Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-first Century Listeners - Softcover

Graham Johnston

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801063671 ISBN 13: 9780801063671

Publisher: Baker Books, 2001

Synopsis

While growing churches dot our urban centers and country landscapes, church-goers and students today are actually less likely to maintain a Christian worldview than in the past. In fact, the majority of society does not even believe in objective truth. A minister out of touch with this culture is like an uninformed missionary trying to teach in a foreign country. To communicate God's Word effectively in the twenty-first century, teachers need to know how to connect with and confront an audience of postmodern listeners.

In Preaching to a Postmodern World, Johnston shows pastors, seminary students, professors, lay teachers, and church leaders can reach the present age without selling out to it. The book discusses how to:
• distinguish between modernism and postmodernism
• understand postmodern worldviews
• change the style of preaching without compromising the substance
• take advantage of new opportunities provided by the cultural shift
• show an inattentive society the relevance of God's truth

The author's keen insights into contemporary pop and media culture also help equip speakers to address today's listeners with clarity and relevance.

About this title

About the Author

Graham MacPherson Johnston is senior pastor of Subiaco Church of Christ in Western Australia and an adjunct lecturer in homiletics at Perth Bible College. He holds degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary.

From the Back Cover

To communicate God's Word effectively in the twenty-first century, you need to know how to connect with and confront an audience of postmodern listeners. With this book, you'll learn how to change your style of preaching without compromising the substance, take advantage of new opportunities provided by the cultural shift, and show an inattentive society the relevance of God's truth.

"The world has gone through a major shift in thinking and communication into a postmodern mode, yet much preaching is still 'pre-modern' and very out of touch. Graham Johnston has made a significant contribution in his book, showing how preaching can be thoroughly biblical, opening up the text of the Bible but also concerned with the openings in the minds of contemporary people."
Leighton Ford, president, Leighton Ford Ministries

"Communicating God's Word is more than just speaking the truth; it's being heard and understood as well. This book is designed to help Christian leaders better understand their listeners, so they can communicate biblical truths with effectiveness and clarity."
Josh McDowell, author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict

"Graham Johnston describes the water in which we exist. . . . Better still, he provides some workable leads on how to communicate the life-giving Word to men and women swimming in the currents of the twenty-first century."
Haddon W. Robinson, author of Biblical Preaching

"Johnston not only brings a shrewd analysis of the present changes in our culture, he also contributes from the perspective of a skilled practitioner. Such a combination is both rare and valuable."
Martin Robinson, director of mission and theology, British and Foreign Bible Society

"For anyone desiring a ministry of impact in today's postmodern society, Graham Johnston has provided an understandable and useful focus."
Howard G. Hendricks, chairman, Center for Christian Leadership, Dallas Theological Seminary

Edition details

• Publisher: Baker Books
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801063671
• ISBN 13: 9780801063671
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192