Category Archives: Preaching

A biblical case for expository preaching

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Expository preaching may be defined as that which seeks to explain and apply a unit of Scripture, such that the main point of that unit of Scripture becomes the main point of the sermon.

Can a case for expository preaching be made from the Bible itself?

James F. Stitzinger thinks so.  He reasons as follows.

Preaching in the Bible is both revelatory (declaring new truths) and explanatory (explaining and applying known truths).

Old Testament

Old Testament examples include

  • Moses (Deut 31-33)
  • Joshua (Josh 23:2-16; 24:2-27)
  • David (Psalms 8, 9, 16, 22, 24, 34, 68, 75, 89, 93, 105, 110, 119, 136, 145 reveal the nature and character of God, whereas Psalms 1, 23, 32, 37, 40, 46, 50, 66, 78, 92, 100, 104, 106, 118, 128, 150 – see esp.
…

John 20:15 – ‘Supposing him to be the gardener’

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John 20:15 Jesus said to [Mary], “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.”

‘She thought he was the gardener’ – This supposition has provided rich pickings for preachers who like to domesticate the biblical text while allowing free reign to their own imaginations. …

Top tips for preaching to a camera

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Some thoughts from Peter Mead.  Here they are, using a mixture of his words and mine.

  1. Don’t be intimidated by higher-tech churches.  If all you have is a smart phone, go with it.
  2. Use eye contact differently.  Don’t look around, as you would if the congregation was arrayed before you.  Your congregation is ‘in’ the camera, so look straight at it.  If you are using a smartphone or tablet, use the rear camera (better resolution, plus your gaze will not be distracted by looking at your own face).
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Online preaching for the virtual church

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Ian Paul has some helpful thoughts on preaching online during the present corona virus epidemic.

I summarise.

Introductory thoughts

  • We’re likely to be in this situation for some while (several months, at least).
  • The first few weeks have been something of a novelty period.  But the novelty will wear off!
  • Online services are being accessed by a number of people who would not normally come to church.  We need to communicate well with them, and find ways of connecting with them after the crisis is over.
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Psalm 105:15 – ‘Touch not my anointed’

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Psalm 105:14-15 – ‘He let no one oppress them; he disciplined kings for their sake, saying, “Don’t touch my chosen ones! Don’t harm my prophets!”’

This phrase is often thrown around in ‘prosperity gospel’ circles to warn against the dangers involved in criticising God’s ‘anointed’ leaders.  (See, for example, Costi Hinn’s God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel, chapter 3).

Saying negative things about a recognised leader or celebrated preacher can (it is claimed) lead to nasty things happening to you.…

George Whitefield and devotion to Christ

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These are notes of a talk I gave many years ago.

In the letter of Paul to the Philippians, chapter 5, and verse 17, we read the following: ‘Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note or those who live according to the pattern we gave you,’

Our task is to take note or a man who indeed lived according to the pattern given by the apostles; a man who could say with more honesty than most: ‘To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’…

Christ in all the Scriptures, but…

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We preachers are rightly urged to preach Christ from every Old Testament passage.  This is sound advice, and finds support from our Lord himself, in Luke 24.

There are, however, some dangers and pitfalls in doing so, as helpfully pointed out by Colin Adams.  Here’s what he has to say (in his own words, but slightly abbreviated):

i) Christ is everywhere in the Old Testament but he’s also the promised one.

Christ was certainly present in the entire history of redemption (John 8:56-57, Hebrews 11:26, Jude 5).…

Why we preach Christ from the Old Testament

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“You must preach the text as it lays,” someone said to Jared Wilson.

“Indeed,” replied Jared, “and every OT text lays, as Spurgeon put it, ‘along the road to Christ.’”

In support of his assertion, Jared points to the following New Testament texts:

John 5:39 — “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me”

John 8:56 — “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day.…

Preaching is not merely explaining

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Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.…

Preachers and their preaching – Fred Craddock

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Fred Craddock (1928-2015) was was pastor, preacher, and teacher of homiletics.  He wrote influential books, including As One Without Authority (1971) and Preaching (1985).  I have recently been working my way through this latter book, and also listening to some online discussion with, and sermons by, Craddock.

Michael Jeffress has written a paper entitled, ‘Fred B. Craddock’s Contribution to Preaching: The Revolution of the Inductive Method’, in which he helpfully summarises the key themes of Craddock preaching method.…