If the writer of Ecclesiastes surfed the internet in 2007, he might claim: “The writing of many blogs is endless.” Make that ‘endless plus one.’ Welcome to a new blog devoted to preaching! My vision is to serve as a preaching coach who leads a conversation about the craft of preaching. My passion is to help preachers – including myself – make progress for the glory of God and the good of God’s people.
Last summer I watched Dave Duncan, pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, lead a conversation with his pitching staff prior to a game in Milwaukee. I stood behind the railing near the third base line and caught bits and pieces of the discussion between Duncan and hurlers Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainright, and Jeff Suppan. Each pitcher listened and then offered comments. I’m certain that this discussion, and others like it, contributed to the success of these pitchers as they helped the Cardinals win the world series.
What Duncan provided for his pitching staff is what I hope to provide for preachers of Scripture. Twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) I will present ideas, share experiences, admit frustrations, offer insights, raise questions, and recommend resources all related to preaching. I hope you will join the discussion by posting a comment. By the way, I welcome comments from those who disagree with my perspective. Healthy debate can sharpen our thinking. Time constraints will prevent me from responding to most of your comments. But I promise to read and reflect on every one of them.
Now this blog is not about me, but in the interest of developing some level of relationship with you, I should tell you a little bit about myself. I’ll spare you the details of my resume because Brian Larson introduced me in his initial PreachingTodayBlog post (February 15, 2007). Wow, my mom doesn’t even speak that highly of me! But here’s what I want you to know about me.
First, you can describe me as a guy who “loves Jesus, loves to preach.” I pray that my love for preaching never eclipses my love for Jesus. Rather, I pray that my love for Jesus drives my love for preaching.
Second, I write from the trenches. I’m in my twenty-first year of pastoral ministry. I’m a practicing preacher who tries to practice what he preaches. Like most of you, I preach my share of forgettable sermons. But I take seriously the task of preaching, knowing that God will use my best even when it’s not the best.
Third, I expect to learn as much from you as you learn from me! My dream is that this blog will create a Proverbs 27:17 dynamic in the lives of the preachers who participate.
Fourth, my passion is for expository preaching – preaching which exposes the meaning of Scripture texts and applies this meaning to the lives of the hearers so that they can participate effectively in Jesus’ mission to the glory of God. This Sunday, February 18, I will preach John 14:15-31. It’s part of a series on Jesus Mission in High Definition. I am convinced that expository preaching is not dead but has a future! It is not an out-dated form of preaching, but it is often done in some out-dated ways. Do you agree or disagree? What will it take to do expository preaching effectively in the 21st century?
Posted by Steve Mathewson at 9:35 AM on February 16, 2007
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/262
Post a comment
Comments
Looking forward to reading your articles, Steve. Once again, thanks for doing the Rocky Mountain Shepherds' Conference last year.
Posted by: Ed Pomelear on February 19, 2007
I welcome this new blog am looking forward to your thoughts. As for expository preaching, it has a lot going for it but one huge fact against it: Jesus didn't preach that way... meaning he didn't usually open up a passage and expose its meaning. I respect the authority of Scripture (and I'm not Jesus, after all) so preaching on Matthew 18, say, has real value for me and our church in showing respect for God's revelation. But I have definitely drifted toward other methods in my efforts to hit the big needs. So again, I welcome your ideas. Godspeed!
Posted by: Dennis Mullen on February 19, 2007
Regarding expository preaching's one big flaw, Dennis Mullen wrote:
« Jesus didn't preach that way »
I'm not sure that this can be categorically true. What can be said is that none of Jesus' recorded sermons were preached that way, or at least that the Gospel writers didn't record them in that fashion.
And, it's worth noting, that as the Living Word made manifest, Jesus' entire life was an expository sermon — just by walking among us, every gesture, every expression, ever word from his mouth exposed the meaning of Scripture texts and applied this meaning to the lives of those who observed and listened.
Which leads me to my point about expository preaching, just unveiling the meaning of the text should encompass the entire task preacher ... a principle duty is first to be exposed to the Word and transformed so that, in turn, the true Word of God may be made manifest to all who watch, listen, and learn.
This, I think, is one reason so many react poorly to expository preaching. It can too easily become nothing more than the regurgitation and condensation of study notes. (Boring!) It should, instead, be an intimate exploration of the meaning of the text in order to connect hearers to its transforming power. The preacher who has not been transformed in his study will not easily lead others to similar change.
Regards,
Rich
BlogRodent
Posted by: Rich Tatum on February 20, 2007
Exposing people to the living voice of God speaking in every word of Scripture--if this is out of date, what voice has become so captivating?
Just returned from doing a marriage retreat at Keswick Conference in New Jersey. Each meal I got to hear testimonies from couples who five, two, a year ago were being destroyed by addictions. Exposure to the truth of God's Word in the context of an intimate relationship with Jesus had raised them from the dead--hardly an out of date thing even in a post modern era.
Steve is one of the best expositors of Christ's truth I know. What a gift that he is now going to share with us from the trenches a couple of times a week!
Dr. David B. Wyrtzen
Doctor of Ministries Professor--
Dallas Theological Seminary,
Pastor-Teacher Midlothian Bible
Church
Posted by: David Wyrtzen on February 20, 2007