This thesis seeks to address a request that emerged out of a conversation between the District Superintendent of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church (NGUMC) and Ben Hill United Methodist Church (BHUMC) at a time when the church was about to undergo a change in pastoral leadership. The question posed to the church was, “What type of pastor does this church need at this time?” The church responded that there was a need for someone to provide preaching, teaching, and helping them to engage the community in ministry. In light of this request, my claim is that preaching is an event that attends to the personal and public nature of God's activity in the world,and invites, encourages and compels people to participate. Nehemiah as a prototypical figure for an extended sermon will be examined. Examples of how the extended sermon have manifested within the ministry context of Ben Hill will be provided. Finally, the rational for a homiletical methodology most appropriate for my thesis will be offered.
