Redemptive-historical preaching has incredible value to strengthen the preacher's arsenal, but its more radical proponents often resort to unyielding exclusivism, labeling non-conformist sermons as sub-Christian or worse. These exclusivistic leanings inevitably result in an unintended castigation of many faithful preachers throughout church history. Even a preacher like Martin Luther, with a near-universal reputation for Christ-centeredness, is unable to survive this redemptive-historical gauntlet unscathed. This dissertation contends that Martin Luther’s preaching fails to satisfy redemptive-historical standards for Christ-centered preaching, thereby suggesting those standards may be too narrow. The law-gospel paradigm in Luther's Christ-centered homiletic may function as a corrective to the potential overreach among redemptive-historical exclusivists. Certain criteria suggest Luther’s preaching fails to satisfy redemptive-historical standards. Bryan Chapell offers a succinct and well-tested litmus test for redemptive-historical sermons in his important work, Christ-Centered Preaching. Chapell outlines three types of non-redemptive sermons, aptly labeled "Deadly Be's:" (1) "Be Like" messages, which urge hearers to follow a Bible character's example, (2) "Be Good" sermons, which call hearers to obedience, and (3) "Be Disciplined" messages, which compel hearers towards greater diligence. Chapell's "Deadly Be's" will be used to measure Luther's redemptive-historical compliance. Chapter 1 introduces the main research problem and the thesis. Chapter 2 further introduces redemptive-historical preaching and its potential for exclusivism. Chapter 3 establishes Martin Luther as a potential corrective to the exclusivistic leanings of redemptive-historical preaching. Chapter 4 explores Luther's homiletical distinctives, with particular attention given to his law-gospel paradigm. Chapter 5 analyzes four sermons of the early Luther. Chapter 6 analyzes six sermons from Luther’s preaching in mid-career. Chapter 7 investigates six sermons from Luther’s preaching in his final years. Chapter 8 summarizes the basic principles gleaned from Luther's practices in an attempt to present a homiletical methodology for preaching Christ more effectively. Chapter 9 summarizes the main research problem and the effectiveness of Luther's preaching as a potential corrective. In many ways, his preaching both spawned and saved the Reformation. Those who desire to preach Christ more effectively should seriously reckon with his unique contribution to homiletics.

Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study, is a dissertation wherein Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by AP Church preachers, is being investigated to determine to what extend it complies with the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. This research found that the preaching from the patriarchal narratives by participating preachers of the AP Church, does not truly answer to the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. A clearly defined Christocentric approach which set out the basic principles for responsible Christocentric preaching, would improve the Christocentricity of Old Testament preaching, more specifically the patriarchal narratives, in the AP Church. A modified version of Osmers’ practical-theological model was utilized as method of research. It entails hermeneutical and normative, empirical and interpretative, as well as strategic aspects. The following goals are set for the study: Hermeneutical and normative i) To determine perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching regarding passages from Genesis 12-50. Empirical and interpretative ii) To determine to what extend sermons in the AP Church based on passages from Genesis 12-50, are truly Christocentric. iii) To determine to what extend preachers of the AP Church consciously make use of a base theory regarding Christocentric preaching when preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. Strategically To provide effective, yet Biblical guidelines for Christocentric preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. In order to reach the above mentioned goals, the following aspects are discussed in the course of the study: Perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching are determined by, among others, illuminating the unique nature and specific characteristics of the Hebrew narrative. The focus on the hermeneutical challenge offers perspectives on decisive considerations when handling Scripture, an exegetical method conducive to Christocentric preaching, as well as perspectives on a meaningful transition to Christ from the Old Testament text. The focus on the homiletic challenge indicates expository preaching as the most appropriate vehicle for responsible Christocentric preaching. From the hermeneutical and normative perspectives, a certain criteria is derived which served as a guideline for the evaluation of sixteen sermons and devotions by AP Church preachers in order to determine their Christocentricity. Flowing from this, six themes are determined on the basis of which unstructured interviews with five preachers of the AP Church are conducted. These analyses and interviews show the absence of a clearly formulated base theory regarding Christocentric preaching at participating AP Church preachers. Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study offers guidelines for responsible Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by concentrating on certain points of departure in respect of the Old Testament, key hermeneutical aspects, a meaningful transition from the Old Testament to Christ as well as important homiletic aspects. / Thesis (MTh (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study, is a dissertation wherein Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by AP Church preachers, is being investigated to determine to what extend it complies with the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. This research found that the preaching from the patriarchal narratives by participating preachers of the AP Church, does not truly answer to the basic principles of Christocentric preaching. A clearly defined Christocentric approach which set out the basic principles for responsible Christocentric preaching, would improve the Christocentricity of Old Testament preaching, more specifically the patriarchal narratives, in the AP Church. A modified version of Osmers’ practical-theological model was utilized as method of research. It entails hermeneutical and normative, empirical and interpretative, as well as strategic aspects. The following goals are set for the study: Hermeneutical and normative i) To determine perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching regarding passages from Genesis 12-50. Empirical and interpretative ii) To determine to what extend sermons in the AP Church based on passages from Genesis 12-50, are truly Christocentric. iii) To determine to what extend preachers of the AP Church consciously make use of a base theory regarding Christocentric preaching when preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. Strategically To provide effective, yet Biblical guidelines for Christocentric preaching on passages from Genesis 12-50. In order to reach the above mentioned goals, the following aspects are discussed in the course of the study: Perspectives from Scripture for the research concept Christocentric preaching are determined by, among others, illuminating the unique nature and specific characteristics of the Hebrew narrative. The focus on the hermeneutical challenge offers perspectives on decisive considerations when handling Scripture, an exegetical method conducive to Christocentric preaching, as well as perspectives on a meaningful transition to Christ from the Old Testament text. The focus on the homiletic challenge indicates expository preaching as the most appropriate vehicle for responsible Christocentric preaching. From the hermeneutical and normative perspectives, a certain criteria is derived which served as a guideline for the evaluation of sixteen sermons and devotions by AP Church preachers in order to determine their Christocentricity. Flowing from this, six themes are determined on the basis of which unstructured interviews with five preachers of the AP Church are conducted. These analyses and interviews show the absence of a clearly formulated base theory regarding Christocentric preaching at participating AP Church preachers. Christocentric preaching in the AP Church – a practical theological study offers guidelines for responsible Christocentric preaching from the patriarchal narratives by concentrating on certain points of departure in respect of the Old Testament, key hermeneutical aspects, a meaningful transition from the Old Testament to Christ as well as important homiletic aspects. / Thesis (MTh (Homiletics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.