Hebrews, Its Message,:Part-6 - Learning How to Argue Your Case More Effectively

We need to keep in mind that the Bible in early Christian times was more often heard when read aloud to a group than read privately; very few early Christians owned copies of the Bible, and some did not known how to read. This is why preaching was so central to the early Christian worship. Teaching the Bible involved hearing more than reading. The early Christian preachers implemented what rhetoricians had learned and practiced. Consider these traits of of the Greco-Roman rhetoricians. They" 1. Authoritatively proclaimed the truth. 2. Spoke with urgency & without hesitation. 3. Invoked metaphors to sensorily involve hearers' imaginations and emotions. 4. Their statements were emphatic and all other ideas are outrageous. 5. Pronouncements have global and eternal ramifications. Rhetoric is the art and science of persuasion. Effective rhetoric involves: relevant content and engaging style leading to responsive persuasion. What preachers can learn from an understanding of the Ancient Greek principles of Rhetoric: (i) Preach with a sense of clarity about you are saying. (ii) Prepare your message around the rhetorical structure. (iii) Plan what you will stress and how you will do it (especially your conclusion and exhortation). (iv) Practice before you preach