I hope you had a Merry Christmas --
Preaching is absolutely critical in the local church! Once Harvest Bible Chapel Joliet launches I will be preaching expository sermons on a weekly basis. Some may be familiar with this term and others may not be. Let me help to clarify.
What is an expository sermon?
Here is the definition that Haddon Robinson gives in his well known book
Biblical Preaching:
“Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.”
p. 21
When I preach at HBC Joliet, I will have studied a passage of Scripture and understood it’s historical (how did the original hearers understand the passage?), grammatical (what do the various words and phrases mean in the passage?), and literary (is the passage a poem, a story, an epistle/letter etc…? And how should this knowledge impact my interpretation?) context. It is critical that I understand the proper context of the passage so that I give the proper interpretation.
Also, as I study the passage and prepare to preach it, my first focus is for the Lord to change me through the text. I count this as one of my greatest privileges of being a pastor. God’s word is powerful – I look forward to the transformation that He will bring in my life over the years! Then, out of my studies and personal transformation I will seek to proclaim the truths that the Lord has shown me to the congregation of HBC Joliet. I count this as an immense privilege as well! Being a part of supernatural transformation in the lives of people is one of the most exciting things to me in life!
I will typically preach through one book of the Bible at a time - 1 passage at a time.
Why preach expository sermons?
Preaching expository sermons helps to guide the preacher in his preparation to make sure he’s getting and giving the most accurate interpretation. If a preacher isn’t committed to doing the extensive study that an expository sermon requires, he is likely to misinterpret God’s holy word and therefore teach things that God doesn’t want taught. Accurate teaching is crucial to God’s church. God wants His children to know certain things. My job is to make sure that those certain things are being communicated.
Expository preaching protects preachers (including me!) from:
- Preaching Bible verses out of context
- Avoiding difficult (and there are many) subjects in the Bible
- Only emphasizing things that are to his liking
- Giving into to cultural ideologies that are not taught in the Bible
- Reading to simply get head knowledge
- Explaining the Bible without applying it to those listening
I trust that there will be much transformation occurring in the city of Joliet and beyond as a result of God's word intersecting with our lives in the years to come!
Below is a brief summary from my training in the Training Center last week.
Summary
-Discussions on Leadership
- top down management
- servant leadership
-Ministry Leadership Team meeting
- discussions about future church-planting strategies
- discussions on leadership and urgency
- discussions on principles and definitions of leadership
- recommended books for leadership