At the heart of the pastor’s task is the proclamation of the Word of God to the people of God. We are called to be ready to preach, in season and out of season (2 Tim 4:2) because human proclamation is God’s ordained means to making known the gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist preached repentance to prepare for the coming Messiah, Jesus (Mk 1:4-8). Jesus came preaching the “gospel of God” (Mk 1:15). … [Read More]
Engaging Exposition (5): 10 Basic Principles of Hermeneutics
I will dedicate two blogs to our ten principles. We will address five in each one.
Hermeneutics is the proper use of the principles of interpretation to discover the author’s intended meaning of a biblical text, with a goal of applying that meaning to a contemporary audience. The following principles of interpretation are designed to safeguard our exegesis as we seek to discover the author’s intended meaning and its significance for our contemporary audience.
1) The Bible … [Read More]
Engaging Exposition (2): A Crisis in 21st Century Preaching: a Mandate for Engaging Biblical Exposition
We believe the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is at a critical point. There is a crisis in our pulpits, and the situation is critical. Seduced by the sirens of modernity, preachers of the gospel have jettisoned a word-based ministry that is expository in nature. Skiing across the surface needs of a fallen, sinful humanity we have turned the pulpit into a pop-psychology side-show and a feel-good pit stop. We have neglected preaching the … [Read More]
John Wesley’s Twelve Rules for Preachers
John Wesley (1703-1791) was one of the key leaders of the Evangelical Awakening in Britain during the mid-18th century. Circumstances drove Wesley to adopt itinerant evangelistic preaching, an idea he picked up from his friend and former student George Whitefield. Once Wesley embraced itinerancy, he extended his movement’s influence by appointing other itinerant preachers to serve various “circuits” (regional networks) of “classes” (small groups)–Wesley hoped this strategy would bring evangelical renewal to the Church of England. It … [Read More]
Making Friends for Christ: A Practical Approach to Relational Evangelism
Wayne is best known for being a practitioner, advocate, and teacher of expositional preaching. His most well-known books are probably his two preaching textbooks: The Twelve Essential Skills for Great Preaching, 2d. ed. (B&H Academic, 2006) and The Moment of Truth: A Guide to Effective Sermon Delivery (B&H Academic, 1999). Both of these textbooks are used in numerous seminaries and colleges. Wayne has also mentored dozens of doctoral students over the years, most of whom … [Read More]
Five Preaching Role Models, Part 2
In my last post, I shared my conviction that preachers become better preachers primarily through two means: regular pulpit experience and learning from good preaching role models. I shared my first two role models, Drs. Adrian Rogers and Jerry Vines. I continue in many ways to be shaped by their early example. It was a great joy to enroll in seminary and finally have the chance to hear both of these brothers preach in person. … [Read More]
Five Preaching Role Models, Part 1
I am thankful for the two preaching classes I took in seminary. I’m also thankful for many of the fine preaching books I’ve read over the years. And I’m thankful for many of the preaching conferences I’ve attended. Each of these tools has contributed to my own DNA as a preacher.
Though I am thankful for classes, books, and conferences, I am not convinced that any of them “make” a man a preacher, let alone a … [Read More]
Augustine for the 21st Century (6): Selected Passages by Augustine, Reading Recommendations, and Concluding Thoughts
Now, this installment is well worth your time reading. Unlike the previous installments of this blog series in which I bloviated about Augustine, this installment provides the real payoff: some bona fide passages from Augustine’s sermons and commentaries. Although I have read several of his books (City of God, The Confessions, and On Christian Doctrine), I have not read his sermons, commentaries and letters. Therefore in this post I rely upon Jules Brady’s collection in … [Read More]
Why Johnny Can’t Preach
Last week our Lifeway Campus store asked me for a list of five favorite books that they could display in their store as recommended reading. They are asking various professors from our faculty to do this throughout the year.
I wanted an ancient work, which was easy to choose – Augustine’s City of God – everyone should read it. And then I added a few “modern classics” that are accessible and don’t have any good popular … [Read More]
God Exposed: Awkward Preaching in a Comfortable Age
At Southeastern Seminary, gospel-centered expositional preaching is at the center of the vision for pastoral ministry that we are attempting to cultivate among our students. In an age of gimmicky, atheological, man-centered, self-help drivel–and that’s just in the evangelical pulpits!–we believe that local churches will not be healthy without exegetical, theological, applicational, evangelistic pulpit ministries. To this end, SEBTS and IX Marks Ministries are partnering to co-sponsor a preaching conference at SEBTS on September 25-26 titled God Exposed: Awkward … [Read More]
