Page 70 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

moral precepts through the deductive topical form greatly benefited the theological novice in the

Korean church.

Nevertheless, two problems plague this model. First, the preacher comes to be “an

employer of the word of God rather than an employee of the text.” 161 Due to the lack of serious

exegesis of the text, presumptuous “eisegesis [read-into the text],” occurs. Especially among the

revivalists, who stress strong applications, this violation is often detectable. Second, this model

does not attract and retain the attention of the people. The proleptic style of the sermon

introduction in a topical sermon clues in the congregation suggesting the outcome, stifling the

suspense, and squelching interest by its predictability. This is a serious flaw in the topical

preaching model and necessitates modification. Chapter IV of this dissertation will present

suggestions for such a modification.

Problem of Expository Preaching

The expository, deductive point-making sermon was introduced to Korea in the 1970s

and has gained popularity from the 1980s until now. 162 Utilizing the form of expository

preaching, Korean preachers were able to restrain themselves from wandering off the text and

prevent preaching their own thoughts or presumed truth apart from the text. However, this type

of expository preaching is not without problems. First, the movement of the sermon is deductive

in nature, but preachers extract the messages from the text by inductive exposition. In other

words, the preacher delivers a message derived inductively in a sermon style that is deductive.

161 Gi Kim, “Analysis of Korean Preaching,” 111.

162
Eun Kim, “Preaching of Transfiguration,” 55.