Special Issues: Humor and Emotions

Question 1

What are six functions of humor in the pulpit?

Answer 1

i. Puts life and mistakes in perspective.
ii. Humor reminds us of our fragile nature as humans.
iii. Humor is a preparation phase for faith. – I’m not God and I don’t run the world.
iv. Quality of transcendence/connection
v. Serves as a coping mechanism
vi. A Christian Virtue

Question 2

What is appropriate use of humor in the pulpit?

Answer 2

1. Does it just come out in the natural unfolding of a sermon or of a story?
2. Sarcasm can be appropriate when self-directed.

Question 3

According to Mary Shore, what are three caveat of humor in preaching?

Answer 3

1. Humor is sometimes offensive in ways the speaker doesn’t intend.
2. Preaching is not about the preacher’s cleverness.
3. Most of us are not as funny as we think we are.

Question 4

According to Mary Shore, why should humor be used in a sermon.

Answer 4

1. Biblical texts often feature humor.
2. Humor strengthens the connection between speaker and hearers.
3. Humor participates in the play that characterizes faith.

Question 5

According to Mary Shore, what are the four dimensions of humor?

Answer 5

1. Superiority.
2. Incongruity.
3. Relief.
4. Play.

Question 6

According to Mary Shore, name a few constructive observations about humor in the sermon.

Answer 6

Listen to other voices about your use of humor in the pulpit.
Good preaching rejects using humor as a way to avoid the tragic.
Good preaching uses humor like any appropriate rhetorical device.
Humor can communicate the gospel in ways that serious discourse can’t.

Question 7

According to Dr. Bland, what is the key to the use of emotions in the pulpit?

Answer 7

Root preacher’s emotional expression in the emotional context and content of the text. The demands of the passage, not the fleeting feelings of the preacher, determine whether an emotion is authentic.

Question 8

What does Dr. Bland say about reserving one’s emotions in the pulpit?

Answer 8

Reserve in emotion is more powerful than full expression of those emotions.

Question 9

Is it ever necessary to preach with emotion that one does not feel?

Answer 9

Yes. Introverts need to step outside of themselves. Sometimes we express Christ in our emotion instead of ourselves. It can be a selfless act.