by Ray C. Stedman
The greatest contribution the Church can make today to a troubled and frightened generation is to return to a consistent and relevant preaching of the Word of God! All Christians would agree that what is most needed in the present age is a loosing of the power of God among us, but what is often forgotten is that the proclamation of His word has always been God's chosen channel of power. "He sent his word and healed them," the psalmist declares. And it is not so much preaching from the Bible that is needed, as it is preaching the Bible itself---in a word, expository preaching!
Exposition is preaching that derives its content from the Scripture
directly, seeking to discover its divinely intended meaning, to
observe its effect upon those who first received it, and to apply
it to those who seek its guidance in the present. It consists
of deep insight into and understanding of the thoughts of God,
powerfully presented in direct personal application to contemporary
needs and problems. It is definitely not a dreary, rambling, shallow
verse-by verse commentary, as many imagine. Nor is it a dry-as-dust
presentation of academic biblical truth, but a vigorous, captivating
analysis of reality, flowing from the mind of Christ by means
of the Spirit and the preacher into the daily lives and circumstances
of twentieth century people.
I first came to understand and value expository preaching from
the writings of G. Campbell Morgan, the Prince of English expositors
in the early decades of the 20th century. I ran across his books
while trying to teach an evening Bible study class of sailors
at Pearl Harbor during World War II. I learned from him not only
how to discover the patterns of thought-development in a biblical
passage, but how to organize those patterns into contemporary
presentations that would touch directly upon the issues of life
today. In 40 years of preaching and teaching I have never been
able to match Morgan's beauty of language and richness of literary
allusions, but I have had him continually before me as a model
to follow.
Other expository preachers have added touches of their own uniqueness
to my learning process. Dr. Harry Ironside of the Moody Church
of Chicago left his mark upon me through a summer spent with him
as his chauffeur, secretary, and constant companion. From him
I learned simplicity of style and warmth of illustration. Campbell
Morgan's successor at Westminster Chapel, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones,
also greatly raised my appreciation of the Bible's relevancy and
authority. I was privileged also to know with some degree of intimacy
such expositors as J. Vernon McGee, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Richard
Halverson, Stephen Olford, John R. W. Stott, Frances Schaeffer,
and J. I. Packer. These all have, in one degree or another, taught
me lessons of preaching power.
Upon coming to Palo Alto in 1950 I began immediately to preach
through books of the Bible, working my way through Sunday after
Sunday until I had finished the whole book. I have tried to keep
an even balance between the New Testament and the Old, usually
alternating from one to the other. This has great advantages over
textual preaching in that it forces one to handle the difficult
themes of Scripture as well as the more popular ones. Further
it keeps truth in balance since it follows the pattern of Scripture
itself in mingling several themes in one passage; and thus makes
possible the apostolic goal of "declaring the whole counsel
of God." If a series grows so long it tends to weary the
congregation, I do not hesitate to break it off in favor of another,
but will come back later and finish the original series. Since
for years now all our messages have been put into print, when
a series is finally finished it is a complete coverage of the
biblical book and is available as a unit for private or group
study.
My method of sermon preparation has evolved from this concept.
Having chosen which book of the Bible I will preach through, taking
into consideration the needs of the congregation, the level of
doctrinal instruction they may yet lack, and the spirit of the
times we may be passing through, I then begin to read the book
through several times in various versions. My objective is to
create a general outline of the book as a guidline to my preaching.
I note the broad divisions of the book, and the major changes
of subjects. What I want is a bird's-eye view of the whole. For
instance, my division of the gospel of John is very simple: Prologue,
1:1-18 - The Manifestation of the Messiah, 1:19-4:54 - Growing
Unbelief, 5:1-12:50 - The Unveiling of the Church, 13:1-17:26
- The Murder of the Messiah, 18:1-19:42 - The New Creation, 20:1-21:25.
I then choose a section from the first division upon which to
base my first message. The section should be short enough to be
manageable in the time available (30-40 minutes) but yet constitute
a single main theme. I next check out all lexical or linguistical
problems that may be present, and read the historical background
for customs or color that needs explaining or emphasizing. Then
I begin work on a detailed exegetical outline of the passage.
Outlining permits me to put textual truth into my own words, and
yet reveals clearly the logical development of the author's thought.
This outline is the backbone of my message. It may take several
hours of work to produce, but it is essential in order to maintain
clarity and faithfulness to the text.
After I have completed this outline, then (and only then) do
I read commentaries or other messages on the passage. This reading
constitutes a check upon my own exegesis and permits me to make
changes or add insights (with due acknowledgment) to my own work.
At this point I have probably put 8 to 10 hours of work into my
text, but have only reached the half-way point of preparation.
The exegesis is now complete. I know what I am going to say, but
I do not yet know how I am going to say it.
I turn then to the work of presentation. Here I begin to form
what I call my preaching notes. They are based upon the exegetical
outline I have made, but I must now select what to include and
what to leave out. Here also I add in the illustrations which
will make the text stick in people's minds and hold their attention
until the end is reached. I think through how best to introduce
the passage, usually with a personal story or reference to some
current event. I must choose which themes to enlarge upon and
which only to touch upon and then pass on. My notes will reflect
all this and lead me logically and climactically to my predetermined
conclusion. I will take these notes to the platform with me, but
I try to know them so thoroughly that I need only the briefest
glimpse from time to time to keep me on track. I believe it is
very important to maintain eye contact with my audience while
I am preaching.
I try to have my preparation complete by Friday afternoon,
or at the latest, Saturday morning. I need to let my notes alone
for at least half a day before preaching, while I prepare my body
and heart with rest and prayer and other work. Following this
approach, through the years I have gained a growing sense of the
grandeur of preaching. I have seen many examples of its power
to transform both individual lives and whole communities. I have
increasingly felt a divine compulsion to preach, so that I know
something of Paul's words, "Woe is me if I preach not the
gospel!" But even more---I feel a deeply humbling conviction
that I could never be given a greater honor than the privilege
of declaring "the unsearchable riches of Christ." I
often hear in my inner ear the words of the great apostle: "This
is how one should regard us; as servants of Christ and stewards
of the mysteries of God!" A servant of Christ! A steward
of the mysteries! I can think of no greater work than that.