Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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and Christian discipleship.
According to Stewart, Christ's death defeated evil
and brought salvation to all. The goal of preaching? To
bring people into recognition of the salvation Christ has
provided and the fulness of the Christian life which
accompanies a response of faith.
Yet, there can be no doubt but what Stewart hoped
for radical change in his hearers as a result of
preaching. He encouraged preachers, "Never forget that
you are working for a verdict. You are hoping and
praying to leave your people face to face with God in
Christ." Preaching which brings disillusioned,
despairing persons to knowledge of God's love and power
transforms their lives. People led to place Christ in
the center of their existence discover his infinite
resources of peace and strength and become new
persons.'
Similarly. Fosdick saw preaching as a primary means
Of bringing people to a fuller Christian life. Fosdick
and Stewart, however, emphasized different spheres of
chancre in the Christian's life. Preaching for Christian
discipleship, in Stewart's thought, brings changes which
are largely personal, internal, and faith-centered. In
contrast, Fosdick praised preaching which brought hearers
to Christ-like living, i.e., external changes focussing
on man as a social being.
The simple word "help" summarizes Fosdick's
preaching goal. Light from life, Scripture, and, most