Monthly Archives: October 2008

by | October 31, 2008

Shining Light in a Dark World

It is ironic that in the post-enlightenment west, where we “know” that spirits are not real, we naively celebrate Halloween as if it were just fun for the children.  The occultic reality of what goes on in many places remains … Continue reading →

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by | October 30, 2008

Concerning Commentaries

Commentaries are an interesting blessing.  Most of us have access to various commentaries, both in print, perhaps in software form and online.  For some they can be a crutch that bears all the weight of their study – they simply … Continue reading →

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by | October 28, 2008

Preach the Preaching Text

I have written before about staying within a low fence and generally sticking in the passage you are in for the message.  However, there is a similar but slightly different temptation we face as preachers.  It is the temptation to … Continue reading →

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by | October 27, 2008

Weighing Interpretation Options

Yesterday I made passing reference to the process involved in deciding between options when interpreting some aspect of a passage.  Perhaps you can think of two or three ways to take it, to understand what it means.  Perhaps two commentators … Continue reading →

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by | October 26, 2008

Make Clear Carefully

In expository preaching one goal is to make clear the meaning and significance of what is written in the passage.  That sounds relatively easy until you start considering specific passages.  You know the ones I mean.  The passages that you … Continue reading →

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by | October 25, 2008

Does Preaching Via Technology Fall Short

A good friend Josh commented on the site with this question.  What do you think? I recently heard at a pastors conference, and the speaker admitted it was controversial, that true effective preaching can only be done in the presence … Continue reading →

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by | October 24, 2008

What Does Expository Mean?

This site is committed to expository preaching.  In many other posts I have referred to what genuine expository preaching is and is not.  It is about a philosophy, a commitment to the authority and influence of the text on the … Continue reading →

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by | October 23, 2008

Why State Ideas Explicitly? – Part 2

Here’s the question again: Since our culture is shaped by the communication of implicit and pervasive ideas, and much of the Scriptures use a narrative communication with ideas implicitly conveyed, are we communicating effectively when we state explicit ideas in … Continue reading →

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by | October 22, 2008

Why State Ideas Explicitly?

A while ago I was asked a very perceptive question: Since our culture is shaped by the communication of implicit and pervasive ideas, and much of the Scriptures use a narrative communication with ideas implicitly conveyed, are we communicating effectively … Continue reading →

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by | October 21, 2008

Why Don’t They Return

One of the perpetual questions for preachers and church leaders.  Why don’t visitors return?  Some churches may be persisting with “guest services” in some form or other that have not seen an outsider come in for years.  But other churches … Continue reading →

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