Expository Preaching--turning Exegesis Into Exposition

Expository Preaching-Turning Exegesis into Exposition Carey Hardy Pastor, Adult and Family Ministries INTRO Preaching can be reduced to these 3 concepts: 1. 2. 3.

Exposing the people to the text Explaining what it means by what it says Exhorting them to live by it

Greatest task of the preacher is to get himself out of the text. But…there is no virtue in sloppiness.

WE SHOULD GIVE GOD OUR BEST!

John MacArthur:

A boring preacher is a contradiction in terms.

Walter C. Kaiser:

Exegesis is never an end in itself. Its purposes are never fully realized until it begins to take into account the problems of transferring what has been learned from the text over to the waiting Church. To put it more bluntly, exegesis must come to terms with the audience as well as with what the author meant by the words he used.

John MacArthur:

Preaching an expository message involves far more than standing in the pulpit and reviewing the high points, details, and components unearthed through research. Neither a word study nor a running commentary on a passage is, in itself, an expository sermon. An expository sermon does more than simply explain the grammatical structure of a passage and the meanings of its words. A true expository message sets forth the principles or doctrines supported in the passage. True expository preaching is doctrinal preaching. The proper elements in an expository sermon may be summed up as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Preaching is expository in purpose. It explains the text. Preaching is logical in flow. It persuades the mind. Preaching is doctrinal in content. It obligates the will. Preaching is pastoral in concern. It feeds the soul. Preaching is imaginative in pattern. It excites the emotion. Preaching is relevant in application. It touches the life.

The task of the expository preacher is to take the mass of raw data from the text and bridge the gap between exegesis and exposition. I.

DETERMINE A PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT

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It is a single sentence that functions as the hinge between the introduction and the body of a message.

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It is a statement of the objective of the sermon.

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It is not a restatement of the title.

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It transfers attention to the body.

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It is a simple sentence stating the theme to be amplified, explained, or proved.

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The theme is the overall subject (e.g. faith)...the proposition limits the theme, gives aim to the theme (e.g. three aspects of faith).

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When it comes to the actual organization of the sermon, the prepositional statement is the most important feature.

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Can be expressed in more than one way. ¾ statement—In this passage we will examine four characteristics of a man of integrity that will help us understand what it means to be a man after God’s own heart. ¾ question—What are some reasons for trusting God when you’re in the midst of a trial? ¾ exhortation—As we study this passage, commit yourself to following these four steps to resolving conflict in your marriage: ¾ exclamation—What a joy it is to contemplate the three proofs of God’s sovereignty that we find in this passage!

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Should be expressed as concisely and clearly as possible.

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Contains a “key word”…a plural noun… for example, 4 reasons, 3 facts, 6 ingredients, 3 elements, etc. The key word is always a plural noun that characterizes the main points. The following are a few of the many key words

abuses actualities accusations admonitions affairs affirmations agreements

alternatives angles answers applications approaches areas arguments

aspects aspirations assertions assurances assumptions attitudes attributes

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avocations axioms barriers beginnings beliefs benefits

3 bequests bestowments blemishes blessings blows blockades blots blunders boasts bonds books boundaries breaches burdens calls categories causes certainties challenges changes charges circumstances commands commitments comparisons conceptions concessions corrections criteria criticisms crowns cults cultures customs dangers debts decisions declarations deeds deficiencies definitions degrees departments details differences directives disciplines disclosures

discoveries divisions doctrines doubts doors dreams duties

guarantees guides habits handicaps honors hopes hungers hurts

editions effects elements encouragements examples excesses exchanges exclamations experiments explanations exponents exposures expositions expostulations expressions extremes

ideas ideals idols ills illuminations illustrations imitations impacts impediments imperatives imperfections implements implications impossibilities impressions improvements inadequacies incentives incidents ingredients injunctions invitations irritations issues items joys judgments justifications

facets facts factors faculties failures falls families faults fears feelings fields finalities flaws forces forms formalities foundations functions fundamentals

keys kinds labors lapses laws leads lessons levels liabilities liberties lifts

gains generalizations gifts graces groups

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lights limits links lists loads locations looks losses loyalties manifestations manners marks materials means measures meetings members memories mentions mercies methods ministries miseries misfortunes mistakes models moods motives mountains movements mysteries names narratives natures necessities needs nights norms notes numbers objects objectives obligations observances obstacles occasions occurrences offenses

4 offers offices omissions operations opinions opponents options orders organizations origins panaceas parables paradoxes paragraphs parallels particulars parties parts paths patterns peaks peculiarities penalties perceptions perfections performances perils periods perplexities persons personalities petitions phases philosophies phrases pictures pieces places plagues plans pleas pledges plots points positions possibilities powers practices prayers

precautions predicaments predictions premises preparations prescriptions pressures pretensions principles privileges prizes problems processes products profits prohibitions promises proofs prophecies propositions prospects provisions punishments purposes pursuits

results revelations rewards roads roles roots routes rules sacrifices satisfactions sayings scales scars schools schemes seals secrets selections sentiments sequences services shields situations skills solicitations solutions sources spheres states statements steps stipulations stresses strokes styles subjects sufferings superlatives suppositions superiorities supports symptoms systems

qualifications qualities quantities queries quests questions quotas quotations ranks ratings reactions reasons recommendations records recruits references regions regulations rejections relapses relations responses restraints

tactics talents tasks teachings tendencies

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tests theories theses thoughts ties times titles tokens tones topics traces traits treasures trends trials triumphs troubles truths types uncertainties undertakings units urges uses vacancies values variations varieties ventures verifications views violations virtues visions vocations voices wants warnings ways weaknesses weapons words works worries wrongs yieldings yokes

5 zones 1 Sam. 15:13-31 Diagnosing Heart Disease This narrative portion of Scripture gives us, by way of illustration, four symptoms of an unrepentant heart… Psalm 3

Assurance in the Face of Adversity As we look into this psalm we’ll make three observations about David’s response to his trial, so that you know how God expects you to respond to your own difficult circumstances.

