TonyMerida.net

Christ-Centered Preaching (Part 1): The “Dilemma” of Christ-Centered Expository Preaching

Tony Merida — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:51:16 +0000

I just learned of a panel discussion taking place at the Southern Baptist Convention this year in Houston on Christ-Centered Teaching and Preaching. This is an important topic and I am glad that our friends at The Gospel Project are hosting this event. There has been much discussion over this issue, and much misunderstanding among Southern Baptists. Over the next few weeks I will be posting my thoughts on Christ-centered preaching and teaching. Make sure you sign up here for the free breakfast event.

Baptists through the years have emphasized the need for Christian preachers to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. John Broadus summarized his approach saying, “The subject of preaching is divine truth, centrally the gospel as revealed and offered in Jesus Christ.” While many would say “amen!” to these affirmations on the importance of the gospel, others would also want to emphasize the primacy of expository preaching.

Essentially, expository preaching attempts to explain and apply the biblical text in its context. This poses an interesting dilemma for Christian preachers. How is one to preach Christ where he may not seem to be present in the text? In asking this question, two assumptions are being made:

Expositors should be faithful to the context of a passage.
Christian preachers should desire to proclaim the glories of Christ.

How does one deal with the text with integrity and preach Christ from a text like Nehemiah? After all, many Old Testament instructors declare that “you should not look for Jesus under every rock!” Students are taught to respect and consider the “original” hearers. Thus, the question remains as to whether the preacher can accomplish these two goals (exposition and Christ-centeredness) without arbitrarily inserting Jesus into the text or simply “leapfrogging to Jesus” at the end of the sermon.

Bryan Chapell argues that one of the solutions to this dilemma is for the expositor to see the Bible as a unified book of redemptive history which culminates in the person and work of Christ. Chapell argues that preachers cannot properly explain a portion of biblical revelation, even if they say many true things about it, unless they relate it to the redeeming work of God that all Scripture ultimately purposes to disclose. In this sense, the entire Bible is Christ-centered because his redemptive work in all of its incarnational, atoning, rising, interceding, and reigning dimensions is the capstone of all of God’s revelation of his dealings with his people. Thus, no aspect of revelation can be thoroughly understood or explained in isolation of Christ’s redeeming work.

Therefore, the goal for Christ-centered expositors is not to “look for Jesus under every rock,” but rather to find out how a particular text fits into the whole redemptive story that culminates in Christ. Ultimately, the particular book is within the wider biblical context. In other words, it is a short story within the meta-narrative of Scripture. The discipline that deals with the unfolding of God’s redemptive work in history is often called biblical theology.

Chapell provides a helpful analogy to describe this process. He says that preachers should use both a “microscope” and a “theological fish-eye lens” when examining a text, in order to see the forest (the larger redemptive story) and the trees (the immediate text and its details). It seems that expositional theory often focuses upon the trees to the neglect of the forest, missing an important dimension of the text and a degree of its glory and grace. Good exposition will expose the trees and the forest, giving respect for the original author and respect for the redemptive story and its hero: Jesus.

Steve Timmis Lecture

Tony Merida — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Steve Timmis, author of Total Church and Everyday Church, lectures on equipping, pastoring and planting churches, followed by a question and answer time.

Q&A with Steve Timmis

Tony Merida — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:00:50 +0000

We had the privilege of hosting Steve Timmis (one if my Yodas) at IDC this weekend. On Saturday, he did a Q/A with our interns. Steve addresses topics such as community, small groups, polity, culture, and church planting.

Listen

Ministry Grid: Orphan Care Video

Tony Merida — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:39:03 +0000

This week I flew to Nashville for a quick one-day trip to record some training videos on preaching for Ministry Grid. In a few hours, I shot 20 sessions on preaching, and I have also done some videos on church planting and orphan care in the past.

One of those videos, the one on orphan care, is now online in the Ministry Grid’s free training section. If you’re not familiar with Ministry Grid, take the time to visit their site. The service launches is May but some content is already live. This will be an invaluable resource to pastors and ministry leaders when it comes online this summer. For now, here is my video on orphan care:

Steve Timmis: Gospel, Community, & Church Planting

Tony Merida — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:26:50 +0000

These are excellent messages by Steve Timmis on the gospel, community and church planting.

