How do you preach?

Hey Trotter,

Would you be willing to drive to Chattanooga?

 

90% expository, 10% other -- usually on some special occasion, such as a funeral or communion service. It is the rare bird who can do topical preaching well.

 

Exposition of the Scripture. I feel if you are going to feed the cow go ahead and give the whole bale. The exception to the rule is when I preach a Christmas message or wedding etc.

 

This has nothing to do with topical preaching and everything to do with poor preparation. If a preacher is doing this, he will be a poor preacher regardless of what method he chooses.

Unless you have given your life to studying topical preaching, it might be a bit of a stretch to use the word "most".

Are there bad topical preachers? Absolutely
Are there bad expositional preachers? Absolutely

Again what I am talking about is not simply picking a topic and rambling about my opinion. Re-read some of my earlier posts. What I am saying is that biblically-based, application-oriented preaching seems to create a great balance and helps accomplish what I believe should be the goal on Sunday mornings. Sometimes that means exposition. Sometimes it does not.

 

I feel if you are going to feed the cow go ahead and give the whole bale.

Another misconception. Even in expository preaching you cannot "give the whole bale."

 

To be compleatly fair, Topical preaching does have a valid use. It is a style and not wrong. There are the drawbacks mentioned before, but careful handeling of the Word will avoid those hazards.

All about Grace,

It seems you hold just as strong an opinion about topical preaching as we do about expository. I would not consider it more application oriented than exposition though. All scripture is applicable. Our job is to make that application. No matter what text I preach from I must do the work to make it application oriented.


Also, the continuation of a text from one week to another may be convenient, but The work of exegisis and application is not easier because I know where I'm preaching from the next 7 weeks. Both are alot of work and take careful handeling.


Does anyone here prefer to preach Textually?

 

As I have stated before, I employ both methods. I am more series-based in my preaching. At times that includes expositional and topical matters.

What I have discovered having been heavily involved in both worlds is that there is a tendency among those who practice expository preaching to believe that method is the only one. In actuality there is no biblical precedence or mandate for preaching to be expositional.

I would also contend that the accusations leveled against topical preaching can be aimed at the multitude of "expositional" preaching I have heard that slaughtered both the text itself and the application of it.

Would you disagree with my assertion -- All Scripture is NOT equally applicable to everyday life.

Having done both, I found expositional preaching easier. But I also have a PhD in NT so the exegesis work came more natural to me. For some the exegetical work is definitely difficult.

 

I would say ALL Scripture is so the believer will come to maturity. Some portions may seem less applicable, but Scripture as a whole will bring maturity in Christ. I will preach all of it.


I don't want to level any accusations here, I would hope that we would not toss off our exegisis because we are proficient in the biblical languages. I'm not saying that you are doing that, but wrestling with the text is part of the job. I guess the difficault part is the entire prossess. The linking of exegisis and homiletics. I use Topical for variety, not better application.

 

This could start a whole new thread!

I personally believe that church is being misused in this day and age. Let me explain myself a bit.

The original purpose for the church was for the edification and equipping of believers. It was (and is) the believers individual responsibility to evangelize. Church is not a place for unbelievers.

Unfortunately, we have turned "church" into a place for the unbelievers. Most folks' idea of evangelizing is simply inviting somebody to come to church with them. As a result, many preachers feel the need to "work the Gospel into" every sermon. A lot of preachers reserve Sunday AM services exclusively for messages geared to the unbeliever.

With this in mind, I don't think that you can afford to preach without bringing it back to the cross. Come to think of it, though, the entire Bible centers around the cross, so perhaps our sermons should as well!

 

Rufus preaches mostly expository sermons; but he does sometimes preach topically, or textually.

I preach expository sermons because I find it to be the best method of explaining Scripture as a whole to my people.

I sometimes preach topically or textually because of holidays or special occassions that seem to require a different method.

I just enjoy preaching the Word!

 

You are right. We are talking about different worlds. I am definitely not talking about the backwoodsy, red-necked typed preaching you describe above. I don't "run in those circles" so that was not even on my radar. I am sure there are a lot of the types you describe above.

