Sermon preparation and delivery in an African context with special reference to Zambia

English: Summary of sermon preparation and delivery in an African context with special reference to Zambia can be summarised as follows: This research has proved that there are great differences between the point of view of the African and the Westerner regarding the following topic: God, dreams, witchcraft and nature. The Westerner has one name for God but the African has many names for God. This creates a problem for the Westerner who does not understand whether or not the African is worshipping one God. There is also a difference regarding the understanding of dreams. The African believes that a dream is meaningful and a revelation from God (Number 12:6) but the Westerner believes that a dream is meaningless and occurs because of events which happened the day before the dream was dreamt. Witchcraft is regarded by the African as a reality, while the Westerner considers it to be unreal and merely telesthesia. Regarding nature, the difference is that the African considers nature to be part of his life while the Westerner looks at nature as an object to be admired and enjoyed only. • The study has revealed that effective African communication within an African community should adopt the African pattern of communication. Scriptural There is no other African foundation for preaching except the Scriptural one. African preaching is based on the Scriptures and anything other than this is supplementary information and should be treated as commentaries. Theological The African recognises holistic theology: the salvation for the whole person, but not the theory of the "salvation of the soul" which the Westerner embraces. The African believes in holistic Christianity and not in dualistic Christianity which the Westerner believes. Cultural The word of God is not received in a vacuum by the people receiving it. Therefore it was a mistake for the missionary (Westerner) to force the African Christian to receive God's Word in his culture rather than in his own African culture. This proves that the African culture should be introduced in the sermon preparation and delivery because the Word of God is received in the culture of the people hearing it. Pastoral Pastors' training should be contextualised in order that pastors should be well equipped for the local situations and problems of the people to whom they will minister. At present the training is more Western than African. For example, one should identify an African problem such like polygamy and then discuss it in class. Or a Western problem, like homosexuality can be discussed as the African sees it Biblically and culturally.