Persuade like Jesus
This is based on an article by Jeffrey Arthur, professor of preaching and communication at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Arthur points out that Jesus, the Master-Teacher, utilised a variety of techniques in order to nudge his hearers towards an understanding of (and response to) the truth.
Among these were greater-to-lesser and lesser-to-greater arguments.
They are known as argumentum a fortiori, and employ a ‘how much more…’ approach to persuasion.
They take something which is accepted by the listener as obviously true and build a bridge from it to the point the teacher wishes to make.…