Preaching in HD: (High Definition)

By Dr. Michael Oyedokun II

In "Preaching in HD: High Definition, Dr. Michael O. Oyedokun II invites preachers on an enlightening journey to unlock the true potential of their preaching, Drawing from his extensive experience and advanced studies in Expository Preaching, Dr. Oyedokun presents a comprehensive guide that will revolutionize the way you approach the pulpit.
As proclaimers of the Gospel, our mission is to expose the Word of God with utmost clarity, relevance, and truth. In this thought-provoking book, Dr. Oyedokun reveals the key to achieving this goal: embracing the power of high-definition preaching.
With meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the components of Hermeneutics and Homiletics, Dr. Oyedokun equips preachers with practical tools for effective sermon preparation and delivery. Through his insightful teachings, you will learn how to infuse your sermons with depth, precision, and biblical truth, capturing the hearts and minds of your audience.
Challenging the notion that previous generations of preachers lacked the capacity to convey
detailed and relevant messages. Dr. Oyedokun highlights the timeless anointing that has been bestowed upon proclaimers throughout history
Are you ready to unleash the power of high-definition preaching? Step into the pulpit with confidence, embrace the Word of God as your high-definition source, and become the monitor through which His message resounds"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Michael Oyedokun II
• Release date: Dec 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223995647

Book preview

Introduction

I don't know what's in you. You'll have to find that out for yourself. But I do know one thing: you'll never find it in the safety of this room. I tried that all my life. It doesn't work. There's a whole world out there. And you'll have to begin by letting people see who you really are. – Dorothy (Diana Ross) from the movie

(The Wiz.)

A BUZZ OF EXCITEMENT rushed over me when I saw the remake of my favorite movie, ‘The Wiz’ a few years ago. Seeing the great movie play on the local television, I had to watch it whole. Simply not willing to miss the movie a second time, I decided to record it for later.

Sadly, time was not on my side that day.

A wave of disappointment crashed into me when I finally watched the recorded version. The assistance from the DVR had not been fruitful. Looking back now, I realize it was solely my fault that I had chosen the standard recording setting instead of choosing a high-definition channel.

Watching the movie, I noticed a major difference in clarity delivered by the broadcast. The picture lacked crispness to the point that I had to shut it down. I couldn’t bear it; it was that bad! The dismembered pixelization and the blurry picture quality were not worth my time.

Growing up in the late '70s and '80s, I mostly experienced the times of black and white broadcast, which later turned into standard television and now has progressed into high-definition television. I once owned a range of television sets, from boxed ones to floor models and black and white televisions.

In 1998, High-definition televisions (HDTV) were introduced to the public. Having just graduated in 1997 with my undergraduate degree, I could not afford its cost. The average ones were around $8,000 in 1998!

Finally, in 1998, I bought my first HDTV in 2002 when they became more affordable. In this current contemporary climate, HDTVs are the only televisions being sold, and they range from $100 to $5,000 depending on the brand, resolution, and design. Every single one of the screens in my house today is HDTV, where I spend my leisure time watching movies, sports, drama shows, game shows, and the news.

There is still one issue that persists.

I have accustomed myself to watching high definition all the time, and my sensitivity to SD televisions has been greatly reduced. Like any other human being, its habituation has caused me to detest the world of SD television with great intensity. Now, nothing is safe from its wrath. Everywhere in our homes, the world now has high-definition.  Even our phones are designed to capture video in HD and display what we are viewing in HD.

Video games have suffered a progressive shift as well. We have moved way past the days of 10 Yard Fight and the old Madden broadcasts, which can now be played with life-like realities. Players who have precise birthmarks and tattoos exude more character and add depth to the world of gaming. From televisions to phones, to tablets, to refrigerators, to computers, and to video games, everything is now being displayed in HD.

So, what does HD television constitute?

One such definition describes it as a high degree of detail in an image or screen.’ High definition is the number of pixels that a television or projector can produce to make the playback more realistic, clear, and crisp. Coming in various forms, such as 720p, 1080p, and 1080i, it now also comes in 4K. Each newer model allows for the playback to move toward a realistic view of the broadcast.

Standard vs. High Definition

THE STANDARD DEFINITION constitutes a display resolution of 480 vertically. Hence, the picture on the television is made from 480 different lines from top to bottom, making the entire picture.

It takes a resolution of 480 to derive a life-like appearance. However, this standard definition is no match for the high-definition television we have today. Who would like the contemporary display of 480 lines of resolution when you can easily get 720 or higher? In front of the sharp and eye-popping realism offered by the resolution today, no one would prefer the old tastes of the 480!

Further differences between the standard and high definition further make the comparison in favor of the progressed types. The standard type of definition displays the images as they are, with enhanced clarity. However, it does lack the precision that is very evident in reality.

