11. The Task Of Exegesis In Expository Preaching Ps 1

b

16 Resume Five Stages in Preparing an Expository Sermon Exegesis (informing the mind)

in the study

Aim: To bring out the meaning intended by the writers then 

Stage 1. Analysis of the passage (grammatical)

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Stage 2. Research of the background (historical)

Exposition (informing the mind with a view to in the pulpit affecting the heart) Aim: To apply the message of the text to ourselves here and now 

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Thumbnail Theology: Expository Preaching

The Task of

Exegesis in

Expository Preaching

Stage 3. Expounding the text (exposing the meaning of the passage ) Stage 4. Application (letting the text expose the hearts of its readers)

The Appeal (challenging the will)

Five Stages in Preparing an Expository Sermon Outlined for Study and Practice

Aim: To effect a change in behaviour 

Stage 5. Urging a response to the message of the text as a Word from God

Example: Psalm 1

The Power Point presentation (from which the contents of this outline have been taken) describes in detail the first two stages of Expository Preaching – Analysis and Research – that together are concerned with Exegesis, upon which all true Exposition from the pulpit is built.

* PCJB PP Presentation devised and prepared at Gujranwala Theological Seminary may be copied for non-commercial use only

The exegesis of John 5 and of Psalm 1 given here, like any interpretation of Scripture, is open to debate. It is intended to serve as an illustration of good exegetical method.

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January 2005

Five Stages in Preparing an Expository Sermon Overview 

Preliminary Step: check the text is sound

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Exegesis Stage 1. Analysis of the passage Stage 2. Research of the background

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Exposition Stage 3. Expounding the text then Stage 4. Application to today

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Appeal Stage 5. Urging a response

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Expository Preaching All effective preaching involves: in the study  

The guidance of the Holy Spirit The preparatory study of the preacher in the pulpit

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The anointing of the Holy Spirit The delivery of the preacher

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Stage 3 Expounding the passage 

Step 1 – Introduce the over-all subject

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Step 2 – Explain the general context of the text

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Step 3 – Outline what the passage has to say about the oversubject

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Step 4 – Expound the main points (in turn) concerning this subject

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Step 5 – Expound the “heart-beat“ of the message in the passage

Stage 4 Applying the passage 

Step 1 – Explain the relevance of the over-all subject for today, referring to one or more of the following: 

Society and the world today

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The Church

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Probable individual states and situations

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Step 2 – Show any parallels with the situation then and now

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Step 3 – Make applications for all the main points

Stage 5 The Appeal Emphasize: 

The reality,

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The significance, and

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The urgency of the message (the heart-beat of the passage)

14 Step 4 Study any key words Key words 

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1

V.1 “walked”, “stood”, “sat” is an alternative translation of the three verbs, marking a descent (in sinfulness) “scoffers“ – loose talkers

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V. 3 “riverbank” – running waters (not stagnant pool!) suggesting the source of life (cf. Jesus: “streams of living water”)

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V.4 “scattered chaff” – i.e. They are merely lightweights

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, [Walk by] or stand around with sinners [Stand] or join in with scoffers. [Sit down] [Loose talkers] ………………………………………………………………………. …………….. 2 But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; instruction] they think about his law day and night [Torah – Pentateuch – 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, [Running waters] bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. ……………………………………… ……………………………………. 4 But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. [lightweights] 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. …………………………………………………………………………… 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, [NB: Two paths]

but the path of the wicked leads to destruction

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3

Preparing an Expository Sermon

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Preliminary Step The Text

Exegesis Aim: To bring out the meaning intended by the writers then “informing the mind” The Role of the Preacher in the study  

Stage 1. Analyzing the passage (grammatically) Stage 2. Researching the background (historically)

Exposition Aim: (in the pulpit) To apply the message of the text to ourselves here and now “informing the mind with a view to affecting the heart” The Role of the Preacher in the study  

Stage 3. Expounding the text (exposing the meaning of the passage ) Stage 4. Identifying the application (letting the text expose the hearts of its readers)

The Appeal Aim: To effect a change in behaviour “challenging the will” The Role of the Preacher in the study

Stage 5. Preparing a challenge to listeners to respond to the message of the text as a personal Word from God himself

Check the text Generally there is no problem (despite allegations that Christians have changed the original text so our Bible cannot be trusted!) Occasionally there is manuscript evidence of additional “glosses” (or comments) usually put in by a scribe as an explanation of some assumed “difficulty“ in the text For reliability of the text consult:  Study Bible footnotes  The commentaries* *NB: Ignore other matters just now Example John 5:1-9 NKJV 1. After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, [waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming,

another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. The

New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.

