Preaching today Preaching under Threat Preaching a working

Preaching today?

Preaching under Threat?

Preaching: a working definition • Preaching should be pervasively biblical (Acts 20: 20, 27) • Preaching should be both Christ and Gospel focussed (1 Corinthians 2: 2 -5) • Preaching should be urgent and applied (2 Timothy 4: 1 -5)

What kind of learning?

what do good preachers do well? • Tim Keller – address cultural and philosophical challenges to the Gospel • “To be a great preacher, one needs to be triperspectival… one needs to be committed to the exegesis of the bible, the exegesis of our culture, and the exegesis of the human heart”

what do good preachers do well? • John Piper – inspire passion for God and find your joy in Him • “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”

what do good preachers do well? • Vaughan Roberts – Let the Bible do the talking

Vaughan Roberts Sermon Introduction Announce the text (Romans 11: 36) Tell the joke and link into theme of the sermon First point The Conclusion of God’s plan: That all Israel will be saved (11: 25 -27) Second point The Goal of God’s plan: That all people may receive mercy (11: 28 -32) Third point The response to God’s plan: That all glory goes to God (11: 33 -36) Conclusion The goal of God’s plan: that all people should receive mercy Our response to God’s plan: that all glory will go to God.

what do good preachers do well? • Simon Ponsonby – be a Word and Spirit preacher • “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man full devoted to Him” (Henry Vardy to DL Moody)

what do good preachers do well? • J John – use humour to connect • Self-deprecation and humanity

what do good preachers do well? • David Cook – Begin well; end well • “Take offs and landing”

what do good preachers do well? • John Ortberg – Preach for spiritual formation • “speed may be good when it comes to ambulances and internet connections – maybe even when it comes to the length of sermons – but al the technology in the world cannot microwave the healing of a human heart”

what do good preachers do well? • Nicky Gumbel – Speak about Jesus all the time! • The urgent need of our world – it Jesus Christ

what do good preachers do well? • Rico Tice – Urgency and evangelistic zeal • Every sermon has an urgent appeal – which Rico can get away with because he is urgent and active in seeking to win people for Christ!

what do good preachers do well? • Alistair Begg – Persuade through passionate argument • Direct and specific challenge to the congregation to be a people who “declares the praises of God”, such that others are drawn to Him

what do good preachers do well? • Mark Driscoll – Urgent and direct • Wide reading, excellent, persuasive delivery

what do good preachers do well? • Mark Dever – Preaching the “whole counsel of God” • “Expositional” preaching …

Preaching: SV Definition • Preaching is a powerful, relationally based summons, by God, through his true and living word.