BOOK REVIEW - "EXPOSITIONAL PREACHING: HOW WE SPEAK GOD'S WORD TODAY (9MARKS BUILDING HEALTHY CHURCHES) BY DAVID HELM

 

What is Expositional Preaching? What are its advantages or disadvantages to other styles of sermons? How does one construct a good Expositional (or Expository) sermon? By the way, I heard Focus On The Family's former Vice President of Church and Clergy H. B. London state there were four types of sermons: Expository, Topical, Biographical, and Longhorn. What's a Longhorn sermon? Two points with a lot of bull in between.

If you're not familiar with Expositional Preaching, this short book by David Helm is an excellent introduction. A brief definition is a sermon based on the Biblical text. This type is designed to focus more on what God said in Scripture rather than our opinions. 

Helm starts off with some errant forms of contextualism. Then, he deals with three key parts of a expositional sermon: 1) Exegesis (getting into the original languages and determining what Scripture is saying to the original audience), 2) Theological Background (Biblical theology, Systematic theology) and 3) How it applies today. Helm holds that if you're skipping one (or more) of these, your sermon is not accomplishing what it should.

You may have seen me review other books of this series. The series is excellent, and that includes this book. I recommend this book and the rest of 9Marks' Building Healthy Churches.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER/APOLOGIST - A LOOK AT JUSTIN MARTYR

Would you believe there was a time when you could identify a philosopher by how they dressed? Likewise, would you believe there was a Christian who chose to wear the outfit of a philosopher?

Justin Martyr became interested in philosophy as a young man in the early 100's. He sat under Stoicist, Aristotlean, and Pythagorean followers before focusing on Platonist teaching. He still wasn't satisfied until he encountered an older Christian.

As mentioned above, Justin chose the garb of the philosopher. This gave him opportunities. For example, it lead him into a friendly dialogue with Trypho the Jew, which Justin put in print... er, written form. 

Bryan Litfin, in his book Getting To Know The Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction, distinguished his ministry with Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius' letters were those of a pastor, strengthening the Church. Justin's primary ministry was to those outside, and he presented the Gospel in a way that reached those of the Greco-Roman society.

Justin did not feel philosophy (or more technically true philosophy) was at odds with the Gospel. He also showed some early wrestling with the realization that the Father was God and Jesus, the Logos, was God, and the Father was not Jesus.

This early church leader did live up to his name. He knew of the consequences taking the name of Christ could have; in fact, the martyrdom of Christians drew him before he came to the faith.

Justin is known for the above Dialogue With Trypho. He also wrote his First Apology and Second Apology. In the former, he gives a picture of what a second century church service looked like.

How do we deal with different people of different backgrounds? Justin Martyr was an early example on contextualization, but while he changed his presentation of the truth, he didn't change the truth.