 

Without a doubt, expository preaching is the preferred choice. There are some great books out there that will help preachers understand expository preaching. I have been reading many of them for my DMin in Expository Preaching at Southern.

Annointed Expository Preaching by Stephen Olford
Between Two Worlds by John Stott
Preaching with Bold Assurance by Hershael York
Preahing & Preachers by Lloyd-Jones
Rediscovering Expository Preaching by MacArthur

Just to name a few.

 

Trotter,

2 others that I would highly recommend are:

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper

and

Preparing Expository Sermons by Ramesh Richard


and if you are wanting a challenging book pick up The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Texy By Sidney Greidnaus. He deals with more of the background issues involved with preaching. It takes awhile to process all he says and puts forth, but it is well worth your time.

 

I usually choose a subject to preach on then search through scripture to find a teaching or principle on that subject. From there I will either choose to break down the scriptures and teach the direct teaching and meaning of that passage (expository) OR, if I feel that the subject needs to be preached on a broader level than what the selected passage offers I will choose through several passages and teachings to bring together one single topic, of course that is still expository isn't it lol.

I try to shy away from pure topical preaching though because I have yet to meet a preacher today that uses topical (a favorite of the SBC preachers, especially those from NOBTS). because it is too easy to get into a rant, or a rabbit chase. In nearly every case of topical preaching I have seen the preacher start with a passage about one subject, start with a nice illustration about that subject, preach a good five minute message on that subject, then get off on any topic that pops into their mind. In the end they will have preached on some ten different subjects. The people sit there and listen, some even get convicted about a particular subject but mostly they will just tune out of the "hit and run rants."

I have seen more people come to Christ from focused expository preaching than from general subject topical messages. In my experience, not saying this is fundamental law, just me experience, I would say that expository messages lead more to Christ at a ratio of 10 to 1.

I have also seen that it is easy in topical to get off track of preaching the Bible. When you stay in the context of the passage you will stay focused on what God is trying to convey in that passage.

Either way, I preach sawdust revival fashion. Something that I feel is missed in today's generation, and yesterday's for that matter. When did preachers become monotone glued to the pulpit speech givers??? When did it become illegal for a preacher to convey passion in what he preaches? When did it become illegal to preach in a way that kept people glued to their seats, sinners gripping the chairs until their knuckles turn white in their conviction? Where have all the Bible preachers go? When did taking one step away from the center of the pulpit become "extreme?"

 

While the argument can be made that the "3 points and a poem" form is not found in the Bible, it can also be argued that most pastors do not understand what a true "expository" sermon is. I would guess that calling yourself an "expository preacher", especially in SBC circles, is what you have to do. How else would you be a conservative, Bible believing preacher? But most of the exposition I hear, especially the stuff that has been so carefully alliterated, stinks.

Exposition simply means that the preacher exposes the meaning of the text, and then applies that meaning to his listeners. I categorize myself as an expository preacher. In fact, I have never been comfortable preaching topical sermons. But it is my opinion that most preachers think exposition is some in-depth Greek word study, sort of a letter by letter approach to the text, with all this commentary and, in my opinion, meaningless information. Many preacher fall into the trap of preaching the text rather than presenting the meaning of the text. There is a big difference. Just check out your last sermon outline...did you outline the text or the meaning of the text?

The purpose of the Bible is to reveal God through His Word so that men may be transformed. That should be the same purpose of preaching. We should preach the Bible in a form and manner that leads to life transformation, not simply information. And this is to be done as God has made me, through my personality as I surrender to the Holy Spirit. If I were to get in sawdust revival mode, it wouldn't be me...nor would it be normal. People just don't talk that way to each other. There's nothing wrong with passion, and conviction, and fire...as long as you are you in the pulpit, and not some other character known as "the preacher".

A few books on preaching that I read that blessed me as I studied for my DMin were: 12 Skills (McDill), Christ-centered Preaching (Chappel), Preaching that Changes Lives (Fabarez), Supremacy of Preaching (Piper), and Preaching with Bold Assurance (York).

 

Amen_corner: where did you get your DMin and what was your experience like? I am just starting mine at Southern in Expository Preaching.

 

Two good books on preaching are:

1. Biblical Preaching by HaddinRobinson

2. How to prepare Bible Messages by Braga