In this episode Alan talks about the importance of preaching hope. Hope is important to preaching because hope is transformative (1 John 3:3). Furthermore, according to Romans 5:5 “hope does not disappoint us.” But what is this hope that doesn’t disappoint? Romans 5:2 says that our hope is the “glory of God.” Hence, if we are to understand hope, we need to understand the glory of God.

Preachit! S01E31

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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In this episode, Jason DeRouchie talks about how helping others see and delight in Jesus is the desire of every preacher. As we see Christ and delight in him we are increasingly transformed into his image. So how do we preach from the Old Testament to make Christ visible so that transformation happens? In this episode, Jason DeRouchie elaborates on seven ways to “behold Christ” in the Old Testament.  

Preachit! S01E30

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

http://www.instagram.com/samueljames.music

http://www.samueljames.studio

In this episode Carmen Imes helps us unravel many of the Christian caricatures of the law. Points of discussion include:

· The role and purpose of the law, and why starting with Paul can distort our understanding of the law.

· The importance of Israel’s mission/vocation to understanding the role of the law.

· How the law helps Israel fulfill their vocation.

· How the law was to bring Israel freedom, flourishing, and life.

· The essence of the law: protecting the vulnerable.

· Israel’s problem and how they followed the same pattern as Adam and Eve.

· The prophets as “covenant watchdogs.”

· Using the law as a “launching pad” to demonstrate what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus.

· The law written on our hearts and the new covenant.

· Paul’s understanding of the law.

· The universal relevance of the law for the Christian.

· Why some laws are not relevant today.

· The role and relevance of the law for preaching today.

· Helpful resources for understanding the law.

Preachit! S01E29

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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In this episode I talk to Megan Powell du Toit about the role of the arts in preaching.

We talk about how Megan’s love for the arts has made its way into her preaching. At the heart of the discussion is the idea that good preaching is much more than merely the transfer of information, because the sermon is targeting a lot more than just the mind. Along the way we talk about preaching as performance, the importance of communicating in way that reaches the whole person, the difference between preaching and teaching, engaging the emotions in preaching, the importance of reflection, how to preach the sublime and transcendent, PowerPoint, seeing preaching as turning “ink” into “blood,” preaching that connects to life, sermon length—is it worth discussing?, the Bible as a neglected resource on ways to communicate, how to preach in a way so that people feel the truth of what is being preached, the advantages of the arts in preaching, using movies, books, stories, music, song, poetry, visual art, our body, gestures, clothing, and the challenge of using the arts to preach the sublime and transcendent without it becoming cheesy.

Preachit! S01E28

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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In some circles topical preaching is often thought to be inferior to what is often referred to as expository preaching. But is this caricature justified? Not according to Sam Chan and Malcolm Gill. In this episode we discuss their book, “Topical Preaching in a Complex World: How to Proclaim Truth and Relevance at the Same Time” (Zondervan, 2021) and especially what topical preaching is and how it differs from expository preaching. We also talk about the process of preparing a topical sermon and the various factors that one needs to consider. Also, where does a Christ-centred approach to preaching fit within topical preaching? We discuss how the same topic can be preached from different angles depending on the audience, why ‘significance’ is more helpful than ‘meaning’ in preaching, and how to preach 'sensitive' topics that people will inevitably be divided on?

Preachit! S01E27

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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In this episode we talk about why being relational is central to being a culturally intelligent preacher. Within this frame, we discuss why being right doctrinally without being relational is a problem for preaching, the real enemy in culture, the role of theological categories and how to communicate them, bridge building, the manner and tone of the preacher, talk show host and comedian Stephen Colbert, the importance of listening to culture, how finding a conversation partner who is not very theologically trained (even a kid) can help our preaching, the job of an expositor, the problem of preaching definitions and cliches, why preachers need to learn to “switch hit”, when preachers make the Bible say too much versus making it say too little, being woke, the harsh tone of some of the Scriptures, and more.

Preachit! S01E26

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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In this episode I talk with Eugene Peterson’s protégé, Peter Santucci, on Preaching the Psalms. We discuss:

· What should we do with those “awkward and unsavoury” parts of the Psalms?

· Things to look out for that help us open up the heart and soul of a Psalm.

· Why Peter has only three categories for the Psalms and what characterises them.

· Why the Psalms are an ideal part of Scripture for us to improvise.

· How the Psalms, even the ones we don’t like, help us to pray our emotions.

· How the Psalms can be therapeutic.

· Why exegetical analysis can do more harm than good in discovering the meaning of the Psalms.

· Why it’s sometimes better to sit with a Psalm rather than go to a commentary.

· What the “uncomfortable” parts of the Psalms can teach us.

· How to preach poetry.

· Why are metaphors “true lies.”

· Should the Psalms play more of a role in contemporary worship and prayer?

· How the Psalms can speak into Christians living in the midst of uncertainty regarding their faith and God.

· Who shaped Peter’s understanding of the Psalms, besides Eugene Peterson?

· How do we avoid falling into the trap of reading our own emotions into the Psalms?

Check out Peter's website here: http://www.petesantucci.com/

Preachit! S01E25

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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http://www.samueljames.studio

In this latest episode I talk with Stephen McAlpine about his Australian award-winning book, “Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World that Says You Can’t”, and how to preach to a post-Christian Christian audience. Here are just some topics we tackle:

“Thin” preaching vs. preaching that has “depth,” and how they relate to life and human flourishing.

Why should we preach the gospel to Christians? And what is gospel preaching?

Why and how does the gospel transform us?

The inadequacy of counterfeit gospels such as the self-help gospel and moralistic preaching, and why they can’t deal with some of life’s big problems.

Why preachers should prepare people for the week ‘they’ will be having and not the week ‘the preacher’ will be having.

Authenticity: what is it and why the current way of defining it is inadequate.

The role of self-denial in gospel preaching.

The problems with the current culture’s view of authenticity.

The church needs to start preparing for a tsunami of broken and wounded people. Are we ready?

To what extent should we be preaching on ‘sensitive issues’ from the pulpit?

You can check out Stephen's book here:

https://www.thegoodbook.com.au/being-the-bad-guys

Preachit! S01E24

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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In this episode we discuss the following questions and topics:

What do New Testament passages mean that say that that the Old Testament “concerned” Jesus or “testified” about him?

When Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Old Testament Scriptures, what did they understand that they didn’t understand before?

What is the relationship between the human author’s intention and the divine author’s intention in the Old Testament and how should this make a difference to our preaching?

What are some good questions to ask of an Old Testament text when preparing a sermon?

The difference between “untethered” and “tethered” Christ-centred readings of the Old Testament and how to avoid ‘fanciful’ interpretations.

Some helpful examples of Christ-centred readings from the positive and negative aspects of the life of David, including examples of personal application.

Should we be finding Jesus “under every rock in the Old Testament”?

In what sense does Israel point to Christ, and why Jesus is not just the fulfilment of Messianic expectations?

Sonship in the Old Testament as a trajectory to Christ.

What are some of the key aspects of Israel’s story that are fulfilled in or point to Christ (e.g., land, exile, blessings, curses, God’s wrath)?

How our stories are bound up with Christ and its relevance for application.

Preachit! S01E23

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

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Part 2 of How to Preach Texts in Light of the Grand Story of the Bible with Rueben Munn. In this episode we continue from where we left off in part 1 and look at examples from the New Testament to illustrate how to preach individual passages in light of the biblical storyline.

Preachit! S01E22

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Produced and edited by @RuffianBeats

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Music by @samueljames.music

http://www.instagram.com/samueljames.music

http://www.samueljames.studio