Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation Christianese, Sainthood and Discourse Analysis - Peter Kenny
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Mar 17, 2026 Peter Kenny, pastor of Cork Baptist Church and seasoned Bible teacher, shares stories from early sermons to refined prep habits. He talks about ditching full manuscripts, keeping illustrations fresh, avoiding unexplained Christianese, and using discourse analysis and arcing to make textual logic clear. Expect practical reflections on training, delivery, and shaping sermons for diverse congregations.
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Define Christianese For Diverse Audiences
- Avoid unexplained Christianese; define terms like 'saints' or 'holy people' for diverse urban congregations so listeners actually track the meaning.
- Peter illustrated 'saints' with a simple church kitchen sign and temple utensils to show 'set apart for God's purposes.'
Kitchen Cloth Illustration For Saints
- When preaching 'saints' in Ephesians, Peter used a church kitchen sign about green cloths and temple utensils to communicate 'set apart' rather than debating Catholic canonization.
- He opted to explain Paul’s meaning briefly rather than launch a lengthy comparative theology sidebar.
Discourse Analysis Reveals Biblical Logic
- Discourse analysis (arcing) reveals how phrases connect logically and exposes the structure of biblical reality.
- Peter uses it to follow the text's grammar and syntax so his sermon mirrors the same logical patterns Paul intended.
