Applying the Sermon: How to Balance Biblical Integrity and Cultural Relevance

by Daniel Overdorf

Even the most seasoned homileticians balk at sermon application. Why? Because application requires preachers to toss a grenade-like "thus saith the Lord" into people's lives, and to do so repeatedly. -From the introduction Despite the concern many pastors feel when it comes to sermon application, most homiletics texts devote little more than a chapter, if that, to this vital topic. Daniel Overdorf has filled this glaring gap with Applying the Sermon . This book equips preachers to develop sermon application that grows from the biblical text and addresses the needs of contemporary congregations.

Genres: Christian, Theology

206 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2009

About the author

Daniel Overdorf grew up in the mountains of eastern Tennessee and southern West Virginia, where he experienced the value of the blue-collar work ethic, the wonder of Appalachian storytelling, and the joy of being raised in the home of a preacher who loves the church with all his heart.

These early influences continue to shape his perspectives of life and faith. He graduated from Johnson University, then spent the next ten years ministering with churches in Illinois and Georgia. In the meantime, he earned a Master of Divinity from Lincoln Christian Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. At Gordon-Conwell, he had the joy of studying for four years under Haddon Robinson, a patriarch in the field of preaching. Robinson's influence significantly shaped Overdorf's philosophy and approach to preaching, both as a preacher and as a professor.

Since 2005, Daniel has taught at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee, where his current position is Professor of Pastoral Ministries and Director of Preaching Programs. He loves the campus atmosphere and the relationships that he shares with students and colleagues.

He has been married to his lovely and gifted wife, Carrie, for twenty-five years. They have two sons and a daughter. He enjoys watching college sports, hiking, playing golf, and, most of all, cheering for his kids at their softball and basketball games and choir performances.

Reviews

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.8 stars. I think this is an outstanding book for anyone that finds themselves in a pulpit of any size or style. This book not only gives concrete ways to use applications in sermons, but also teaches a lesson on the power of the Spirit and how we are just tools for the Spirit's use. So much respect and admiration for Dr Overdorf. The only reason it wasn't a 5 is I felt the boxes with comments from preachers were very incredible but often interrupted mid sentence and I felt like I would lose track of the main idea. But that is very nit picky of me!

[Josh Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful little book. Primarily focuses on the process of having relevant application that is inline with a proper understanding of the text. It has some very helpful interviews within the chapters (although the placement is often clumsy with the flow of reading). The application worksheet will be something I reference and use. Very helpful.

[Justin Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read on application in the sermon. Wish I'd read it years ago.

[Adam Colter]

Excellent resource. Practical on a weekly basis for preachers and communicators. I'll keep it close at hand.

[Garth Kassner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a helpful, concise, and practical guide for developing sermon applications that preserve Biblical authority and find the contemporary relevance of a text.

[Timothy Dison · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Applying the Sermon" is simply written and easily read. In this work, Overdorf thoroughly details his philosophy on how to develop sermon application with biblical integrity. Though he briefly explains his homiletical philosophy early in the book, he does take for granted his readers' aherance to expositional preaching. Overdorf demonstrates excellent self-awareness, not attempting to formulate a rigid formula on how to develop application, but instead attempts to compel his readers to philosophical agreement; that being, to intentionally seek relevant application that is in line with the original meaning of the biblical text. His emphasis on intentional application development by means of probing questions directed at both the text and contemporary audience was particularly helpful to me. Mr. Overdorf provides a Sermon Application Worksheet in the book that lists many of these questions. Overall, this is a great book that I would recommend to anyone who is serious about communicating biblical truth.

[Rob O'Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely one of those "must-have" books for preachers and teachers of preaching. Not only is it one of the few (if not the only) book wholly devoted to sermon crafting sermon applications, it is a practical guide that pulls from a collective of well-known and trusted preachers (Tom Long, Will Willimon, Bob Russell, Vic Pintz and Haddon Robinson), Overdorf provides successful and unsuccessful examples from his own preaching. The value of this book is in his methodology for crafting good sermon applications. It should be noted, however, that he misses any educational components about brain studies and how we actually learn. Yet there is much of worth to this book, especially for the beginning preacher who has not been exposed to such material and is struggling to answer the questions of "So what?" and "Now what?" in his or her preaching.

[Brian French · Rating 4 out of 5]

The steps on ensuring effective and biblical applications make this book a must have. A key chapter was on the 7 pitfalls of application and the author's idea that every point does not have to be applied but can add up to make an application were the most helpful parts of the book..

One distracting piece was the organization of interviews with other preachers/professors. They were organized into each chapter, sometimes in the middle of the author's writing. It came across like an advertisement in a newspaper article. This is nitpicking but it was distracting from what the author wanted to say. It would be better served to move these interviews to the end of each chapter or to an appendix.

[Rob Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise book offering helpful advice on walking the tightrope between retaining the Biblical integrity of the text while finding relevant ways to apply it to today's disciples.