A comparative analysis of the preaching of Walter Rauschenbusch, Charles Sheldon, and George W. Truett as related to social ministry

The purpose of this study is to compare the preaching ministries of Walter Rauschenbusch, Charles Sheldon, and George Truett as related to social ministry. These pastors placed a strong emphasis upon social ministry through their lives and their preaching. This dissertation evaluates their efforts towards social ministry as presented through their preaching.;This study considers the upbringing and experiences of each preacher while focusing on the sermons that each minister preached. Each pastor lived and ministered in America during the turn of the twentieth century. Even though Rauschenbusch and Sheldon supported a different theology than Truett, each of them contributed to the church in America.;The research for this study comprises three main groups of sources. The first sources include books and articles on the topic of social ministry. The second set of sources consists of biographical works that include books and articles written on the specific preachers. The last group of sources incorporates several books, articles, and sermons that were written or preached by the three pastors. The writer analyzes the sermons to present evidence that the preachers taught their churches about social ministry.;The dissertation consists of seven chapters that present the similarities between the preaching of Rauschenbusch, Sheldon, and Truett. Even though each pastor subscribed to different doctrines, their sermons include similar aspects regarding points, illustrations, and applications. This discourse focuses on the sermon techniques of each minister while highlighting the practical applications included in their sermons.;Chapter one introduces the purpose, scope, sources, and framework of the dissertation. The purpose includes the importance and similarities of the preacher's messages regarding social ministry. The scope presents the connection between the life and preaching ministry of each minister. The sources include the different materials the writer analyzed to compare the preaching ministries. The framework includes a summary of each chapter.;In chapter two, the writer defines the terms and boundaries that were used throughout the dissertation. This chapter includes the traditions of social ministry and the biblical mandates that each man used throughout his ministries. In chapters three, four, and five, the author describes the environment, influences, and contributions of Rauschenbusch, Sheldon, and Truett. These chapters also include analyses of sermons and lectures taught by these preachers.;Chapter six presents a comparison of their preaching styles as related to social ministry. The writer examines the similarities of each preacher regarding individual and corporate issues in society. This section includes several examples of their preaching with reference to social ministry. The majority of this chapter proves the preachers' reliance on illustrations and applications to incite social action.;In chapter seven, the writer summarizes the findings of the previous chapters. This chapter emphasizes the connection between the preachers and their desires to improve the conditions in the communities. The author also uses the chapter to show the importance of this study.