Interviewing the Apostle

One of the most helpful things for me in terms of studying a text in preparation for preaching is simply to ask questions of it. I liken it to "interviewing" the biblical author.

Thus, in preparation for preaching 1 Peter 2:9-10 in a couple months, here are some of the questions I'm asking Peter. The list is not exhaustive (and is in no particular order).

1.     Who is Peter addressing? Jewish Christians? Gentile Christians? Does it matter?

2.     What can I determine about the original recipients’ situation and how is it relevant to the meaning and exposition of the text?

3.     From what OT texts does Peter quote? Why does he use these quotes? How does he apply them? What were the original OT contexts and how does that influence the meaning of the quotes in 1 Peter?

4.     What is the meaning and purpose of 1 Peter as a whole?

5.     Why does Peter say the things he says at this particular point in the epistle? How does this section contribute to the meaning and purpose of 1 Peter as a whole?

6.     How does Peter’s identity and history influence his writing?

7.     What is the purpose of this particular text?

8.     Is there anything to learn from the Greek text that is not obvious in the English that I would have to explain?

9.     How is the Gospel present in this text?

10. How can I preach Christ clearly from this text?

11. How does the text “divide up” exegetically? Does it “divide up” differently homiletically?

12. How does this text apply to believers? To unbelievers? To UWSP students?

13. Are there other relevant biblical texts that shed light upon 1 Peter 2:9-10?

14. What is the tone of Peter’s epistle and of this section in particular? Encouraging? Rebuking? Instructing? Warning? Other?

15. How does the genre of 1 Peter (epistle) influence its meaning?

16. What are the main themes of 1 Peter as a whole?

17. Where does 1 Peter fit into the overarching biblical storyline?

18. What are some possible wrong interpretations and conclusions to be drawn from this text?

A Great Pastor's Greatest Weakness

I was profoundly helped this evening by a quote from R.C. Sproul. It's his answer to the question "What is your greatest weakness as a pastor?" Both encouraging and convicting...

"My biggest weakness is that I am profoundly shy. I am not quick to make friends, nor even to interact with the friends I have been blessed with. Though I am confident in the depth of the love I have for the sheep under my care, I likewise understand why that love may not seem so evident to the sheep. My shyness is, I suspect, a corollary to a deeper problem, that I want to be liked. My reputation matters far more to me than it should."

Read the whole thing at http://www.ligonier.org/blog/10-important-things-ask-potential-pastor/

Sermon outline draft

In October I will be doing one of my favorite things: speaking at the InterVarsity large group meeting at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, my alma mater.

I will be preaching on the theme of "belonging" from 1 Peter 2:9-10. Below is the first stage of my outline draft. Please pray for the time, that the saints would be built up and unbelievers called.

Purpose: to answer the question "Where do I belong?" from a biblical perspective.

Text: 1Peter 2:9-10

Thesis: God calls us in Christ to belong...

1. To Himself.
2. To His People.
3. To His Purpose.

Again, please pray!

Follow-up on anxiety

Dr. Robert Kellemen, who is a wonderful teacher, posted recently this interview regarding his book on anxiety. Here is the link: http://www.rpmministries.org/2012/08/anxiety-anatomy-and-cure-2/

Here, too, is a fantastic excerpt: “Anxiety is vigilance out of control—hyper-vigilance, stuck vigilance. You scan…and scan…and scan your environment worried about the ‘what ifs’ of life. Anxiety is toxic scanning. Anxiety is also vigilance trying to maintain control in a self-protective and self-sufficient way. Anxiety is vigilance minus faith in God.”

Anxiety and Ministry

Anxiety and depression in the ministry are real. I recall Alistair Begg saying once that his session on “Pastoral Depression” at a conference he spoke at was overwhelmingly attended, a fact that only hints at the serious and widespread nature of the issue. Without becoming unduly autobiographical myself, I have sensed over the years (increasingly so as I’ve moved more and more into ministry) that this will be an issue that I personally will need to wrestle through in the grace and strength of God for the sake of a fruitful ministry.

As part of that wrestling, here are a few brief thoughts on the matter that I find helpful.

