inherent in each sermon and consider ways to integrate these possibilities into their regular preaching.'

The Call to the Teaching Ministry Today
In this chapter, Allen looks at the role of preacher as teacher. Drawing on historical precedents such as the role of the magisterium in the Roman Catholic church and the redefinition of the church's teaching authority in the Reformation, Allen argues that however the teaching ministry is perceived, it is still present in the need of the congregation and expectation from the preacher today. Now more than ever, as theological illiteracy relative to previous generations continues to increase, the teaching ministry of the church is vital for its growth, indeed for its very survival.

What is a Teaching Sermon?
Allen shows his ecumenical Disciples roots clearly in this chapter, showing a broadly inclusive view of what the teaching sermon is and what its intention should be.

'The teacher may be information giver, question asker, mentor, gadfly, guide, mediator, antiexample, poet. The teacher may need to withhold information or speak in paradox, to help the lesson distill in the students' minds. The teacher's specific role should fit both subject matter and students. However, a Christian teacher is not just a cafeteria manager who passes options before the learners. The Christian teacher aims not only to expose students to alternative points of view, but to help the congregation weigh those alternatives carefully.'

Allen cautions against the impulse to teach all of Christianity while standing on one foot, or to try to cram an entire denomination's history and doctrinal understanding into one sermon.

How People Learn from Sermons
Allen first looks at how people learn, and what constitutes a good teacher. Setting out a list of aspects a good teacher embodies, Allen focuses primarily on the abilities of communication, trustworthiness, and ability to create a safe space for questioning and learning that make a good teacher. Many preachers have these abilities, but it takes some effort to cultivate them specifically for teaching. Looking at ideas of participation and questioning, Allen shows that sometimes it is the sermon the raises difficult questions without giving clear-cut, definitive answers that can be the best form of education.

Developing the Sermon as an Event of Teaching and Learning
Education needs to be specific to the congregation. Some congregations need more knowledge about Christian history, and some need more about Christian practice. There are various ways to find out what is on the congregation's mind and, recognising the limited time and scope available for education, determining where the greatest need lies. Some preachers can use the opportunity of a series of sermons on a particular topic such as Christian Charity; others who follow the lectionary can draw on the themes present throughout the year to provide a diverse range of educational opportunities.

Five Models for Teaching Sermons
There is an almost endless array of possible sermon styles; there are probably as many models as there are preachers. In this chapter, Allen shows five useful models for sermons with a specific teaching intention; in addition to highlighting the models, Allen gives examples of each type of sermon by including the text of an entire sermon done in each style.

Plans for Systematic Teaching from the Pulpit
There are different approaches one can take for preaching. Some churches are guided by a standard lectionary, the most frequently encountered being the Revised Common Lectionary. Even within this framework, preachers can develop series of sermons to highlight various teaching aspects. Those churches that are not guided by the lectionary may choose to follow it periodically for a host of reasons, or may chose one of the other methods for developing teaching series.

Teaching a Core Curriculum from the Pulpit
In this final chapter, Allen highlights many of the aspects of Christian life and history that bear repeating to each generation from preachers. These include ideas of the authority of the church, our knowledge of God and the sources of that knowledge, the Christian vision, how to think theologically, the nature and purpose of the church, basic Christian doctrines, and ways to interpret personal and social issues. These naturally overlap with each other, but all bear special consideration from time to time so that the formation of the community can continue into this generation and into the next. As each new generation confronts a different world (nevertheless a world in which much remains the same) the church and issues surrounding formation of a church community must continually walk between the tension of remaining faithful to tradition and received practices and wisdom, and responding faithfully to new situations and being involved in the world as it continues to unfold and progress into the future.