The Task

of
Exegesis
in
Expository Preaching
*
PCJB
PP Presentation
devised and prepared
at
Gujranwala Theological Seminary
may be copied for non-commercial use only
January 2005
1
 Five Stages
in
Preparing an Expository
Sermon
Overview
 Preliminary Step: check the text is
sound
 Exegesis
 Stage 1. Analysis of the passage
 Stage 2. Research of the background
 Exposition
 Stage 3. Expounding the text then
 Stage 4. Application to today

 Appeal 2
 Expository Preaching
This presentation
describes in detail the first two stages
of
Expository Preaching
– Analysis and Research –
that together are concerned with Exegesis,
upon which all true Exposition from the
pulpit is built.

Psalm1 and John 5 are used to illustrate this

process. 3
Expository Preaching

All effective preaching involves:

in the study
 The guidance of the Holy
Spirit
 The preparatory study of the
preacher
in the pulpit
 The anointing of the Holy
Spirit 4
 Preparing
An Expository Sermon
Exegesis
Aim:
(in the study)
To bring out the meaning
of the text
in its total context
(immediate and canonical)

“informing the mind“

5
 Preparing an
Expository Sermon
The Role of the Preacher
in the study

Exegesis

 Stage 1. Analysis of the passage

(grammatical)
 Stage 2. Research of the
background
(historical)
6
 Preparing an
Expository Sermon

Exposition

Aim:
(in the pulpit)
To apply the message of the text
to ourselves here and now

“informing the mind

with a view to affecting the heart“
7
 Preparing an
Expository Sermon
The Role of the Preacher
in the study

Exposition
 Stage 3. Expounding the text
(exposing the meaning of the
passage )
 Stage 4. Application
(letting the text expose
the hearts of its 8
 Preparing an
Expository Sermon
The Expository Sermon in the pulpit
reaches its climax with:

The Appeal

Aim:
To effect a change in behaviour

“challenging the will“

9
 Preparing an
Expository Sermon
The Role of the Preacher
in the study

The Appeal

 Stage 5. Urging a response to

the message of the text
as
a personal Word from
God himself 10
 The Text
Prelim Generally there is no problem
(despite allegations that
-inar Christians have changed the
y original text so our Bible
Step cannot be trusted!)
Occasionally there is manuscript
Check evidence of additional
the “glosses“ (or comments)
text usually put in by a scribe as an
explanation of some assumed
“difficulty“ in the text
For reliability of the text consult:
 Study Bible footnotes 11
 John 5:1-9 NKJV
1. After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went
up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the
Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew,
Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great
multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed,
[waiting for the moving of the water. 4
For an angel went down at a certain time
into the pool and stirred up the water;
then whoever stepped in first, after the
stirring of the water, was made well of
whatever disease he had.] 5 Now a certain
man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he
already had been in that condition a long time, He said
to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put
me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but
while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
12
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9
 John 5:1-9
Prelim  5:3b-4. The earliest manuscripts
omit these words which appear to
-inar be a late insertion to explain why the
pool water was “stirred” (v. 7).
y People believed that an angel came
Step and stirred it. According to local
tradition, the first one in the water
would be healed. But the Bible
Check
nowhere teaches this kind of
the superstition, a situation which would
text be a most cruel contest for many ill
people. No extant [surviving]
Greek manuscript before A.D.
13
 John 5:1-9
Most likely original text
(before AD 400)
1. After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus
went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem
by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in
Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these
lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame,
paralyzed……. 5 Now a certain man was there who
had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus
saw him lying there, and knew that he already had
been in that condition a long time, He said to him,
“Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to
put me into the pool when the water is stirred up;
but while I am coming, another steps down before
me.” 14
 Analysis
Stage 1 Analysis: Its Purpose and Use
Analysing a passage helps us
to
Analyse  Clarify the relationship of the
the various parts
passag  See links and contrasts

e between ideas
 Identify the over-all subject
 Decide what are the main
points being made about this
subject
 Find the “heart-beat“ (main
15
 Analysis
Stage 1  Step 1 – Re-arrange the text

Analyse Step 2 – Mark the text



the
passa  Step 3 – Find the “heart
ge beat“

16
 Psalm 1
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice
of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or
join in with scoffers.
2 But they delight in doing everything the Lord
wants; day and night they think about his law.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season without fail. Their
leaves never wither, and in all they do, they
prosper.
4 But this is not true of the wicked. They are like
worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. 17
3 or
4 stand around with sinners,
5 or
6 join in with scoffers.
7 But
8 they delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
9 day and night
10 they think about his law.
11 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
12 bearing fruit each season
without fail.
13 Their leaves never wither,
14 and
15 in all they do,
16 they prosper.

