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Future Of Expository Preaching Bryan Chapell spiritual transformation Word power God communication emphasis certitude neo-Conservatism community faith application issues redemptive exposition hopes purpose Scripture Light Christ voice Jesus Bread Life Body presence love heart
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The Future Of Expository Preaching - Parts 1 & 2
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The Future Of Expository Preaching - Parts 1 & 2
By Bryan Chapell

B. The Power of Faith

The ultimate consequence of not speaking in accord with the Spirit's message is denying the people of God, not just the taste of certitude, but the power of God. Without a Christ-centered message, the people of God are denied both the encouragement of his voice and the nourishment of his bread.

-The Voice of Jesus

Augustine wrote long ago that when the Bible speaks, God speaks. Thus, when we explain what the Bible says, we communicate God's Word to his people. This is more than just a figure of speech. The Spirit that inspires Scripture, only speaks what is given to him by the Son (John 16:13-15). Thus, when we are communicating what God says in his Word, we are communicating what the Son says through the Spirit. Expository preaching that says what God says is, thus, doing more than explaining what a passage of an ancient document means. Such preaching is yet presenting the voice of the Shepherd to his sheep. Luther said the church is God's "mouth house." The Second Helvetic Confession captures more saying, "The preaching of the Word of God, is the Word of God." And John Calvin most boldly proclaims the implications, saying that God has so chosen to anoint the lips and tongue of the faithful proclaimers of his Word that, when they speak, "the voice of Jesus" comes out. Preaching that is true to the Christ-centered purposes of the Spirit yet makes the voice of the Savior present among his people.

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The design of the Scripture is to perpetuate the voice of the Savior through the proclaimers of his Word. We are ambassadors for Christ, as though he were making his appeal through us (2 Cor. 5:20). Such an understanding of the Christ-embodied nature of preaching does not deny the power of technological means of communication, but it cautions against trusting in any mechanism or media that distracts listeners from the ethos of the minister. When the truth of Christ is made incarnate by our teaching and our testimony, then the truth that is inscripturated in his Word becomes most audible to his people, and most real to their hearts. However, when either teaching or testimony are void of a Christ-focus, then the voice of the Savior becomes distant. Expository preaching that unfolds the redemptive message of every passage maintains the voice of the Savior for the sake of both preacher and parishioner.

-The Bread of Life

More than the voice of the Savior is made present by the faithful proclamation of the Word. Christ himself is present. The Apostle Peter says, "[Y]ou have been born again . . . through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Pet. 1:21). James says that the Father, "chose to give us birth through the word of truth (James 1:18). The writer of Hebrews adds, "The word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12). The written word, the inscripturated Logos, is not just the message about Christ; it is also the ministry of Christ. He is present and active in the truth of his Word. The reason that he should be seen on every page is that he inhabits every line. He is the incarnate Word who comes to us in the inspired Word. To preach some portion of the the Word without mention of him would be like speaking of one of my limbs as though it had nothing to do with my body. The written Word that we explain is the living Word that we proclaim. They are conceptually able to be separated, but they function as one. Christ comes to us and is present to us in the preaching that is true to his Word.

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