CONTENTS -- CONTRIBUTORS -- ABBREVIATIONS -- INTRODUCTION -- 1. PREACHING NARRATIVE: PLOT -- Introduction -- Plot in Old Testament narrative -- 1. Initial situation (or exposition) -- 2. Complication -- 3. Transforming action -- 4. Dénouement (or resolution) -- 5. Final situation -- Plot in preaching Old Testament narrative -- Plot and explicitly Christian proclamation -- Conclusion -- Sermon outline on 2 Samuel 11 -- Introduction -- Resolution -- Initial situation -- Complication -- Transforming action -- Resolution -- Final situation -- Further Reading -- 2. PREACHING NARRATIVE: CHARACTERS -- Introduction -- Can and should we preach from the Bible's narratives about human characters? -- If we can and should, how should we approach the text? -- Choosing the right characters -- Carefully distinguishing between the point of view of the narrator and the seeming 'heroes' and 'villains' in the narrative -- The order of the telling -- Ambiguity as a narrative technique -- Close attention to narrative naming -- Parallel and opposite situations -- Intertextuality, textual echoing and typology -- Careful attention to the macro-­narrative context -- Character development -- Reading over Israel's shoulder -- How can/should we structure sermons from the characters of Hebrew narrative? -- Using the arc of tension in the narrative to maintain interest and flow -- Explain how the text fits into the larger narrative context and especially the macro-­narrative context of the Bible -- First-­person narrative sermons -- Conclusion -- Sermon outline on Genesis 32:22-32: 'Crippled to be Healed' -- It happened that very night -- Suggested further reading -- 3. PREACHING FROM THE LAW -- Introduction -- The law was founded on grace -- Exodus 19:4-6: The law was given to people whom God had already redeemed Deuteronomy 6:20-25: Gratitude - a major motivation for obedience -- Examples: Exodus 23:9 -- Leviticus 19:33-36 -- Deuteronomy 15:12-15 -- The law was motivated by the 'mission' of God through Israel -- Genesis 12:1-3 -- 18:18-19: God's mission - to bless all nations through Israel -- Exodus 19:6: Israel to be a priesthood in the midst of the nations -- Deuteronomy 4:6-8: Israel's obedience to the law would make them a visible model -- The New Testament preaches the same principle - Matthew 5:14-16 -- Luke 22:25 -- 1 Peter 2:12 -- The law of Israel was meant to be a model, or paradigm, for the nations38. -- The law was based on the character of God -- The law was given for human benefit -- Old Testament law anticipates failure, judgment and future grace -- Finding the message of the law for today -- Sermon outline on Deuteronomy 15:1-18: 'The Economics of Generosity' -- Introduction -- Generosity as a brake on economic forces -- Release from debt (vv. 1-3) -- Release from slavery (vv. 12-18) -- Generosity as a bridge between economic ideal and reality (vv. 4-11) -- God's ideal, and its essential conditions (vv. 4-6) -- Human reality, and the response that God commands (vv. 7-11) -- Summary and conclusion -- Further reading -- 4. PREACHING LAMENT -- Introduction -- The dynamic movements in the lament psalms: the lament as poetry -- From lament to praise -- Alternation between lament and praise -- Return to lament after praise -- The reverse movement from praise to lament -- The need to consider the other movements in the lament -- The word in the lament: lament as theology -- The movement from lament to praise: God answers and delivers -- The alternation between lament and praise: restoration is a process -- The reverse movement from praise to lament: faith is not all about answers The return to lament after praise: ambiguity and the element of tension remains even with the divine response -- Absence of movement: the message of Psalm 88 -- Praying the lament psalm as a way of preaching it: lament as prayer -- Summary and application -- 1. What is the movement in the lament psalm? -- 2. What experiences of suffering are depicted in the movement? -- 3. What message/s about God, the life of faith and reality in general can we derive from these experiences? -- 4. Experiencing Psalm 12 -- Sermon outline on Psalm 12: 'Return to Lament' -- Bibliography -- 5. PREACHING PRAISE POETRY -- Introduction - praise poetry and worship -- The canon, praise and proclamation -- Praise as instruction -- Thematic modelling -- Intratextual dialogue -- Conclusion -- Sermon outline on Psalm 99 -- Introduction -- Conclusion -- Sermon outline on Psalm 66 -- Introduction -- Conclusion -- Suggested further reading -- 6. PREACHING WISDOM -- Preaching