Communicating Truth with Wonder: Preaching, C.S. Lewis, and the Power of the Word - Dwain Tissell

Mar 4, 2025

Dwain Tissell, an adjunct professor and former pastor with 38 years of experience, shares his deep love for biblical literacy and the art of preaching. He reflects on early ministry challenges, the importance of confident humility, and how C.S. Lewis's insights can enrich faith. Tissell emphasizes the power of imagination in preaching and the necessity of connecting scripture with community needs. His research on Lewis reveals timeless wisdom, advocating for authenticity and vulnerability in sharing truth.

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ANECDOTE

First Sermon Jitters

Dwain Tissell's first sermon was in rural Alberta, where he coached a curling team with some town "characters".
He forgot about predestination mid-sermon, but several people came to Christ in the following months.

ANECDOTE

First Funeral

Tissell's first funeral was for a seemingly non-believing matriarch of a "trouble-making" family.
He preached Romans 8, focusing on death's door and Christ's love, which resonated with attendees.

INSIGHT

Focus on God, Not Self

Tissell realized that worry in ministry is misplaced; it's about God and people's longing for Him.
He sees preaching as connecting with that longing, letting God work through the message.

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Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style[1][2][4].

Perelandra

C.S. Lewis

In 'Perelandra', the second book of C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy, Dr. Elwin Ransom is transported to the planet Perelandra (Venus) to counter a temptation similar to that of Eve in the Garden of Eden. The planet, described as a paradise with floating islands, rich colors, and peaceful creatures, is home to a Green Lady and her King, who are the only sentient inhabitants. Ransom must thwart the plans of Dr. Edward Weston, who has been possessed by diabolical forces and aims to tempt the Green Lady into disobeying Maleldil’s (God’s) prohibition against dwelling on the Fixed Land. The novel explores themes of obedience, free will, and the struggle between good and evil, culminating in a physical battle between Ransom and the possessed Weston to determine the fate of Perelandra[2][3][5].

Surprised by Joy

C.S. Lewis

The abolition of man

C.S. Lewis

In 'The Abolition of Man', C.S. Lewis delivers a defense of objective value and natural law, originating from his Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham in 1943. Lewis argues that education should be conducted within the context of moral law and objective values, which he terms the 'Tao'. He criticizes modern attempts to debunk these values, warning that such actions could lead to a dehumanization of society, resulting in what he calls 'Men without Chests' – individuals whose emotions have not been trained to conform to reason. The book emphasizes the universal nature of traditional moralities across different cultures and warns against the dangers of moral relativism and the reduction of human beings to mere objects of scientific analysis[2][4][5].

That Hideous Strength

C. S. Lewis

Published in 1945, 'That Hideous Strength' is the final book in C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. The story takes place on Earth and follows the character Mark Studdock, a young sociology faculty member at Bracton College, as he becomes entangled with the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (N.I.C.E.), a sinister organization with totalitarian ambitions. The novel delves into themes of faith, doubt, and the struggle between good and evil, featuring characters from the previous books in the trilogy, including Elwin Ransom. It critiques the dangers of logical positivism and the erosion of moral values, drawing parallels with other dystopian works like George Orwell's '1984'[1][2][5].

C.S. Lewis and the Craft of Communication

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Stephen Beebe

This book delves into the communication strategies employed by C.S. Lewis, analyzing his techniques and their effectiveness. It explores how Lewis's writing style and speaking mannerisms contributed to his widespread influence. The book likely examines the principles of effective communication, drawing parallels between Lewis's approach and broader communication theories. It may also discuss the impact of Lewis's communication on his audience and the lasting legacy of his work. The book could offer practical advice for aspiring communicators.

Biblical Preaching

The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages

Haddon W. Robinson

This book provides a systematic approach to expository sermon preparation, outlining ten stages from choosing the passage to delivering the sermon. Robinson stresses the need for preachers to discover the meaning within a given text and present it clearly, avoiding multiple ideas in one message. The book includes practical exercises, emphasizes the importance of determining the sermon's purpose, and addresses sermon delivery. It is highly regarded for its balance of practical how-to instructions and sound homiletical theory, making it a valuable resource for both novice and seasoned preachers.

Dr Dwain Tissell—preacher, scholar, and teacher—joins Expositors Collective to share insights from his 38 years of pastoral ministry and his deep love for biblical literacy and preaching. Now an adjunct professor at Western Seminary, he teaches courses on Applied Biblical Leadership and C.S. Lewis’s insights on discipleship in a post-Christian world. In this conversation with Mike Neglia, Dwain reflects on his early preaching experiences, the importance of confident humility in the pulpit, and how imagination—shaped by C.S. Lewis—can enrich faith and biblical engagement.

Throughout the episode, Dwain highlights the power of the Word of God and encourages preachers to persist, grow, and love their congregations well. He also shares his research on C.S. Lewis, including work at Oxford’s Bodleian Library and the Marion E. Wade Center, as well as insights from his Christian history podcast, Holy History, which he co-hosts with his son.

This conversation offers thoughtful reflections on preaching, discipleship, and imagination, along with practical wisdom for those seeking to deepen their craft and stay faithful in ministry.

Dwain Tissell (D.Min., Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary; Th.M., Regent College) is Adjunct Professor at Western Seminary in the Masters of Applied Biblical Leadership (MABL) program, in Portland, Oregon. He also teaches a Doctor of Ministry course in “C. S. Lewis and Friends On Mere Discipleship In A Post-Christian Age.” Until 2023 Dwain was a pastor and preacher for 38 years, the last 30 years was spent in a church plant just outside Portland. Over those years he grew deeply in his love for the Bible, and God’s people. He also had the great privilege of studying preaching and communication under Haddon Robinson, at Gordon Conwell.

He is also a writer on C.S. Lewis. As a pastor he sought to live into the tradition of the pastor-scholar. As a result he has done extensive research at the Marion E. Wade Center in Wheaton, Illinois and at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, UK. He has had book notes in the Journal VII of the Marion E. Wade Center, as well as an article on C.S. Lewis’s most important idea in the 2024 volume of the C. S. Lewis journal Sehnsucht. In October of 2017 he conducted an oral history interview with James M. Houston on Houston’s experience of knowing C. S. Lewis for seven years as a colleague in Oxford from 1947-1954.

Dwain delivered two papers at The Undiscovered C. S. Lewis Conference, in September of 2024 at George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon. One titled “On the Road with Jack and Warnie: Walking the Wye River Valley with the Lewis Brothers,” and the other “C. S. Lewis, James Houston, and the ‘Zernov Circle.’

He and his son, Benjamin, also host the Christian history podcast, Holy History.

Resources Mentioned:

Holy History Podcast: The Good, the Bad and the downright Strange! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holy-history/id1504391539

C. S. Lewis’s Most Important Message: The Abolition of Man as Lewis’s Self-conscious Struggle for the Value of Human Persons : https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1467&context=cslewisjournal

The Bodleian Library: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/home

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