Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Douglas Balzer, DMin

Second Advisor

David Phillips, DMin

Third Advisor

Leonard I. Sweet, PhD

Abstract

The Protestant Church in the United States has enjoyed a rich history of monological preaching in the local church throughout its history. However, Jesus’ ministry, Scripture, and our culture’s advancing dialogical pedagogy point to the need for the local church to create dialogical preaching experiences. The age of the internet has also been a driving force in creating circular learning styles that demand the church take notice and discover how this model can be deployed to better shape and grow our people as pastors. While some argue this is impractical or even altogether unhelpful, others believe that creating dialog again in the church house as was once enjoyed in house churches at the birth of the church, must be done if it is going to continue to engage its culture in a method that effectively disciples emerging generations. The current small group model deployed by many contemporary churches misses the mark in that it does not provide a conduit of real-time engagement with the message. This project seeks to provide key insights from those leading the way in creating dialogical experiences as well as pastoral perspectives on the issue. An effort is made to point out obstacles as well as provide leadership solutions for how such a shift could be made by training church lay leaders, creating creative sharing opportunities and leveraging technology, and leading toward a long-term dialogical model. If a dialogical setting were provided for in churches across our country during or after the word is preached, many could be released in ministry to share what the Holy Spirit was speaking to them uniquely in regard to the Word.

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