I was thinking recently about what I like to see when I look out during a message. You might think that I would enjoy seeing people watching me in rapt attention, drinking in the riveting content, the sonorous strains of my voice, and my outstanding delivery. Yeah, right.
That would make me feel kinda special, but what I would most like to see is the tops of people's heads. Yep, you heard me right. I'd like to see them bent over their open Bibles, following the text I am trying to unpack and explain. I do not mind the occasional scowl, followed by frantic flipping as they look for another reference that just popped into their minds. I like to see people taking notes (or not— I struggle taking notes and listening at the same time, so I understand), underlining thoughts in their Bibles, or just reading along with me.
As I see it, the focus of the preaching of God's Word should be just that— God's Word. I try to call attention to the passage over and over. I make a point to say, "Look at verse six" and continually direct and re-direct their eyes and thoughts to the text. It seems that this kind of focus is in keeping with the attitude of receiving the Word of God commended in the Jewish believers in Berea: "they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
That would make me feel kinda special, but what I would most like to see is the tops of people's heads. Yep, you heard me right. I'd like to see them bent over their open Bibles, following the text I am trying to unpack and explain. I do not mind the occasional scowl, followed by frantic flipping as they look for another reference that just popped into their minds. I like to see people taking notes (or not— I struggle taking notes and listening at the same time, so I understand), underlining thoughts in their Bibles, or just reading along with me.As I see it, the focus of the preaching of God's Word should be just that— God's Word. I try to call attention to the passage over and over. I make a point to say, "Look at verse six" and continually direct and re-direct their eyes and thoughts to the text. It seems that this kind of focus is in keeping with the attitude of receiving the Word of God commended in the Jewish believers in Berea: "they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
Comments
I'm surprised how often this does not happen.
I agree... I am wondering about one thing though... I tend to like to stay in one passage without too many references to other passages. I think that sometimes people get lost in the 'flipping' to other references. I listen to Minnick a lot and he develops many of his points by cross-referencing and often has people turn and look at the other passages.
I sort of resist doing that as much as possible. Perhaps the reason is that I have a congregation of mostly Christians saved as adults and turning to other books is a real chore, since many do not know the book names in order that well.
What do you think?
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
The only drawback to that is the time it takes. Otherwise, and really in spite of that, I think it is a good idea. It shows that you are not developing a peculiar doctrine from an isolated passage but that it is a unifed teaching of Scripture.
All,
I don't preach but I do teach Sunday School. My passion when teaching is for the class to discover the points of the lesson from the Biblical text as I am presenting the material. In other words, I study out the passage and find the gold. I know where it is and how to find it. When I get to class, I want to facilitate the students finding the gold for themselves. Dig here. Look under that rock. Follow this mine shaft. Once they find it, they know that it is Biblical truth (gold), not just that I said it was gold. Easier said than done, sometimes, but it is what I strive for.
I agree about the importance of cross-referencing. MacArthur refers to that as illustrating Scripture with Scripture (as opposed to using a bunch of cute anecdotes). But I think that even that is secondary to the discipline of walking people through a text and proving each point of your message by a point in the Scriptures.
Andy, I do a very similar thing on Wednesday night, trying to get those who are listening to understand the argument on their own. We refer to it as a sort of guided discussion of the text (vs. unguided, "what does this mean to you" discussion that results in shared ignorance).
What a good discussion. Thanks, Mark.
I have said before that people have their devotions like their pastor preaches. If he is a "nuggets" preacher, pulling little thoughts from here, there, and everywhere, chances are, his people will not study their Bibles systematically. They will bounce around, trying to extract "nuggets" and being discouraged if they don't get a spiritual "charge" from every passage in the Bible. (Andy, the "nuggets" reference has nothing to do with what you were saying; I was thinking of a speaker I heard several times in college who was always presenting "nuggets" that he had found— I never could figure out where he had found them.)
On the other hand, like Scott said, if a preacher unpacks the text, extracts the meaning, and then accurately and carefully applies it to the lives of the listeners, his people are probably going to study their Bibles the same way.
Don, I tend to agree with what you said. I think I'm going to write another post along those lines.
Thanks to all for your comments.