What Happened to Expository Preaching?

[Marnie]

Here are some excerpts from a great article by Alistair Begg. The whole article is here, so be sure to read it; it's too long to post the whole thing here.

What Happened to Expository Preaching?

By Alistair Begg

Why is expository preaching absent from so many of today

[Pizzaguy]

The pastor that just left our church, as well as the one we have back home in Michigan, are BOTH good expository preachers. If I did not get this in church, there ARE several guys on the radio that are very good, but I would be very displeased if I had to resort to the radio!!!!

Sadly, such preachers ARE becoming rare, and who's to be surprised - with the 'dumbing down' going on in general, I think people are receptive to poor pulpit performance.

I have also noticed a culture-wide move towards "positive thinking", and I think it's leaked into the church.

[Floatingaxe]

What is PMA?

[Pizzaguy]

He means "POsitive Mental Attitude"

The "PMA" thing is practically destroying the church, it hasn't merely "crept in"

Agreed. I just meant that I didn't think it got it's START in the church, but that it IS in the church.

[Floatingaxe]

Is there something wrong with having a positive attitude, as in thinking as God would have us think?

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Anything wrong with envisioning what God has placed in our hearts? Like Abraham, who held fast to his promise!

[Floatingaxe]

I'll bet, knowing the kind of man Joseph was, he held onto those dreams and never let go! God is faithful, and Joseph's life bears that out. We are to hold onto the visions that God gives, never giving up!

[Guest phihidry]

I REMEMBER CHRIST QUOTING SCPRITURE....BUT I DO NOT RECALL HIM PREACHING EXPOSITORYLY,....I BELIEVE THAT HE USED PARABLES...SIMPLE ILLUSTRATIONS WHICH WERE TRUE.....ON PHOPHECY....HMMMM...I COULD BE WRONG, BUT PROPHECY...TRUE PROPHECY POINTED TOWARD CHRIST...AND FROM CHRIST ONWARD, PROPHECY SHOULD POINT TO AND UPLIFT THE CHRIST...NOT THE POPULARITY OF A PERSON OR A FUTURE EVENT.......BUT THEN WHO AM I TO KNOW SUCH THINGS....

[Pizzaguy]

I'll bet, knowing the kind of man Joseph was, he held onto those dreams and never let go! God is faithful, and Joseph's life bears that out. We are to hold onto the visions that God gives, never giving up!

I like to disagree with WSB anytime I can - but he's right this time.

The whole concept behind PMA and "Word of Faith" is that you control the universe around you by your thoughts, words, and attitude, and consequently, if you have "good enough" thoughts, words, and attitude, then you have good faith, and "god" will bless you and give you a good car and the best wife, and you'll always succeed, and whatever.

This is simply not Biblical. It sounds rather appealing, I'll admit, but is just a fairy tale.

He hit the nail on the head here, I have sat under such a preacher - back in the late 80's and only for about 2 years till I couldn't take it anymore.

Joseph certainly held on, but not to HIS will or HIS power, but God's.

Edited December 6, 2006 by Pizzaguy

[Floatingaxe]

Joseph certainly held on, but not to HIS will or HIS power, but God's.

I never said anything other!

[Guest LAW]

Truly, i think one of the reasons why so many of our churches lack workers/members is because of the "me" generation who grew up hearing nice stories about people instead of being fed the Word.

There is so much hunger in today's churches (i'm excluding the world here-just speaking of the churched) to be fed the truth so that its members can be equipped to go into the world and deal with things in a way where they are led by God, not by just doing what they think is right.

God gave us the Bible for a reason--it's a roadmap, a guide, a resource. When we try to walk through life without bothering to know what it contains, which ways it points us, etc., we are walking blind.

People talk all the time about putting God back in schools. I say put the Bible back in Sunday schools. Don't just tell our children stories of David and Goliath and show them videos of righteous vegetables (although anything that can be a learning tool is good). Get them familiar with the Bible and what it says about situations and things in our lives. Let them see their parents read it at home. Let them hear you discuss it! That's the way to put God back in our society.