We have all probably heard someone lay out a theological kaleidoscope or survey using the various names and attributes of God.  One such example is titled, “That My God” by S. M. Lockridge.  If you have not heard it, you need to, and it can also be used as a great sermon conclusion.

When thinking of rhetorical techniques, how could one miss pointing to one of the great preachers of our generation — S. M. Lockridge.

In introducing a particular topic, theme, series, or passage, you may want to do a do a biblical cavalcade of the various names / phrases / titles / events which are stated in the Scriptures.

For instance, it could include . . . .

• the attributes of God – S. M. Lockridge
• the works of God
• God’s judgments
• the people who failed to frustrate Him
• the great men who stood for God
• those who choose to die than deny
• the sufferings of God’s people
• the trials and troubles in the wilderness

 

Let’s give it a try . . . . The Names Of The Tribulation . . . .

It is called the great and terrible tribulation because there has never been and there will never be any tribulation which is greater.

It is called a time of Jacob’s trouble because Israel, who name was Jacob, will be facing its greatest time of trouble.

It is called the 70th week, because it is the fill or completion of all weeks, the last week on God’s calendar.

It is called the abomination of desolation because the anti-christ, an abominable personage, will seek to desolate Jerusalem.

It is called the great day of God’s wrath because God’s wrath and not His grace will be as great as it has ever been.

 

A Secondary Rhetorical Technique:

As I have repeatedly stated, when something catches our ears and/or causes us to respond to what has been said, we can stop and analyze it to see what was happening.  Once we get the idea of what is at work, we can creatively reproduce the technique.  We are able to use it for our message, even though the message is not at all akin to the original message we first heard.

Lockridge includes this statement after the many different and artful descriptions of God greatness and being . . . .

“I wish I could describe Him to you.”

That statement has great theological truth behind it, but it also has a rhetorical punch.  Every audience I have sat with, listening to Lockridge’s eloquent exaltation of God’s greatness, has responded to that statement.

After listening for minutes to a “theological arpeggio” of God’s omnipotence, I can’t but help respond to that statement even after having heard it over and over!

 

Think about how to add such a statement to one or more of the bullet-points listed above.

Let’s try it . . . .

 

i.e. God’s Judgments — After a referencing to God’s judgments in Scripture:

“I wish I could say that any one of those judgments was and will be His greatest judgment – but it is not.

 

i.e.– After a referencing to a number of great men who chose to die than deny

This long line, reaching into the 2000’s, will be filled with yet other men who will die before deny.

Stephen wasn’t to be the last man to die – Nor James – Nor John on the island of Patmos.

 

i.e. The Sufferings of God’s People — After a referencing to the various suffering of God’s pepole in Scripture:

“These sufferings have not filled the bottle of His tears which flow from God’s eyes — This world will never be a friend of grace.

There will be room in that bottle till our arrival in a heaven when all such bottles will be replaced with harps which ring out God’s praise.”