Drafting Sermons

How do we make the Word profitable?

Teaching = teaching us sound doctrine and what God expects of the Believer.Reproof = convicting us and pointing out where we have erred/wandered from God.Correction = showing us positively what we should do and how we should changeTraining in Righteousness = how to live out Scripture in daily life.A closer look at each of these four features reveals the full sufficiency of Scripture to equip a believer in living out the Christian life. The first term, “teaching,” means that the Bible instructs the believer in how to live, in what to believe, and in what God expects of him or her. It is related to content and doctrine. This concept fits with Jesus’s injunction in the Great Commission that new disciples be taught to observe all he commanded (Matt. 28:18–20). The Scriptures instruct God’s people in how to live in obedience to him.The second term, “reproof,” shows the Scripture’s purpose of admonishment. It has to do with pointing out where a person has erred or departed from what God requires. Scripture is able to judge the heart when a believer has deviated in doctrine or practice from the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Heb. 4:12). The next term, “correction,” is the companion to reproof. The Bible not only shows a person where he is wrong, it also identifies the corrected attitude, belief, or behavior that he should put on in its place (Eph. 4:20–24).Finally, “training in righteousness” indicates that the Bible shows how to put its teachings into practice on a daily basis with illustrations and examples (Eph. 4:25–32). Between the Scriptures and the indwelling Holy Spirit, the believer needs no additional revelation to be informed on how to live the Christian life.11 John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, eds., Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 105.

Disciplines of Devotion, Gospel Formation, and Spiritual Growth

The study of God’s Word

Meditation and Memorization - “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11). The word meditate can be further explained by the word ruminate. A cow chews the cud, swallows, brings it back up, and chews again to get every nutrient. So we do with the Word of God. Mediation and memorization allow us to chew on the Scriptures, bring them back, and chew them again thoughtfully, continuing the process to gain devotionally all the nourishment we need from the Word of God.

Reflection - In the Word and in prayer we gain insight, instruction, and knowledge; with memorization and meditation we gain clarity; and with reflection we gain application and implication. What is the Word saying to me about the glory and majesty of my God - His attributes, His actions, His decrees, and His providence? In light of that, how am I being reproved, corrected, and trained for righteousness? This will when automatically lead to confession.

Confession - As believers spend time in the Word, prayer, mediation, and reflection, it soon becomes evident that we have fallen short of the glory of God. Then, in the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are allowed to flee to the throne of grace and mercy in order to find help in the day of trouble, for the invitation is clear: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Consecration - Knowing we are loved, knowing we are cleansed from our sins, and knowing we have a glorious Savior, we are ready to rise up as instruments of the Lord.

Intercessory and Contemplative Prayer - We hear God in his Word. Now we bring to God the issues of life and the praise of our lips...He speaks to us in His Word, and we speak to Him in prayer. (Personally this is last because this is how we confess and consecrate).

Reeder III, Harry L. From Embers to a Flame, 88-89.

Make a plan

Priority

Read it - OIA (I why did got put this in there connected to 2 timothy) into Devotional Reading (John 3:16)- Skill its sometimes difficult to understand All scripture is clear but not equally clear (1689:7). - this is why God has given you pastors and teachers of the Word. - But God has given you Help from the Holy Spirit - describe illumination (doesn’t mean we wikll get everything right but it does promise we can understand scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14) - conviction, doctrine, application. By these the mind and affections are renewed.

Not just reading it but living it. James 1:23–24“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” Reading it without living it does a man no good.

Jesus and Rock example - Matthew 7:24–27““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””

Consecration and Prayer

John 14:26 Nudges.

Preach to yourself. 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Close out with Example from Joshua 1.

957. 1565 (608 total words).

James and Paul

Let me show you another example that shows just how important understanding the Literary and Historical Context slash Audience Purpose and Relevance is.

In the book of James, James says James 2:14, 21-24 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?… Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

But wait a second…

Paul says in Romans 3:23–25 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus… For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

And then here’s the kicker.

Paul uses the exact same verse James did from Genesis Genesis 15:6 that says And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, to make what looks like the completely opposite point of James in James 2:23.

Romans 4:1–5 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

Abraham wasn’t justified by works, he was justified by faithi.

In other words we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9)

What are we to make of all this?

Context is King.

Paul is laying out a systematic theology of the gospel.

A theology of God’s grace in Christ.

James, on the other hand, is talking to lazy, antinomian Christians who just say grace, grace, grace, grace, grace and don’t think obedience is a necessary fruit of saving faith.

In fact, Paul says the same thing Romans 6:1-2 when he says Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!

So no. Paul and James are not contradicting each other.

They are making different points to different audiences for different occasions and purposes.

Paul is saying that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

And James is saying that faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

Good works are the necessary fruit… the gospel evidence of genuine saving faith.

The context matters… the Literary Context… Historical Context… and the purpose, occasion, and background… the Audience Relevance.

FOR AFTER RICH YOUNG RULER

Context is King.

the Literary Context… Historical Context… and the purpose, occasion, and background… the Audience Relevance all give shape and meaning to the passage.

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Joshua Example

Let’s work through an example that puts all of this together to give you a picture of how all of this works itself out.

Let’s go to Joshua 1:7-9.

Joshua 1:7–9 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

First of all… what’s the historical context.

Joshua leading the people into the promise land.

That’s verse 2… Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel (Joshua 1:2).

Well what’s God telling him?

Remember Them/Then.

Be strong and very courageous.

Meditate on the Word and be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Now what’s it mean? What are the similarities and differences between us and them?

Well we are not Joshua or Old Covenant Israel. We are not embarking on a conquest of the Promise Land.

But we are still the people of God.

We are under the Word and called to worship God just like they were.

And as individuals God calls us to do all kinds of things that stretch our faith and as a church there is some sort of conquest we are on… the Great Commission to take the Gospel out to the whole world.

So what’s this passage telling us?

To put our faith in the Lord.

To trust Him in all that He calls us to do.

To be strong and courageous whether that’s starting some new ministry… facing cancer… struggling in marriage or parenting.

Draw on the Lord for strength.

And be careful to keep His Word.

Strive to honor God in all that we do.

For then you will have good success.

What was their success? Entering the Promised Land.

So what is our success? Faithfulness and inheriting the promises of God.

I will never leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5).

The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

And what’s the connection to Jesus? What does this passage say in its Redemptive-Historical context?

Jesus is the greater Joshua… that’s Hebrews 4:8-9.

He conquered our enemies of sin, Satan, and death to bring us into the Promise Land of Salvation and eternal life.

So we can trust in Him… Follow Him… Hold fast to His Word… everything the passage tells us to do.

Trusting as a Christian He will never leave you or forsake you.

And as a Church taking the Gospel out against the giants in the Land… I will never leave you or forsake you… I am with you always to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20).