See link below to 9 Marks ejournal - some great articles on Preaching.
http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/preaching
Thursday 2 December 2010
Wednesday 1 December 2010
QUOTES FOR PREACHERS
Biblical preaching is taking people to the Bible
and talking them through what it means.
‘They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read’Nehemiah 8:8
‘I take it for granted that we will have a text. For we are not speculators but expositors’
and talking them through what it means.
‘They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read’Nehemiah 8:8
‘I take it for granted that we will have a text. For we are not speculators but expositors’
J Stott
Great Bible teachers have all been people of study
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching
its decrees and laws in Israel’
Ezra 7:10
‘He who has ceased to learn has ceased to teach. He who no longer sows in the study will no more reap in the pulpit.’
‘He who has ceased to learn has ceased to teach. He who no longer sows in the study will no more reap in the pulpit.’
CH Spurgeon
If I had only three years to serve the Lord, I would spend two of them studying and preparing’
DG Barnhouse, quoted by Billy Graham
Seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work, pertaining to the salvation of man, but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same, consider how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures..’
CofE Ordinal, 1662 – Exhortation from Bishop to Candidates for Ministry
If a sermon looks easy and straightforward it’s because of all the work
Seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work, pertaining to the salvation of man, but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same, consider how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures..’
CofE Ordinal, 1662 – Exhortation from Bishop to Candidates for Ministry
If a sermon looks easy and straightforward it’s because of all the work
that has gone into it.
‘cases are won in chambers’
‘cases are won in chambers’
JH Jowett, Judge
‘too lazy, to proud, too pious – all causes of poor preparation’
‘too lazy, to proud, too pious – all causes of poor preparation’
J Stott
Expect criticism
People will begin to take sides, objections to you and to what you preach, and how you preach it, will become increasingly plausible (but quite irrational when you consider them). Your manner, length and style of preaching etc,
will all be torn to shreds’ …
…your quiet persistence will be a sign that you believe God has a purpose of grace for this people, and that this purpose will be promoted, not by gimmicks, or stunts, or new ideas, but by the Word of God released in preaching by prayer’
Expect criticism
People will begin to take sides, objections to you and to what you preach, and how you preach it, will become increasingly plausible (but quite irrational when you consider them). Your manner, length and style of preaching etc,
will all be torn to shreds’ …
…your quiet persistence will be a sign that you believe God has a purpose of grace for this people, and that this purpose will be promoted, not by gimmicks, or stunts, or new ideas, but by the Word of God released in preaching by prayer’
(W Still)
Wednesday 24 November 2010
BIBLE DICTIONARIES
Best Commentaries says:
Description:This magnificent and comprehensive Bible dictionary has set the standard for five decades. This third edition brings the work up to date with the latest developments in scholarship. The book is invaluable for everyone who wants to know the Bible better
Another good on-line dictionary is...
BAKERS EVANGELICAL DICTIONARY OF BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
Friday 19 November 2010
BEST COMMENTARIES
A great resource for info on, reviews and recommendations on Bible Commentaries and other resources.
BESTCOMMENTARIES.COM
BESTCOMMENTARIES.COM
Thursday 18 November 2010
PREACHING TO THE HEART 2
More from the Keller-nator...
2. HOW CAN YOU BE BETTER AT PREACHING LIFE RELATED SERMONS
Theology is the answers to the questions we have asked of the text
So the meaning you attribute to a text – is the answers to the questions you have asked of it
Not Realtivism – rather Biblical texts contain a surplus of meaning
1. Who do you converse with?
We are always shaped by our contexts – and thus are our sermons
The questions we ask of the text are moulded in large part by our situations
So if you live in a world of theological controversy your sermons will heavily reference those issues – i.e. those were the questions in your mind as you studied the text
Conversely if you spend time with non-Christians or are involved in pastoral situations – you sermons will reflect that (e.g. they will become more relevant & meaningful to non-Christians)
So beware becoming unbalanced in your focus – read & spend time with a diversity of people.
2. Who do you picture?
Imagine yourself counselling a particular person with the text you’re studying (imagine the conversation)
Anticipate the questions a range of people might have about what you’re saying – answer them!
