by Jim | August 11th, 2009
Christological Exposition: Divine Mandate and Method
James L. Smyrl, Ph.D.
Thesis: This book asserts a unique approach to the study of preaching, through assimilation of biblical, historical, and theological contributions that lead to the development of a method for the divine mandate of Christological Exposition.
Introduction: Not Just Another Preaching Book
Although the author affirms and recommends a host of preaching monographs, he believes this offering provides the reader with insights not specifically addressed in other works. This book is for the purpose of uniting three primary disciplines of homiletical studies: biblical, historical and theological. A union of these disciplines demonstrates the divine mandate of Christological Exposition. It is the sincere hope of the author that each reader will close the final chapter with a clear defense for Christological Exposition as well as a concise method of preparing and preaching Christological Expository Sermons.
Chapter 1: Why a Christological Approach to Expository Preaching
With all the preaching books available to professors, preachers, and students, this chapter establishes a foundation for an approach to Expository Preaching not previously examined. Other books highlight the value of preaching Christ in all of Scripture, but none present the subject as a scriptural, historical, and theological mandate. Christological Expository Preaching is not one among many methodological options, but rather a divine directive, exemplified biblically and historically. The reader will develop a solid polemic for the exclusivity of Christological Exposition.
Chapter 2: The Progressive Definitional Development of Expository Preaching
It is a common mistake among preaching students and professors alike to impose current expository preaching standards on historical preaching models, thus resulting in negating the expositional value in each time period. This chapter traces the development of expository preaching through each major period of preaching history, allowing the reader to see historical contributions to current standards of expository preaching. The chapter concludes with a comprehensive definition that serves as a benchmark for the discussion of expository preaching in the following chapters. Topics in this chapter include:
Revelation and Explanation in the Bible
Aristotelian Influences
Reformation Contributions
Puritan Contributions
Evangelical Contributions
Contemporary Contributions
Chapter 3: Scriptural Foundations for Christological Exposition: A Mandate not a Method
The majority of texts that detail the history of preaching neglect the true foundation of exposition. This chapter takes the reader back to the earliest historical and theological roots of exposition, namely, divine revelation. An exegetical study of each of the following passages is included in order to clearly establish the biblical mandate for Christological Exposition. The reader gains clear insight into the heart of God for preaching that is not only expository but Christological in nature.
Deuteronomy 30-31
Nehemiah 8
Matthew 5-7
John 1
Luke 24
Acts 2
Acts 7
Acts 17
I Corinthians 15
Revelation 1
Chapter 4: Historical Foundations for Christological Exposition: Following in Faithful Footsteps
A significant number of works in the field of preaching, particularly those in the New Homiletic, present a false assumption about expository preaching. Many of these works assume that expository preaching was a short lived approach to preaching that reached its climax in the mid 1970’s then died at the hands of anti-authoritarian conversational preaching. This chapter demonstrates that Christological Exposition is the homiletical thread that runs through every age of preaching. The following preachers are examined in this chapter in order for the reader to clearly see the obedience of preachers throughout history to the divine mandate of Christological Exposition.
John of Antioch
Augustine
Anselm
Bernard of Clarivaux
Girolamo Savonarola
Marin Luther
Balthasar Hubmaier
John Calvin
William Perkins
Matthew Henry
Theodorus Frelinghuysen
Jonathan Edwards
George Whitfield
John Wesley
John Broadus
Alexander Maclaren
Charles Spurgeon
G. Campbell Morgan
D. Martin Lloyd Jones
Chapter 5: Theological Foundations for Christological Exposition: Battle For Belief
As established in previous chapters, the New Homiletic is not just a methodological shift from Christological Exposition, but also a theological and historical shift. This chapter details the theological foundations for Christological Exposition, by tracing the battle for authority in the early days of the New Homiletic. The content of this chapter is crucial for the preacher, professor, and student alike, for it allows each to examine the theological and historical shift away from the divine mandate in current preaching trends. Subjects that allow the reader to participate in this examination include:
Kant’s Influence on the New Homiletic
Barth’s Influence on the New Homiletic
Carl Henry’s Fight for Authority
Theology, not Methodology in the New Homiletic
Establishing the Boundaries
Chapter 6: A Hermeneutical Model for Christological Exposition
By this point in the book, the reader will demand a method for faithfully accomplishing the divine mandate of Christological Exposition. Combining the science of hermeneutical models with the art of communication theory, this chapter provides a step by step process, which allows the reader to develop a Christological Expository Sermon from any text of Scripture. The steps detailed in this chapter are:
1. Contextual Reading:
Where does this text fit in the Historical, Grammatical, and Christological context of the Bible, Testament, Book, and Chapter?
2. Asking the Right Question:
What questions will lead to the discovery of the Christological nature of this text?
3. Finding the Right Answers:
What are the best resources to answer the Christological questions?
4. Discovering the Textual Idea:
Based on the above answers, what was the primary Christological message of the author to his audience?
5. Examining the Contemporary Audience:
Who are the people that will hear this message and what do they have in common with the original audience?
6. Formulating the Sermon Idea:
What is the clearest language to communicate the textual idea to the contemporary audience?
7. Developing the Structure
How does the text breakdown the textual idea into smaller units of study?
8. Clarifying the Substance
How can those smaller units most effectively be communicated to the contemporary audience?
9. Delivering the Text
What are the most effective means of clearly conveying the sermon idea to the contemporary audience for the purpose of life change?
Conclusion
This chapter provides a final appeal, drawing from evidence detailed in previous chapters, for the necessity of Christological Exposition. Personal words of encouragement, from the author, for the reader to apply the prescribed methods of developing Christological Expository Sermons are also included.
Appendix 1:
Worksheets for the Hermeneutical Model Presented in Chapter 6
Appendix 2:
Sample Outlines of Christological Expository Sermons
Appendix 3:
Proper Platform Decorum Checklist for the Expositor
