Expressionistic preaching is an imaginary preaching that I have developed during the Doctor of ministry program. My intention in this thesis is to combine expressionistic imaginary with African American celebrative preaching. The common Swedish sermon is usually cognitive and teaching to its form and without celebration. The preacher is keener on bringing to force the demands that God has given us more than the grace of God. After the sermon there might be some quiet time for reflection. Through imaginary expressionistic celebrative preaching I will bring in colour and joy, in Swedish preaching, which will help the listener experience the assurance of grace. In this thesis I have defined expressionistic preaching, described the African American celebrative sermon and its theology. I have also presented imaginary homiletics and its theology and presented a psychological model of interpretation of imaginary and the mystic experience. In my thesis I have made a descriptive study of the effects in the listeners after an expressionistic celebrative sermon and described the problems with celebration in a Swedish context and given a psychological explanation to the absence of instantaneous celebration. My conclusions are: the expressionistic celebrative sermon is a colourful and positive experience. The Swedish listener experiences the assurance of grace, but they don’t celebrate as a group. Celebration is expressed differently than in the African American context.