High definition destroys the barrier between what’s real and what is a televised picture. By displaying a clear, vivid, and detailed picture, it maintains the life-like features of the televised matter, as if we were present in the realities presented to us. Instead of just highlighting the expressions, it further delves into the realms of reality by focusing on the blemishes, flaws, and preciseness that you cannot experience with the like of the standard definition.

One cannot miss the stark difference between the two versions. It has redefined our ways of watching television. With the standard definition, we didn’t know there could be a world clearer and more crisp. We didn’t know more advanced ways of televising content. HDTV, the thing that was not initially intended for consumption by the masses, is now an important necessity in almost everyone’s lives.

The world was a simple place before we learned about upgraded broadcasting. Then, we were bombarded with clarity, which brought a noticeable difference. After high-definition, we couldn’t help but imagine the horizons of what we could have experienced if we were there physically.  The HD broadcasting methods change our views on experiencing the world altogether.

To watch a high-definition video, you need both a high-definition source that transmits it and a high-definition monitor that receives it. To be able to feed the matter into the monitors, we need a mediator. High-definition cameras are used to transmit the high-definition feed to the high-definition monitor. This is the component that receives the high-definition video feed from the source and displays it to be viewed. You can watch a standard-definition broadcast on high-definition monitors, but you cannot watch a high-definition broadcast on a standard-definition monitor. The reverse card does not run both ways. Why the roadblock? Well, the standard definition monitor cannot handle the high-definition video source.

Preaching in HD

AS PROCLAIMERS OF THE gospel, we must expose the gospel so that the hearers will see and hear with clarity the Word of God, matching the clarity of the HDTVs. Our desire as expository preachers should be to preach the Word of God with clarity, relevance, and truth so that the hearers of the message can see the Word of God in High Definition. 

What is the high-definition source? It is the Word of God and the monitor that spreads it along to the masses; that role is played by the preacher. The Word of God (source) transmits the voice of God through the preacher (monitor) to those who hear.

The difference in definitions led me to ponder over the differences in preaching as well. Is it the same as it was years ago? Has the preaching changed with the age of time? Or have the preachers changed and displayed different opinions of the same message? This is a very important question for the proclaimers today.

To suggest that those preachers who have come before us lacked the knowledge, wisdom, and capacity to preach detailed, clear, relevant, and biblical truth messages is mistaken. 

God has poured His divine guidance into prophets and proclaimers from the biblical age to this current contemporary culture.  There have been proclaimers of the gospel that have exemplified an anointing that could only come from God Almighty.

The contrast, high-definition preaching, is persuasive. However, its message has a more theological approach to the listener.

Contemporary teaching does get the message across. Previously, the traditional and formal styles of preaching worked. It has long had its impact, but it was in tune with the generations. However, the challenging concepts and meanings of the new world are not in tune with them. The theological concepts and doctrines need to be changed a little. These should have elements of modern culture intertwined in them to ensure a positive impact on the receivers of preaching today.

Using relatable examples and illustrations that are relevant to people's everyday lives today can be the only way the preachers can connect with them on a personal level. The relevance here is crucial. The contemporized approach can be referenced from popular movies, TV shows, or social media trends to help people understand and relate to biblical concepts.

Another sure-shot way to incorporate the people more into the elements of preaching is the use of technology. We have many Churches nowadays incorporating multimedia presentations and online resources into their services to help engage their congregation and keep up with the fast-paced nature of modern society.

However, critics are going to maintain their hold everywhere. This change has led them to argue over the shift in the preaching methods and how far away they are from the original concepts. They believe that it risks the dilution of the biblical message and further compromises the integrity of the Church. The focus should be on delivering a message that is grounded in scripture, and the use of contemporary culture should be limited to supporting this message rather than replacing it.

What they need to understand here is that we can still spread the word and spread the message of God and maintain doctrinal truth without disturbing their balance with modern advancements.

The critics need to understand that the preachers of today have no plans of straying from the teachings of the Bible.

In our contemporary culture, the need for high-definition preaching is imminent. The rate of parishioners abandoning the Church is at an all-time high. Released on May 12, 2015, a survey of 35,000 American adults shows the Christian percentage of the population dropping precipitously to 70.6 percent. In 2007, the last time Pew conducted a similar survey, 78.4 percent of American adults called themselves Christian. In the meantime, almost every major branch of Christianity in the United States has lost a significant number of members, Pew further found, mainly because millennials are leaving the fold. More than one-third of millennials now say they are unaffiliated with any faith, up ten percentage points since 2007.[1]

David Platt says, "The Gospel is the lifeblood of Christianity, and it provides the foundation for countering culture. When we truly believe the gospel, we begin to realize that the gospel not only compels Christians to confront social issues in the culture around us. The gospel actually creates confrontation with the culture around—and within—us."[2]

How do we preach a gospel that is offensive to culture and has the expectation that there will be positive results toward the gospel? Platt continues to say,

"It is increasingly common for biblical views on social issues to be labeled insulting. For example, it is offensive to an ever-expanding number of people to say that a woman who has feelings for another woman should not express