Category Archives: Preaching

The importance of expository preaching

Walking With Giants Posted on by

I like Walter Liefeld’s explanation of why expository preaching is so important:-

  1. it conveys the biblical revelation of God and his will, protecting the sermon (and its hearers) from the preacher’s subjectivism.
  2. it teaches God’s word in the setting chosen by the Holy Spirit.  It anchors the preacher’s message in its contextual intention.
  3. it meets human needs.  It allows God’s word (rather than merely my own thoughts) to reach hearts.
  4. it directs the attention of the hearer to the Bible. 
…

When is the sermon the low point in the service?

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Much of the time, unfortunately.  We have been uplifted by hymns and songs that celebrate the mighty works of God with clarity, joy and biblical faithfulness.  Then we settled down to a mumbled Bible reading and a muddled sermon and breathe a sigh of relief when the final ‘Amen’ is uttered.

Well, perhaps that’s a bit unfair.  But it too often feels like that.  David Day asks the question, ‘When is the sermon the ‘low point’ in the service?’…

Wise thoughts on sermon preparation

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The following wise advice comes from Leith Samuel, courtesy of Derek Prime and Alistair Begg in their book On Being a Pastor, and quoted by the Unashamed Workman:-

1. Think yourself empty. As strange as it may sound, we must be careful to ensure that we do not avoid sound thinking. The temptation to respond emotionally to a passage (this is how this makes me feel) is not unique to our listeners. If we are to have ‘thinking’ congregations it is incumbent upon us to be ‘thinking’ pastors’!…

Mt 1:18-25 – An interview with Joseph – sermon notes

Walking With Giants Posted on by

[Note: the following was presented in the form of a semi-scripted, role-played interview with ‘Joseph’]

A little earlier, we listened to a reading from Matthew’s Gospel, 1:18-25.  This is a very familiar story, and yet quite puzzling in many ways.  So I thought it would be good if we could get it straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were.  I’m very pleased to welcome a special guest.  Joseph, thankyou for coming along and agreeing to answer a few questions about how the birth of Jesus came about.…

Classification of Sermons 2 – Phelps

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The following classification comes from the 19th-century writer Austin Phelps:-

1.  Mode of delivery.  They may be delivered from memory, from manuscript, or extemporaneously.

2.  Occasions on which sermons are delivered.  We may speak of ‘ordinary’ and ‘occasional’ sermons.

3.  Subjects.  Sermons may be doctrinal, practical, historical, and philosophical.  But these distinctions can be mischievous.

4.  Audience.

5.  Faculties of mind.  Sermons may be supposed to be addressed to the imagination, the passions, the will, and so on.…

Classification of Sermons 1 – Sangster

Walking With Giants Posted on by

In his book, The Craft of the Sermon, the noted Methodist preacher W.E. Sangster offered the following analysis of sermon types:_

1.  According to subject matter

Biblical interpretation: gives authority to the spoken word; provides endless material for the preacher; guards against the preacher’s own bias; encourages the people to read the Bible for themselves’ prevents evasion of the difficult.

  • Ethical and devotional
  • Doctrinal
  • Philosophic and apologetic
  • Social
  • Evangelistic

2.  According to structural type

Exposition: single text; multiple texts [can ask and answer questions, eg, ‘What is man?’…

‘Martyn Lloyd-Jones – Preacher’

Walking With Giants Posted on by

I acquired John Peter’s excellent book on Martyn Lloyd-Jones – Preacher when it was first published in 1986.

Peters gives a succinct account of Lloyd-Jones’ life.  But the emphasis is, of course, on the preaching ministry.  This is characterised as:-

  • Authoritative
  • Biblical
  • Analytical
  • Persuasive
  • Practical
  • Systematic
  • Spirit-filled

Other aspects discussed are MLJ’s pastoral ministry, and his ministry to students.

In discussing areas of controversy, reference is made to MLJ’s view of large-scale evangelistic crusades, the work of the Holy Spirit, the basis of Christian unity, and relations within evangelicalism.…

The road from text to sermon

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The effective expository preacher is involved in two different worlds

  • The world of the Bible
  • The contemporary world of himself and his congregation

The preacher needs to know how to develop the Biblical text into a message that will address people’s needs today.

The exegetical idea should be submited to three developmental questions:

  1. What does this mean?
  2. Is it true?
  3. What difference does it make?

Just four things can be done with a declarative statement

1. …

Grace and truth illustrated

Walking With Giants Posted on by

‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’  (John 1:14)

1.  The man at the pool of Bethesda, Jn 5:8,14.  Grace said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”  Truth said, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

2.  The woman taken in adultery, Jn 8:11. …