The premise of this research is to determine the method of preaching that best contributes to a climate of sustained community building conversation in a local church setting. It is the author’s belief that preaching should encourage dialogue within the church that brings about the reality of genuine Christian togetherness and intentional witnessing in the world. The author’s research consisted of preaching a series of eight sermons over a three-year period, employing various preaching methods learned over that time. Surveys were provided after each sermon was preached as a means of evaluation their effectiveness. The conclusion is that sermons that are celebrative, missional, and that call attention to the plight of the poor are most effective.
