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Pentecostal Preaching
Hughes, Ray H.
Paperback
First published August 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 9, 2022
Read this for some research I'm doing. Some of the contents of this book is descriptive, while some of its material is prescriptive. However, the author frames it all as "Pentecostal preaching is..." so it took a little discerning which he intended. Because, for my purposes, I was more interested in the descriptive features of the movement.
And, best as I can ascertain, the essence of Pentecostal preaching, according to Hughes, is being a yielded vessel and seeing results. He thinks a Pentecostal preacher should spend time preparing and bringing notes into the pulpit (even manuscripts), but when the Spirit moves him, the preacher should be willing to forsake his preconceived outline and follow the new direction. And when this happens, the Pentecostal preacher will "speak and act beyond" himself, and will "preach better than he knows" (24, 26). "That is why a man" he claims, "should not be bound to an outline or manuscript", because the Spirit may just turn "sermon's minor point into the primary thrust of the message." (24-25) He describes going off the cuff or moving in this more extemporaneous fashion a thrill or a higher plateau of preaching (139). And the results of good Pentecostal preaching, Hughes claims, will manifest in tangible results (souls saved, people healed and delivered, and next steps communicated and taken).
But perhaps the section I thought was the best description of early Pentecostalism was the author's thoughts on all believers being ministers (131-133). He explains, "In the early days of modern Pentecost, contrary to some thinking, sinners did not come to church because they had nothing better to do. They came because they saw what was taking place in the lives of their neighbors." And he laments that nowadays (1981), "Ministers have permitted their members to join that great silent majority of believers who attend church, who live honestly, who are good neighbors and who never disturb anyone." So, he concludes that good results will come when all the people (pulpit and pew alike) infiltrate their spheres of influence with the effects of the gospel overflowing in their life and conversations.
And much of the book, honestly (outside of what's already been mentioned), could be applied to all of Evangelicalism, not just the Pentecostal.
And, best as I can ascertain, the essence of Pentecostal preaching, according to Hughes, is being a yielded vessel and seeing results. He thinks a Pentecostal preacher should spend time preparing and bringing notes into the pulpit (even manuscripts), but when the Spirit moves him, the preacher should be willing to forsake his preconceived outline and follow the new direction. And when this happens, the Pentecostal preacher will "speak and act beyond" himself, and will "preach better than he knows" (24, 26). "That is why a man" he claims, "should not be bound to an outline or manuscript", because the Spirit may just turn "sermon's minor point into the primary thrust of the message." (24-25) He describes going off the cuff or moving in this more extemporaneous fashion a thrill or a higher plateau of preaching (139). And the results of good Pentecostal preaching, Hughes claims, will manifest in tangible results (souls saved, people healed and delivered, and next steps communicated and taken).
But perhaps the section I thought was the best description of early Pentecostalism was the author's thoughts on all believers being ministers (131-133). He explains, "In the early days of modern Pentecost, contrary to some thinking, sinners did not come to church because they had nothing better to do. They came because they saw what was taking place in the lives of their neighbors." And he laments that nowadays (1981), "Ministers have permitted their members to join that great silent majority of believers who attend church, who live honestly, who are good neighbors and who never disturb anyone." So, he concludes that good results will come when all the people (pulpit and pew alike) infiltrate their spheres of influence with the effects of the gospel overflowing in their life and conversations.
And much of the book, honestly (outside of what's already been mentioned), could be applied to all of Evangelicalism, not just the Pentecostal.
May 14, 2023
This brings us rather naturally to the old excuse that studying bores, that it lacks the excitement of street work or personal confrontations. Yes, study may at times be difficult; but if one brings God's Holy Spirit as partner into his study, things liven up and one finds himself on a mental and spiritual adventure comparable to none other. In those hours when the minister is alone with the Scriptures, he needs the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing the author always make a book more interesting and understandable. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Word.
p. 20
My grandfather was a blacksmith, SO I spent some time in blacksmith shops during my childhood years. I noticed that the blacksmith can do without fire. Until the iron virtually no work hammering and is hot, the blacksmith's beating does little more than a few sparks. With the produce becomes fire, however, the hardest steel pliable in the blacksmith's hands. Preaching is similar. It takes fire to bend, to mold, and to reshape people. It takes fire to make human instruments pliable. Otherwise, the his energy and gets only preacher wastes sparks for his trouble.
