In the interest of a more complete exchange between (a) brethren in Christ from every ethnic background and (b) fostering more careful sermon listening, I thought I’d link to the entire sermon that landed Jeremiah Wright in so much trouble, the “God damn America” sermon. The sermon is actually called “Confusing God and Government.” To find the sermon, scroll down to the bottom of the post and you should find a media player with the full audio of the sermon. Also, you’ll see extended excerpts from the sermon posted by CNN contributor Roland Martin.
I’d be interested in your thoughts about the sermon, not just the reactions already circulating around the media, but your technical critiques as a preacher or a consumer of preaching. All are welcome.
Here are some questions that might be helpful as you listen:
1. What passage of Scripture is the preacher considering?
2. What are the major points of the sermon?
3. Do the major points/content of the sermon grow out of the text itself? Are the preacher’s points the same points made by the text?
4. Does the preacher adequately situate the text and the sermon in the context of the chapter, book, and Bible?
5. How does the preacher illustrate his points? Are the illustrations helpful?
6. What are the preacher’s main applications? Are the applications clearly related to the main point of the passage? How would you evaluate the usefulness of the applications?
7. Does the preacher make the gospel clear and urge his hearers to respond to the gospel?
8. What improvements might you recommend?
Answer one or all of the questions if you like. Again, the spirit I’m hoping to engender in this conversation is one of cross-cultural exposure and understanding, careful and charitable critique, and prayer for the Lord’s body and His pulpit. I’ll post every comment that embodies that spirit–whether critical, appreciative or indifferent. No one should feel disenfranchised because they’re from a particular ethnic group or another. Critics inside and outside the African American church experience are welcome and encouraged to comment.
And the MEC (“the most edifying critique”) Award will go to the best five answers received on or before Friday, March 28th. If the winners are interested, I’ll send them a copy of either The Faithful Preacher or The Decline of African American Theology.
Grace and peace
