A Simple Biblical Exercise

LESSON:

 Look Backward

Question #1: Why was this exegetical idea necessary for its original recipients?

1. To whom did the biblical author deliver this message?

2. What problem did it address?

3. Why did they need to hear it? How urgent was it? Why? Your goal here is to determine what the problem “looked like” in the story of the original recipients. Visualize the situation that required this biblical truth. See it in your mind. Be sure that the problem you see is tangible. If it is not real in your mind, ask why.

4. Does the antecedent history of the recipients help explain why this instruction was necessary for these people at this time?

5. Are there any cultural factors that would have incubated or accelerated the need for this instruction? Why were the hearts of the original recipients so prone to wander in this direction? Why did God think that they specifically needed to be given this idea?

6. What do you think the emotional response of the original recipients of this biblical truth would have been? What was their visceral reaction when they first heard it? Why do you think so?

7. What did the original recipients of this message do with it? Did they heed this word or ignore it? Do we know?

8. How did this truth transform, or how could it have transformed the recipient’s life? Something is not true because it is in the Bible; it is in the Bible because it is true. Our decision to obey or disobey it determines whether our lives flourish or flounder. With this in mind, develop two scenarios. a. What would life have been like for the original recipients if they had fully responded to the truth of this passage? b. What would life have been like for the original recipients if they had ignored or disregarded this truth?

9. Is this the only time that this principle is mentioned in Scripture? Have others struggled with this issue throughout biblical history? Who? When? Why? With what outcome?

10. What metaphors best capture the meaning of this passage?

Look Upward

Question #2: What is God revealing about Himself in this text?

1. What does this text reveal about God’s character? From which of God’s attributes does its idea emanate? Here you want to link actions and character. You want to understand why God’s character necessitated that this truth be given to its original recipients at the time it was given.

2. Why is the truth of this text theologically necessary? Why would God ask this of His people or do this to His people? Is God being unreasonable or unfair? Does He have your best interests at heart? How do you know that?

Look Inward

Question #3: What is God saying to me in this text?

Before you think about how the idea you discovered should impact other people’s lives, first ask how it should impact yours. Here are a series of questions that can help you do that. In what ways am I similar to/does my life parallel the original recipients of this book?

1. Are my weaknesses their weaknesses?

2. Are my temptations theirs? Have I succumbed as they did?

3. Has my life been warped as a result?

4. In what ways? With what consequences?

5. When was I more likely to fall into this sin?

6. What habits/practices exist in my life that contribute to this problem?

7. What is it about me that made me vulnerable to this particular attack by the enemy (i.e. what is the root problem that manifests itself in this sin)?

8. How has my life and ministry suffered as a result of this sin?

9. How have others been affected by this?

10. How could my life and ministry have been enhanced by withstanding this temptation?

11. How will the idea of this text force your life spiritually forward?

12. Picture the different reality that you and your people could be experiencing right now if you had made different choices.

 Look Outward 

Question #4: What does God want to accomplish through this text?

A good place to begin is by seeing what the original writer wanted to accomplish in the lives of the original recipients of this truth. Does it apply to your listeners in the same way? Here are some questions that may help focus your thoughts on the similarities and dissimilarities between yours and the original audience.

1. In what ways are the people you lead similar to the original audience? Consider the similarities that may exist. Consider factors such as

a. Socio-economically—poor or affluent?

b. Socially—comfortable family units or widows/orphans?

c. Morally—living surrounded by licentiousness? Affluence? Hedonism? Secularism?

d. Politically—is your country being led by someone trying to follow God’s direction or by a pagan?

e. Spiritually (length of time they have walked with God, the spiritual heritage you may enjoy, the temperature of their spiritual passion—i.e. cool, lukewarm, or boiling hot?) Now spend some time thinking about the receptivity that your listeners are likely to have to the idea of your passage.

1. Do you think that your people want to live in harmony with the teaching of this text? Why or why not? What would their objections be?

2. What is keeping you and your people from living out this text? Are there any structural/organizational barriers? 

Look Forward

Question #5: What could negate the progress I have just made through this text?

Do you really think that if you preached a sermon that accomplished all of your objectives that Satan would stand idly by? Do you think he will sit idly by allowing you to enjoy the spiritual ground that you may have just taken unchallenged? I don’t think so. Prepare for a counterattack. In what ways will he try and take back the spiritual ground that you just took for Christ and His kingdom? Here are some questions that may help get you started.

1. What method is Satan likely to use to counterattack?

a. Will he tell lies? (He is the father of lies—John 8:44.)

b. Will he use discouragement?

c. Will he try and cause division to advance his cause?

d. Will he try and exploit some preexisting circumstance or condition?

2. What circumstances could make continued obedience to this truth difficult (e.g. sudden singleness [divorce/death], economic recession/job loss, loss of health)?

3. What age group (e.g. children, youth, college student, young married, middle aged, recently retired, elderly) will find the application of this truth most difficult? Why? How could those who won’t struggle as much with this truth help those who will?

Edwards, J. Kent. Deep Preaching: Creating Sermons that Go Beyond the Superficial . B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.