1.     Relentlessly seek to identify the root of your anxiety.

The nature of anxiety is that it tends to be blinding. We feel as if we are in a fog and unable to discern what it is that is causing us to feel the way we feel. Often, there are a number of contributing factors to our worry, which only makes it harder to isolate the source. Isolate, however, we must. Without spinning ourselves in circles, we must attempt to pinpoint the leak in our joy that we may plug it with the promises of God. Hopefully, as time goes on, we will be able to move from saying, “I feel anxious,” to a more concrete expression of worry such as, “I fear I won’t be accepted by those I minister to,” or “I’m distressed regarding this choice I must make.”

2.     Courageously seek to communicate with others about your anxiety.

Again, the nature of anxiety is such that it tends to isolate us from others. A dear friend may be calling on the phone, but you feel unable to even begin to answer. A loved one may perceptively ask how you are, but a strange reluctance to articulate the truth resides upon your tongue. What are we to do in such situations? Silence can be deadly to our progress out of the valley, and so we must courageously confide in a trusted soul. A detailed explanation is unnecessary to begin- a brief statement will do: “I could use prayer for anxiety” or “I’m lacking in peace as of the moment.” From there, God will best direct the course of the conversation in order to bring the needed care.

3.     Ruthlessly seek to comfort yourself with the promises of God.

Finally, though we are grateful for the fellowship and encouragement of other believers, the ultimate source of our comfort must be our God, who “comforts the depressed,” is “near to the broken-hearted,” and who “a bruised reed he will not break.” Recollect that Christ, who has known untold sorrow, has offered- even guaranteed- to never leave you or forsake you. Remind yourself, even if in the moment it seems to do no good to you, that no depth of despair can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Let these and the other promises of God be the rain that waters your desert soul, refusing to obtain comfort from the world or the things of it. Surely our Adversary knows that when we are weak his enticements hold great allure, and so he will seek to tempt us in these moments. By faith, however, hold on the promises of the Faithful One.

Following the Method of Christ

This is perhaps one of the most helpful quotes on preaching I know of, from one of the most helpful resource books I know of:

"Jesus' debates with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the leaders of this nation were mainly concerned with the interpretation of the Bible. Their interpretations were wrong and as a result they did not believe in him.
Jesus not only told them that they were wrong, but on many occasions told them why they were wrong. He frequently prefaced his explanation of their error with the question 'Have you not read?' On one level this was simply a way of reminding them of the content  of Scripture, and of pointing out to them that the truth would be found in the Scripture. On another level the question, 'Have you not read?' challenged then to question their understanding of the meaning of Scripture. If they had read it carefully, and understood it as God intended, then they would believe in Jesus, not oppose him. Even his own disciples were 'foolish', and 'slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken'; Jesus had to open both their minds and the Scriptures for them to believe in him and understand the OT [Old Testament] revelation (Luke 24:25-27).
Christian preachers should make sure that they teach the same biblical theology as Jesus taught. His interpretation of the OT, and his summary of his own teaching is found in Luke 24:44-47: 'This is what I told you when I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms...The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations...' Jesus attempted to teach true biblical theology; that is, to interpret the OT as pointing to him."

P.J.H. Adams, "Preaching and biblical theology," from The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

A Plea for Diligent, Undistracted Pastors

2 Timothy 2:4 "No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."

Richard Baxter, on the importance of a pastor giving himself wholly to the work of training and teaching of each member of his congregation:

"It will do good to many ministers, who are too apt to be idle, and to mis-pend their time in unnecessary discourse, business, journeys, or recreations. It will let them see that they have no time to spare for such things; and thus, when they are engaged in so much pressing employment of so high a nature, it will be the best cure for all that idleness, and loss of time. Besides, it will cut off that scandal, which usually [attends such idleness]; for people are apt to say, 'Such a minister can spend his time at [sporting events, or games], or [in] vain discourse; and why may not we do so as well as he?' Let us all set diligently to this part of our work, and then see what time we can find to spare to live idly, or in a way of voluptuousness, or worldliness, if we can."

May God grant me, and all involved in ministry, to do the work with all our might!