Answers for Pastors
What are the different “stations of life” a preacher should keep in mind when applying the text?
9MarksIf you’re interviewing to be the pastor of a new church, what are some questions you should be sure to ask?
9MarksA. Theological Questions 1. What is the church’s statement of faith? 2. What has been the most vexed theological question the church has faced? Has there ever been a church split over theology or practice? Why? 3. What theological trends and strands of false teaching are the elders of the church particularly concerned about? 4. Who do you understand to be the biblically designated leaders of the church? 5. What do you understand the roles and responsibilities of elders to be?
What are different spiritual categories of hearers a preacher should have in mind when applying the text?
9MarksYou should strive to apply your sermons to both
How can a preacher apply a text to the church as a whole?
9Marks
What kind of questions should a church ask a pastoral candidate?
9MarksA church should ask at least four types of questions of any potential pastor: theological, philosophy of ministry, practical, and personal.
Can a preacher apply the meaning of a text to hundreds of different hearers? Isn’t that the Holy Spirit’s job?
9MarksThe important thing to consider here is the preacher’s work compared to the Holy Spirit’s work.
Can a preacher really preach a whole book in one expositional sermon? If so, how?
9MarksSuppose your friend asks you to summarize a two-hour movie you just saw. You could do that in five minutes or less. You would summarize the movie’s contents, emphasize what the movie is about, and by pointing to key moments in the movie.
As a young pastor thinks about initiating change, why is trust such an important factor?
9MarksIf a young pastor is thinking about initiating change, it’s important for his people trust him because:
Must a preacher’s homiletical outline match his exegetical outline?
9MarksNot necessarily. An expositional sermon should explain and apply the main point of a passage of Scripture. If a preacher is able to derive his homiletical outline directly from his exegetical outline, so much the better. This often allows the congregation to better see the structure of a passage.
Are manuscripts preferable to outlines or notes?
9MarksNot necessarily. Do whatever works for you.
The advantage of writing out a full manuscript before preaching a sermon (whether or not you take that manuscript into the pulpit) is that writing is the evidence of thought. Writing down everything you intend to say will sharpen your thoughts and force you to be clearer and more precise than you would have been otherwise.
Should pastors change anything in the first year?
9MarksThe answer to that question depends on the kind of church a pastor is stepping into.
How do you prepare to preach an expositional sermon? What steps are involved?
9MarksDifferent preachers will develop slightly different ways of preparing sermons, which is fine. Do what works for you. That said, here are some steps that should be involved in the preparation of any expositional sermon.
How do pastors know what hills are worth dying on?
9MarksNo doubt questions like this must be answered on a case by case basis, but here are seven general areas in which pastors may be called upon to stake their job:
How do you do expositional preaching poorly?
9MarksWhy is expositional preaching particularly relevant for people in postmodern times?
9MarksSome people today claim that expositional preaching is irrelevant for postmodern people. “People today need narrative and conversation and dialogue and drama! They don’t need expositional preaching.”
In fact, expositional preaching is particularly relevant for postmodern people: