Since August, I have slowly rolled out a series of posts developing the temple as a primary, central theme for understanding the story set forth in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I enjoy these kinds of studies and have found that many Christians have not come across quite this sort of approach. Most Bible study groups or sermon series in the evangelical portion of American Christianity either are oriented toward study through Bible books or topical studies that focus more on systematizing the information rather than showing the progression of it over the course of the biblical story. It is common nowadays to focus more on contemporary problems rather than on biblical content for addressing them. While those approaches that address Scripture contextually are valid, I believe that what we have done in this study adds an additional dimension, particularly when the approach is framed with a Christ centered interpretive framework for developing the biblical drama.
To use a metaphor I first heard from Kim Riddlebarger, this approach to biblical doctrine can be a valuable way of providing the puzzle box lid to Christians. In theory, it is possible to put together a jigsaw puzzle after throwing away the box, but it is much more difficult to do it that way. Yet, that is comparable to what we often ask Christians to do. Having the picture on the box lid provides guidance as the person putting together the puzzle works over the various pieces and sections. It gives a coherent picture of the whole rather than just a bunch of parts. Most Christians would benefit from being able to understand the Bible in that way.
So, what does this say about the task of preaching? Would I argue that pulpit ministry should provide an expanded version of what we have done with this study, with additional consideration for application?
I would answer both yes and no.
First, I would say that a few years ago when I was not a pastor but was doing a bit of supply preaching, I greatly enjoyed preaching these sorts of sermons that presented the grand scope of the biblical story. As my enjoyment, of course, is not of paramount importance, I hope also that Christ was glorified and that God's people benefited. However, being a pastor is a different function from being someone that occasionally fills a pulpit. The pastor who stands before his congregation nearly every week must dig into the details of biblical texts and books, making sure to teach and apply more detailed material to the needs of a particular congregation. That being the case, I would suggest that a certain amount of teaching should take on the grand scope of the biblical story, even as the pastor digs into the details of what the Bible tells us about what we believe and how we live.
Having said that, even in doing the detailed work of pastoral preaching, it is important for the minister to keep the bigger biblical story in view. There are pastors that seem to understand expository preaching as something that focuses only on the immediate context, but surely that is deficient. Whatever text of Scripture a minister takes up, he should remain aware of where it fits into the overall scheme of the biblical story. The minister should also keep in mind that every single Sunday his task is to preach Christ. Every Sunday, without force or without it seeming as something tacked on at the end. Whatever the overall subject, Christ is to be preached every Sunday. To paraphrase something I read this week -- I can't remember where or I would credit the source -- if the minister preaches something that could have been done by a Jewish rabbi or a Muslim cleric or by Dr. Phil, he has not preached a Christian sermon. Whatever the minister's subject, it is set forth in the light of the person and work of Christ, by which we see all things. Doing this requires that the pastor understand the context and grammar of his actual passage, but it also requires understanding and appreciation of the overall biblical story and where the text fits into it.
It has been said that every important subject of the Bible finds its beginnings in the first three chapters of Genesis. We saw that with regard to our temple study, and there are many other key subjects that could be developed similarly. Of course, one begins with the big headings of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation, but under each of those topics there are subtopics which are hinted at in those opening chapters and then developed over the course of the biblical revelation. The pastor who would preach biblically to his people must understand that, and he should occasionally demonstrate it explicitly to help his congregants understand it. To let the Bible dictate our content should drive us to preach Christ.
For, look at the puzzle lid, and one may see a temple, but look more closely and you will see a cross and an empty tomb.
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