Types of listeners: sensitive non-Christians, immoral pagans, intellectual pagans, non-church nominal Christians, church-going nominal Christians, new Christians, mature Christians, the sick & suffering, the persecuted, the dying, the spiritually dry, the tempted, the backslider….etc etc
3. Do you have 3 perspectives on situational?
Three ways to apply a text
Doctrinalist: focused on objective truth
Pietist: focused on inner life
Cultural Transformationalist: focused on community impact
e.g. Exorcism stories in NT
Doctrinalist: focuses on: Jesus as God, divine power, no dualism
Pietist: focuses on: Jesus can free you from the things that enslave you today
Transformationalist focuses on: Jesus overcomes the evil in the world – how do we challenge evil in society today.
Preachers will tend to be disposed to focus on one aspect –
need to see all three and apply in all aspects over time (may privilege one at any given time).
Apologetics in your sermon = application for non-Christians
2. HOW CAN YOU BE BETTER AT PREACHING LIFE RELATED SERMONS
Theology is the answers to the questions we have asked of the text
So the meaning you attribute to a text – is the answers to the questions you have asked of it
Not Realtivism – rather Biblical texts contain a surplus of meaning
1. Who do you converse with?
We are always shaped by our contexts – and thus are our sermons
The questions we ask of the text are moulded in large part by our situations
So if you live in a world of theological controversy your sermons will heavily reference those issues – i.e. those were the questions in your mind as you studied the text
Conversely if you spend time with non-Christians or are involved in pastoral situations – you sermons will reflect that (e.g. they will become more relevant & meaningful to non-Christians)
So beware becoming unbalanced in your focus – read & spend time with a diversity of people.
2. Who do you picture?
Imagine yourself counselling a particular person with the text you’re studying (imagine the conversation)
Anticipate the questions a range of people might have about what you’re saying – answer them!
Types of listeners: sensitive non-Christians, immoral pagans, intellectual pagans, non-church nominal Christians, church-going nominal Christians, new Christians, mature Christians, the sick & suffering, the persecuted, the dying, the spiritually dry, the tempted, the backslider….etc etc
3. Do you have 3 perspectives on situational?
Three ways to apply a text
Doctrinalist: focused on objective truth
Pietist: focused on inner life
Cultural Transformationalist: focused on community impact
e.g. Exorcism stories in NT
Doctrinalist: focuses on: Jesus as God, divine power, no dualism
Pietist: focuses on: Jesus can free you from the things that enslave you today
Transformationalist focuses on: Jesus overcomes the evil in the world – how do we challenge evil in society today.
Preachers will tend to be disposed to focus on one aspect –
need to see all three and apply in all aspects over time (may privilege one at any given time).
Apologetics in your sermon = application for non-Christians
PREACHING TO THE HEART 1
Some notes I took at a Preaching seminar a while back...
Preaching to the Heart – Tim Keller Oak Hill College, 19/11/08
Tolkien noted that a good sermon involves:
ART / VIRTUE / KNOWLEDGE
Col 1:28-29
Admonishing – preaching into lives & situations (SITUATIONAL)
Labouring – aspect of personal experience and involvement (VIRTUE)
Teaching – need knowledge / information / objective truth (NORMATIVE)
When you preach – people are assessing you personally
Evangelicals don’t like that – tend to belittle the Situational & Virtue aspects
i.e. it should just be about the truth I speak – but the reality is you can’t separate the message from yourself or your listeners
U.S. preaching – often excessively situational
Big emphasis on performance / moving people emotionally / being anecdotal
Big weakness is that it lacks knowledge
Our weakness, on the other hand, is often we lack situational invlovement
NEW PREACHERS
Main complaint – good exegesis but lacking in application
The sermons are boney & lack flesh – their word hasn’t become flesh
Can be due to lack of personal / pastoral experience
Jonathan Edwards: purpose of sermon not just to make truth clear but to make it real
Purpose in preaching is to change people even as they listen
APPLICATION
Shouldn’t be tacked on the end of our preparation
But should be in our minds at the beginning of our preparation
Dt 29:29 - Revealed things are there to be obeyed / put into practise / followed
Therefore – there is no part of God’s revelation that is not practical
Everything in the Bible is application
Thus: if you don’t know how a text is to be applied then you haven’t understood it!
Application & Meaning are not different.
Word / Act theory
i.e. Knowing the definition of a word is not the same as understanding the intention behind its use
e.g. Can study a Psalm and breakdown language / understand context – but then need to ask what is the Psalm designed to do?
