Sermon preparation and delivery in an African context with special reference to Zambia

[摘要] English: Summary of sermon preparation and delivery in an African context withspecial reference to Zambia can be summarised as follows:This research has proved that there are great differences between the pointof view of the African and the Westerner regarding the following topic: God,dreams, witchcraft and nature. The Westerner has one name for God but theAfrican has many names for God. This creates a problem for the Westernerwho does not understand whether or not the African is worshipping one God.There is also a difference regarding the understanding of dreams. TheAfrican believes that a dream is meaningful and a revelation from God(Number 12:6) but the Westerner believes that a dream is meaningless andoccurs because of events which happened the day before the dream wasdreamt. Witchcraft is regarded by the African as a reality, while theWesterner considers it to be unreal and merely telesthesia. Regardingnature, the difference is that the African considers nature to be part of his lifewhile the Westerner looks at nature as an object to be admired and enjoyedonly.�?The study has revealed that effective African communication within anAfrican community should adopt the African pattern of communication.ScripturalThere is no other African foundation for preaching except the Scriptural one.African preaching is based on the Scriptures and anything other than this issupplementary information and should be treated as commentaries.TheologicalThe African recognises holistic theology: the salvation for the whole person,but not the theory of the salvation of the soul which the Westernerembraces. The African believes in holistic Christianity and not in dualisticChristianity which the Westerner believes.CulturalThe word of God is not received in a vacuum by the people receiving it.Therefore it was a mistake for the missionary (Westerner) to force the AfricanChristian to receive God's Word in his culture rather than in his own Africanculture.This proves that the African culture should be introduced in the sermonpreparation and delivery because the Word of God is received in the cultureof the people hearing it.PastoralPastors' training should be contextualised in order that pastors should be wellequipped for the local situations and problems of the people to whom they willminister. At present the training is more Western than African. For example,one should identify an African problem such like polygamy and then discuss itin class. Or a Western problem, like homosexuality can be discussed as theAfrican sees it Biblically and culturally.

[发布机构] University of the Free State