sola gratia

Dr. Steven Lawson talks about recognizing a call and acting on the call to a preaching ministry:

1. There must be a deep conviction in the truth of God’s Word.

2. There must be a holy compulsion in his heart to preach the Word.

3. There must be a supernatural capacity that is given by God to preach the Word.

4. There must be a collective confirmation from others, who observe that person’s life and ministry.

HT: Encouraging Expository Excellence

Do you love the Word of God? Do you delight in the Word and excited to preach it?

These are sermons related to the book by Tim Keller. Very good resources.

Titles in the series include the following:

“Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?”

“Suffering: if God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?”

“Absolutism: Don’t we all have to find truth for ourselves?” and many more!

HT: Redeemer Presbyterian Church

Interview of Tim Keller (pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NY City):

Where do you place the importance of preaching in the grand scheme of church life?
It is central, but not alone at the center. Pastoral ministry is as important as preaching ministry, and lay ‘every-member’ ministry is as crucial as ordained ministry. I wouldn’t make a heirarchy out of these things–they are interdependent. But pastoral ministry and lay ministry is no substitute for strong preaching.

How long (on average) does it take you to prepare a sermon?
I pastor a large church and have a large staff and so I give special prominence to preparing the sermon. I give it 15-20 hours a week. I would not advise younger ministers to spend so much time, however. The main way to become a good preacher is to preach a lot, and to spend tons of time in people work–that is how you grow from becoming not just a Bible commentator but a flesh and blood preacher. When I was a pastor without a large staff I put in 6-8 hours on a sermon.

What notes, if any, do you use?
I use a very detailed outline, with many key phrases in each sub-point written out word for word.

HT: Unashamed Workman

Dustin Benge of Pastor and People lists ten pastors who have made an impact in his life; he says, “These men of God have pointed me to the cross of Christ and the glory of God in 2007 by explaining God’s Word.”

Here is his list:

1. John MacArthur

2. Alistair Begg

3. Charles Haddon Spurgeon…read more of the rest.

Do you have your own list, too? Share them with me. I am still thinking of my own.

Preaching has become individualistic and pragmatic in many sense. One area that I want to deal with is the use of scripture texts, starting with a quote from Michael Pasquarello III,

“…it is important, however, to note how the Bible is used rather than how much. Sermons or other forms of Christian discourse may speak about the Bible, perhaps may even use a large quantity of verses from the Bible, but this does not necessarily guarantee ‘biblical’ speech in its content, purpose and scope–that the language of the Bible is being used in the same manner or the same ends as it has been used by Christians in the past.” (Christian Preaching, Baker Academic, 28.)

There are so many preaching of the Bible done every Sunday. Yet how many of these sermons are preached in such a way that are faithful and truthful to the text. As expositors of the Word, we are called to study, wrestle and struggle with the text. To this end, are we then called.

One of the complaints that I have heard from seminary students learning expository preaching is the problem of audience response. Acoording to them, church members are not likely to appreciate meaty messages and sermons that seem to them are irrelevant.  What they want is an outright application that insists they act on their part rather than go through what the passage is saying and understand it. Alas, what is new about this? I don’t think this surprises me much anymore.

Many preachers today are on the pulpit to entertain. They have forgotten their calling as messengers of the Word of God. Instead of bringing the people to appreciate the wondrous God and His work, the people of God are drawn more to the preacher’s charisma and aura. Instead of proclaiming the Word, they have proclaimed themselves. We have become artists and not prophets anymore.

To preach the Word is to struggle with the text. The preacher must allow the text to speak, and to  speak of the text in a manner that is accurate and clear, so that the people of God will appreciate the God who is Holy, Wise and Gracious. The words as inscripturated in the Bible are for our salvation, and they are also there to complete our salvation in Christ. Its power lies in the Almighty God who has spoken to us through His prophets and His apostles. Inherent in the words of God are the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit who is applying the merits of Chrit’s completed work on the cross. We are to read them, savor and walk accordingly.

Bryan Chapell: “The efficacy of the truths in God’s message rather than any virtue in the messenger transforms hearts.” Christ-Centered Preaching, 26.

To struggle with text is to tell the truth about God and the work He has done. Truth is theology. In our preaching, theology plays very important role. Through the text we discover more about the nature of God, His will, His plan, His salvation.

If a preacher fails to bring the truth of a text and explain it to His audience, I think he has failed as a messenger of God.

Here are a few tips for students in preaching:

1. Read the text. Read it at least twenty times. Allow the text to speak to you.

2. Use different versions. These are some of the preferred translations: NASB, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT, NRSV, etc.

3. Observe the text carefully. Study the setting, in a narrative, look for the plot, the characters, the exchange of ideas. Go into the details: numbers, words, feelings.

4. List down the possible ideas that you find in the text. Based on your observations, and exegesis, come up with the main idea. Relate this to the theme of the book and the immediate context of the text.

5. With the main or big idea in mind work from the text and see how the author supports that idea. As you work on it, go back to the text again. Test your ideas. If any improvements have to be made, do not be afraid to do so. Continue to revise until you are satisfied that this is what the author is really saying.

6. Do not forget to pray. And ask the help of the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever wondered why preaching is so difficult? As I recall some of my personal experience, I’d say preaching was one of the struggles that I had. Unless you are gifted by the Holy Spirit, preaching still is a skill you have to develop. It does not come easily, but only through hard work. It is so much different just to sit down and listen to a sermon, than to prepare one.

This is where it gets ugly:

1. If I want my preaching to entertain, I would just spice it with jokes and humorous anecdeotes, at the expense of the truth.

2. Preaching once a month and preaching every Sunday either builds you or kill you.

3. Practicing what you preach matters a lot; however, it matters most whether you are preaching Christ!

4. The word of God is a means of grace by which we come to know justification, the Lordship of Christ, sanctiifcation, glorification. Preaching is the channel by which God’s word is brought to His people.