If you've been at Denton Bible for any amount of time you've probably (and hopefully) noticed that the centrality of our Sunday is the exaltation of the Bible. Though we believe the Bible and explain it, you've also noticed that we do so in a consecutive manner. If we start with Romans we end in Romans. If we begin in 2 Samuel we progress through it until its end. There are reasons for this:
- The first reason is that it prevents the pastor from being selective. He must preach the whole counsel of God. The Bible does not group all of certain ideas into individual books. There is not a book on this doctrine or on that area of morality. The Bible is a latitudinal book with virtually all doctrines and all acts of moral obedience running as connective threads through each book. Thus, with all Bible books, when taught verse by verse, one cannot pick and choose but rather be balanced. One will teach the whole counsel of God.
- Secondly, one gains the fullness of the Biblical text. A note may be pretty in and of itself but when placed in its bar, movement, and score it is heard in context and thus more meaningful. Such is "expositional or expository preaching" [ex: "out" + posit: "a stance or idea set forth"]. Expository preaching seeks to draw out the exact meaning of a passage through the careful study of its words, original language, immediate context, grammatical structure, dispensational setting, (is it Old Testament, New Testament, the Kingdom, or a pre-law period?) theological setting (what theological truths does it set forth), and its moral intent or application. This is done much easier in consecutive preaching and teaching. The pastor's calling is to be an expositor.
- Another reason is that it deepens the faithful. When one hears 52 varied messages he does not master a book nor its content. One grows deeper in messages of continuity rather than variety.
It is at this point, however, that there is a cultural conflict. American church culture does notattend church in continuity. Maybe they used to but not (at least as much) anymore. Thus, to gain membership it is more amenable to preach to the lowest common denominator to get numbers (knowing that the American church is in a capitalistic mold) rather than to achieve depth in the faithful, which may not lend itself to quick "growth."
Because of the continental Sabbath in the U.S. (i.e. relaxation, not the seeking of God) and many Christians only attending church sporadically, as well as Christian's who visit churches as they would restaurants, the pastor must preach to a moving target.
Thus now the evangelical pastor faces an issue. "Do I preach for numbers or do I preach for depth?" I have decided to preach for depth. When people come periodically they may be frustrated to step into the middle of a study but when they are the tail that wags the dog then the faithful do not learn as well as they could. There is a depth of theology, apologetics and exhortation that exists in speaking to the same people each Sunday. That is the position I have taken. Numbers are not our passion but large numbers of quality people.
There is a movement among evangelicals now in our country to abandon the verse by verse system of preaching as something that is no longer relevant. They have yielded to the pragmatics of success as dictated by our culture - and they would have to study.
In the Bible the word "growth" never speaks to church growth through people coming on Sunday. It means either "converts", or "the knowledge of scripture", or "depth of character". My only concern is our truly spiritual growth not our American capitalistic cram the faith into our shallow, showy, impotent cultural system of progress "growth."
I've determined to let the dog wag the tail - to teach to the perennials. That's why we do verse by verse Bible exposition.
"You show you grow
You snooze you lose"
That's why we do what we do.
Tommy
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