Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God's Word Today
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About this ebook
In this accessible volume—written for preachers and preachers in training—pastor David Helm outlines what must be believed and accomplished to become a faithful expositor of God's Word.
In addition to offering practical, step-by-step guidance for preachers, this short book will equip all of us to recognize good preaching when we hear it.
Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.
David R. Helm
David R. Helm (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of Christ Church Chicago. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Charles Simeon Trust, an organization that promotes practical instruction in preaching. He is the coauthor (with Jon Dennis) of The Genesis Factor; a contributor to Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching; and the author of The Big Picture Story Bible and 1—2 Peter and Jude in the Preaching the Word commentary series.
Read more from David R. Helm
ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible: Christ in All of Scripture, Grace for All of Life: Christ in All of Scripture, Grace for All of Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Big Picture Bible Verses: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/51–2 Peter and Jude (Redesign): Sharing Christ's Sufferings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching: In Honor of R. Kent Hughes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/51 and 2 Peter and Jude: Sharing Christ's Sufferings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Genesis Factor: Probing Life's Big Questions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Reviews for Expositional Preaching
37 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5David Helm has written a practical and readable guide to the basics of preaching from an expositional perspective. His goal is to guide preachers in understanding and applying the transcendent truths of the Bible to today's culture. He seeks preachers to develop clarity in understanding what the text says, including what it spoke it its original audience, then to see how the text points to the Good News of Jesus Christ, and lastly, how the text is relevant today. Helm explores each of these stages of preparation, and as I said, is thoroughly practical in his approach. Practicality and readability does not mean the preacher will find the steps to be easy or automatic, but it does mean that Helm is clear about his rationale for this approach to preparation and preaching. Besides preaching on a regular basis Helm also serves as the executive director of the Charles Simeon Trust. I have participated in one of the Trust's workshops and found that Helm's work here closely parallels the approach of the Trust to preaching, making this book a good tool in augmenting what is already my primary approach to preaching. I highly commend this book to all people who would like to grow in their ability to understand and proclaim God's word.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Surprisingly good for such a short & colloquial primer.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5David Helm's Expositional Preaching is another fine contribution to the 9 Marks book series.As the title suggests, this is a book on the mechanics of preaching expository sermons. Helm walks the reader through the steps of exegeting a biblical text and delivering a message that is faithful to that text. He helps the reader think through how to reflect theologically on how a text fits into the overall arc of the biblical narrative.If you are looking for a manual on sermon preparation, this book is a bit thin. But as either an introductory work into the field of expository preaching or a supplemental book to other fine works in this field, Expositional Preaching definitely has a place!I recommend this book to pastors and anyone else who teaches the Bible.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A great foundation for anyone who is preaching the word of God or anyone that has the calling to preach the word of God.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This relatively short book is an excellent reminder to preach based on what the Holy Spirit intended the original writer to proclaim. The author clearly exposes the traps many fall into, including: starting with your end in mind; developing your main point after an initial read through the text; using a particular text because you "know" it make the point you have in mind. You must set aside your preconceived notions, study the text, study the book, understand the author and the original audience as well as the point he was making. Then you can begin to craft your sermon. Most helpful are the short examples sprinkled throughout the book and especially the Appendix, which is a summary guideline of the points from the book.
Book preview
Expositional Preaching - David R. Helm
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David Helm has written the most helpful, concise, and useful book on expository preaching I have ever read.
Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas;
President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network
If I were teaching a preaching class and could assign the students only one book, this might be the one. It’s a rare find that both introduces a topic to the novice and instructs the experienced. David’s humility convicts, rebukes, instructs, and encourages me as a preacher. I pray it will do the same for you.
Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC; President, 9Marks
David Helm’s skills as a preacher and his vast experience as a teacher of preachers make anything he says on this subject of great value. But I read him with greatest appreciation for what is most clear among his commitments: ‘Staying on the line, never rising above the text of Scripture to say more than it said and never falling beneath the text by lessening its force or fullness.’ Here is not merely skill and wisdom, but also faithfulness from which the truest treasures of preaching come.
Bryan Chapell, President Emeritus, Covenant Theological Seminary;
Senior Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Peoria, Illinois
Helm has given us a finely wrought and utterly compelling brief on what needs to be understood and done in order to faithfully preach the Word. This is an important book.
R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois
In this compact book, David Helm distills key principles and insights that have encouraged many at the Charles Simeon Trust preaching workshops. I have seen men reengage with the hard work of preaching preparation as David has taught this material. May that same result be multiplied by this book.
