Did I mention that I’m excited to start preaching through Nehemiah? Maybe excited isn’t the right word. How about giddy, or ecstatic, or stoked (dude)? Well—probably not stoked. That would be an example of a thesaurus run amok. But I am truly eager (better word) to get started.
Starting a new book series is always an adventure. Before we get started on this particular adventure, I want to give you a peek behind the curtain at some of the things I do in preparation. Don’t take this to mean that I’m the expert here. There are many fine hermeneutics professors and expository preachers who teach the proper methodology for developing expository sermons. I’m not one of them. I’m just a common preacher who has read a lot of their books.
This is about more than methodology or style. I am convicted that systematic, consecutive, expository preaching of Scripture is the best type of preaching. So much so, that I’m tempted to say it’s the only consistently biblical type of preaching. When done correctly, it is faithful to God’s Word because it lets His Text speak for itself. It is authoritative because it is solidly grounded in the infallible Word of God rather than the fallible opinions of man. It is timeless because it completely relies on the immutability of Scripture. It is universally applicable and life-changing—not because of man-made manipulation, but because of the power of God-breathed, Spirit illumined truth.
With that being said, here is a peek into my pre-preparation. Before diving into a new book series, I have to read the book…. Well, duh…. I told you I’m not one of those super-insightful hermeneutics professors. But the kind of reading I’m talking about isn’t your typical superficial page-turning. I’m talking about prayerful meditative reading—repeatedly. Reading for content, yes—but reading for patterns and positions and theological implications.
But even beyond all of the technical reading and deep reading and meditative reading—I have to read the Text in a way that seeks to see how God’s truth in His Word impacts me. How is God magnified in this Text, and in the light of God’s glory, how do I look. What has the reading and studying of the Text revealed in my life that is short of God’s glory and in need of Christ’s grace? Until I allow the Text to take me there, I have no business presenting it to Brushfork Baptist Church or anywhere—no matter how technically sound and eloquent I can make it seem. After I’ve allowed the Sword of God’s Word to fillet my heart, then I can start to work on textual outlines and original language nuances and historical insights. But I can only do those things after I’m bleeding.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
I guess that means it’s time to get out the blade one more time. I can’t wait!
Starting a new book series is always an adventure. Before we get started on this particular adventure, I want to give you a peek behind the curtain at some of the things I do in preparation. Don’t take this to mean that I’m the expert here. There are many fine hermeneutics professors and expository preachers who teach the proper methodology for developing expository sermons. I’m not one of them. I’m just a common preacher who has read a lot of their books.
This is about more than methodology or style. I am convicted that systematic, consecutive, expository preaching of Scripture is the best type of preaching. So much so, that I’m tempted to say it’s the only consistently biblical type of preaching. When done correctly, it is faithful to God’s Word because it lets His Text speak for itself. It is authoritative because it is solidly grounded in the infallible Word of God rather than the fallible opinions of man. It is timeless because it completely relies on the immutability of Scripture. It is universally applicable and life-changing—not because of man-made manipulation, but because of the power of God-breathed, Spirit illumined truth.
With that being said, here is a peek into my pre-preparation. Before diving into a new book series, I have to read the book…. Well, duh…. I told you I’m not one of those super-insightful hermeneutics professors. But the kind of reading I’m talking about isn’t your typical superficial page-turning. I’m talking about prayerful meditative reading—repeatedly. Reading for content, yes—but reading for patterns and positions and theological implications.
But even beyond all of the technical reading and deep reading and meditative reading—I have to read the Text in a way that seeks to see how God’s truth in His Word impacts me. How is God magnified in this Text, and in the light of God’s glory, how do I look. What has the reading and studying of the Text revealed in my life that is short of God’s glory and in need of Christ’s grace? Until I allow the Text to take me there, I have no business presenting it to Brushfork Baptist Church or anywhere—no matter how technically sound and eloquent I can make it seem. After I’ve allowed the Sword of God’s Word to fillet my heart, then I can start to work on textual outlines and original language nuances and historical insights. But I can only do those things after I’m bleeding.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
I guess that means it’s time to get out the blade one more time. I can’t wait!
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