Preaching That Leads to Transformation

Authors

Curtis BarbarickFollow

Abstract

This article presents the results of a project to develop a process whereby the sermon would be enhanced for listeners at the North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches, Texas, so that preaching would be more effective in leading to transformation. The theology and methodology of John Wesley were utilized as a lens by which to think about and implement this practice.

The intervention involved a six-week session with a focus group that represented a cross-section of the congregation. Participants in this group were asked to engage in a lectio divina exercise on a particular text daily, journal about the experience, listen attentively to the sermon on the same text on Sunday morning, and meet with a group of others who were engaged in the same practices for the purpose of discussion. Group members were to propose ways in which they might be able to implement in the coming week what they learned. Each was encouraged to choose one of those possible implementations and practice it. The following meeting would begin with a discussion of the implementation.

Author Bio

Curtis Barbarick was born and raised in Porterville, California. He completed a BA from Lubbock Christian University (1985) and an MS from Pepperdine University (1993). He completed his DMin at Abilene Christian University in 2014. Curtis has been married to Lisa (Cooper) Barbarick for 33 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Curtis served churches in California for over twenty years before relocating to Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Barbarick, Curtis (2015) "Preaching That Leads to Transformation," Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/discernment/vol1/iss1/2