p. 24
Once again we face the awesome realization that God has chosen to work through men in the carrying forth of His eternal plan of redemption. The Scriptures speak explicitly about how God views the role of the minister. Not only is this seen throughout the Old Testament, in the lives of priests, prophets, judges, and rulers; it is also clearly set forth in New Testament language and in examples of apostles and missionaries who went forth with the gospel.
p. 66
every minister must understand that the ministry demands a lifelong commitment to study and research. There never is a time there will never come a time-when the successful preacher can cease ing and studying. Life itself is readall people, the minister a matter of education. Of all people, the minister especially must continually probe and search for those truths to help others successfully negotiate the rocky paths.
p. 84
Ours is the busiest are society in history. Most people compulsively busy, competitive, and driven by a desire to outrun and outdo the other person.
Such a concept can filter into the minister's thinking as well. It can sidetrack him from personal devotions and immersion in the Word, activity absolutely required if a man is to preach. The disciplined man will learn somehow control time. He will allot time for to his study, time for prayer, time for sermon preparation, those other duties.
p. 86
The pulpit is not the place
for and find God: it is the for the minister to search place where the man who has been with God now speaks to others. Thorough preparation in terms of materials will come to naught if the minister has not seen the face of God. Of Phillips Brooks it was said that, before entering the pulpit, "he appeared like one burdened with a message from God."
p. 89
1. The Devotional Method. Select a short portion of your Bible and prayerfully meditate on it till the Holy Spirit shows you a way to apply the truth to life. Write out a personal application.
2. The Chapter Summary Method. Read a chapter of a Bible book through at least five times: then write down a find in it. summary of the central thoughts you find in it.
3. The Character Quality Method. Choose a character quality you would like to work on in your life and study what the Bible says about it.
4. The Thematic Method. Select a Bible theme to study. Think of three to five questions you'd like to answered about that theme. Study all the references you can find on your theme and
answers to your questions.
5. The Biographical Method. Select a Bible character and research all the verses about that person in order to study his life and characteristics. Make notes on his attitudes, strengths, and weaknesses. Apply what you learn to your own life.
6. The Topical Method. Collect and compare all the verses you
your can find on a particular topic. Organize conclusions into an outline that you can share with another person.
7. The Word Study Method. Study the important words of the Bible. Find out how many times a word occurs in Scripture and how it is used. Find out the original meaning of the word.
8. The Book Background Method. Study how history, geography, culture, science, and politics affected what happened in Bible times. Use Bible reference books to increase your understanding of the Word.
9. The Book Survey Method. Survey an entire book of the Bible by reading it through several times to get a general overview of its contents. Study the background of the book and make notes on its contents. 
10. The Chapter Analysis Method. Master the contents of a chapter in the Bible by taking an in-depth look at each verse in that chapter. Tear each verse apart word by word, observing every detail.
11. The Book Synthesis Method. Summarize the contents and main themes of a book of the Bible after you several times. Make an outline have read it through
of the book. This method is done after you have used a
Book survey Method and the Chapter Analysis Method every chapter of that book.
12, The Verse-by-Verse Analysis Method. Select one passage of Scripture and examine it in detail by phrasing each verse, Record a possible application of asking questions, finding cross references, and paraeach verse you study, (Twelve Dynamic Bible Study Methods, by Richard Warren, Victor Books, Used by permission.)
p. 92
There is no greater thrill for a preacher than to know God is illuminating his mind and that, through inspiration, he is speaking from God to men. At such a moment, thoughts rush on him: he can hardly speak before other thoughts present themselves for consideration. Scriptures previously read and studied are brought to memory and unfold in beautiful splendor and symmetry. Once a minister experiences this type of preaching, he is never quite satisfied with less. This is why prayer and fasting are so essential to Pentecostal preaching. It is through prayer and fasting that the minister remains sensitive to the Spirit, thus maintaining his fresh anointing.
