Choosing to Preach Discussion

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Kallie Hutton on Aug. 25, 2010 at 00:46

Induction may start with the listener, but it is not selfish. Jesus met people where they were at and explained things in terms they would understand (parables for example). Inductive preaching is doing the same thing; It starts in a place that the listeners knows, understands and can relate with and then moves to Scripture. Whether a sermon is inductive or deductive, both have to goal of bringing the Scriptures to light and offering application for today. Where one starts this journey, either with the life of the listener or in the Scriptures, is irrelevant.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Jeff Little on Feb. 01, 2010 at 17:41

It would be nice if people would always respond to a Doxology, but we have to reach the people where they are. Jesus made his messages simple where a child could understand it.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Danny Stebeck on Dec. 12, 2009 at 15:13

If one were to start with the premise that induction is inherently selfish and thus conversely that deduction is inherently not selfish then I would suggest this is a dangerous assertion. As other have pointed out below it is largely a debate about the starting point for the preacher. Selfishness, however, is a character trait of the fallen man that will plague the preacher the whole way through the process.

As a pentecostal believer I hold a keen anticipation that the Holy Spirit is working within me by his grace and sovereign will so that what comes from my effort is often beyond my understanding and above my abilities. Precisely so that God is glorified and I am not. Therefore I anticipate that God may develop a sermon within me that does not initially arise from a deductive study, but rather from a revealed word. Pentecostal spirituality requires also that all such activity be carefully weighed against the authority of the bible, but it has nonetheless the visible traits of induction.

I recognize the ease with which inductive approaches can be selfish or self serving but because of the work of the Spirit within the preacher I cannot suggest that there is anything inherently selfish about induction.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Shiya Janzen on Sep. 28, 2009 at 23:32

I don’t believe that induction is inherently selfish, just like deduction is not inherently selfish. Either can become selfish, as a starting point, if the motivation is wrong. If a congregation is suffering under a burden of bitterness, as suggested in the book, and the preacher chooses to ignore that in favour of a preferred or more comfortable deductively initiated passage, then I would see that as selfish. A preacher could as easily attempt to deal with “issue after issue” but fail to provide a foundation for growth beyond. A healthy environment might be better generated by an interplay of both types – situation dependent. As long as the people are being served by, edified by, the proclamation of God’s word I would have difficulty in calling the method selfish.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Chris Maclure on Mar. 26, 2009 at 12:57

All I have to bring to God is who I am at this moment. The presence of successes, failures, scars, fears, sin, and human will are a reality. These are to be openly presented before God in order for him to address them. "Search me, O God, and know my heart…know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me" (Ps 139:23-24). The Psalmist reveals this is a precursor to, "[leading] me in the way everlasting" (24b). Where this approach is wrong is when there is no desire to change these "offensive ways". When we humbly confess our current realities to God, it provides an avenue through which he forgives, and molds our hearts into the individuals he desires us to be.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by John Moerman on Feb. 22, 2009 at 16:34

The discussion is essentially whether preaching should come from the student’s (preacher’s) needs, i.e. inductive study, or whether it should come from a scriptural, exegetical and deductive approach. I believe that Holy Spirit can work from the student’s life and inductive study. Excellent communication and preparation will assist the work. The student’s life struggle and inductive study is going to be another’s as well. Holy Spirit will use the similarity for teaching and encouragement. If this is the student’s intention, it is not a selfish act.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Jeff Edwards on Feb. 16, 2009 at 12:54

Yes, induction is inherently selfish, but like others have written below, so what? We react against "selfish" because it is a negative word. Perhaps we should say "self starting". We always start with the self: we see things through our own eyes, with our current presuppositions, in the world we are currently living, with the aches and pains of today. Acknowledging this is just being honest.

Starting with the self is honest. If we stay here, the negative judgment of "selfish" then becomes deserved. A submissive approach to the Word of God is certainly what God intends in the end. We don’t have to start here, but we do have to end here. God wants to have the final say.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Kevin O'Coin on Jan. 15, 2009 at 19:52

Though, strictly speaking, inductive and deductive methodologies are opposite, it is not the case that they cannot both exist in the same sermon. The key term here is "starting point." I do not agree that it is wrong to start from where we are — our own culture, understandings, experiences. Even the exegetical task first demands that we take stock of our biases, so we can try to minimize the effect they have on our interpretation. So we begin with what we know, but we don’t stay there. Instead, we take these inductive factors and submit our ideas and experiences to the authority of Scripture. Once we know what we believe and the preacher has gotten our attention, leaning on the unparalleled authority of the Bible is fair game — otherwise, it’s not preaching so much as self-help.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Yong Wang on Oct. 30, 2008 at 22:33

Induction is not inherently selfish. If it is selfish, for whose interest does induction serve? It is definitely not serving the preacher’s own interest. On the contrary, it serves the listeners’ interests. Starting with the listener, the primary concern of induction is the listener’s struggles in their life. The purpose is to lead the listener to submission and obedience in front of God. This is the primary purpose of preaching.

Even in deduction preaching, the induction part is very important as it speaks to the listener’s heart and helps listeners solve their problems. Many preachers do use a lot of induction while doing deduction preaching. The point is that when the induction process leads the listeners to certain Bible passage, it has to be faithful to the Scripture. Induction is challenging for preachers who are used to give remote lectures which are difficult for listeners to apply in their lives. Induction works well for people with induction learning style. Because of its difficulty in handling the scripture and people’s different learning styles, it is important to avoid using induction preaching all the time. Good balance between induction and deduction will be more beneficial to the congregation. We need both.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Tom Reynolds on Oct. 16, 2007 at 01:20

God took human life as the starting point of his biblical narrative so why shouldn’t we do the same? Jesus usually began with his hearer’s lives. The Samaritan woman at the well is a good example. She wanted to talk about big theological questions like which mountain is the best for worshipping God. Jesus wanted to talk about how many husbands she had and who she was currently living with. Through this the woman understood that Jesus knew her as only God can know a person and she accepted that he could provide living water. If by beginning with the student’s life the word of God will be heard then by all means because God desires to talk to selves whether selfish or not.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Brad Olsen on Jan. 30, 2007 at 22:55

Inductive study, taking the hearer’s life as the starting point for a sermon, is appropriate because it is often true that searching hearers come to the sermon with pressing needs and concerns. I think it is responsible for the preacher to respond to these felt needs. At the same time, I would hope that as the hearer grows spiritually that he or she would begin to take a more submissive approach to the Bible.

re: #9 - Is Induction Selfish?

Posted by Steve Driediger on Jan. 24, 2007 at 18:04

Acts 3 tells the story of Peter’s ‘sermon’ to the onlookers who happened to witness – or caming running to see – Peter heal a beggar. Seizing the opportunity, Peter preaches to them. And he begins with an exegesis of the lives of his listeners. Then he demonstrates how the scriptures reveal that Jesus was sent from God for their salvation.
Induction is not an inherently selfish when done with the right motive – to let the word of God rule over his people.