What Happened to Expository Preaching?

byFaith Magazine ^ | 1999 | Alistair Begg

[Gamecock]

GRPL Ping

For discussion and edification

[GarySpFc]

Ping

[Gamecock]

When pastors become convinced that the central issue facing the church is political or psychological rather than theological, exposition will be forsaken in favor of political speeches and calls to wage war for “the soul of the nation.” Congregations are then more urged to vote than to pray. They are mobilized not on the basis of a divine mandate, but on the strength of a human agenda.

Discussion point 1: Is the Church more concerned with social agendas or the souls of their flock?

[ScottM1968]

A good insight and rather poignant.

Thanks.

[irishtenor]

My Pastor preaches expository all the time.

[DaveTesla]

That depends on whether or not one is preaching
the word to save the congregation from the latest
(actually they are of old, presented as new) humanistic
social agendas.
The church must be concerned with most social agendas.
The church should warn the congregation against them.
Just as in scripture Paul did.
Although we build up our treasures in heaven,
we cannot leave our souls behind.

[strongbow]

It is incomprehensible to me that a man could sit under the faithful and powerful preaching of God's word and ever again be satisfied with the pablum of "contemporary" services. I can find just as much edification in Rotary club meetings or other man centered efforts. I too wonder where the next Martin Lloyd-Jones of the church will show up. The fields are truly ripe for harvest, but where are the workers?

[reaganaut]

Hubby and I looked long and hard for a church with good expository preaching. We finally found one.

IMO, the importance of accurate expository preaching and a sound knowledge of theology cannot be underestimated. A good knowledge of the Bible and proper theology would keep many from the snares of so-called 'christian' cults that slightly twist Scripture and doctrine to entrap souls.

[Frumanchu]

Discussion point 1: Is the Church more concerned with social agendas or the souls of their flock?

I think some of the pastors are just plain ill-trained. Our current pastor is fresh out of seminary, and every Sunday seems to come out of Sermons for Dummies:

Step 1: Read Scripture (just pick one. it's the only time you'll read it for the rest of the sermon)

Step 2: Begin with humorous anecdote

Step 3: Play on one of the key words in the passage and use it abundantly throughout the whole sermon (don't worry about the actual contextual meaning of the word...what's important is that afterwards when one of your congregation is asked what the sermon was about they can say "well, did you know that we are <keyword>?")

Step 4: Add another humorous anecdote (to keep em awake and interested)

Step 5: Climax (should include the phrase "We as a church have to be that <previously chosen keyword>")

Step 6: Wrap up with a succession of short phrases in gradually descending volume and pitch, finishing with "Let us pray."

Step 7: Contrite prayer (be sure to include that keyword)

Step 8: Extend invitation (hopefully you remembered to memorize your church's required confessional statement of faith)

Step 9: Remind everybody of potluck fellowship following worship.

I wish I could say that I was exagerrating, but that's pretty much how a lot of our sermons go.

[aimhigh]

A study of the New Testmant reveals that teaching is used for believers and un-believers. Preaching is always for un-believers. In the qualifications for elders (church leaders) teaching appears but not preaching. In the 1 Cor passage commanding an orderly service, teaching appears but not preaching.

A review of later passages on preaching show they refer to past evangelical events.

Men like to preach, because it doesn't require as much study, and it appeals to the flesh. Sad.

[reaganaut]

I am sure you are not kidding. When I was in Bible College, the pastor of the church we attended was still in Seminary. We had the same classes (his undergrad was in math) and the same books. We took "sermons" the same semester. I would write a sermon, hand it out to a couple of friends and have my hubby proof it before I turned it in. Two weeks later the same sermon topic/scripture would be coming from the pulpit, but always in the format you described. It was horrible and I ended up working in the nursery to avoid his "sermons".

I got several comments about how mine were better than his and it apparently got back to him, because he started telling me how he was better than I was because he was in Seminary (2 grad program) and I was only working on my BA (never mind I had more classes, more languages, and 4 years worth of work).

