T., thank you for a meaningful and competent post; the aspect of love you touched on is fundamental for any preacher. As it is said in the Bible, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together.” (Col. 3: 14). The approach you have chosen when establishing intercultural communication based on love certainly commands respect; it includes love for both God and surrounding people. “Reverence for God, admiration for God, worship of God, glorification of God, obedience to God”1 can act as feelings that unite people of different cultures. This prescription obliges a person to love with his mind, heart, and will. Love for God is expressed in the fulfillment of His commandments. To love God means to accept all His gifts, all the qualities given by Him, all His prescriptions2. As one of these commandments prescribes to love surrounding people like oneself, it is necessary to be guided by this commandment.
M., thank you for your detailed and structured post; your idea of planning a sermon is interesting because it is an essential aspect of cross-cultural communication. Indeed, a sermon is not just a free speech on a spiritual topic or even a review of some texts of the Holy Scripture. It is a complete speech with a specific topic, introduction, central part, and conclusion. “A preacher is called to be a man of prayer “(1 Tim. 2: 8); therefore, special attention should be paid to preparing a sermon. It is especially important if the speech concerns a conversation with people of a different cultural background0. Planning a sermon is one of the most challenging tasks in the ministry of a preacher0. It is necessary to build a speech in the best possible way at the moment, based on what the Lord wants to say to the parishioners right now.
Bibliography
Lingenfelter, Sherwood. “Leading Cross-Culturally.” In Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership, edited by Stella Ting-Toomey, 76- 88. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008.
Lingenfelter, Sherwood. “Pathways to Empower. ” In Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership, edited by Stella Ting-Toomey, 43- 76. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008.
Siewert, Frances, ed. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. Michigan: Zondervan, 2015.
Footnotes
- Sherwood Lingenfelter, “Pathways to Empower,” in Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership, ed. Stella Ting-Toomey (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008), 45.
- Sherwood Lingenfelter, “Leading Cross-Culturally,” in Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership, ed. Stella Ting-Toomey (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008), 82.
- Sherwood Lingenfelter, “Pathways to Empower,” in Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership, ed. Stella Ting-Toomey (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008), 51.
- Sherwood Lingenfelter, “Leading Cross-Culturally,” in Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership, ed. Stella Ting-Toomey (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008), 81.