Maximizing the Sermonic Moment at Adaville Baptist Church of Spindale, North Carolina

166 Pages·2016·2.67 MB·English

Gardner-Webb University
Digital Commons @ Gardner-Webb University
Divinity Projects School of Divinity
2013
Maximizing the Sermonic Moment at Adaville
Baptist Church of Spindale, North Carolina
Calvin Ray Sayles
Gardner-Webb University
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Sayles, Calvin Ray, "Maximizing the Sermonic Moment at Adaville Baptist Church of Spindale, North Carolina" (2013).Divinity
Projects.Paper 10.
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MAXIMIZING THE SERMONIC MOMENT
AT ADAVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH OF
SPINDALE, NORTH CAROLINA

A PROJECT

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY

OF THE M. CHRISTOPHER WHITE SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY

BOILING SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY

CALVIN R. SAYLES

MAY 2013

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APPROVAL FORM
MAXIMIZING THE SERMONIC MOMENT
AT ADAVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH OF
SPINDALE, NORTH CAROLINA
CALVIN R. SAYLES

Approved by:

_______________________(Faculty Advisor)
_______________________(Field Advisor)
_______________________(D.Min. Director)

Date: _____________

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Copyright © by Calvin R. Sayles
All rights reserved
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my beloved wife Sandy, the second greatest gift of God, who taught me love.

To my sons, Joshua and Nathanael, in whom I have found such joy, love, and respect.

To Dr. Robert Canoy, my faculty advisor, and my many professors at Gardner-Webb
University who shared not only their wisdom but their lives.

To Dr. Guy Sayles, my peer supervisor, who met me at the intersection of kingdom and
culture, and taught me it is a good place to live.

To my co-workers in Christ at Adaville Baptist Church with whom I have shared
laughter, tears, and abundant life.

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ABSTRACT

The goal of this study was to present the most effective weekly sermon that is
fresh, clear, interesting, relevant and life-changing for those that hear it. Congregational
feedback was gathered over four weeks, through surveys, biometrics captured on film,
and simultaneous sermon feedback. Adjustments, based on the feedback gathered during
the first four weeks, were utilized in sermons during two additional weeks. The desired
outcome was that the sermonic moment will be meaningful to the congregation, help
them to internalize God‟s desires and expectations for His people, and contribute to the
transformation of His children into Christ-likeness.

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………….……………………….…..iv

ABSTRACT……………………………….…………………………………………...v

Chapter

1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………1
PROJECT SETTING 2
MISSION OF ADAVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH 2
VISION OF ADAVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH 3
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 3
PROJECT GOAL 3
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION………………………………………………...……...5
BIOMETRICS CAPTURED ON FILM 6
SIMULTANIOUS SERMON FEEDBACK 7
POST SERMON SURVEYS 7
SERMON EMPHASIS BY WEEK 9
3. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION……………………….……10
PREACHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: DEFINITIONS 10
PREACHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: THE PROPHETS 11
PREACHING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: DEFINITIONS 13
PREACHING IN THE GOSPELS: JESUS THE MASTER 13
TEACHER AND PREACHER

WHAT IS A PARABLE AND WHY DID JESUS SPEAK IN 17
THEM?

PREACHING IN THE BOOK OF ACTS 25
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CONTENTS

THE PREACHING OF PAUL 29
PREACHING IN CHURCH HISTORY 30
THE PREACHING OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM 31
THE PREACHING OF AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO 33
THE PREACHING OF MARTIN LUTHER 35
THE PREACHING OF JOHN CALVIN 37
CONTEMPORARY COMMENTARY ON PREACHING 41
THEOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION 44
4. CRITICAL ANALYSIS….……………………………………………………...47
MODIFICATIONS FROM INITIAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION 48
EXPLANATION OF SERMON EFFECTIVENESS GRAPHS 53
ANALYSIS OF SERMONS BY WEEK: WEEK 1 55
ANALYSIS OF SERMONS BY WEEK: WEEK 2 60
ANALYSIS OF SERMONS BY WEEK: WEEK 3 67
ANALYSIS OF SERMONS BY WEEK: WEEK 4 71
ELEMENTS TO BE APPLIED IN THE FIFTH MESSAGE 75
ANALYSIS OF SERMONS BY WEEK: WEEK 5 77
5. CONCLUSION..……………………………………………………………........82
APPENDIX

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONNAIRE …………………………....97
(BASELINE)

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS POST SERMON ………………………….…..103
SURVEY (SHORT TERM MEMORY)

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CONTENTS

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS POST SERMON ………………………………106
SURVEY (LONG TERM MEMORY)

FORM TO DECLINE PARTICIPATION…………………………………….109

SERMON 1 (NARRATIVE) 9 SEPTEMBER 2012……………………….…110

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS GRAPH…………………………………….…115
WEEK 1: NARRATIVE SERMON

SERMON 2 (EXPOSITORY) 16 SEPTEMBER 2012……………………..…116

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS GRAPH…………………………….…………119
WEEK 2: EXPOSITORY SERMON

SERMON 3 (BIOGRAPHICAL) 23 SEPTEMBER 2012………………….…120

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS GRAPH…………………………………….…124
WEEK 3: BIOGRAPHICAL SERMON

SERMON 4 (TOPICAL) 30 SEPTEMBER 2012………………………….…125

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS GRAPH………………………………………129
WEEK 4: TOPICAL SERMON

SERMON 5 (NARRATIVE/BIOGRAPHICAL) …………………………….130
7 OCTOBER 2012

SERMON EFFECTIVENESS GRAPH……………………………………....135
WEEK 5: NARRATIVE/BIOGRAPHICAL

A QUESTION BY QUESTION COMPARISON……………………….…..136
ACROSS FIVE SERMONS AND
THE BASELINE SURVEY

A POSITIONAL COMPARISON OF ALL QUESTIONS………………….150
BY WEEK

A PERCENTAGE COMPARISON OF ALL QUESTIONS………………..151
BY WEEK

AN EXAMPLE OF GRAPH WITH NUMERIC VALUES……………...…152

BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………..………..153
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CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES

POSITION OF DIGITAL CAMERAS………………………………………6
MEASURING ENGAGEMENT…………………………………………….6
IDENTIFYING STRONG AND WEAK POINTS………………………….8
MATRIX OF SERMON STYLES AND SIGNIFICANT FACTORS………9
PREACHING USING THE THREE CIRCLE MODEL………………...…42
PREACHING USING THREE ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS………….….43
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