p. 133
p. 20
My grandfather was a blacksmith, SO I spent some time in blacksmith shops during my childhood years. I noticed that the blacksmith can do without fire. Until the iron virtually no work hammering and is hot, the blacksmith's beating does little more than a few sparks. With the produce becomes fire, however, the hardest steel pliable in the blacksmith's hands. Preaching is similar. It takes fire to bend, to mold, and to reshape people. It takes fire to make human instruments pliable. Otherwise, the his energy and gets only preacher wastes sparks for his trouble.
p. 24
Once again we face the awesome realization that God has chosen to work through men in the carrying forth of His eternal plan of redemption. The Scriptures speak explicitly about how God views the role of the minister. Not only is this seen throughout the Old Testament, in the lives of priests, prophets, judges, and rulers; it is also clearly set forth in New Testament language and in examples of apostles and missionaries who went forth with the gospel.
p. 66
every minister must understand that the ministry demands a lifelong commitment to study and research. There never is a time there will never come a time-when the successful preacher can cease ing and studying. Life itself is readall people, the minister a matter of education. Of all people, the minister especially must continually probe and search for those truths to help others successfully negotiate the rocky paths.
p. 84
Ours is the busiest are society in history. Most people compulsively busy, competitive, and driven by a desire to outrun and outdo the other person.
Such a concept can filter into the minister's thinking as well. It can sidetrack him from personal devotions and immersion in the Word, activity absolutely required if a man is to preach. The disciplined man will learn somehow control time. He will allot time for to his study, time for prayer, time for sermon preparation, those other duties.
p. 86
The pulpit is not the place
for and find God: it is the for the minister to search place where the man who has been with God now speaks to others. Thorough preparation in terms of materials will come to naught if the minister has not seen the face of God. Of Phillips Brooks it was said that, before entering the pulpit, "he appeared like one burdened with a message from God."
p. 89
1. The Devotional Method. Select a short portion of your Bible and prayerfully meditate on it till the Holy Spirit shows you a way to apply the truth to life. Write out a personal application.
2. The Chapter Summary Method. Read a chapter of a Bible book through at least five times: then write down a find in it. summary of the central thoughts you find in it.
3. The Character Quality Method. Choose a character quality you would like to work on in your life and study what the Bible says about it.
4. The Thematic Method. Select a Bible theme to study. Think of three to five questions you'd like to answered about that theme. Study all the references you can find on your theme and
answers to your questions.
5. The Biographical Method. Select a Bible character and research all the verses about that person in order to study his life and characteristics. Make notes on his attitudes, strengths, and weaknesses. Apply what you learn to your own life.
6. The Topical Method. Collect and compare all the verses you
your can find on a particular topic. Organize conclusions into an outline that you can share with another person.
7. The Word Study Method. Study the important words of the Bible. Find out how many times a word occurs in Scripture and how it is used. Find out the original meaning of the word.
8. The Book Background Method. Study how history, geography, culture, science, and politics affected what happened in Bible times. Use Bible reference books to increase your understanding of the Word.
9. The Book Survey Method. Survey an entire book of the Bible by reading it through several times to get a general overview of its contents. Study the background of the book and make notes on its contents. 
10. The Chapter Analysis Method. Master the contents of a chapter in the Bible by taking an in-depth look at each verse in that chapter. Tear each verse apart word by word, observing every detail.
11. The Book Synthesis Method. Summarize the contents and main themes of a book of the Bible after you several times. Make an outline have read it through
of the book. This method is done after you have used a
Book survey Method and the Chapter Analysis Method every chapter of that book.
12, The Verse-by-Verse Analysis Method. Select one passage of Scripture and examine it in detail by phrasing each verse, Record a possible application of asking questions, finding cross references, and paraeach verse you study, (Twelve Dynamic Bible Study Methods, by Richard Warren, Victor Books, Used by permission.)
p. 92
There is no greater thrill for a preacher than to know God is illuminating his mind and that, through inspiration, he is speaking from God to men. At such a moment, thoughts rush on him: he can hardly speak before other thoughts present themselves for consideration. Scriptures previously read and studied are brought to memory and unfold in beautiful splendor and symmetry. Once a minister experiences this type of preaching, he is never quite satisfied with less. This is why prayer and fasting are so essential to Pentecostal preaching. It is through prayer and fasting that the minister remains sensitive to the Spirit, thus maintaining his fresh anointing.
p. 133
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews