The Getty’s

One of our elders recently interviewed Keith and Kristyn Getty. It is well worth a listen.  They speak of their upbringing in Northern Ireland, their ongoing hymn writing ministry, and their plans for the future.

Piper’s Preaching Course

The video of John Piper’s preaching course at Re:Train is now available in Desiring God’s Resource Library.

• The Pastor as Prophet (Part 1)
• The Pastor as Prophet (Part 2)
• The Pastor as Prophet (Part 3)
• The Pastor as Prophet (Part 4)

Download the course’s 42-page syllabus (PDF).

Cautions About Preaching Christ In The OT

Don Carson, Tim Keller and David Murray highlight some common mistakes in our preaching Christ from the Old Testament.

I found Keller’s advise especially helpful:

1. Don’t “get to Christ” so soon in the sermon that you don’t unfold the meaning and application of the text to the original hearers. If you “jump to Christ” too soon that often means you inspire people but you don’t give them concrete application for how they are supposed to live.

2. Don’t “get to Christ” so late in the sermon that he seems like an add-on, a mere devotional appendix. If you wait too long to get to Christ listeners won’t see how Jesus’ work is crucial if the listeners are going to obey or heed the text.

3. Don’t get to Christ artificially. This is a big subject of course, but I believe two of the best ways are (a) by identifying in your text one of the many inner-canonical themes that all climax in Christ (Don Carson’s language), and (b) identifying in your text some “Fallen Condition Focus,” some lack in humanity that only Christ can fill (Bryan Chapell’s language).

Christ’s Inner Life…In the Psalms

“Not only do the Psalms help shape our response to God in the trials and joys of life, then, but they also reveal to us something of the inner life of Jesus Christ, glimpses we do not have through the Gospels alone.” (L Michael Morales)

How to Preach Jesus Using the Psalms

Jason Hood’s article is here.  His conclusion:

“We can find Jesus all over the Psalms, because the Psalms are his prayer book that points to him. And when we find Jesus in the Psalms, we also find ourselves.”

Mez

Mez McConnell discusses whether preachers should focus on narratives or epistles in their preaching. By the way, you should all subscribe to his blog. It is biblical, fresh, and deeply humerous into the bargain.

Telling the Story Or Missing The Point?

What do you make of narrative preaching? My old colleague and friend, Peter Grainger (now Director of the 2 Timothy 4 Trust) recently preached a narrative sermon at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. This is not Peter’s usual style of preaching – consecutive expository – which makes it all the more intruiging!

Peter answers some crticisms about narrative preaching (Narrative Preaching – Telling the Story or Missing the Point?) over at his blog and argues for a limited use of this style. For your interest, here is the sermon to watch.

Dr Garry Williams – Superb Tyndale Biography

Dr Garry Williams is a first rate church historian and theologian.  Last week, we had the privelge of hosting him at Ballymoney Baptist. He spoke powerfully on “The Life and Death of William Tyndale: Loving God’s Word”. Not only does Garry have the rare gift of bringing church history ‘to life’, but he is also able to apply the lessons of history to the present. Listen to what he said, and profit from it here.

Panel On OT Preaching

I subjected my wife to watching the following video with me. A panel discussion (with Begg, Dever and Ryken) on preaching Christ from Old Testament texts. Needless to say, she really enjoyed it!

Narrative Preaching Seminar (Edinburgh)

It is remarkable that the Gospels and Acts, taken together, comprise almost two thirds of the bulk of the New Testament. Here is evidence of the importance of narrative in the formation of Christian faith.

• How does this affect what we preach on?
• How does preaching from narrative differ from other genres?
• Why is this so relevant to today’s generation?

Come and explore these and related issues with:

Peter Grainger	Director of the 2 Timothy 4 trust Formerly Senior Pastor at Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh
Alex MacDonald	Senior Minister, Buccleuch & Greyfriars Free Church Author of “Tell Me The Story”

7th May, 10am – 1pm

Charlotte Chapel Lounge, Rose Street, Edinburgh EH4 2AZ

Cost £10, email register@2tim4.org to register.