do we really listen?

Do we REALLY listen/hear God's word and be doers of it? We do want to lead godly lives and please Him, don't we? But why do we hear and not repent? Are our lives changed once we're convicted by his Word? Maybe, just maybe we're not convinced and hear it only as knowledge in our minds, it doesn't affect our hearts and hence it did not energise our wills....

Principles of Expository Preaching by DJ:

Amazing stuff what I've learnt from DJ!! He's so passionate and he teaches himself God's word and prays what he learnt and taught himself into his listeners at the same! Each time he preaches, he reminds himself that it's the Holy Spirit who does the work. Such dependence on God and we very well should have such dependence since we're such failures left to ourselves.

Some points I've learnt which is mind-blowing...
- We need to be aware of the lenses we read the bible with, ie, culture/personal/tradition/people who have nurtured us/prior understanding of bible, etc
- Every translation = an interpretation
- scripture = human (individual styles/historic particularity) & divine (God's truth) = Lord Jesus (incarnation of scripture)
- It's God preaching God
- Be aware of boredom, always ending/concluding with Jesus. Not have it in a straight jacket, let it loose (this might raise some eyebrows, but I sort of know what DJ means by letting God's word be the authority amidst it all since he gave some examples from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, 1 Peter, etc. Not sure how to explain in writing though)

EXEGESIS
* question to ask "What is he saying?", "What verses mean?", NOT "What verses mean to me/you?"
* drawing out the meaning
* development of arguments
* any parallels in other scripture? Scripture interprets scripture, ie, NT text controls OT interpretation
* discover specific/original meaning of the text
* keep reading, reading, reading! keep reading 3 months before teaching it...
(Ask God to enable us to draw out meaning of text. Holy Spirit to help us know what author is writing)
* more than just exegesis, getting connections to everyday life

EXPOSITION/HEMENEUTICS
* question to ask "Why is he saying this?"
"what objections is he dealing with?" because he writes to address it
"what arguments/evidences?"
"what is he persuading?"
* applies exegesis to current lifestyle context
* significance of text, ie, if it wasn't there, would it make a difference? What is significance of meaning? (application/implication of text)
* 1 meaning >> infinite applications
* meaning never changes
* don't think applications = commands, no grace
think implications = impact lives
* find the melodic line = theme tune
* book by book = exposition + theme tune >> teaches whole counsel of God
* (1) historical/theological context = Bible = What/Why
(2) literary context = Book = How does this fit in
* Book as a whole, look at (i) issues (ii) facts/encouragements (iii) obligations which translates to action
* truth of gospel needs to be beaten into our heards
* shock through with the gospel! will give us BIG visions & BIG hearts. if not correct, could drift back to religion (works approach), rather than on Jesus' work & ministry
* 2 ways to deny: religious, irreligious (relative, pragmatic)
* know how Bible works, ie, Romans for modernist, Galatians for post-modernist

STRUCTURE
* engaging at deep level with people. Logical on fire, not on ice. Speaking the truth in love
* failure of sermons/talks: lack of clear program, muddle in the middle, hence can't sift out what's going on
* structured talk >> [strategy] >> conveys message
* how it's made contemporary (see Paul's preaching example in Acts 17)
* preaching pastorally to Christians (see 1 Corinthians 5 which gives the issue/problem > why > what to do, showing the gospel principle > pointing to the cross > showing up the inconsistent behaviour)
* (1) Questioning & Undermining Assumptions
(2) Deconstructing arguments, stating the truth
(3) Answering objections, whether it'll hold up
* assume human heart won't want to listen, will object
* decide on central theme, ie, message of the talk, in 1 sentence / what holds it together. If can't articular, probably don't understand, so need to exegete more
* relate it to aim sentence, ie, purpose of the talk...why am I preaching this?
makes aim to be my prayer! into myself, into my talk
* construct the outline. What are the marker posts/big points/main things in the passage you want people to know
* main points > creates structure of talks
* theme sentence expresses the main points
* got the skeleton, how to put flesh?
State...have I?
Explain...have I?
Apply...have I?
* is there enough explanation?
* "so what" factor between Explain & Apply
* weakness for most evangelicals = exposition
need to get nose into passage, take me into text, finger on the text, built it into talk
* thinking yourself into the passage, present the content, anticipate objections/issues
* illustrations are mental photographs that illumines ideas of sermons/talks
* not good to rely on illustrations to keep people awake, but it should be the content to engage people
* choose your way in > INTRO (draw people in)
choose your way out > CONCLUDE
* how will it be gripping? Hey (factor), You, Look, Do
* every sermon/talk counts! get people hook into the event
* be confident, be dependent on the Lord! invite congregation in
* aim to end with application, go back to central theme, with few crisp sentences & END
* give people time to think/pray about what they've heard, to respond

NOTES
* best is with A5 paper with big fonts
* every point separated for easier referencing each time you look up and look down to your notes

God (through his Word, by his Spirit) should be the driver lest we crash if we were the driver of the text, ie, Bible in driving seat (determines how we do it). An issue/problem with evangelicals is that preacher in driving seat and bible is in passenger seat. Something to watch out in ourselves.

SUBMIT under WORD (mind to mind) >> EFFECT takes place (heart to heart)

It's more than get it right, it's to get it INTO the text!

For a 20min talk, we'll need to give 2hrs30mins for each of the above 4 sections to really have done work on it, total of 10hrs. Not too much less we spew commentary onto our listeners, but enough to work with. Want a sermon that grabs people otherwise won't nurture the congregation. Wow! Nurture! I wouldn't have thought of that all these years.

Nurturing by preacher > Bible nurtured > build church/one another up
(Takes nurture of text/God's word into our world to nurture us)

Produce gospel people (long term/strong disciples), not religious people

DJ: "Through MIND, to HEART, to activate the WILL". Such a clear understanding of his role as teacher of God's word! How could this be lost?

God's word in sermon can (1) harden or (2) soften hearts. (1) can be hardened naturally by doing nothing after hearing, no change, no penetration. Great responsibility to teach AND to hear it!
Pray: Fight against assumption of text and thinking that I know it. Need to apply my mind to God's word.