Questions and Answers
What is the simple definition of expositional preaching?
Explaining the meaning of Scripture, explaining the meaning of a passage of Scripture.
Who has the sole authority to define the Gospel and address the church?
A failure to practice expositional preaching usurps the authority of God over the mind and soul.
True
Salvation comes by the _.
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According to Romans 10, how does faith come?
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What is the means of sanctification in the church?
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Preaching Christ leads to a lack of motivation in the congregation.
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According to John 1 and Genesis 1.1, nothing was created without ________.
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What is the most motivating force in the church according to the text?
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What is the compelling drive that causes the speaker to discipline himself to write and study?
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According to the speaker, what is the one miracle that can be held in one's hand?
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Why does the speaker surround himself with Bibles in various places?
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The speaker emphasizes the importance of expositional preaching and studying Scripture.
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The speaker believes that a failure to do expositional preaching removes spiritual depth and __________ from the people.
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What is the correlation between depth of understanding the Word of God and expression of worship?
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What type of church environment discourages mature believers from staying?
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Is it important for a preacher to fully understand the mind of Christ?
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According to Matthew 18, if a believer is in sin and does not repent, the final step is to tell the whole ____.
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Why did the pastor refuse to marry the daughter to a divorced non-Christian in the church?
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What perspective did the pastor have regarding the church's authority?
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According to the pastor, there is no such thing as denominations in the New Testament; there are only local ______.
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The pastor emphasized the importance of having a biblical understanding of the church.
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Study Notes
The Importance of Expository Preaching
- The speaker attended an expository conference where they discussed the necessity of expository preaching with 10-12 men who had been in pastoral ministry for many years but had not been trained in expository preaching.
- The speaker had 50 reasons why expository preaching is necessary, but had originally come up with 66 reasons, refining them down to the most important ones.
Definition of Expository Preaching
- Expository preaching is explaining the meaning of Scripture, specifically the original meaning of a passage to the original author.
- The meaning of Scripture is not what it means to the individual, but what it meant to God and the original author.
- The challenge of expository preaching is to close the gaps between the original text and the modern reader, including historical, geographical, cultural, linguistic, and philosophical gaps.
Consequences of Non-Expository Preaching
- Usurping the Authority of God: Failure to do expository preaching replaces God's authority with the preacher's own authority, taking away from the divine voice and the authority of Scripture.
- Usurping the Lordship of Christ: Non-expository preaching usurps Christ's lordship over His church, making the preacher the head of the church instead of Christ.
- Hindering the Work of the Holy Spirit: Expository preaching is the means by which the Holy Spirit works to save and sanctify, and failure to do so hinders this work.
The Importance of Clarity in Expository Preaching
- The goal of expository preaching is clarity, not motivation or application, but making the truth of Scripture clear so that the Spirit can use it to transform lives.
- The best illustrations of Scripture come from Scripture itself, using cross-references and Old Testament examples to illustrate spiritual truths.
- Personal anecdotes and illustrations should be avoided, as they can be misused and lead to a focus on the preacher rather than Christ.
The Mandate for Expository Preaching
- The mandate for expository preaching is established in Scripture, with God doing His work, Christ accomplishing His purpose, and the Spirit changing people through the Word.
- Exalting Christ is the most motivating force in the life of a congregation, and preaching Christ is the key to motivating people to love and honor Him.### The Importance of Christ in the Old Testament
- The main theme of the Bible is Christ, from Moses and the prophets to the holy writings.
- Christ is the first person to appear in the Old Testament, in Genesis 1:1, where it is written that God created the world and nothing was created without Him (John 1).
The Failure of Non-Expositional Preaching
- Non-expositional preaching demonstrates pride and a lack of submission to Scripture.
- It is a lack of submission to Scripture because preachers think their own insights are more important than the Bible.
- Preachers who follow this approach are not in the study of the book, hence, they are cut off from its sanctifying power in their life.
The Consequences of Non-Expositional Preaching
- It severs the preacher personally from the regular sanctifying work of Scripture.
- It removes spiritual depth and transcendence from the people, leading to crippled worship.
- It leads to superficial understanding of Scripture, which in turn produces superficial worship.
The Importance of Expositional Preaching
- It drives the preacher to dependence on the Word of God for their sanctification.
- It produces a life of joyful and fruitful ministry, even if the congregation is small.
- It results in a congregation that is sanctified, mature, and able to understand and appreciate deep theology.
The Juvenilization of the Church
- The church has been influenced by the juvenileization of Christianity, which started in the 1940s.
- This movement has led to the dumbing down of theology and the elevation of shallow, feel-good experiences.
- It has resulted in the loss of spiritual depth, transcendence, and maturity in the church.
The Importance of Deep Theology and Worship
- Deep theology leads to transcendent worship.
- Superficial theology leads to superficial worship.
- The church should aim for a mature and reverent worship experience that reflects a deep understanding of Scripture.### True Worship and Church Leadership
- True worship comes from the heart with depth of understanding, gravitas, reverence, adoration, love, and praise, and it's a long-term project.
- This kind of worship requires a deep understanding of the Word of God.
The Importance of Expositional Preaching
- The failure to do expositional preaching prevents the preacher from fully developing the mind of Christ, critical to his work.
The Mind of Christ in Leading the Church
- The pastor should focus on understanding the mind of Christ concerning His work, His church.
- Secular books on leadership have nothing to offer the church; instead, the pastor should look to the Bible, specifically Ephesians, for guidance.
The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary
- The speaker discovered a New Testament order for the church through reading Alexander Hay's book, "The Order for Church and Missionary".
- The book emphasized the importance of understanding Christ's instructions for the church, starting from Matthew 18.
Confronting Sin in the Church
- The speaker implemented a system of confrontation and accountability in the church, following Christ's instructions in Matthew 18.
- This approach led to a doubling of the church's size in two years, and it continued to grow.
Establishing Standards for Elders and Leaders
- The speaker established clear standards for elders and leaders in the church, ensuring they were converted and qualified for their roles.
- This led to some unconverted leaders and members leaving the church.
The Importance of Biblical Ecclesiology
- The speaker believes that a biblical understanding of the church has taken shape in recent years, contributing to the independent church movement.
- This emphasis on biblical ecclesiology is crucial for the integrity of the church's message about the gospel.
Teaching Biblical Ecclesiology
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching the people about biblical ecclesiology, rather than rushing to change the church's practices.
- This teaching should be done patiently, as it may take time for the congregation to understand and implement these principles.
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Description
A conference for experienced pastors to learn about expository preaching, discussing challenges and techniques. This quiz assesses understanding of preaching methods and expository institute training.
