Posted by - Preaching with Power
- Preaching With Power – Dr. Benjamin Reaves
- Preaching With Power – Dr. Hyveth Williams
- Preaching with Power – Walter Pearson
- Preaching With Power – G. Ralph Thompson
- Preaching with Power – Dr. Barry Black
- Preaching with Power – Charles Bradford
- Preaching with Power – C. D. Brooks
- Preaching with Power – E. E. Cleveland
- Preaching with Power – Dr. James Doggette
- Preaching with Power – Dr. John Nixon
- Preaching with Power – Henry Wright
- Preaching With Power Concludes
The next interview is with Charles Bradford. Elder Bradford has had a very productive career within adventism including becoming the first AFrican American to be elected presdient of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. His career has been largely as an evangelist and church administrator.
Understanding of Preaching
Elder Bradford’s theology of preaching is based in the fact that God is the source of all preaching. Bradford emphasizes that the “preacher is one amoung many” in a “preaching community.”
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Method of Sermon Preparation
Elder Bradford states that his method of sermon preparation is from the New York Theological Seminary. The approach consists of first looking at the text noting “words, events, thoughts, and nuances.” Next he suggests that we develop a theme from this observation and from study. Bradford notes that he believs that one can get a theme from any text. Then Elder Bradford writes out an outline. After completion of the outline, Elder Bradford sets the sermon aside for “a few days.” After that he puts on the flesh.
This time is important to Bradford who states that it takes a long time to put a sermon together. He compares it to the growing of a good crop of strawberries. It takes a long time.
One cannot forget that the preparing of the preacher is very important. Elder Bradford suggests that we make use of the Mystical Disciplines. This is interesting in that one is not often used to hearing Adventists talk about this, but we usually use the terms prayer, meditation, study, etc. I think that such a revival of these disciplines is very much needed today.
Understanding of Adventist Preaching
Elder Bradford’s section of the book says very little about traditional Adventist preaching which is surprising in that he has much to say about it in his book Preaching to the Times. That book is a very valuable addition to any Advnetist preacher’s library. In future weeks I hope to discuss that book in this blog. But Elder Bradford gives some hints on his thinking on Adventist Preaching in this intereview. First Elder Bradford emphasizes that his influences on preaching came from Adventist sources. Also Elder Bradford seeks to emphasize that we cannot fall into the trap of the “wealth and success…pop psychology” gospel. Next Elder Bradford talks about using Advnetist sources like the Adventist Bible Commentary as well as other commentaries from other denominational traditions.
Elder Bradford reminds us, without saying their names, that we cannot fall into the trap of making the gospel pop-psychology or about wealth and success down here.
Understanding of Black Preaching
Elder Bradford believes that Black preaching is “issue oriented.” Here Black preaching addresses issues that are important to the Black community. Elder Bradford however is quick to state that the Gospel is greater than any Black or White issue and transcends them both.
I think that Elder Bradford’s concern of a Gospel that is only relevant to or only worries about issues in one community can be problamatic. I think it is interesting that other Black Preachers are wrestling with this issue. Henry Mitchell stated that he beleives that the hope of American Christnaity is in the hands of the Black Church. The idea was that the black church has always stood with the weak and poor and thus represents a struggle for rightness in the world. Not just in terms of Race, but of all who are oppressed.
I am also reminded of a class in the Theology and ministry of the Black Church by Dr. Forrest Harris. The teacher tried to emphasize that when the Black church is true to its principles of equality it is relevant to more than just black people.
Finally, I am reminded of Pastor Frank Thomas who wrote “They Like to Never Quit Praising God.” In his lectures on the Book he teaches that we become universal through our very particularism. In other words when a Black preacher goes deep enough into his/her own expereince the preacher teaches a universal Gospel.
I think Elder Bradford reminds us like these other voices that our Gospel cannot become provincial and only applicable to a certain group. But like these other voices, I think that Black “issue” teaching can become universal or trasncendent if we, as Frank Thomas states, push it.
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What are the “mystical disciplines”?
They are usually referred to as the spiritual disciplines, but that is not common terminology in Adventist circles either. While the terminology is not common to Adventists, the concepts are very common. Here are some examples of the spiritual (mystical)disciplines: prayer, bible study, meditation, fasting, simplicity, service, worship, guidance, etc.
See Robert Foster’s Celebration of Discipline.
