PR1510 Telling the Story Luther Seminary

Logos ( text, Jesus ) Pathos Ethos (Congregation) (Preacher) THE PREACHING TRIANGLE

WE ARE TEXT INTERPRETERS EVERY DAY…

 “The convergence of text and reader brings the literary work into existence.” Wolfgang Iser  Self-interpretation critical for biblical interpretation  What glasses are you wearing? Through what lenses do you see?  Contextuality, large and small.  Large, who are you in the larger society?  Small, e.g., The Good Samaritan – title, never called good in the parable  We all have points of view  Milton—sin is being blind to ourselves and our limited point of view, but it is also just the case for mortals  Do you like God in the epic? Why not? Sin INTERPRETING OURSELVES…

 All people are theologians/Christians are particular theologians  A process and a craft – working with various resources, applying certain skills  Doing theology, not just having a theology  Theology – study of God  totality of things having to do with religious life  function of God  knowing of God, rather than about God, not just about doctrine THINKING THEOLOGICALLY

 Embedded theology verses deliberative  Day-to-day decisions based on embedded theology  Deliberative theology emerges from a process of carefully reflecting on embedded theological convictions, usually crisis DOING THEOLOGY

 What is God doing in this text?  What is God’s particular word to us in this text?  What is God up to?  Who is God? THEOLOGICAL

 How does this text speak to the human condition?  How does the text talk about our brokenness or sin?  What are we in need of? HUMAN CONDITION/LAW

 How does the text contribute to an understanding of the person and work of Christ?  What has Christ done for us?  What does Christ continue to do for us?  What is the portrait of Christ that is being presented? CHRISTOLOGICAL

 What does this text claim about our salvation or atonement?  How does the text convey an understanding of salvation?  What are the saving acts of God? SOTERIOLOGICAL

 What does this text say about the end times?  What does this text communicate about our future life with God? ESCHATOLOGICAL

 What does the text communicate about the church?  What is the nature or meaning of the church, the community of the faithful, the work of the church?  What does it say about living as a community in Christ? ECCLESIOLOGICAL

What does the text say about Holy Spirit? Who or what is the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit up to? PNEUMATOLOGICAL

 What does the text say about living out our faith?  What does this text have to say about living life before God?  Is there a called for response to what God has done?  How does the text speak about being a disciple of Jesus? EMBODYING THE GOSPEL