18 But this is not true of the wicked.

19 They are like worthless chaff,
20 scattered by the
wind.
21 They will be condemned at the time of
judgment.
22 Sinners will have no place among the godly.
18
 Analysis
Step 1 Rewrite the passage to show
 the shape of its structure,

Re- using indented* lines to show

 the relationship of
arrang
e the the various parts
text to

the whole passage.

* Indention: When you indent a word or

line
you start further in 19
1 Oh, the joys of those
2 who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
3 or stand around with sinners,
4 or join in with scoffers.
5 But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
6 day and night
7 they think about his law.
8 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
9 bearing fruit each season without fail.
10 Their leaves never wither,
11 and in all they do,
12 they prosper.

14 But this is not true of the wicked.

15 They are like worthless chaff,
16 scattered by the wind.
17 They will be condemned at the time of
judgment.
18 Sinners will have no place among the godly.

20 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,

21 but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. 20
• Oh, the joys of those
• who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
• or stand around with sinners,
• or join in with scoffers.
 But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
 day and night
 they think about his law.
 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
 bearing fruit each season without fail.
 Their leaves never wither,
 and in all they do,
 they prosper.

 But this is not true of the wicked.

 They are like worthless chaff,
 scattered by the wind.
 They will be condemned at the time of
judgment.
 Sinners will have no place among the godly.

 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,

 but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. 21
 Psalm 1
1 Oh, the joys of
those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners

or join in with scoffers.
2 But they delight in
doing everything the Lord wants;
they think about his law day and night
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season
without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But this is not true of
the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the
wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly. 22
 Analysis
Step What stands out?
2  Underline all the significant
verbs or verbal phrases
Mark Who is doing what?
the  Highlight all the main
text people involved
What is not clear?
 Note down any words /
phrases you want to
research further and add a
question mark
23
Step 1
Psalm
Oh, the joys of
1
2 those who do not follow the advice of the
wicked,
or stand around with
Mark sinners
the or join in with scoffers.
text 2 But they delight in
: doing everything the Lord
wants;
they think about his law day and night
Verbs law =?
3 They are like trees planted along the
riverbank,
Perso
bearing fruit each season
ns without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
=? and they prosper in all they do.
4 But this is not true of
the wicked. 24
 Analysis
Step Where can you see links
2 between similar ideas or
themes?
Mark Are any contrasts being
the made?
tex  Circle (or put in italics)
t connecting words that
indicate either a comparison
(cont)
or a contrast
Can the passage be divided
into different sections to
show a new topic?
25
 Draw a line (or create a gap)
Step 21 Oh, the joys of
Psalm 1
Oh, the joys of
(cont) those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners

Mark or join in with scoffers!
the space

text 2 But they delight in

: doing everything the Lord wants;
they think about his law day and night
law =?
Links
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
Contras bearing fruit each season
ts without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
Section and they prosper in all they do.
s space
(Space) 4 But this is not true of
the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the
wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
26
Judgment = ?
 Analysis
Step 3  What is the situation in which
this is written or spoken?
 Decide the over-all subject* of
Find the the passage: what is it about?
“heart  What has the passage to say
beat“ about this over-all subject?
What are the main points that
are made about it?
 What is the dominant point –
the “heart beat“ message of the
passage – that the writer
intends to make?
27
* The overall subject relates to the total
 Psalm 1
The (presumed) Situation:
 The godly need encouragement to avoid
the wicked
The Over-all Subject (applying to all
involved):
 The two paths
The Key Points concerning the Subject:
 There are two paths people can take:
 The path taken by the godly
 The path taken by wicked
 The godly avoid the path of the wicked
and prosper accordingly
 Their source of refreshment is God‘s law, not
28
 Psalm 1
Step 3 The Heart Beat:

To be happy and prosperous in this life

Findin
you have to follow
g the
“hea the way that God has directed
rt or you will be doomed to
beat failure and destruction
“

29
 Psalm 1
Step 3 Commentary on The “Heart
Beat”:
Findin
g the  The happiness of the godly and the doom
of the righteous are the natural outcome
“hea of the way of life each has chosen.
rt
beat  The natural prosperity of the godly is due
“ to the wisdom of a life lived according to
the plan of the Lord of life itself.

