February 29, 2012

A course of lectures on preaching - Dabney - V - Lecture 5 (The text)

Required reading
A course of lectures on preaching by RL Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Lecture 5 (The text).

My summary
This week Dabney discusses expository preaching including:
(i) the definition of expository preaching;
(ii) the connections of truths among themselves as essential to the system as the separate propositions;
(iii) the improvement of the pastor in biblical knowledge is closely connected with that of his people in expository preaching;
(iv) the expository method secures for the pastor sundry conveniences and advantages;
(v) the immemorial usage of the Church should commend this method to us.

What grabbed me
I liked being reminded about the benefits of expository preaching, including this one: 'The expository method secures for the pastor sundry conveniences and advantages. One of these not to be disdained is, that he is thus relieved of the harassing doubt and hesitation which often attend the selection of a text. Instead of having his spirits consumed for a day by this question, he proceeds at once to attack the work of preparation which is laid out for him in advance.'

There's enough decisions to be made in the busy pastor's week without adding to them the delicate matter of choosing what to preach on.

Next week's reading
Read
Lecture 6 (The text).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.

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