Digging For Treasure: Expository Preaching, Prayer and Evangelism

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Digging for Treasure: Holiness & Evangelism in a Digital Age edited by Paul H Wilson

We live in a day in which all authority is challenged. We are truly living in a post-modern age of ethical and moral relativism. Every one is entitled to their own personal version of truth. Let us not mistake the answer. To people in our day with a relativistic worldview, our preaching may appear as foolishness. In addition to the anti-authoritarian mood of our culture, preachers face greater competition from the entertainment media.

The Bible gives the answer to this question. And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Timothy is told in 2 Tim. God commands His people to gather in local churches for worship, fellowship, and the preaching of the Word Acts 2: There is a personal dynamic of accountability and confrontation in a live preaching situation which pre-recorded preaching through the media cannot duplicate. What we believe is not mainly stated in our systematic theology those tools are helpful and neccessary.

What we believe is displayed in how we live. Paul writes to the Roman believers in Rom. This is particularly striking because it is in the introduction to what is probably the greatest exposition of the gospel ever written.

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In terms of content, perhaps very little; however, Paul will not be satisfied that he has fully ministered to the Romans until he does so through personal proclamation. As useful as tapes, radio, television and books may be; there is no substitute for preaching! I like to read sermons. One thing which has impressed me is how the sermons of many great preachers appear very ordinary in print. The power in their preaching came as the truths of Scripture were expressed through the personalities of these godly men.

The Bible specifically speaks about the qualifications for those who will lead a congregation of people. These qualifications have been the same for almost 2, years. Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of these qualifications as the Chief Shepherd of the Church. The list below is descriptive not just of elders, but of a mature Christian in general. All believers should strive for these qualities. This is the overarching, summarizing characteristic. You will find similar but not identical lists in First Timothy and Titus. Living a life above reproach is the first requirement in both lists and Titus repeats it.

If we peruse the two lists, as well as 1 Peter, we find 17 qualifications of an elder who is above reproach. Remember that these qualifications are not just for leaders, but they are descriptive of all mature Christians everywhere. This means that the further the preacher strays from preaching the intention of the text, the further his divine blessing and God-given authority are eroded in the pulpit.

All expository preaching is like mail delivery. We are not here to edit the mail. What is expository preaching? First of all, expository preaching is exegetical. To exegete something is to dig it out. We are not bringing our own ideas to the text, but we are digging out what God has already written.

We must beware of two kinds of errors: This is the danger or eisegesis. The expository sermon uses the features of the text and its context to explain what that portion of the Bible means.

First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi

Preaching addresses the perpetual human quest for authority and meaning. Without an ultimate authority for truth, all human striving has no ultimate value, and life itself becomes futile. Modern trends in preaching that deny the authority of the Word [3] in the name of intellectual sophistication lead to a despairing subjectivism in which people do what is right in their own eyes— a state whose futility Scripture has clearly articulated Judg.

Use a rifle, not a shotgun. Say what the text is saying. Emphasize and illustrate what is there. Topical and biographical sermons still have value. It is sometimes helpful to address a certain topic by culling and presenting Biblical information. And it is sometimes instructive to study the life of a Biblical character and draw practical implications for today.

The point is that, as a consistent diet, expositional preaching is most healthy for both the preacher and the congregation. So while often the most common expression of expository teaching and preaching is continuously expounding of a book of the Bible, that is not the only expression of expository teaching. The length of the text is immaterial to the question of whether or not the sermon is an exposition. As long as the point of the passage is used as the point of the message, a sermon qualifies as expositional—length notwithstanding.

We can be assured that we are being faithful expositors of the text of holy Scripture as long as the point of the sermon is the point of the text we are teaching. Expository preaching relates the need the passage was originally written to address to the current needs of modern day hearers. The walls of Babylon were as much as feet high and 80 feet wide.

The Gnostic heresy at Colosse contained elements of extreme hedonism and asceticism. The statements are clear, true, and biblical. Why do they not form a sermon? First, the statements lack unity. No obvious thread holds these statements together. Second, the statements seem to have no purpose. They are simply disparate facts pried from the biblical moorings that communicate their cause and import. Without a clear purpose in view, listeners have no apparent reason to listen to a sermon.

Finally, the statements beacon no application. They have no apparent relevance to the lives of those addressed. Without application, a sermon offers people no incentive to heed a message. Most will reasonably question why they should waste time giving attention to something that even the preacher does not seem to be able to relate to their lives. Statements of truth, even biblical truth, do not automatically make a message for the pulpit.

Well-constructed sermons require unity, purpose, and application. What is the difference between lecturing and preaching? Your goal is to equip your hearers to honor and serve the Lord.

Expository preaching attempts to present and apply the truths of a specific biblical passage. Consecutive expository preaching is teaching through a book or section of Scripture. There are several advantages with consecutive expository preaching.

Equipping the saints for ministry

Jim Newheiser gives six advangages for teaching through a passage or book of the Bible in an expository manner. Although the degree of homiletical skill will vary, God promises to perform his purposes through all who faithfully proclaim his truth.

Redeeming the Expository Sermon Kindle Locations Moves and Structures Philadelphia: Fortress, , The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages, 2nd ed. But in the new church it met only gla. Each week you will receive an email with that Sunday's edition and links to the next 3 issues to allow you to plan ahead.

Commentaries on the bible readings including one from Bishop Tom Wright Fu. He has served in parish ministry in Gloucestershire, south London and the Potteries. Before ordination, he trained as a teacher and taught for three years in Luton, Bedfordshire. He has a d.

The preacher by Marjorie Dobson Monologue: The preacher Proper 14 year A Romans Started as a youngster in my teens. As they followed at his leading We would follow whose lives are needing Hope like theirs and help that's rooted In the good God brough. Stay in touch with The Worship Cloud:

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