Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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Implement to serve a definite intent. So,
having chosen an object, I look for the
relevant truth, and at that point the Bible
invariably steps in.9.7
None of the four frequently chosen preachertheologians
gave such priority to the unique congregation
before each preacher. In fact, three of the four began
with content, rather than congregation. 5".3 Of the
four, only Tillich, like Fosdick, thought it wiser to
begin with contemporary questions. But Tillich focussed
on universal dilemmas, rather than particular issues
facing unique congregations.
Each of the four, however, would have defended his
method of selecting preaching themes, however, on the
basis of a Fosdickian reasoning. Lloyd-Jones, Stewart,
and Rahner said that systematic preaching of the great
Scriptural themes meets the needs of every congregation,
and, thus, the specific congregation before any preacher.
Likewise, Tillich considered preaching as the discussion
of questions common to all contemporary people.
It goes without saying that the Christian Gospel
(however defined) is good news, not merely because it it
true, no matter how important its verity may be. While,
for example, the multiplication tables are as true as the
Gospel, they are unimportant for preaching, as they do
not provide human fulfillment. Preachers focus on the
Christian Gospel because of its potential for meeting
human needs. It follows, then, that this standard--the
potential within a truth for helping persons attain
personal fulfillment within a relationship with