(audio quality is poor) Fred B. Craddock, Jr. was Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. A word of prayer begins the service (0:00-0:17). Visitors are welcomed and the announcement of this being the third annual of the Adams Lectures is made (0:18-1:47). Dr. Fred Craddock is introduced and his lectures will be on preaching and the practice of ministry (1:48-5:40). The anthem is sung (cut) (5:41-5:45). Dr. Craddock is honored to lecture (5:46-7:26). He informs the congregation that he will be discussing preaching in his lectures, with his first lecture focusing on the forms of biblical material in regards to the nature of preaching (7:27-9:47). He explains that just as architecture plays a role in creating a certain experience so does the shape of words, specifically the lively words of the Bible (9:48-12:00). Dr. Craddock refers to Matthew 10 to convey that preaching is “public whispering” (12:01-14:44). He mentions that gossip in church does not define public whispering (14:45-17:22). Preaching can affect someone’s life positively or negatively, which Dr. Craddock says is frightening (17:23-18:27). If a message is worth hearing, the preacher is worth listening to (18:28-19:31). Dr. Craddock clarifies that preaching is public whispering to the listener because one must “lean forward” to grab on to faith in order to hear the Gospel (19:32-23:24). It is called whispering because not everyone can hear it, not everyone has the “ear of faith” (23:25-26:55). Dr. Craddock speaks on the public opinion of Jesus as the Messiah from Matthew 16 (26:56-31:20; the audio ends abruptly without Dr. Craddock finishing the lecture).
