Page 69 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

The Renewal in Sermonic Forms of Preaching

The traditional sermonic form emanating from the Korean pulpit is topical, deductive

point-making preaching. From the 1980s until now, expository, deductive point-making

preaching has attracted an increasing number of Korean preachers. The transition is due in part

to the regret resulting from the predominance of non-biblical messages in topical sermons;

consequently, the preachers resorted to the expository method of preaching. Though this move

has improved Korean preaching to some degree, in that it helped restore the biblical message,

this model still has considerable problems communicating the message to the congregation. Kyo

Chung, Korean Homiletician, makes this point:

When expository preaching was introduced in Korea, many preachers were
enamored and hung on it as if it were the answer of the homiletic problem of the
time…. But they failed in begetting much fruits in term of message deliverance to
the congregation. 160

Recently, the context and mode of communication have changed drastically in

accordance to social transitions by industrialization and advancement of information technology.

The following section provides a brief analysis of the topical preaching, expository preaching, in

light of the underdevelopment of communication skills in the Korean pulpit.

Problem of Topical Preaching

An overemphasis on human needs and obsession with sermon application resulted in the

topical preaching model in Korea. Intrinsically, topical preaching has serious limitations as a

sermonic form. One cannot underestimate, however, the contribution of topical preaching to the

growth of the Korean church. At times, a logical explanation of a doctrine or a presentation of

160
In Kyo Chung, “A Retrospect on the Traditional Preaching and a Suggestion of
Narrative Preaching as a New Form,” Sinhak-kwa Sunkyo (Theology and Mission) 26 (2001),
212.