Monthly Archives: December 2008

by | December 20, 2008

Never Bore With Shocking Truth

During the dark days of World War 2, the BBC asked writer Dorothy Sayers to write a series of radio plays on the life of Christ.  This spawned a series of feisty letters back and forth between the writer and … Continue reading →

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by | December 19, 2008

Out of Our Depth

Charles Haddon Spurgeon once made this very true statement, “The best man here, if he knows what he is, knows that he is out of his depth in his sacred calling.”  How true that is.  Only with a keen awareness … Continue reading →

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by | December 17, 2008

Unusually Careful

Just a brief thought since it is the season for non-regular attenders at church.  When preparing evangelistic sermons it is worth being unusually careful.  Apparently, Martyn Lloyd-Jones would always write out his evangelistic sermons, rather than his edification sermons.  Remember … Continue reading →

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by | December 16, 2008

With the Time You Have

As I wander through Preach the Word, I am taking advantage of little nuggets here and there to prompt posts.  Today I’m influenced by Wayne Grudem’s article on “Right and Wrong Interpretation of the Bible.”  He makes a point that … Continue reading →

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by | December 15, 2008

Fullness, Not Dipping – Narratives

I’d like to share another post in light of the chapter by Leland Ryken in the book he co-edited entitled Preach the Word (in honor of Kent Hughes).  In writing of the importance of understanding the Bible literarily and not … Continue reading →

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by | December 13, 2008

We Preach Literature – Part 2

Yesterday I noted Leland Ryken’s comment that expository preaching “keeps its focus on the announced text instead of escaping from it to other material.”  Another feature of expository preaching, in his mind, is as follows: 2. “Expository preaching interacts with … Continue reading →

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by | December 12, 2008

We Preach Literature

I’m enjoying Preach the Word and will add a full review in due course, but I’ll share some highlights along the way.  This is the book of essays intended to honor Kent Hughes of College Chapel in Wheaton.  This morning … Continue reading →

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by | December 11, 2008

Laughter and the Preacher

The subject of humor in preaching can create tension.  Personally I think that natural humor appropriately used can be a great tool in preaching.  Obviously I agree that unnatural humor inappropriately used for the sake of entertainment in preaching is … Continue reading →

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by | December 10, 2008

Shifting from Passage to Message – Idea

Two days ago we considered the move from passage to message in relation to the purpose statement.  Now let’s look at the other core move at the apex of the process, the move from passage idea to message idea. Many … Continue reading →

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by | December 9, 2008

Pre-Review: Preach the Word, edited by Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson

Subtitle: Essays on Expository Preaching in Honor of R. Kent Hughes This recent volume from Crossway just landed on my doorstep.  I have not read it, hence this is a “pre-review.”  However, since I’ve not added a review for a … Continue reading →

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