Preaching Contextually: A Case with Rural Dalits in India

Preaching is the commission given by the great preacher Jesus Christ. It is urgent because it communicates the essential gospel meant for the salvation of the perishing humanity. God is universal and people are local. The universal God became local in Jesus Christ through his incarnation. The saving gospel of Jesus Christ is necessary to communicate contextually.

The majority of Indian Christians come from Dalit background. The ongoing development of Dalit Theology is helping to make the gospel relevant and effective. But the homiletic methodology being adapted in the Indian context is mostly from the West.

In this scenario, Preaching Contextually searches for relevant methodology for Indian Dalits. For this purpose, contents of some sample sermons were analyzed homiletically to assess its relevance and to present a feasible method as a Dalit Homiletic.

Prof Dr Júlio Cézar Adam (Brazil)

This is a book which contributes enormously to homiletic research and science, not only in the Indian context, but also for other contexts, mainly those permeated by social ills and injustices. It is a necessary book for those who study and do homiletics mainly in the context of vulnerability.

Rev Dr Anuparthi John Prabhakar is an ordained Pastor, theological educator, writer and televangelist from Baptist background. He earned his doctoral degree, Doctor of Theology, in Christian Ministry with a specialization in homiletics from Senate of Serampore. He has been teaching homiletics in addition to his pastoral ministry for the past twenty years. His vast teaching background enabled him to write for the benefit of seminarians, pastors and Christian believers.

He was born and brought up in a rural Dalit Christian family in Andhra Pradesh, India. He always looks at the gospel as a liberating force from all kinds of bondage.

This book is the product of his research at a doctoral level as an academic endeavor. He has been writing books and articles for the benefit of seminarians and Christian believers. He has also been participating in international seminars in homiletics and presenting papers.

At present, he is serving as a senior pastor at Jewett Memorial Baptist Church, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, India. Preaching and teaching are his passions.