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Table of Contents
Conversion Information
By Calvin Miller
Most of those who also attend Protestant/evangelical churches are aware that churches exist to tell them how to be saved. Most who come are aware that Jesus called himself Savior. They expect the sermon and the worship service to provide the information they need to come to God.
GROWTH INFORMATION
Whatever the meaning of the word "conversion," most who hear a sermon will generally feel they are already converted. These feel that the church should provide post-conversion information that will help them grow in grace. Marketplace Christians will not long attend churches that do not give them practical help.
FUTURE-USE INFORMATION
Another feeling of those who attend church is that pulpit truth ought to be cumulative: They are there to build up a continually growing edifice of biblical understanding. They want to collect a store of spiritual information against some undefined future time of need.
DAILY COPING INFORMATION
Speaking to real problems is the big task of the sermon, for most who attend are not interested in saving their eternal souls but in saving the current day. Indeed, to their way of thinking, we save their souls only by saving their days.
INDICATIVE AND INDUCTIVE TRUTH
The relationship between inductive and indicative preaching is one of giving the listeners the blocks and letting them build. The word "inductive" implies leadership without coercion. The marketplace mind-set cannot be forced. In this age of Narcissus, the ego is sovereign. For the wise pulpiteer, this means that induction is not merely a means of preaching the gospel—it is the means.
 As induction is in and coercion is out, so indicative is in and imperative is out. "Thus saith the Lord" will always be welcome in the authentic biblical pulpit, but the authority that shouts imperatives must be clearly viewed as coming from Scripture.
STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THE BASIC INGREDIENTS
Staying in touch with the listener's basic needs will determine whether we as preachers are good at our art. We must know and understand the diverse worlds with which they deal.
INDEXING THE CONTENT OF THEIR DECISION
The Bible, accepted by marketplace Christians, must become a users/consumers guide to life.
The sermon is there serving as an index as to what things count. This is the most effective way the marketplace pulpit can put the price tags on consumer religion.
How does this work? The preacher less and less says, "don't sin." He or she leaves that to the discretion (or indiscretion) of the marketplace auditors. He or she says in effect: "Are you tempted to commit adultery? Very well, but here's what adultery costs!" "Do you want a divorce? Then expect to pay this amount."
THE USE OF PRECEPTS
The Scripture Precept
In this story-oriented culture, we may be prone to neglect the repetition of precepts. But great sermons are ever a mixture of parable and precept. From the standpoint of selecting a sermon logo from the focal verse, it should be stated as the precept from which the single focus of the sermon is drawn.
The Cultural Epigram
Occasionally, the strong focus of the sermon may be based on a cultural epigram. For instance, I once preached on the McDonald's slogan, "You deserve a break today." This cultural epigram served the sermon well because it was tied to a scriptural admonition on Sabbath rest (Hebrews 3:14ff).
Quoting Recognized Authorities
Names themselves are the best source of legitimizing truth.
FURNISHING ILLUSTRATIONS WITH AUTHORITY
Assigning Definition to Illustrations
Illustrations gain a kind of authority for the sermon. Adding the names of people, places, and objects serves to make a sermon illustration cry to the hearers, "I am a real story; hear me out!"
Personalizing a Story with Your Involvement
When using a quote in a sermon, relate the story to your own life experience if it is possible. It is especially good to illustrate with current events. But these, too, must have definition. Remember, no one would respect an anchorperson who said, "There was heavy fighting somewhere today." A current event is just that. Events mandate the citation of geography and time, names, and meaning.
Calvin Miller
This article is abridged from the author's book, Marketplace Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995), and is used by permission.
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