Paul Rees, Senior Pastor, Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh, Scotland
"I love to see people’s shocked responses when they learn that expository preaching is the first of the ‘9 Marks of a Healthy Church.’ This priority is affirmed and explained in Expositional Preaching. David Helm issues a stirring challenge to get the message clear and right. May God be pleased to use this book to help you preach faithfully for the health of the church and the glory of God!"
H. B. Charles Jr., Pastor, Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church,
Jacksonville, Florida
9Marks: Building Healthy Churches
Edited by Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman
Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church, Matt Smethurst (2021)
Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God’s People, Matt Merker (2021)
Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church, John Onwuchekwa (2018)
Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel, Nick Roark and Robert Cline (2018)
Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global, Andy Johnson (2017)
Conversion: How God Creates a People, Michael Lawrence (2017)
Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus, Mark Dever (2016)
The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ, Ray Ortlund (2014)
Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today, David R. Helm (2014)
Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus, J. Mack Stiles (2014)
Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus, Jeramie Rinne (2014)
Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God, Bobby Jamieson (2013)
Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus, Jonathan Leeman (2012)
Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus, Jonathan Leeman (2012)
Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today
Copyright © 2014 by The Charles Simeon Trust
Published by Crossway
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Wheaton, Illinois 60187
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.
Cover design: Dual Identity, inc.
Cover image: Wayne Brezinka for brezinkadesign.com
First printing 2014
Printed in the United States of America
Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4335-4313-5
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4316-6
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4314-2
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4315-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Helm, David R., 1961–
Expositional preaching : how we speak God’s word today / David Helm.
1 online resource.—(9Marks: building healthy churches)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
ISBN 978-1-4335-4314-2 (pdf) – ISBN 978-1-4335-4315-9 (mobi) – ISBN 978-1-4335-4316-6 (epub) – ISBN 978-1-4335-4313-5 (print)
1. Expository preaching. I. Title.
BV4211.3
251—dc23 2014004393
Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
CONTENTS
Series Preface
Introduction: Old Bones
1 Contextualization
The Blind Adherence Problem
Impressionistic Preaching
Inebriated Preaching
Inspired
Preaching
2 Exegesis
Keeping First Things First
The Day the Penny Dropped
Give the Biblical Context Control
Listen for the Melodic Line
See the Structure and Emphasis
3 Theological Reflection
The Instincts of Jesus
The Challenge of the Historical-Critical Method
The Usefulness of Biblical Theology
The Role of Systematic Theology
4 Today
The Makeup of Your Audience
The Arrangement of Your Material
The Application of Your Message
Conclusion: Dry Bones
Appendix: Questions Preachers Ask
Special Thanks
Notes
General Index
Scripture Index
SERIES PREFACE
The 9Marks series of books is premised on two basic ideas. First, the local church is far more important to the Christian life than many Christians today perhaps realize.
Second, local churches grow in life and vitality as they organize their lives around God’s Word. God speaks. Churches should listen and follow. It’s that simple. When a church listens and follows, it begins to look like the One it is following. It reflects his love and holiness. It displays his glory. A church will look like him as it listens to him.
So our basic message to churches is, don’t look to the best business practices or the latest styles; look to God. Start by listening to God’s Word again.
Out of this overall project comes the 9Marks series of books. Some target pastors. Some target church members. Hopefully all will combine careful biblical examination, theological reflection, cultural consideration, corporate application, and even a bit of individual exhortation. The best Christian books are always both theological and practical.
It’s our prayer that God will use this volume and the others to help prepare his bride, the church, with radiance and splendor for the day of his coming.
INTRODUCTION
Old Bones
The great man’s body rests in a vault beneath the stone floor of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, just inside the near west door. The site has two markings: CS,
and the year this man died, 1836.
Both have been cut into the stone pavement and filled with lead. Should you ever get the chance to stand there—as I once did in awe—know this: the old bones beneath your feet belong to one who returned the Bible to the center of church life in England.
It was a sad November day in 1836 when no fewer than 1,500 gownsmen attended the funeral of Charles Simeon. In unprecedented numbers for the time, people came to pay their respects to this pastor and preacher.¹ Charles Simeon was a gift, God’s gift, to the people of his generation.
He is a gift to our generation as well. His gospel instincts have stood the test of time and can make a fresh impression on preaching in our day. For Simeon’s preaching had something that much of our preaching lacks.
What is it we lack? How can we benefit?
The answers are surprisingly simple and point us to the very heart of this thing called expositional preaching. In large measure, the great man’s conviction about the Bible was the source of his influence. Simeon believed that a simple and clear explication of the Bible is what makes a church healthy and happy. Biblical exposition does the heavy lifting of building up a church. This abiding belief never left Simeon. For fifty-four years,