South Gate Expository Preaching Cohort 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
WELCOME!
Explain Dissertation Project and why everyone is here!
Introduce one another
Name
Time at South Gate
Thing most looking forward to during these weeks
Why this EPC?
We have a Great Need in our community and in our church
We are currently running around 250 people during our worship attendance each Sunday at South Gate. Stats tell us that “regular” church attendance is not weekly, though, which means that we likely have closer to 400 people who call South Gate their church “home.” Studies provide different numbers, but what remains consistent is that one pastor cannot properly shepherd this many people by himself. In fact, 2 men cannot do this. We need more pastors/elders/overseers. And by God’s grace, we have multiple men who fit the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:1 within our congregation. The goal of this project is to encourage and equip qualified men to preach text-driven, Christ-centered sermons - and, during this process, pray that the Lord stirs something inside some of us towards being an overseer (ability + aspiration)
This is a Biblical thing
Consider what Paul tells Timothy in his final letter before his death
2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Paul lived this out - he discipled and trained Timothy and called on Timothy to go and train others and teach them and send them out to teach as well. This is Paul’s model of pastoral leadership and training. Find a leader or leaders to invest in and give them the tools to train more leaders. This is a Biblical model to follow and one that few churches practice.
Similar to discipleship process of Great Commission
Paul > Timothy > Faithful Men > Others
This is the hope of leadership in the local church.
Seminary education is drying up and the average age of the pastor is getting older and older. We’re already in a major youth pastor shortage and in time, this likely will touch other areas, including Senior Pastors. We need to raise up leaders and preachers and elders from within the church that God has already qualified and who simply need opportunities to learn and teach.
This is Biblical, Necessary, and Timely. Seen success in other churches and praying that this will benefit our church.
What questions do you have up front before we have a quick overview of the theology of preaching?
All is fair game!
What is Preaching?
From the book of Acts, we see that the New Testament church has had preaching. We see preaching in the Old Testament and in the ministry of Jesus Christ as well. But what exactly is preaching?
How would you define it?
__________
Expository preaching is “the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through him to his hearers.” Haddon Robinson
“In a sermon the theme or the doctrine is something that arises out of the text and its context, it is something which is illustrated by the text and context.” Lloyd-Jones
“Expository preaching is `the method of selecting a large portion (a paragraph or more) of the Bible and expounding its meaning and applying the message before the people.”‘ WA Criswell
“The discourse [sermon] should spring out of the text as a rule, and the more evidently it does so the better . . . A sermon, moreover, comes with far greater power to the consciences of the hearers when it is plainly the very word of God not a lecture about the Scripture, but Scripture itself opened up and enforced.” Spurgeon
My definition: Interpretation, Communication, and Application of a Biblical text in a sermon that represents the spirit of the original text and exposes it for all to hear!
To preach the Word is to first know the Word and correctly interpret it. Then to communicate that understanding of the Word. People aren’t there to hear you, they need to hear the Word. Finally, preaching must be applied faithfully.
Here is why: Christian Imperatives (commands) rest on Christian Indicatives (reality).
Look at Colossians 3:1-2
1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Show this on Logos - with filter turned on
Indicative (if you have been raised with Christ) drives the imperative (seek things above | set mind on things above)
This is how Biblical application flows. Other religions flip this. You have to fulfill the command in order to have the reality. If you do x then you get y. Biblically, this is flipped! You are raised with Christ, therefore, you do _______. Your understanding of the text (interpretation) drives your application!
Good news with preaching: You aren’t making anything up! To borrow from J-Mac, you’re not the chef, you’re the waiter. You don’t make the food, you just deliver it. We don’t present anything new, we represent what God has already said. How do we do this? By exposing the text and bring it to bear for all of our people!
Preaching is defined a couple of ways in Scripture (used 150+ times)
Kerysso - “proclaim/herald” - is the most common usage of preach in the New Testament. Used of Jesus in Matthew 4:17, Paul in Acts 28:31, and Timothy and others in 2 Tim 4:2.
Euaggelizo - used interchangeably at times with Kerysso in Luke 8:1 and Acts 8:4-5. Preaching the “good news” of Christ
Martyreo “I bear witness of” - legal term of someone communicating the truth that they have seen or heard
Didasko “I teach” - focuses on content of the message. Think of the Great Commission as we are commissioned to go and teach. Teaching at times is used interchangeably with preaching in places like 1/2 Timothy.
What preaching is not: What are things that you’ve heard before that people say are preaching but are not examples of Biblical preaching?
Verse by Verse commentary
Rambling remarks about a Bible verse/passage
Suggestions
Exegesis
Outline and comments
Discussion of an interesting topic
Collection of grammatical or historical findings and quotations from commentaries or other sermons
Sunday school lesson and discussion
Bible reading
Devotional, talk, or motivational speech
If preaching is proclaiming Christ and applying His Word, then what must the basis for our preaching?