Psalm 14

The Dark Side

…note with me three aspects of the principle of depravity… Psalm 27

No Fear

…where we find four essential keys to living a life without fear… 1 Cor. 1:18-25 The Foolishness of God Unlike any other message, the gospel is a message of power…and this makes it both unique and superior to anything the world could ever offer. In this passage, Paul presents three arguments in an effort to affirm the gospel’s inherent uniqueness and superiority, so that you’ll be encouraged to stay true to the time-tested message about Christ. 1 Cor. 1:26-31 Something from Nothing …in these verses we find three features of God’s plan for saving lost man from His sin… 1 Cor. 3:5-9

Ministry Down on the Farm

In the process of challenging their misguided thinking, Paul uses the setting of a “farm” or working in a “field” to give us some insight into ministry…into how God sees ministry, and thus how WE are to see ministry. In verses 5 to 9 we’ll take note of three views of biblical ministry… 1 Cor. 3:18-23 Rags or Riches? …so Paul points out two reasons why this love of worldly wisdom is such a terrible error to make… 1 Cor. 4:1-5

Having Roasted Pastor for Sunday Lunch

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6 …so to help them, and us, have this proper attitude, Paul answers two questions about the nature of the pastor’s role in the church… Eph. 2:1-3

The Living Dead

…specifically in verses 1-10 we find three aspects of God’s intervention on behalf of man that help us gain a comprehension of the magnitude of God’s power in salvation…the magnitude of what He’s done for us. Phil. 1:12-18

God: The Divine Alchemist

…these three affirmations that Paul makes concerning the gospel provide the evidence we need to know without a doubt that Paul was living for the kingdom of God, and not his own personal goals or agenda. Phil. 3:4-7

Spiritual Bankruptcy

…let’s look at Paul’s spiritual balance sheet—his list of assets and liabilities from two different perspectives…. Phil. 4:6-7

God’s Antidote for Anxiety

…there is an answer…an antidote…prescription…and that antidote is prayer. In our passage Paul presents three facts about prayer that prove God’s antidote for anxiety is superior to any other answer.

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CONSTRUCT AN APPROPRIATE OUTLINE •

The outline is a valuable help to the listener.

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There is more than one possible homiletical outline.

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It should reflect syntactical analysis.

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Don’t force an outline upon a text.

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Each main point should serve a specific purpose—to fulfill the proposition.

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There are three primary types of major points: ¾ Markers of the text 1. The Command 2. The Method 3. The Results 1. Selective Obedience 2. Superficial Confessions

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7 3. Selfish Motivations 4. Shallow Externalism 1. The Basic Essence of Depravity 2. The Pervasive Extent of Depravity 3. The Sobering End of Depravity 1. The Unique Necessity of Christian Love 2. The Distinctive Character of Christian Love 3. The Sobering Test of Christian Love ¾ Statements/questions 1. Prayer is Comprehensive 2. Prayer is Required 3. Prayer is Effective 1. David Recognized Life’s Pressures 2. David Rested in God’s Provision 3. David Rejoiced in Salvation’s Promise 1. Worship Involves Celebration 2. Worship Involves Adoration 3. Worship Involves Expectation 1. What Does God Expect You to Do? 2. Where Does God Expect You to Go? 3. Why Does God Expect You to Obey? ¾ Directives 1. 2. 3. 4.

Understand God’s Process Embrace God’s Will Depend on God’s Strength Imitate God’s Love

1. Be Genuine 2. Be Sacrificial 3. Be Diligent

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Be careful that outline points are not too complicated.

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Major points need to be clear.

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Parallelism is important.

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III.

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Any subordinate points should relate to the main point.

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Too many sub-points are cumbersome.

MAINTAIN A LOGICAL FLOW OF THOUGHT •

Insures that the structure of your message is not obscured.

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Enables audience to identify and follow movement from one major outline point to the next.

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Important to eliminate hindrances to a clear flow of thought, such as: ⇒ No proposition or purpose statement ⇒ Complicated outline points ⇒ Unwieldy alliteration (or forced alliteration) ⇒ Changing the key propositional word ⇒ Lack of parallelism ⇒ Lack of clear transition statements John A. Broadus Transition may be formally defined as both the act and means of moving from one part of the sermon to another, from one division to another, and from one idea to another. Transitions are to sermons what joints are to the bones of the body. “They are the bridges of the discourse, and by them” the preacher moves from point to point. Transition statements: ¾

Should be thought through ahead of time.

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Should stand out from rest of the message.

⇒ Not reviewing outline points with congregation ⇒ Too much review ⇒ Lack of familiarity with the content of the message ⇒ Too many tangents ⇒ Dwelling too long on a tangent

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9 ⇒ Illustrations that don’t apply ⇒ Use of abstract language (obscure words)

CONCLUSION Preaching is your most important task. All other ministry must be based upon a clear, accurate, and passionate exposition of biblical truth. This is your calling…work hard at doing it well. Resources: Rediscovering Expository Preaching, by John MacArthur and TMS Faculty Preaching & Preachers, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones The Supremacy of God in Preaching, by John Piper Preaching with Purpose, by Jay Adams Power in the Pulpit: How to Prepare and Deliver Expository Sermons, by Jerry Vines/Jim Shaddix Scripture Sculpture, by Ramesh Richard Between Two Worlds, by John Stott Exegetical Fallacies, by D.A. Carson Toward an Exegetical Theology, by Walter Kaiser, Jr. On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, John A. Broadus The Preacher and Preaching, by Samuel T. Logan, Jr.

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