30
 Research
(Commentaries and Dictionaries should be
consulted at this stage)
Stage 2  Step 1 Identify the literary
genre
 What kind of literature is this
Researc piece of writing? How should it be
h the read?
passa  Step 2 Consider the context
ge  What precedes and what follows?
 Step 3 Research the
background
 What light can the history &
culture of the times shed?
31
 Psalm 1
Step 1 While this passage is
recognisable as poetry, it also
takes the form of the sayings
Identif of wisdom literature.
y the
litera Research:
ry  Hebrew poetry often contains
parallel lines, phrases and ideas
genre – to bring out comparisons or
contrasts
 It uses various kinds of imagery
and figures of speech – to invite
deeper awareness of the
significance of what is written. 32
 Psalm 1
Parallels
 Main contrast: The godly / the wicked
 The joy of the godly / the destruction of
the wicked
 The flourishing prosperity of the godly /
the fleeting existence of the wicked
 Parallel ideas: the wicked / sinners /
scoffers
Images
 The trees / the chaff
 The various paths

33
 Psalm 1 – Parallels and Images
1 Oh, the joys of
PARALLEL A
those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
Parallels 1
or stand around with sinners
2
or join in with scoffers.
3
2 But they delight in
doing everything the Lord wants;
they think about his law day and night

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

Trees
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But this is not true of
the wicked.
34
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
 Psalm 1
Step 2 The context
 Psalm 1 opens the Psalter –
with a blessing for the
Conside person who delights in
r the meditating on God‘s law
conte  Its position at the start
emphasises the importance
xt of godly living
 In the context of Jesus‘s
teaching concerning the
“narrow“ way and the
“broad way“, Psalm 1 points
to there being only two 35
 Psalm 1
Step 3 Background
 The Law – can refer to the
Pentateuch (Law of Moses), the
Resear Law given at Sinai, and also,
ch most likely, instruction
(guidelines to the heart and mind
the of God) to be found in the
back- Scriptures generally
grou  Judgement – here unlikely to
nd refer to the final Day of
Judgement; rather to the natural
consequences of a life of
misbehaviour 36
 Psalm 1
Step 4 Key words
 V.1 “walked“, “stood“,
“sat“ is an alternative
Study translation of the 3 verbs,
any marking a descent (in
sinfulness)
key  “scoffers“ – loose talkers
word  V. 3 – “riverbank“ – running
s waters (not stagnant pool!)
suggesting the source of life
(cf. Jesus: “streams of living
water“)
 V.4 “scattered chaff“ – i.e. 37
 Psalm 1 –
1 word
Oh, thestudy
joys of
those who do not follow the advice of the
wicked, [Walk by]
or stand around with sinners
[Stand]
or join in with scoffers. [Sit down]
[Loose talkers]
……………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………….
2 But they delight in
doing everything the Lord wants;
they think about his law day and night [Torah –
Pentateuch – instruction]
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
[Running waters]
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4 But this is not true of
the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
[i.e. lightweights] 38
 Five Stages
in
Preparing an Expository Sermon
 Exegesis (informing the mind) in
the study
 1. Analysis of the passage (grammatical)
 2. Research of the background (historical)
Aim: To bring out the meaning intended by the
writers then

 Exposition (informing the mind with a view to

in the pulpit
affecting the heart)
 3. Expounding the text (exposing the meaning of
the passage )
 4. Application (letting the text expose the hearts
of its readers)
Aim: To apply the message of the text to 39
 Exposition
Stage  Step 1 – Introduce the over-all
3 subject
 Step 2 – Explain the general
context of the text
Expoun  Step 3 – Outline what the passage
d -ing has to say about the over-
subject
the  Step 4 – Expound the main points
passa (in turn)
ge concerning this subject
 Step 5 – Expound the “heart- 40
 Application
 Step 1 – Explain the relevance of
the over-all subject for today,
Stage 4 refering to one or more of the
following:
 Society and the world today
Applyin  The Church
g the  Probable individual states and
situations
passag
e  Step 2 – Show any parallels with
the situation then and now
 Step 3 – Make applications for all
the main points 41
 The Appeal
Stage 5 Emphasize:
 The reality,
 The significance, and
The
 The urgency
Respon
of the message
se
(the heart-beat of the
passage)

42
The End

43