David Jackman, a pioneer in expository preaching, shares insights from his impressive journey, including mentoring by J.I. Packer and Alec Motyer. He discusses the pitfalls of impository preaching and emphasizes the need for faithful interpretation of Scripture. Jackman highlights the importance of balancing rigorous training with divine calling. The conversation dives into maintaining textual integrity, ensuring that Biblical authority drives preaching, and adapting to contemporary cultural challenges while staying rooted in the Word.
David Jackman emphasizes the necessity of staying 'on the line of the text' to ensure the integrity and authority of Scripture is maintained in preaching.
Expository preaching is crucial for fostering church growth and spiritual transformation, engaging congregants with the biblical text amid cultural challenges.
Deep dives
Understanding Impository Preaching
Impository preaching occurs when a preacher imposes their own thoughts and ideas onto a biblical text, allowing personal interpretation to overshadow the scripture’s true meaning. This form of preaching can utilize biblical passages to support the preacher’s agenda, but lacks the authority of expository preaching, which prioritizes the text’s original intent. The speaker emphasizes that even if the ideas presented in impository preaching are biblically sound, they do not hold the same weight as the scriptures conveying their intended message. Therefore, this approach can lead to a misguided understanding of scripture, as it shifts the focus from God’s voice to the preacher’s perspective.
The Importance of Staying on the Line of the Text
Staying on the line of the text signifies the need for preachers to faithfully convey the scripture's message without adding or subtracting from it. This involves teaching the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, ensuring that the preacher does not exceed or fall short of the biblical text. Adhering to this principle helps maintain the integrity of God's message, preserving its authority and significance in the lives of listeners. By recognizing that God knows the intent behind His words better than any individual preacher, the approach encourages pastors to let the scripture guide their teaching.
Expository Preaching as a Means of Transformation
Expository preaching is portrayed as essential for church growth and spiritual transformation, serving as a conduit through which listeners can engage with scripture meaningfully. The speaker highlights the shift in culture where the appetite for biblical teaching is growing due to societal pressures and the search for spiritual truth. Engaging in thorough exegesis and focusing on the transformational intention of scripture sparks interest and commitment among congregants, even in an era of short attention spans. Effective expository preaching creates an environment where the teachings of the Bible resonate, drawing people toward deeper faith and understanding.
Cultivating Engaging, Relevant Sermons
Crafting engaging sermons requires preachers to avoid falling into the trap of mere entertainment while effectively conveying the Bible's message. The focus should be on immersing themselves in the scriptural text to develop a sermon that reflects its transformational potential for listeners. By establishing a structured preparation process, including exegesis and application, preachers can ensure that they present God’s word in a way that resonates personally with the audience. This careful balance allows preachers to command attention organically through the power of scripture, rather than relying on superficial hooks or cultural references.
In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Mike Neglia interviews David Jackman about his preaching journey and insights from his book Proclaiming the Word. Jackman recounts his early preaching experiences and the influence of mentors like J.I. Packer and Alec Motyer. He emphasizes the balance of hard work and dependence on the Holy Spirit, stressing the importance of thorough sermon preparation. Drawing on the impact of influential figures like John Stott and Chuck Smith, Jackman discusses the growth and challenges of expository preaching and the need for biblically centered sermons.
David Jackman shares practical insights on staying "on the line of the text," ensuring that Scripture remains central, and contrasts this approach with preaching styles that either add to or subtract from the Bible. The discussion also touches on Chuck Smith's and Stott’s commitment to letting the Bible speak for itself. Jackman discusses the global spread of expository preaching and its ongoing relevance in addressing cultural challenges.
Biography:
David Jackman, born in 1942, studied at Downing College, Cambridge, and completed theological training under J.I. Packer and Alec Motyer at Trinity College, Bristol. He served as senior minister at Above Bar Church in Southampton before founding the Cornhill Training Course in 1991 under Dick Lucas, training evangelical preachers in exegesis and communication. Jackman has also written several expository works and served as president of The Proclamation Trust. He currently teaches at Oak Hill Theological College and continues to contribute to evangelical preaching through books and conferences.
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