The Word of God
So often in our world there is a drift away from Biblical exposition and a drifting towards an experience-centered topical approach - there’s a lot of junk food that passes as preaching today. For example: I heard a sermon on tithing from John 3:16. How do you get tithing from John 3:16? God gave His Son, therefore you and I must give to God. If you’re doing a topical message you can make that fit, but you rip the verse out of its context because John 3:16 is about salvation. This is why it matters that we get the text right.
What Do We Preach?
Christ!
Topic or Text?
TEXT!
Luke 24:27 - Jesus taught the Old Testament in an Expository Sermon point to Him. See Hebrews, expository sermon. Nehemiah 8:8, additional example.
Why Preach?
To expound what the Word says
Many are confused as to why we preach and what exactly we preach - Our world views preaching as a waste of time or something from a previous generation that is no longer needed! Nothing could be further from the truth. We believe that God’s Word is living, active, effective, and powerful
3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
There are some pulpits who have forsaken the preaching of the Word in order to give people what they want to hear, or what the preacher thinks that they want to hear. What is dangerous about this?
We preach because Jesus demands His church to preach His Word and because preaching the Word is the means through which God ordained to save sinners
14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Preaching is needed to share the Gospel and exhort God’s people to action
Preaching is also commanded of those called into pastoral ministry
2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
1 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.
Who Can Preach?
Hot topic these days! Can women preach? Cultural answer? Sure! Biblical answer? Absolutely not.
Illustration from Lindsey’s Facebook group recently
But beyond that: Who can preach? Those who meet the Biblical qualifications. As pastor here at South Gate, I will be held accountable for everything taught at this church. That’s the responsibility of being the shepherd! That means this: We don’t just open the pulpit up to anyone and everyone. But it also means that there are some people gifted in this congregation that need to be using that gift. I believe that you have that gift, or the aspiration to develop that gift.
Preacher’s Prayer | Passion | Preparation
Everyone has heard of Charles Spurgeon - have you heard of Joseph Parker? In the 1880s, there was a group of Americans who traveled to London to hear both Spurgeon and Parker preach the Word. They went to Parker’s church first - a large church with 3,000-4,000 people. They left the service and one shared, “Joseph Parker is the greatest preacher there ever was!” They thought about going back that Sunday night but decided to hear Spurgeon instead. They sat through the service at Metropolitan Tabernacle and after the service another person said, “I must say, Jesus Christ is the greatest Savior there ever was.”
The goal of preaching is not to hear “well done” from the pew. That will come from the Lord. The goal of preaching is to fix eyes upward. Spurgeon was an excellent preacher but when pressed about the success of his ministry, he said that the reason God used him was simply because his people prayed for him. We can’t neglect personal prayer in the preaching process.
Mark Dever shares in his book “9Marks of a Healthy Church” that we read as a staff that pastors from yesteryear prepared more for their prayers than their sermons! I investigated this and found that this is exactly right as pastors used to spend upwards of a dozen hours a week in prayer in their study.
As we begin this journey, bathe it up in prayer!
Passion
If you can imagine yourself doing anything else, do it. If you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else, you must preach. - Spurgeon
“A man marked by intensity is on a mission and will not be diverted. He is a preacher of one thing - the glory of God! - Steve Lawson
The more we study this Word, the more our passion for communicating and applying its timeless truths must increase as well as we hunger for people to fall in love with their Bible and be changed by the Gospel. This should be conveyed through passion and intensity and urgency and energy.
Not an age thing - John Piper is one of the most passionate preachers I’ve heard and he’s 78 years old!
A high view of Scripture and a deep belief that God works through His Word drives passion in preaching
Preparation
To fail to plan is to plan to fail! We must be prepared to do the task that God has called us to do.
The task of preaching is a serious one and we are to study to prove ourselves as one approved - this is a high call!
Goal in this cohort is to help in the preparation process!
Outline of weekly preparation process
Familiar text / unfamiliar text
Flow of week
Goal: Understand the text well enough to summarize it in a sentence or two. Outline it. Understand context. Develop application. Brainstorm illustration/introduction/conclusion. 8-12 hours/sermon.
Purpose of this group over the next few months:
Grow in our understanding of Expository Preaching
Develop necessary tools for sermon preparation
Receive feedback from brothers in Christ
So important in life to continue growing so that we avoid being stagnant. I’m not the most creative person, but I’ve learned this in life: You often create what you consume! If you’re pouring out, you need to be filling in. What do we consume? One of the best ways to grow in any area, specifically in preaching, is to listen to good Biblical preaching.
