I’m blogging live today from the 2nd Annual Transformational Expository Preaching conference hosted by Pastor Colin Smith at The First Evangelical Free Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Colin Smith presented the opening two sessions on his vision for transformational expository preaching. The word “transforms” is at the heart of Colin’s vision.
The only preaching that will truly transform people is that which preaches the gospel, that which exalts Christ. No matter where we preach in Scripture, we must bring people to Christ because it is only through understanding what is ours in Christ and believing what we hear that we are transformed.
Colin emphasizes that the law cannot transform anyone. “Law” includes any sort of telling people how to live. Thus self-help principles or psychology will transform no one. The law, that is, telling people what to do, can only change behavior. The law cannot transform a person from within and make them truly a new person at the very center of their person. Only faith in the gospel of Christ can do that.
Colin shows that the distinction between changing behavior and transforming lives is crucial, and it is the gospel that makes the difference.
Later this afternoon and this evening we will hear from Michael Easley, former president of Moody Bible Institute.
Brian Larson is editor of Preaching Today Blog and pastor of Lake Shore Church in Chicago.
Posted by Brian Lowery at 3:36 PM on August 11, 2008
