Contextual preaching within the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa

[摘要] English: Summary of contextual preaching within the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa.This research has proved that preaching is very essential. It is not just an oration that aperson or preacher can give to listeners. This means it is very dynamic, and it needs thewhole commitment when one is preaching. Not everybody can preach. It comes fromGod to the listeners and it should be Christ centered. God makes use of the preachers tofuifiii and execute His will. The message delivered by the preacher is not his, but belongsto God himself. A preacher is a messenqer, As a messenger should always adhere towhat the prophets said when saying, that whatever they say is from God. This meansthat a preacher who is to deliver the Word of God to the listeners should be a personwho has been called to carry out God's message. That category is a category oflegitimate messengers of God. They are spiritually driven. They are also guided by thetype of training they have received from their theological training institutes. So preachingis not just an easy thing to do, its modus operandi needs some certain knowledgeableinformation, a commitment and self-determination. The study has revealed that the relevant and effective preaching, as well as thecontextual preaching is essential to the lives of today's people, as such preachersshould adopt to bring contextual preachinq to the congregations they are going to preachfor.ScripturalIt is explicit that there is no relevant preaching unless it emanates from the HolyScripture itself. This means that the Holy Scripture characterizes both the relevant andcontextual preaching. To reinforce preaching itself, a preacher should make use ofsupplimentaries like commentaries, literatures and any other relevant resources.HistoricalA relevant and contextual preaching is the one that a preacher does not regard him as afounder. This means that a preacher is not an alpha and omega in this regard. This is acontinuation that he received from his predecessors. He should acknowledge that thecongregation he is preaching for does not receive the Word of God for the first time. Through the historical background in theology it is clear that some of them have beenexposed to the Word of God long ago.LanguageGod created His people in diversity of races and languages. This has been done throughHis good will. The Word of God should be conveyed to the people in the language theywill understand. Due to this reason a preaching will remain a contextual preaching to thelisteners.CultureThe Word of God was brought to the people of multicultural believes. This means thatthey have accepted it in collaboration with their different cultures. The diversity ofdifferent cultures should not be regarded as detrimental to preaching.PastoralThe training of pastors should be contextual and relevant to the prevailing circumstancesof the new South Africa. The pastors should adopt themselves positively with theprevailing situations in which their congregations live.TheologicalThe most important aspect in this regard is that a preaching that is brought to the peopleshould also be educative to those people who are going to receive it as the Word ofGod.

[发布机构] University of the Free State