First part of sermon – says what you need to do
Second part – says this is how to do it (i.e. go to Jesus)
Preaching to the Heart – Tim Keller Oak Hill College, 19/11/08
Tolkien noted that a good sermon involves:
ART / VIRTUE / KNOWLEDGE
Col 1:28-29
Admonishing – preaching into lives & situations (SITUATIONAL)
Labouring – aspect of personal experience and involvement (VIRTUE)
Teaching – need knowledge / information / objective truth (NORMATIVE)
When you preach – people are assessing you personally
Evangelicals don’t like that – tend to belittle the Situational & Virtue aspects
i.e. it should just be about the truth I speak – but the reality is you can’t separate the message from yourself or your listeners
U.S. preaching – often excessively situational
Big emphasis on performance / moving people emotionally / being anecdotal
Big weakness is that it lacks knowledge
Our weakness, on the other hand, is often we lack situational invlovement
NEW PREACHERS
Main complaint – good exegesis but lacking in application
The sermons are boney & lack flesh – their word hasn’t become flesh
Can be due to lack of personal / pastoral experience
Jonathan Edwards: purpose of sermon not just to make truth clear but to make it real
Purpose in preaching is to change people even as they listen
APPLICATION
Shouldn’t be tacked on the end of our preparation
But should be in our minds at the beginning of our preparation
Dt 29:29 - Revealed things are there to be obeyed / put into practise / followed
Therefore – there is no part of God’s revelation that is not practical
Everything in the Bible is application
Thus: if you don’t know how a text is to be applied then you haven’t understood it!
Application & Meaning are not different.
Word / Act theory
i.e. Knowing the definition of a word is not the same as understanding the intention behind its use
e.g. Can study a Psalm and breakdown language / understand context – but then need to ask what is the Psalm designed to do?
First part of sermon – says what you need to do
Second part – says this is how to do it (i.e. go to Jesus)
Wednesday 10 November 2010
NOTES ON PREACHING SLOTS
Some guidance for those who will be giving talks on Stream nights...
1. KEEP TO TIME - your talk should be no more than 12mins (if you get to 15 we will have to interrupt and ask you to stop).
2. DON'T 'PERFORM' - we're not looking a 'performance', our concern is how you handle the passage not that you ooze 'Barak Obama-esque' oratorical skills. So relax and be yourself.
3. EXHAUSTIVE CAN BE EXHAUSTING: it's a 10-12min talk! - not a comprehensive analysis of everything that could be said (we understand that). So focus on the main point in what you say.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR...
1. Did the speaker get the main point of the passage? Did they make that the main point of their talk?
2. Could I as a listener follow what they were saying - did it make sense?
3. What it obvious that what they were saying was from their passage?
4. Were their illustrations (if any) helpful or confusing in understanding the passage.
5. Did they appropriately communicate the tone of the passage (e.g. were they chiding when the author's tone was conciliatory, or vice-versa)?
6. Did they apply it - i.e. did they give an example of the relevance of the passage for me today?
REMEMBER - we're all in this together & there is no such thing as the 'perfect sermon' - this is simply a chance for us to learn and encourage each other in this important ministry.
1. KEEP TO TIME - your talk should be no more than 12mins (if you get to 15 we will have to interrupt and ask you to stop).
2. DON'T 'PERFORM' - we're not looking a 'performance', our concern is how you handle the passage not that you ooze 'Barak Obama-esque' oratorical skills. So relax and be yourself.
3. EXHAUSTIVE CAN BE EXHAUSTING: it's a 10-12min talk! - not a comprehensive analysis of everything that could be said (we understand that). So focus on the main point in what you say.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR...
1. Did the speaker get the main point of the passage? Did they make that the main point of their talk?
2. Could I as a listener follow what they were saying - did it make sense?
3. What it obvious that what they were saying was from their passage?
4. Were their illustrations (if any) helpful or confusing in understanding the passage.
5. Did they appropriately communicate the tone of the passage (e.g. were they chiding when the author's tone was conciliatory, or vice-versa)?
6. Did they apply it - i.e. did they give an example of the relevance of the passage for me today?
REMEMBER - we're all in this together & there is no such thing as the 'perfect sermon' - this is simply a chance for us to learn and encourage each other in this important ministry.
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