Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation

Pastoral Preaching, brevity and John Chrysostom - Gerald Bray

Nov 30, 2021

Gerald Bray, research professor of divinity and ordained Church of England priest and author, reflects on pastoral preaching and church history. He talks about shortening and simplifying sermons, why Psalms and short biblical books work well for one-off preaching, and what John Chrysostom’s expository, threefold pattern can teach modern preachers.

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ADVICE

Prioritize Short, Clear Sermons

Shorten sermons to focus on depth rather than length.
Aim for clarity so listeners understand rather than impressing them with scholarship.

ADVICE

Limit Repetition In Preaching

Avoid excessive repetition; stop after a few clear reiterations.
Repeat only enough to emphasize, then move on to keep attention.

INSIGHT

Authenticity Connects More Than Complexity

People sense authenticity even if they miss details of doctrine.
Convey convictions from the heart and listeners will trust and respond.

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This episode features a rare mix of profoundly practical advice for today and keen insight into the ancient history of the church. Dr Gerald Bray speaks with Mike Neglia about how to preach the Psalms as a guest speaker and also some encouragements (and cautions) from the life of one of the early church's greatest preachers; John Chrysostom,

Visit our social media for a chance to win a copy of Preaching the Word with John Chrysostom

John of Antioch, later called “chrysostomos” (“golden mouth”), preached over 600 extant sermons. He was one of the most prolific authors in the early Church, surpassed only by Augustine of Hippo. His example and work has inspired countless Christians through the ages.

In Preaching the Word with John Chrysostom, through a combination of storytelling and theology, Gerald Bray reflects upon 1,500 year-old pastoral wisdom from one of church history’s most prolific Christ-centered preachers. Chrysostom’s eloquent preaching and influence on Christian teaching left a legacy that is still recognized today.

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Gerald Bray is research professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School and distinguished professor of historical theology at Knox Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books and the editor of the Anglican journal Churchman. You can view his books here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17859216.Gerald_Brayand read a biographical interview here: https://www.beesondivinity.com/blog/2021/faculty-feature-Gerald-Bray

Resources Mentioned:

A Balance of Exegesis, Exposition, and Application - Gerald Bray Presented by Beeson Divinity School and the Lily Endowment Initiative to Strengthen the Quality of Preaching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKx4eW12I94&t=2186s

Recommended Episodes:

Learning from Church History - Armando Garcia (John Chrysostom features in this one) : https://www.expositorscollective.com/podcast/2020/4/14/episode-101-learning-from-church-history
Learning from the Puritans - Dr Ian Clary : https://www.expositorscollective.com/podcast/2020/5/14/episode-107-learning-from-the-puritans

Preaching the Psalter as a Book - Lindsay Kennedy : https://www.expositorscollective.com/podcast/2020/12/15/preaching-the-psalter-as-a-book-lindsay-kennedy