Expository Convictions – part 9

by | May 31, 2007 | Preaching

So – I left off on this series a few months back and never posted what I do to actually construct an expository sermon – only what I do to study a passage. I suppose I became too busy putting sermons together to actually keep writing about how I do it. So, here’s my attempt at getting back on the saddle and finishing out how I put together expository sermons. Here’s the previous posts: PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7 PART 8 Bridging from Exegesis to Exposition The next portion of my study consists of bridging from exegesis to exposition. I try to begin this process on Thursday, but it will probably happen on Saturday (I take Friday off). Here I will refine the original “main idea” statement as a result of my further study. Then I begin to write down words and terms that summarize in a contemporary way the main point of the passage. I begin constructing a one sentence summary of the point of the passage, thinking about how this theme or subject or idea could best be communicated to my particular congregation. I then construct a one sentence, present tense, contemporary statement that communicates the main idea of the passage. The most frequent way I organize and arrange my sermons is around a plural noun propositional statement. Rarely have I preached inductive sermons (i.e., a sermon where the main point is not revealed until the end of the message). I am intrigued with the idea of preaching more inductive messages, but I find that this method fits...

Union Takes Olford Ministries

by | Apr 19, 2007 | Miscellaneous, Preaching

I attended the Olford institute in my first DMin seminar.  Assuming Union will give a degree of direction and support to the Olford Ministries, Ibelieve the ministry will be greatly enhanced.  Good move from my vantage point. Baptist Press – Union to acquire Olford Ministries – News with a Christian...

The Love of God

by | Apr 8, 2007 | Preaching, The Gospel

This evening I will preach Romans 5:6-11 in a final message on the effects of our justification. Taking the advice of a popular pastor and author, C. J. Mahaney, I took some time to read a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on a portion of the text I will preach. Here’s are two selections from Spurgeon’s sermon, “Love’s Commendation,” a sermon on Romans 5:8 delivered Sunday morning, November 23, 1856 in the Royal Surray Gardens Music Hall.On the phrase, God demontrates His love toward us If I might be allowed to picture in my imagination (and mark, it is nothing more than imagination), I could almost conceive a parliament in heaven. The angels are assembled; the question is proposed to them:”Cherubim and seraphim, cohorts of the glorified, ye spirits that like flames of fire, swift at my bidding fly; ye happy beings, whom I have created for my honour! here is a question which I condescend to offer for your consideration:Man has sinned; there is no way for his pardon but by some one suffering and paying blood for blood. Who shall it be?” I can conceive that there was silence throughout the august assembly. Gabriel spoke not: he would have stretched his wings and flapped the ether in a moment, if the deed had been possible; but he felt that he could never bear the guilt of a world upon his shoulders, and, therefore, still he sat. And there the mightiest of the mighty, those who could shake a world if God should will it, sat still, because they felt all powerless to accomplish redemption. I do not conceive...

Desiring God Pastors’ Conference – 1st Session

by | Feb 6, 2007 | Miscellaneous, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Pastors James Billings, Stacy Johnson and myself had an uneventful drive down to beautiful San Diego, CA to catch a plane out to the frozen tundra of Minneapolis, Minnesota for the Desiring God Pastors’ Conference. From what we can estimate, we’ve experienced about a 90 degree change in the temperature from Hemet to Minneapolis. That means it is absolutely freezing here. We checked the temp at about 11:00 p.m. here and it was 5 below zero (not chill factor). My two crazy compatriots drug me outside our hotel to experience the freeze. James (originally from Wisconsin) trotted himself outside in short sleeves and was exhilarated with the feeling being back close to the land of his roots. Stacy has never experienced this kind of cold before and it concerns me that he wants to continually take a walk outside to experience more of the frozen air. Me personally, I hate this kind of cold and fervently thank God that I am now a resident of sunny Sothern California. The high tomorrow is supposed to reach 6 degrees, which is better than today – I don’t think it got above 0. We arrived at our hotel, the site of the conference, just 40 minutes before it began. Approximately 1300 pastors are present to hear Dr. R.C. Sproul as the keynote speaker and several other men (including Dr. John Piper) speak over the next three days. I must say that the servant attitude we have experienced from the people of Bethlehem Baptist Church has been so very encouraging. The church provided a free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel....