I just reread Bill Bennett’s excellent book called Thirty Minutes to Raise the Dead: How You Can Preach Your Best Sermon Yet — This Sunday. It reminds me of the two preaching books written by Jerry Vines because, like his books, it was well written and practical. It is a very easy read if you are a pastor, but extremely helpful.
In the book, Bennett discusses Faris Whitesell’s 7-part definition of expository preaching. Here are the seven parts:
Expository preaching must….
- Be based on a passage in the Bible, either short or long.
- Focus on the primary meaning of the passage.
- Relate the passage’s meaning to its context.
- Search for the timeless truths in the text.
- Organize these truths around one central theme.
- Employ the rhetorical devices of explanation, argumentation, illustration, and application to apply the truth of the passage to the hearer.
- See to persuade the hearers to obey the truth presented.
If you are a pastor and have not read Bennett’s book, find one and read it. It is a little difficult to find, but you can click on the title above and find one at Amazon. The book will be a blessing to you.
Steve Rice 