Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

1997

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Alfonso Valenzuela

Second Advisor

Ricardo Norton

Third Advisor

James J. North, Jr.

Abstract

Problem

This dissertation deals with the bipolar concept of preaching as it applies to Seventh-day Adventist evangelism in a Hispanic-American context. Bipolar preaching is preaching that focuses on answering human problems or needs by applying eternal truth to the human condition. In my experience bipolar preaching was missing for many years. This project attempts to make the homiletical theory of bipolar preaching better understood I hope that it will be integrated into the preaching ministry in general and into evangelistic preaching in particular. The Hispanic evangelistic sermon seems to be well-anchored in the Word of God, but it does not deal with human needs in important and significant ways. How our evangelistic preaching relates to this situation is a vital issue that needs to be examined.

Method

This work consists of two parts. The first deals with the bipolar concept in homiletical theory and practice. It includes an examination of literature on the bipolar theory of preaching. Bipolar preaching is also researched in Seventh-day Adventist contemporary preaching as well as in the writings of Ellen G. White. Objections to life-situation preaching are met and answered. The second part concerns the practical application of bipolar preaching in the context of Hispanic evangelism. It includes an analysis and evaluation of bipolar evangelistic sermon outlines used in campaigns conducted for Spanish-speaking people. It gives concrete suggestions for the effective integration and application of this homiletical theory into a family life approach to Hispanic evangelism.

Conclusion

This study has helped me to expand and refine my own homiletical knowledge in relevant preaching as well as in its application to a life-situation approach in Hispanic evangelism. This work aims at creating an awareness, especially in a new generation of Hispanic preachers, of the need to be faithful to the two poles: the pole of Scripture, and the pole of human life. It is these two poles that constitute bipolar preaching. It hopes to make Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist evangelistic preaching more meaningful, fruitful, and rewarding.

Subject Area

Seventh-day Adventist preaching; Church work with Hispanic Americans--Seventh-day Adventists; Evangelistic work--Seventh-day Adventists--North America

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/6/

Download

Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS