Contemporary Protestant Homiletical Inquiry Based on the Lectures of Two Prominent Scholars

Abstract

The study examines the crisis and renewal efforts of contemporary Protestant homiletics through the Lyman Beecher Lectures of two prominent authorities: German Lutheran theologian Alexander Deeg and American Methodist bishop William Willimon. The research reveals that both speakers diagnose a serious crisis in present-day Protestant preaching, primarily caused by an anthropocentric shift: theology has been replaced by anthropology, God has been marginalized, and “speech about God” has turned into “speech about human experiences.” Deeg supports his claims with empirical data showing the dramatic decline in membership within German churches and the weakening of biblical commitment, while Willimon criticizes the American context for reducing preaching to “moral advice” and “cultural commentary.” Both argue that churches’ pragmatic survival strategies - such as focusing on members and following secular success metrics - only exacerbate the theological crisis. Both homileticians see the solution in a radical theocentric turn. Deeg proposes a movement “toward God,” a dynamic process centered on seeking and applying a “sarcred hermeneutics", while Willimon builds on the principle of “Deus Dixit” (“God has spoken”), emphasizing that God is the primary preacher. They both advocate for restoring the central role of the Bible, reviving prophetic boldness, and promoting preaching that manifests in the congregation’s transformative response - transcending popularity-driven, anthropomorphic approaches.