Oops Christians got it wrong about Christ! A linguistic analysis of sermons in megachurches in Singapore

• Main Author: Khoo, Li Yan Glenda
• Other Authors: Randy J. LaPolla
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/66058
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In Singapore, megachurches have been growing steadily in size and number since the 1980s. A megachurch is a large Protestant church that draws a sustained weekly attendance of at least 2000 members. This paper suggests that the linguistic devices used in sermons within these megachurches is the main driving force of growth. Combining the APPRAISAL framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics with the concept of thematic preaching in rhetoric, a series of five sermons given at Heart of God Church was analysed in detail. Adopting the perspective that no text can be completely objective, the APPRAISAL theory provides valuable insights into how speakers utilise Attitude, Engagement and Graduation to convince listeners to take the same stance. Further analysis reveals that classical rhetorical strategies used in the Christian tradition are still prevalent in the world today. These include the three-part structure of sermons and the use of technical proofs – ethos, pathos and logos.