Kreatiewe prediking as die sigbaarmaking van ou en nuwe dinge en die verryking van die luisteraksie deur middel van preekgesprekke

Abstract

Uit die kerklike praksis blyk dat goed bedoelde prediking wat op ’n biddende wyse gelewer word, meermale skipbreuk ly as gevolg van ’n vervelige aanbieding waarna die hoorders moet luister. Tussen die blote hoor van en ’n diepgaande en kreatiewe manier van luister na die prediking bestaan ’n groot verskil. Predikers moet dus oefen en hulself toerus om in hulle preekvoorbereiding en preeklewering meer kreatief gerig te wees. Kreatiewe prediking open nuwe en dinamiese perspektiewe vir die hoorders. In die lig hiervan word die volgende navorsingsvraag as die doel van hierdie navorsing geformuleer: In hoe ’n mate rus predikers hulle hoorders op ’n kreatiewe manier toe om kreatief deel te neem en na die prediking te luister sodat dít wat gesê en bedoel word, die hoorders se lewe kan beïnvloed? Ten einde hierdie navorsingsvraag te beantwoord, word die probleemveld uit verskillende prakties-teologiese invalshoeke verken en metateoretiese perspektiewe word uit die velde van die Sosiale Psigologie en die Kunsgeskiedenis ontgin. Hierdeur word insig ten opsigte van die vorming en die funksionering van kreatiwiteit verkry. Perspektiewe uit 2 Samuel 17 en Matteus 13:13–15, 52 word verken. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat persepsies oor die prediker en die prediking verlammend kan inwerk en selfs daartoe aanleiding kan gee dat hoorders die kerk verlaat. Die bevinding is dat dialoog voor die preeklewering die dialogiese gerigtheid van die prediking as deel van die liturgie van die gemeente, asook die preekgesprekke na afloop van die prediking, daartoe kan meewerk dat verkeerde persepsies reggestel word en dat ’n gemeente ’n pratende gemeente word wat deur diepgaande kommunikasie gevoed word.

Creative preaching as visualisation of old and new things with particular reference to ecclesiastical discourses as enrichment of the act of listening. Ecclesiastical praxis indicates that preaching faces obstacles caused by the dreariness of sermons, regardless of the good intentions of preachers. There is a vast difference between hearing sermons and listening to sermons in a creative manner. Preachers should equip themselves to be more creative in the preparation and delivery of sermons. Creative preaching opens up new perspectives to hearers. In the light of this problematic praxis, the following research question has been formulated: To what extent do preachers equip their listeners in a dialogue situation to listen creatively in a profound manner with the objective to see clearly what the Word of God demands of them? In order to address this research question, the problem is investigated by taking into account the present Practical Theological vantage points concerning this field and by trying to get a grasp on metatheoretical perspectives from the fields of Social Psychology and the History of Art. The author investigates the challenging process of creative preaching as well as the importance of equipping hearers in becoming participants in the preparation of sermons through the process of ecclesiastical and sermon discussions. Perspectives from 2 Samuel 17 and Matthew 13:13–15, 52 will be explored with regard to the role of creativity in preaching. The conclusion is reached that a lack in creative preaching and commitment to the act of preaching are indeed endangering this ecclesiastical praxis. It may even be the cause of listeners leaving the church. Preachers should utilise creativity in preparing their sermons and should also focus on the custom of sermon discussions before and after delivering their sermons. In addition, preachers should endeavour to stimulate feedback of the sermons, for in this way fallacious views of reality could be rectified. Congregations should become discussant communities nurtured through profound communication.