from the book of Proverbs -- Understanding the structure and genres of Proverbs -- Understanding the addressee -- Practical advice from the book of Proverbs -- Preaching topically from the book of Proverbs -- What is the theology of Proverbs? -- Embracing Woman Wisdom -- The limits of wisdom: preaching from Ecclesiastes and Job -- Preaching Ecclesiastes -- Two voices -- The message of Qohelet (1:12 - 12:7) -- Life is meaningless -- Carpe diem -- The message of the frame narrator -- Implications for preaching Ecclesiastes -- Conclusion -- Preaching from Job -- The plot of Job -- Prologue -- The debate -- Elihu -- Yahweh's speeches and Job's response (38:1 - 42:6) -- Epilogue (42:7-17) -- Important considerations in preaching Job -- The many voices of the book -- The main theme of Job -- Preaching Job from a New Testament perspective -- Sermon outline on Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 -- The horror of death Further reading -- 7. PREACHING THE SONG OF SOLOMON -- How not to read the Song -- 1. Allegorize it -- 2. Overdramatize it -- How to read the Song -- 1. Read it as wisdom -- 2. Find God's subtle presence -- 3. Read of redemption -- 4. Read it as a metaphor -- 5. Read in its original culture -- 6. Live with difficult questions -- Preaching the Song: practical suggestions -- 1. Be age-­appropriate -- 2. Be positive -- 3. Deal with guilt -- 4. Dialogue with the listeners' culture -- 5. Welcome questions -- 6. Preach not just rules but a broad, God-­honouring theology of sex -- 7. In word choice, be frank but tasteful - as the Song is -- 8. Take gradual steps -- 9. Do not self-­disclose -- Sermon outline on Song of Solomon 4:12 - 5:1: 'I Dig Your Garden' -- Introduction: What is this doing in the Bible? -- 1. The male character enthuses (4:12-15) -- 2. The female character invites (4:16) -- 3. The male character (5:1a) -- 4. The chorus approves (5:1b) -- Reflection -- Conclusion -- Recommended further reading -- 8. PREACHING FROM ISAIAH -- General orientation -- Problems of date and authorship -- Approaches to preaching from Isaiah -- Thematic considerations -- Messianic prophecy -- Theology -- Sermon outline on Isaiah 42:1-4 -- Introduction -- 1. His presentation (v. 1) -- 2. His patience (vv. 2-3) -- 3. His perseverance (v. 4) -- Concluding challenge -- Key bibliographical resources -- 9. PREACHING EZEKIEL -- The problem with preaching Ezekiel -- Proposition 1: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity, we need to understand the prophet - his character (ethos), passion (pathos) and argumentation (logos). -- Proposition 2: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity, we need to understand his audience Proposition 3: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity, we need to understand the nature and structure of the book. -- Proposition 4: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity, we need to understand the message that Ezekiel proclaims. -- Proposition 5: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity, we need to understand Ezekiel's rhetorical and homiletical strategy. -- Proposition 6: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity, we need to plan carefully. -- A test case - Ezekiel 16:1-14: 'The Gospel According to Ezekiel' -- Proposition 7: In order to preach from Ezekiel with authority and clarity for the church, we need to link his message with that of the New Testament responsibly. -- Conclusion -- Recommended reading -- 10. PREACHING APOCALYPTIC -- What is apocalyptic? -- What is an apocalypse? -- Prophetic and apocalyptic eschatology -- Preaching apocalyptic texts: the challenge -- Their symbolic imagery -- Their use of history -- Their dualism -- Preaching apocalyptic texts: the message -- God is the Lord of history -- Evil is rampant in the world but will be overcome -- The Lord will reign -- A call to remain faithful -- Preaching Christ from apocalyptic texts -- Sermon outline on Daniel 7:1-22 and Revelation 5:1-10: 'Trusting God's Purposes' -- The world can be a frightening place -- Omens -- The New Year festival -- God is still in control -- God's people will suffer -- God's purpose will be achieved -- Conclusion -- Further reading -- 11. PREACHING THE MINOR PROPHETS -- 1. Briefly explain historical-­cultural context -- 2. Consider genres and literary features -- 3. Highlight the central theme of each book -- 4. Trace thematic coherence among the books -- 5. Keep a balance with other Minor Prophets -- 6. Preach Christ from the Minor Prophets 7. Preach to individuals, society and the world