Ah, yes. The spiritual disciplins I am aware of. I don’t think the word “mystical” is kosher in Adventist parlance.
Dear Sherman,
This is your college chum James McWilliams, from the Belltower Ministry. It’s cool to find you online, after previously spending time with you at both Oakwood and Vanderbilt. Are you still working on your master’s degree? Do you have a family? I’m married with a 5-month-old son.
As you may recall I’m also both a lawyer and long-term journalist. If you know of any job openings that could use any of my experience, please let me know. My resume follows:
JAMES D. McWILLIAMS
1413 Robin Lane, El Cajon, CA • (803) 467-4123 • jmcwilliams56@sprintpcs.com
EXPERIENCE
ROBBINS UMEDA & FINK, San Diego, CA.
Attorney: I have worked on shareholder derivative cases seeking to hold corporate directors and officers accountable for illegal insider trading and for other wrongdoing. In particular, I have drafted initial complaints, motions and discovery documents in many cases involving federal and state law. I also have had leadership experience supervising paralegals and secretaries. July 2006 – .
THE STATE NEWSPAPER, Columbia, SC.
Business News Reporter: I have done investigative reporting on the legal and medical industries for South Carolina’s largest newspaper. I helped develop a database of information on top lobbyists and their clients, and I performed an in-depth analysis of the truth or falsity of claims on both sides of the tort-reform debate. I have shown leadership by serving on a company committee to improve workplace ethics. The quality of my work has been noted by a national journalism-industry organization. Dec. 2003-June 2006.
FREEDOM FORUM FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER, Nashville, TN.
Legal Researcher and Writer: I researched and wrote about religious liberty and free-speech issues for a national nonprofit group that promotes legal education. As my largest project, I wrote the center’s first comprehensive, published summary of legal issues relating to comic-book censorship. 2003.
OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR MAX CLELAND, Washington, D.C.
Summer Legislative Assistant: I worked for Senator Cleland doing research and writing on legal and political topics of every kind. Summer 2002.
KING & BALLOW LAW OFFICES, Nashville, TN.
Summer Associate and Writer for First Amendment Comment:
I worked in the litigation section, doing legal research and writing for lawyers, writing legal-news articles for publication, and attending depositions. My work included helping a client with an intellectual-property dispute involving a medical Web site, and researching and writing a comprehensive survey of advertising restrictions on gambling, alcohol and tobacco. Summer 2001.
THE HUNTSVILLE TIMES, Huntsville, AL.
Business/Technology News Reporter: I investigated and reported on the technology industry, including an intellectual-property dispute involving Intel. My work was praised in a national trade magazine. November 1991-August 2000.
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE, Tampa, FL.
Summer Intern: I reported on high-profile court cases, police news and general-interest news, and edited local news stories. I also worked briefly in the art department creating illustrations. Summers 1991, 1992.
EDUCATION
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, Nashville, TN.
Doctor of Jurisprudence, with Law and Business Certificate, May 2003.
Activities: Bass Berry & Sims First Amendment Moot Court Competition, Christian Legal Society, Black Law Students Association.
Recognition: Vanderbilt Scholastic Excellence Awards, Fall 2001, for highest grade in Introduction to Federal Taxation of Individuals, and Spring 2002, for highest grade in Evidence. I had other A’s in negotiations and digital-media law.
OAKWOOD COLLEGE, Huntsville, AL.
Bachelor of Arts, Communications, cum laude, June 1993.
Activities: Editor in chief of Spreading Oak campus newspaper, member of Executive Committee of United Student Movement (student government leader), co-founder and public-relations manager of Belltower Ministries, radio writer/announcer for WOAK (low-powered AM radio station).
Recognition: Winner of Dow Jones Newspaper Fund scholarships, 1991-92. Winner of Huntsville Times/Newhouse Foundation Scholarship 1991.
BAR ADMISSION
STATE OF TENNESSEE, since June 2005.
PERSONAL
Hobbies include drawing, painting and videography, which I once developed into a small business. I was chief videographer at churches at Nashville, TN, and Columbia, SC, from November 2002 to June 2006. I am experienced using a Videonics video mixer and directing two to three camera operators during live video recordings and online broadcasts. I also have experience using Quark XPress and Illustrator, and I am learning to use Flash and Poser animation software.
REFERENCES
Available on request.