[MBombardier]

Expository preaching means unfolding the text of Scripture in a way that makes contact with the listeners’ world while exalting Christ and confronting them with the need for action, and we need to identify and emulate role models in this noble pursuit. For me, the men who have led the way (and all of them happen to be from the other side of the Atlantic) are Eric Alexander, Roy Clements, Dick Lucas, Derek Prime, and D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Who are yours?

My family goes to a unique church. It is age-integrated, meaning there are no age-related programs or activities. There are no pastors. We are reformed in doctrine, charismatic in ministry, and evangelical in mission. There are a number of elders, and they travel between the three congregations in the area teaching about the portion of Scripture they have been assigned from the book the church is studying. There is exacting accountability between the elders, between members of the congregation, and between the congregation and the elders. We are on fire for the Lord, strong in community, charitable, and socially responsible. There is no way we could be this way without true expository teaching of the Word of God from the pulpit, in home Bible studies, and between believers informally. We exalt Christ, and stir up one another to good works. My friends and fellow church members are my role models. I am deeply thankful, and praise God for them!

I didn't mean for this to be an advertisement, but I feel prompted to mention that one of the founders of the church is having a seminar in mid-January on how this church was started, and the 1st century principles it is founded on. If you would like more information, please FReepmail me privately.

[telder1]

Discussion point 1: Is the Church more concerned with social agendas or the souls of their flock?

The only one ever concerned with the souls of the elect is God. Without Him, every soul is just concerned about it's own safety from Him--and the other souls. The interesting thing is that nowhere in all of Scripture does God say He will speak through the same soul in the same schedule through every seven day period--yet that is the expectation of the crowd and the lie of the pastorate/seminary. (a.k.a. Nicolatianism in the guise of 'the all-various (er..'permanent') gifts') The congregation will do ANYTHING other (if it was up to them) than be Spoken through (because they see what it supposedly cost those through whom God speaks in this world bu tin truth simply costs God through them...) and so are glad to pay some poor smuck to pretend that God has indeed 'called' him and his staff out to speak through them on a regular basis like clockwork. And the staff actively hates God so that they may be able to speak their own idea of what God's supposed 'holy information' 'means' in a speech not-God rather than God as Word speaking through them so they can appear to be 'smart' and have a following...

...AND it is viewed by those in the Church as a sign of maturity to speak on societal matters as 'proof' of having progressed 'beyond' such supposed mundane matters/Life as the truth God gives in the Scriptures...

...AND the Church has abandoned the Scriptures/Word of God in favor of the speech of Eygpt from which they were saved.

Proverbs 22:17-23 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips. That thy confidence may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee? Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

[Gamecock]

My Pastor preaches expository all the time.

With you as an Elder, does he have a choice? ;-)

[strongbow]

Are you then suggesting that a paid pastor is not biblical or necessary??

[Cvengr]

More importantly, the pastor-teacher needs to discern the spiritual gifts amongst the flock and deploy them accordingly to cultivate the most fruit.

The spiritual gift of pastor-teacher being discernible from the spiritual gift of evangelism.

The hypocrits will look for soulish formulas such as is manifest by the stereotyped white suited tele-evangelist speaking in rhetorical accentuation, whereas a mature pastor, young in his years will remain in Christ and seek to discern the gifts his fellow believers and flock have been divinely given in their spirit and staff them accordingly.

[Gamecock]

The hypocrits will look for soulish formulas such as is manifest by the stereotyped white suited tele-evangelist speaking in rhetorical accentuation, whereas a mature pastor, young in his years will remain in Christ and seek to discern the gifts his fellow believers and flock have been divinely given in their spirit and staff them accordingly.

And how does The Purpose Driven Hersey, err, I mean Life fit into this?

[kittymyrib]

When people hear real Law and Gospel preaching, many are offended by it. They want the feel good/successful living pablum that Oprah ladels out on TV five days a week. The preachers of the past 30 years have done a pitiful job of proclaiming the Word of God. They have traded the inheritance of biblical truth for the pottage of emotional "spirituality" and our society has suffered greatly as a result.