Examples:
J-Mac
HB Charles
Jason Allen
Alistair Begg
Bryan Chapell
Piper
David Allen
Stephen Rummage
Steven Smith
I try to listen to 2-4 sermons a week - don’t always succeed, but I try. Goes the same with church services. Each week I’m listening to FBC Ozark. Some weeks I listen to Crossway Baptist. Sometimes FBC Springfield/Ridgecrest. FBC Clever. Calvary in Republic. Why? To grow! The most dangerous thing that we can do is think that we’ve arrived and that we don’t need to grow. Encourage you guys to listen to Christ-Centered Preaching during these weeks and pray that God would use the faithful exposition of the Word to help you as you seek to exposit the Word in your sermon.
Going forward:
This week I want you to pray about a text of Scripture that you’ll preach in July/August! You don’t have to do anything other than have your text picked out for next week. If you read the introduction in our book this is the recommendation that Steven Smith and Robby Gallaty give. As we go forward in this study, we’ll discuss the parts of a sermon and work through these steps together and you’ll be able to immediately apply this to your text as we go.
Preaching is hard! It’s not easy. My prayer is that this encourages you and I’m so excited to see how God works through each of you!
Next week come with your text picked out, if you’re drawing a blank I’ll gladly assign you an “easy” text - food for thought, don’t preach Romans 7 or Romans 9 or Ephesians 1 or Hebrews 6. Don’t do that to yourself! John 3, Romans 3, Luke 15, Acts 1, Psalm 23, Romans 6 are the places to look to first!
I’ll have a workflow for each of you next week that will be a helpful resource - talk through Logos for the cohort and the blessing that those resources are
Preaching Notes #1 Allen
Preaching Notes #1 Allen
Preaching and Teaching are often used interchangeably
Why do we preach? How should we approach the task of preaching?
Understanding of the Depravity of Man
Christian doctrine that every person is born in sin and separated from God
Our identity is Sin
From childhood we have to teach children to repent from sin and confess their sin - we don’t have to teach people to sin, we just do!
We are preaching and teaching to people dead in sin - therefore, we preach with urgency because much is at stake! The Word alone awakens those dead in sin.
People don’t just need encouragement. They are fallen. They are in sin. Preaching is essential to confront this truth of lostness!
Power of Scripture
The Bible shares that it is not only true and effective but also powerful to change lives
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
Scripture is powerful, sufficient, and profitable. We don’t need encouragement, we need power and life!
We need it to be taught regarding what to think and what to do. To correct and train us.
Ministry of Holy Spirit
We need the Holy Spirit to rightly interpret the Word of God
The Mandate for Expository Preaching
The Word of God must be taught. Preaching is to teach the Word of God and to apply it rightly to the congregation.
More than stories or illustrations
Life of the Preacher Matters
Yes, God works through imperfect preachers. Be a man of honor and purity and allow your life to line up with what you’re preaching and teaching. This is a noble calling and a serious one!
Why grow this ability?
Preaching is Tremendously Important!
Scripture tells us this. It is an essential part of Church
Churches Need Pastors to Preach the Word!
More than being a good communicator
The deeper our well, the higher the pulpit soars
Preaching Notes #2 Allen
Preaching Notes #2 Allen
Importance of Expositional Preaching vs other types of preaching
Topical - various topics and ideas the pastor comes up with
Expository Preaching - Biblical model as the Word does the Work
Advantages and disadvantages?
Criticisms? Fair or Foul?
Is the Bible different individual truths or is it 1 connected story?
Expository Preaching shows how the Bible fits together - it culminates with Jesus!
It’s all about Him and the sermon finds its source and substance in Scripture
Dr. Allen definition of Ex. Preaching, “Explaining the Word of God in its context and bringing it to bear in the lives of the hearers.”
Study it rightly in its context and explain it to God’s people and apply it in their lives
What does this require?
To study the text
To understand it
To give the sermon a foundation and points that are from the text
Everything in the sermon is textual - from the text
After the sermon, people know more about the text than they know about you! The text is the center
Expository Preaching best fulfills the Biblical commands for preaching
Scripture gives prescriptively and descriptively to exposit Scripture (explain Scripture)
Pre: 1 Tim 4/2 Tim 4 calls for elder/pastor to bring the Word to bear to “Preach the Word” to Explain the Word
This is the command - speak the Word
Des: Acts 2/Acts 4/Acts 7 shows how the earliest Christians preached the Word
Expository Preaching affirms a high view of Preaching
The Bible is truthful and inspired by God! When we preach the text, we tell our people that we believe what we say
You can’t say that you believe in the truth of Scripture and its power and never preach the text
Expository Preaching Most Honors the Authority of Preaching
Numbers 1-2 shows that preaching is to bring the Word of God to bear
Expository Preaching Adds Gravity to Your Ministry
Seriousness to this task - can’t fill it with 3 stories and 2 illustrations and 5 social observations
Thus Saith the Lord proclamation is appropriate and needed!
