Expository Preaching

Some notes from my expository preaching class

-EP is an attitude or philosophy that is brought to preaching, not a methodology

-Do you subject the scriptures to your thought? or do you subject your thought to the Scriptures?

-Expository, is exposing what the original author intended to the original audience

-We are to preach the text and not our theology

-A text cannot mean what it never meant

-The job of the interpreter is to determine the single meaning intended by the author

-Preach the main point, meaning and purpose of the text, not secondary applications

-The points of your sermon must come directly from the text

- The purpose of an expository sermon must be the same as the biblical text

- A good communicator matches the right genre with the right meaning

-Adapt your communication style and mood with the genre of the text

- Balance the emphasis of the text, keep the tensions of the bible

- You are not the message, but the messenger

- Have confidence that you have the authority of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit





Possible solution to John 8:6 

 " But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger."

I always wondered what he was doing with the dust/sand on the ground.

Our professor mentioned that it had to do with the Law. If someone were accused of a sin such as adultery, they would put dirt in water, and have the person drink it. This was called the bitterness test, because if the person got sick then it was a sign that they were guilty, and if they didn't show any signs of illness, they were not guilty.

Jesus may have been preparing for the bitterness test. Not for the lady, because she was already caught red handed. This was perhaps for the crowd of people. Jesus says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” These people began to leave one by one, because it is likely that they did not want to go through the test that they saw Jesus preparing. It's still speculation, but it's the best argument i heard. 

Use metaphors to give your audience a mental visual of the concept or principle your explaining
Keep the main thing the main thing. The big picture and main point of the passage should be my main topic.
After exegesis and drawing meaning from the text, sit in meditation/closet, asking God what the significance is, and if i've applied it to myself. The conclusion should lead to a climax.

1) Why was this exegetical idea necessary for its original recipients?
  - To whom did the biblical author deliver this message?
  -What problem did it address?
- Why did they need to hear it? How urgent was it? Why? Visualize it in context
- Does the antecedent history of the recipients help explain why this instruction was necessary for these people at this time
- Are there any cultural factors that would have incubated or accelerated the need for this instruction? Why were the hearts of the original recipients so prone to wander in this direction? Why did God think that they specifically needed to be given this idea?
-What do you think the emotional response of the original recipients of this biblical truth would have ben? What was their visceral reaction whyn they first heart it?
- What did the original recipients of the message do with it? Did they heed this word or ignore it?
- How did this truth transform the recipients life?
Something is not true because it is in the Bible. It is in the Bible because it is true
- Is this the only time that this principle is mentioned in Scripture?
-What metaphors best capture the meaning of this passage

2) What is God revealing about Himself/his kingdom/ his church?
-What does this text reveal about God’s character?
-Why is this truth of the text theologically necessary? Why would God ask this of his people or do this to his people?

3)What is God saying to me in this text?
-Are my weaknesses their weaknesses?
-Are my temptations theirs?
-Has my life been warped as a result?
- What practices or habits exist in my life that contribute to this problem
-What is it about me that made me vulnerable to this sin
- How has my life and ministry suffered as a result
- How have others been affected by this
-How will the idea of this text force your life spiritually forward

4) What does God want to accomplish through this text
-in what ways are the people you lead similar to the original audience?
-Socio economically poor or affluent?
-Socially comfortable family units or widows?
Morally living surrounded by licentious? Affluence? Hedonisim? Secularism?
-Politically, is your country led by someone following God or a Pagan
-Spiritually

5) What could negate the progress I have just made through this text?
-What method is Satan likely to use to counterattack?
-Will he tell lies?
Will he use discouragement
Will he try and cause division?
Will he try and exploit some preexisting circumstance
What circumstances could make continued obedience to this truth difficult?