Expository Convictions – part 5

by | Jan 12, 2007 | Preaching

Before I begin to describe the details of how I study, prepare and deliver sermons, I want to first describe the preaching environment I am privileged to participate in. At this point, I will briefly describe my own personal approach to expository preaching. While I have always maintained the same basic approach to study and preaching, I tend to always be refining and developing that approach. If I read or am exposed to some good ideas that I think might enhance my ability to study more effectively or preach a text more thoroughly, I try to implement it into my approach. So the follow posts simply reflect the pattern I now follow after about nineteen years of preaching. Furthermore, I don’t tend to think that everyone or really anyone ought to pursue the preaching process the same way I do. This is merely my approach. I am certainly open to enhancement, question, correction or rebuke. The ministry context in which I find myself creates a unique opportunity and presents a few challenges. I share the regular preaching ministry with what our church calls a co-pastor. We are equal in terms of authority and responsibility within the church. My partner preaches each Sunday morning, generally focusing on Old Testament texts. I preach each Sunday evening, with a primary focus upon New Testament texts. In reality, while our titles may be that of co-pastors, we actually have a team of pastors, three of which preach regularly. The third pastor oversees out children’s and student ministries and is preaching every Sunday morning and evening to these students, yet he also fills the...

Expository Convictions – part 4

by | Jan 11, 2007 | Preaching

What has been said so far about expository preaching is not to suggest that there is no place for a topical message or that topical preaching cannot have an expositional element to it. Topical preaching can be effective when it collates all the relevant biblical texts into a coherent message. The onus for the preacher is to make sure that his use of those biblical texts do not violate their intended meaning in the contexts from which they originate. For example, doctrinal messages like those on the attributes and nature of God, the nature of man, the effects of sin, acceptable worship or messages on biblical eschatology could all be good biblical, accurate and applicable topical messages. Topical preaching reflect the idea that Scripture is its own best interpreter and that it never contradicts itself. Topical preaching can be helpful to an expository ministry by expanding on an issue touched on in a previously exposited text. For example, I paused my series in the book of Revelation after preaching chapters four and five to speak about how heaven could help corporate worship. Topical preaching can provide a helpful segue between expository series or even within a series on a biblical book. I preached a few topical messages on Christian cooperation after my series on the book of Jude in order to give some further practical implications of the content of Jude. Yet, troublesome waters abound if topical preaching is the norm for a pastor’s pulpit ministry. The purely deductive approach to preaching provides problems when the preacher is tempted to emphasize his own ideas and preferences than the ideas...