Expository Preaching Most Matures the Congregation
Milk will only lead to a desire for more milk
Meat creates a diet for more meat
This will mature the congregation and help the congregation disciple others!
Expository Preaching Teaches the Congregation how to study the Bible
“I’ve never seen that before” - we want them to see where the truth comes from - the text!
This helps the people study the Word on Monday-Saturday
Expository Preaching Ensures the Sermon is Relevant
The latest fad will fade out - God’s Word is enduring
Expository Preaching Most Consistently Proclaims Christ and His Gospel
The Gospel can’t just be tacked on to the end of the message
Christ can be found in every text
Expository Preaching Most Matures the Preacher
The Preacher is required to study the text and deal with the text, especially the meaty parts
Expository Preaching Gives You Confidence as You Preach
The Bible is God’s Word and the Word is authoritative
This helps you relax and rest in the fact that the Word does the Work
Expository Preaching Best Stewards Your Time
You know what’s coming up next week and last week’s message provides the foundation and context for this week!
Expository Preaching Ensures Balance in the Pulpit
We all have passions and hobby horses but preaching books brings balances and smooths out rough edges
Preaching is a special task and honorable calling - this is something we can’t take lightly or say it doesn’t matter. It matters greatly because the stakes are high
Preaching Notes #3 Allen
Preaching Notes #3 Allen
8 Tips for the Beginner Preacher
Seek Pastor’s Affirmation/Counsel
Local Church is essential to prepare you for ministry
This states to the preacher that the Pastor believes in me and should provide you with confidence
Find Low Pressure Venue
Sunday morning at home church likely isn’t the best place!
Baseball illustration with Minor Leagues - important!
Choose Text Wisely
Weighty passages are likely difficult (Romans 7/Romans 9/James 2/Ephesians 1) in this situation
Go to clear passages that preach themselves! John 3/Romans 3/Romans 6/John 10/Psalm 23/Matthew 16/Acts 2 - easy to understand, simple to outline, and even if your presentation isn’t perfect, the text will teach itself
Exposit the Text
If you get nothing else right delivery wise, get the text right! God will use His Word and do His Work!
Over-prepare
People know their Bible’s well! Make sure that no one knows your passage better than you. Study well. Study to show yourself as one approved. Seminary education is a huge asset here! Stand with confidence on the text because of your preparation!
Get the I Out of the Sermon
People gather to hear about Jesus, not about you
I is not always wrong or bad… But it cannot be the main substance
We often talk too much about ourselves, not too little
Lift Jesus High
Don’t miss Jesus in the sermon as He is the theme of all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation
They need more of Jesus, not more of you!
Rest in God’s Power
God has chosen to use His Word and God has chosen to use YOU in His perfect plan
You’ve studied. You’ve shown up. You’ve prayed up. You’ve been obedient.
Therefore, you can rest as the Spirit not only works in that hour, but He continues to work long after the sermon is done
Illustration about this importance going forward
Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon (Third Edition) Considering the Fallen Condition Focus
The Fallen Condition Focus (FCF) is the mutual human condition that contemporary persons share with those to or about whom the text was written that requires the grace of the passage for God’s people to glorify and enjoy him.
Preaching Notes #4 Allen - Interpretation
Preaching Notes #4 Allen - Interpretation
Key components of interpretation in preaching process
Analysis
Thinking/Observing the text
Think through this:
Tuesday morning with Sunday coming, text that you’ve never studied or preached before
Open Bible + Text in English on paper
Ask questions of the text to figure it out
Who is writing?
What are they seeking to say?
Where are they writing from?
When are they writing?
Why are they writing?
How are they communicating?
2 Timothy - Paul is writing to Timothy, his son in the faith against the backdrop of persecution and his possible death
Circle key words and connect similar sayings/questions/answers
How is this structured
Where is it in context
How does this fit into the metanarrative of Scripture
Seeking to be able to summarize the text in a sentence of so
Exegetical outline
Structure the major movements of passage in a diagram as you trace the arguments and components of the passage
Ex. Outline
Goal to accurately represent the passage
Hom. Outline
Outline we’ll use to teach the passage to our people
More polished/memorable/understandable
Application of the text for the people
Faithful to the text
Accurate from the text that someone could write down the outline points and years later they’re able to see the meaning of the text and how it flows
Memorable - don’t get cute or force something!
Nice, though, with integrity
If they can remember the points of the sermon and the points of the sermon are the points of the passage, then you help them better understand the passage by having a memorable outline
Naturally have action or application
Not every outline can have or should have 3 points + application but if the passage has action/application/commands, then the outline can be a massive help to people