13 4 5 6

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12 Research

But this is not true of the wicked. Chaff They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction

PARALLEL B Path

Judgement – here unlikely to refer to the final Day of Judgement; rather to the natural consequences of a life of mis-behaviour

Step 1 Identify the literary genre Psalm 1 While this passage is recognisable as poetry, it also takes the form of the sayings of wisdom literature. Research: 

Step 2 Consider the context

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The context 

Psalm 1 opens the Psalter – with a blessing for the person who delights in meditating on God‘s law

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Its position at the start emphasises the importance of godly living

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In the context of Jesus’s teaching concerning the “narrow“ way and the “broad way“, Psalm 1 points to there being only two possible life-styles in God‘s eyes: godly and wicked. Step 3 Research the back-ground

Background 

The Law – can refer to the Pentateuch (Law of Moses), the Law given at Sinai, and also, most likely, instruction to be found in the Scriptures generally

Hebrew poetry often contains parallel lines, phrases and ideas – to bring out comparisons or contrasts It uses various kinds of imagery and figures of speech – to invite deeper awareness of the significance of what is written.

Parallels 

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Main contrast: The godly / the wicked  The joy of the godly / the destruction of the wicked  The flourishing prosperity of the godly / the fleeting existence of the wicked Parallel ideas: the wicked / sinners / scoffers

Images  

The trees / the chaff The various paths

Psalm 1 – Parallels and Images 1 Oh, the joys of PARALLEL A those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, Parallels 1 or stand around with sinners 2 or join in with scoffers. 3 2

But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; they think about his law day and night

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They are like trees planted along the riverbank, Trees bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 5 Exegesis

while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. 6

Stage 1 Analyse the passage

Preliminary Step Check the text Consulting a commentary reveals the following: 5:3b-4. The earliest manuscripts omit these words which appear to be a late insertion to explain why the pool water was “stirred” (v. 7). People believed that an angel came and stirred it. According to local tradition, the first one in the water would be healed. But the Bible nowhere teaches this kind of superstition, a situation which would be a most cruel contest for many ill people. No extant [surviving] Greek manuscript before A.D. 400 contains these words.

Analysis: Its Purpose and Use Analysing a passage helps us to

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Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

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Clarify the relationship of the various parts

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See links and contrasts between ideas

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Identify the over-all subject

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Decide what are the main points being made about this subject

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Find the “heart-beat“ (main thrust) of the passage

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Master the passage as a whole

Therefore we may assume: The most likely original text (before AD 400) 1. After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed… …. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but

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Step 1 – Re-arrange the text

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Step 2 – Mark the text

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Step 3 – Find the “heart beat“

Example Psalm 1 1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. 2 But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. 4 But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless

chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

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Step 3 Research the background What light can the history & culture of the times shed?

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Step 4 Study any key words What is the significance of their use in this passage?

New Living Translation.

11 Step 3 Find the “heart beat” (cont.)

10 Analysis Step 3 Find the “heart beat”

The Heart Beat: To be happy and prosperous in this life you have to follow the way that God has directed or you will be doomed to failure and destruction

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What is the situation in which this is written or spoken?

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Decide the over-all subject* of the passage: what is it about?

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What has the passage to say about this over-all subject? What are the main points that are made about it?

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What is the dominant point – the “heart beat“ message of the passage – that the writer intends to make?

Commentary on the “Heart Beat”: 

The happiness of the godly and the doom of the righteous are the natural outcome of the way of life each has chosen.

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The natural prosperity of the godly is due to the wisdom of a life lived according to the plan of the Lord of life itself.

Stage 2 Research the passage (Commentaries and Dictionaries should be consulted at this stage) 

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Step 1 Identify the literary genre What kind of literature is this piece of writing? How should it be read? Step 2 Consider the context What precedes and what follows?

* The overall subject relates to the total passage, not just to a part of it. It applies to all involved. It can often be best expressed in different words from those of the text. Psalm 1 The (presumed) Situation: 

The godly need encouragement to avoid the wicked

The Over-all Subject (applying to all involved): 

The two paths

The Key Points concerning the Subject: 

There are two paths people can take: 

The path taken by the godly

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The path taken by wicked

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The godly avoid the path of the wicked and prosper accordingly 

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Their source of refreshment is God‘s law, not idle gossip

The wicked follow a path that leads only to destruction 7

5 6

They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction

8 Analysis

Analysis

Step 2 Mark the text

Step 1 Re-arrange the text Rewrite the passage to show  the shape of its structure, using indented* lines to show  the relationship of the various parts to the whole passage.

What stands out? 

Underline all the significant verbs or verbal phrases

Who is doing what? 

Highlight all the main people involved

What is not clear? 

* Indention: When you indent a word or line you start further in from the margin than when you start other lines.

Note down any words / phrases you want to research further and add a question mark Psalm 1

Psalm 1 1

2 3

4

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; they think about his law day and night They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

1

2 =? 3

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Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; they think about his law day and night law They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Judgment=? Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction

…………………………………………………………………………….. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction

9 Where can you see links between similar ideas or themes? Are any contrasts being made? 

Circle (or put in alics) connecting words that indicate either a comparison or a contrast

Can the passage be divided into different sections to show a new topic? 

Draw a line (or create a gap) between the various sections (i.e. where a new topic starts)

Psalm 1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers! ……………………………………………………………………………. 2 But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; they think about his law day and night law =? 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. …………………………………………………………………………….. 4 But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Judgment = ? Sinners will have no place among the godly. 1