JaySaved
Aug 11, 2005
Expository or Topical PreachingInteresting in getting opinions on both, Pros, Cons, etc.Thanks
Expository or Topical PreachingInteresting in getting opinions on both, Pros, Cons, etc.Thanks
Hi JaySaved,Expository or Topical PreachingWhen I think of expository and topical I think of teaching more than preaching. There are some topical studies you could do on the subject to get a feel for how the words are used biblically. Generally preaching is more extemporaneous. Some use notes and others do not. The objective is a little different than teaching. I view teaching as the conveyance of biblical truth for all times. These are eternal truths that always hold good. It is information- but can still engage the conscience. Preaching on the other hand is more on line to deliver what God is saying to the people at a certain point in time. Not that the preaching message will not be relevant to future generations, it will; because there is a certain amount of teaching in the preaching. Some of the old timey preachers would arrive in the pulpit and wait on God for even an opening text. Finney did this I know. Often he came to the pulpit full of the word and prayer and God directed his message upon the people to bring them to repentance. I see preaching often as a means of God confronting issues in the people head on. It does not allow one to slip out here or there- but presses them with the subject. This requires great reliance on God. one must be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit and if I might so say- they must be "right with the Lord." You have to be able to hear God when you are extemporaneously preaching. Sin will shut that down and make a fool of you before the people. Expository or topical preaching can be done by merely following pre-prepared materials. You can rely on what you know to be true and carry on with or without sin in your life. I teach topically and otherwise and am well aware that if I did a topical study and teaching on love, joy, or peace (for example) then I can be tempted to rely on my studies more than the Holy Spirit. I'll leave off for others...
Biblically speaking, can we really distinguish between "preaching" and "teaching" in a Church setting?My experience, especially as one that is involved in the Pentecostal movement, is that we tend to treat "preaching" as having a lower grade prophetic quality to it, and it will invovle sweating, spitting, moving around a lot, and being very "anointed" looking. Where as teaching is viewed as simply non-anointed preaching, with little dynamic in one's gestures, and much more verse-by-verse/book study oriented. Preaching seems to be more interested in the overal impact and spirit conveyed in the message, whereas teaching tends to be more about simply distributing information. I can't say I agree with these things, but it seems this is what is generally regarded as true.
I agree. I am by no means experienced or a seasoned preacher. But what I have collected from my own experiences and from "seasoned" preachers/teachers. To me preaching is proclaiming or provoking to righteousness. Teaching brings illumination and in depth understanding. I don't know how good this goes together but preaching would give you wisdom, while teaching would give you understanding of that wisdom? How does that sound? Teaching it seems there is more preperation in the materials and scriptures you are putting together. I am by no means saying that is it not inspired by the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit can't give the words to the speaker while he is speaking, but when I think of teaching I think of notes. Preaching, to me, seems to jump around on more topics. Yeah for some reason people think of teachers being more relaxed and quiet while preachers sweating and jumping. I've heard some that sound the same reguardless if they are preaching or teaching. My pastor has the same intensity if he is going into great depths of some topic or preaching (proclaiming) basic things as repentance.Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nationsTeach-mathēteuō From G3101; intransitively to become a pupil; transitively to disciple, that is, enrol as scholar: - be disciple, instruct, teach.Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.Preach-kērussō Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): - preach (-er), proclaim, publish.We have to preach and teach. Matthew tells us to teach, Mark tells us to preach, and Luke tells us what to preach, repentance and remission of sin. (Luk 24:47) EDIT: In a church setting... I'm not sure. I would think we need both.
Just found this thread Jay.I like both, depending on 'who' is preaching/teaching, of course.There's a guy on the radio that I like. His name's Allister Begg and he loved and follows Martin Lloyd-Jones (who I've always liked), and he said, that Martin said, that that is what's wrong with the Church... no more Expository Sermons.Just topicals, topicals, topicals.I think, Anyone could do a topical, but expository takes some preperatory "work"/Study, but the depths of truth are well, just deeper. Allister is one of the few I listen to (radio wise) and sometimes Ravi Zaccharias. Allister's site is www.truthforlife.org , where you can hear his funny Scottish accent.I say funny, because he can be, even right in the middle of a theologically deep message.But not as deep as Ravi though. Maybe a better word would have been "serious" sermon.Well, that's my blah,blah, on the issue anyways.It just seemed like a fun thread and I needed something more fun to do.Thanks for asking our thoughts. That may probably be my last one for today (brain spent :-? .) God Bless ya.Annie
*post 2 or 2 :-)I was just at his site and picked up this neat daily devotional. From the 15th ... I went back a couple days to catch up.(Ya can't hear his Scottish accent in it though :) but they sure can paint word pictures. That's a neat gift.These are retakes by Begg on Spurgeon's M&E.August 15, 2005 ISAAC WENT OUT TO MEDITATE IN THE FIELD TOWARD EVENING. Genesis 24:63Isaac's evening occupation was very admirable. If those who spend so many hours in idle company, light reading, and useless pastimes could learn wisdom, they would find more profitable society and more interesting engagements in meditation than in the vanities that now hold such appeal for them. We would all know more, live closer to God, and grow in grace if we were alone more often. Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere. When Jesus is the theme, meditation is sweet indeed. Isaac found Rebecca while engaged in private musings; many others have found their best beloved there.Isaac's choice of place was very admirable. The field provides a study full of texts for thought. From the cedar to the hyssop, from the soaring eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the blue expanse of heaven to a drop of dew, all these things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so suggestive, so agreeable, or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing common or unclean but feel that all created things point to their Maker, and the field will at once be holy ground.The season was very admirable. The season of sunset as it draws a veil over the day is a fitting time for the soul's repose when earthborn cares yield to the joys of heavenly communion. The glory of the setting sun excites our wonder, and the solemnity of approaching night awakens our awe. If the business of this day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to walk in the field at evening; but if not, the Lord is in the town too and will meet with you in your chamber or in the crowded street. Let your heart go out to meet Him.
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