Pastoral Interviews with CJ Mahaney

Tony Merida — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:47:26 +0000

I found these interviews with CJ Mahaney and others to be very helpful for pastors. I hope you enjoy.

The Pastor and His Time

October 30, 2008
Whether working alone or on a team, most pastors know going into the week that there will be more legitimate needs around them than they have the capacity to meet. What priorities should be reflected in the pastor’s schedule, and how can he effectively communicate those priorities to the church? (Running time: 46:32)

Download the interview

The Pastor and His Joy

July 8, 2008
God-glorifying ministry is about more than just a pastor’s faithfulness. In order to glorify God and represent him accurately, a pastor must also take care that his ministry is marked with joy. So how can a pastor cultivate and prioritize joy? (Running time: 51:47)

Download the interview

The Pastor and His Soul

March 18, 2008
Pastors are obviously called to care for the souls of others, but how does a pastor make sure that he is caring for his own soul? What does it look like for a man to pursue his own personal relationship with God and make sure he is growing spiritually? (Running time: 1:08:27)

Download the interview

The Pastor and His Reading

February 20, 2008
C.J. Mahaney, Jeff Purswell, and Joshua Harris discuss the priority, discipline, and benefits of reading in the life of the leader. (Running time: 1:11:52)

Download the interview

(via Sovereign Grace)

Ephesians 6:5-9 – Transferring Masters

Tony Merida — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:11:48 +0000

Ephesians 6:5-9

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[powerpress]

What’s your least favorite job of all time? I haven’t had as many bad jobs as some of you have. Donnie told me that he milked cows for two years, and also used to discard dead animals from the vet. I’ve been an umpire for Little League. It would have been fun if not for the parents!Work is a gift and we should think God for work. But some jobs are not high on the desirability scale! How can you find any meaning or fulfillment in your daily vocation – either paid work or unpaid work (mom/student)? This text shows us that we need to see Christ as our ultimate “boss” for whom we labor. You see, you can transfer masters without transferring jobs. Paul teaches us in this section how the Lordship of Christ should affect our view of work. We can exalt Christ through our various jobs.

Ephesians 6:1-4 – Gospel Centered Families

Tony Merida — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:35:18 +0000

Ephesians 6:1-4

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[powerpress]

This little section is brief but powerful. In these few verses Paul highlights essential priorities of children and parents. Now, obviously, kids can grow up in great homes, and turn out a rebellious. I totally understand that. The point I’m driving out is: Those who’ve had their hearts changed by the gospel, must seek to love, nurture and disciple their children.

1 Corinthians 7:1-16; 25-40 – Paul’s Counsel to Marrieds & Singles

Tony Merida — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:11:17 +0000

1 Corinthians 7:1-16; 25-40

View IDC’s Pre-Marital Counseling Curriculum

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[powerpress]

Last week we looked at many foundational truths from Ephesians 5. This theology is found in 1 Corinthians also (notice 6:16), and we also find some other helpful instructions for marrieds and singles. While Ephesians gave us an exalted view of marriage, Corinthians give a more down-to-earth view of marriage and singleness. The question for all of us, are we devoted to the Lord – in our current state? In the age to come, marriage will not exist (Matt 22:23-39). But we have a family that will exist forever – the church. Let us give thanks to Christ for His great salvation, and for this great family that we are privileged to belong to.

Ephesians 5:18-33 – Christ and His Bride

Tony Merida — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:07:44 +0000

Ephesians 5:18-33

View IDC’s Pre-Marital Counseling Curriculum

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[powerpress]

Husbands are called to love their bride like Christ loved the church. I want to be a better husband, and this text has challenged me to do so. I pray it challenges you as well. Why is this important if you aren’t married? First, this text gives us a glorious description of the love of Christ. Second, this text elevates our concept of the church. Third, if you are single, for your sake, you need to understand what the Bible says about marriage. Finally, you need to understand God’s plan for marriage for your brothers’ and sisters’ sake. We All need this text for multiple reasons.