I’m new to the blog and found this post very interesting. I remember listening to a sermon by Dick Lucas on Romans were he said, that unlike some ministers, he would head straight to the commentaries to see how other godly men had illuminated a particular passage. He lamented the fact that there were too few expository commentaries available (at the time of his preaching) and that he’d love to see more preachers taking up the pen. Oh, and he was saying all this to Pastors at the EMA conference in the UK.

As for listening to notable preachers such a you’ve cited, I agree. I would add this: it’s all about timing. Listen to some of these men (Ferguson, Ligon, Mark Dever too), but not necessarily on the same thing you are preaching on. If you’re organized and know your preaching schedule 6-months out, then listen on the same/related passages 6-months out.

Ministerial students, hopefully you are in a church under good preaching and should let your pastor minister to and mentor you, while you check out other men as well. Not unlike playing Mandolin, you’re going to have to absorb and account for Bill Monroe & David Grisman, but you must find your own voice/style.
Ordained ministers: listen to some of these guys, because you need to sit under good preaching too.
Respectfully – if long-windedly,

-=Cris=-

This is a good post. But as someone that mostly has to listen to sermons rather than prepare them, I am also looking for the supernatural gifting of the preacher. I’m looking to hear the voice of The Shepherd. Christ has given gifts to the church and although listening to other sermons is an excellent way to check ones own idiosyncrasies or bias it’s not a substitute for the specific calling of the preacher – or hard work. In this regard I would recommend Geoff Thomas in Aberystwyth and my own Pastor Paul Watts at Lower Ford Street Coventry. These men have ministered in their churches for over 40 years in Geoff’s case and my own Pastor celebrates 25 years this year. To last that long in one church tells me they need something more than good preparation and the listening of other peoples sermons as good as that is. You make some excellent points though.

Thanks for the post. I have found great benefit in my own teaching and preaching, listening to sermons/podcasts and written sermons. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Regards,
Erol

That is the answer I expected and one with which I agree. When I refer to one’s own work, I was really thinking of the textual examination and wrestling you referred to in your initial post.

Thanks for the post.

Matt

I’m not sure. I listen to and read so much, that it would not be fair to say that a lot is “my own” work. But, if you mean, “How much of the sermon structure and wording is my own, I would say most of it. It would be a false dichotomy to say that knowledge is somehow both mediate and immediate. All knowledge is mediate. Certainly the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit is necessary in all this. But even that is mediated through the text of Scripture. We never come to a text as a blank slate. We come with all that we have learned before, heard in sermons, and read on our own. We come with biases and convictions. This is inescapable. Paul told Timothy to commit biblical truth to other faithful men that they may in turn teach others. I am wary when men say that they want to “do their own work,” and mean by that statement “I personally came to the conclusions I came to without consulting other works.” This is ridiculous. Why would I not want to learn as much as I can about every passage of Scripture, from everyone who has something to contribute. I am constantly building on the leads that I get from other men. But, if you mean, how much of my work is diligent, prayerful, personal wrestling with the text, I agree that this is necessary. I am doing that from the moment I start sermon prep until I get in the pulpit. I’m meditating on the text, context and audience all throughout the week. But I do not categorize my sermon preparation as some men do. I do not have a structured “this then this” mentality. The Bible does not bind my conscience to that sort of program, and I do not believe we should bind others to it either. I generally consult exegetical commentaries first, however, to make sure I have exegeting the passage appropriately. Even if a man said he wanted to do exegesis on his own without commentaries, he is still forced to use other men’s work with a lexicon. I study, read works on, listen to sermons on, pray through and meditate on a passage the entire week until I preach. I do my own outline, but sometimes find one in someone else’s work that is by far the best. I have even used the headings from the New King James Bible before as the sermon points. Why reinvent the wheel, if it is a beautiful wheel?

Thanks for this; you are right of course that there are many sources both current and historic, verbal and written which are open to ministers of the gospel and students.

I’m one who doesn’t read or listen enough to other men, I want to dig into the text on my own and do the wrestling that you talked about. I know you like to do your own work also – let me ask you this: what percentage of a sermon is work that you have done yourself. I’m always a bit disappointed when a man tells me that most of the work is not his own.

Blessings brother

Matt