by David Allen | Jul 4, 2014 | Baptist, Culture, Theology
When you look up the term “religious liberty” in anybody’s dictionary, there you will find the collective picture of Baptists. The insistence on religious liberty by Baptists has resulted in misunderstanding, criticism and even persecution. In the past, governments...
by David Allen | Jun 3, 2014 | Bible, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Pragmatic analysis of texts asks the questions “What is the author’s purpose of a text?” and “What does an author desire to accomplish with his text.” The text-driven preacher is always attempting to accomplish something with every sermon. All verbal or written...
by David Allen | Jun 2, 2013 | Bible, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Theology
The text-driven preacher must recognize that there are four basic types of meaning conveyed in every text and context: referential, situational, structural and semantic. Referential meaning is that which is being talked about; the subject matter of a text. Situational...
by David Allen | Jun 1, 2013 | Bible, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Theology
The painstaking work of exegesis is the foundation for text-driven preaching.[1] Exegesis precedes theology, and theology is derived from careful exegesis. To preach well, it is vital to understand certain basics about the nature of language and meaning. First, the...