Does Your Preaching Pass The Rock and The Reed Challenge?

Does Your Preaching Pass The Rock and The Reed Challenge?

Author: Mike Neglia November 12, 2024 Duration: 45:13

In this episode of the Expositors Collective Podcast, Mike Neglia interviews Dr. Douglas D. Webster, professor of pastoral theology and preaching at Beeson Divinity School. Dr. Webster reflects on his personal journey into preaching, sharing his early experiences and the wisdom he gained from seasoned pastors. They discuss the prophetic and pastoral aspects of preaching, with Dr. Webster emphasizing the necessity of taking the Word of God seriously in every sermon. He shares insights into the different preaching styles, comparing "rock quarry" and "art gallery" approaches to communication.


Dr. Webster also explores the unique challenges of preaching parables and the importance of understanding their Old Testament roots. They discuss the balance between engaging the audience and ensuring faithfulness to the text, highlighting the contrast between implicit and explicit communication in preaching. Personal preaching styles, the importance of manuscripting, and the role of self-denial in delivering effective messages are central themes throughout the conversation.

Douglas D. Webster (Ph.D., University of St. Michael’s College) is professor of pastoral theology and preaching at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University. He served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego for fourteen years, as well as churches in New York City, Denver, and Toronto. His books include Follow the Lamb: A Pastoral Approach to The Revelation and Preaching Hebrews: The End of Religion and Faithfulness to the End


Resources Mentioned:

More Than a Sermon: https://blog.lexhampress.com/2024/05/09/more-than-a-sermon-an-interview-with-doug-webster/

The Parables: Jesus's Friendly Subversive Speech:  https://www.kregel.com/douglas-d-webster/the-parables/

Hope, Suffering and Glory - CGN's recent conference based on 1 Peter:  https://cgn.org/2024archives/

Beeson Divinity School: https://www.samford.edu/beeson-divinity/ 

Fellow Beeson Professor Gerald Bray's episode about learning preaching from Chrysostom: https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/expositors-collective/episode/pastoral-preaching-brevity-and-john-chrysostom-gerald-bray 


For 30% off More than A Sermon, visit: www.LexhamPress.com/Expositors in the month of November for a 30% discount


Support the Cause: 

https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective


For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com 


The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/


Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective


Mike Neglia hosts Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation, a space dedicated to the craft of clearly opening the Scriptures. Rather than offering abstract theory, this podcast grounds itself in the tangible realities faced by pastors and teachers every week. You'll hear genuine conversations that feel like pulling up a chair in a mentor's study, where experienced practitioners discuss the challenges and joys of preparing messages that faithfully explain the biblical text. Episodes often take the form of interviews or practical workshops, delving into the nuances of effective communication for diverse settings like church pulpits, youth groups, or women's ministries. The collective wisdom shared here is about more than just structure; it's about the spiritual discipline of listening to a passage before speaking on it, ensuring the sermon's heart beats in rhythm with the Bible's intent. Tuning into this podcast provides a form of ongoing coaching, a resource for anyone who wants their teaching to be both deeply rooted and readily understood. It’s for those who believe that the careful work of exposition is a profound act of service, and who are looking for a companion on that journey.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Expositors Collective: Expository Preaching, Bible Teaching and Sermon Preparation
Podcast Episodes
How to Be "At Your Best" While Preparing Sermons - Carey Nieuwhof [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:04
Should preachers use the humble "we" or the personalised "you" when speaking to their congregations? Should busy leaders take breakfast meetings? Should sermon preparation nourish the soul of the pastor? Carey Nieuwhof a…
Pulpit Flourish vs Pastoral Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
In this rebroadcast of a classic episode (from September of 2022) of the Expositors Collective Podcast, Dr. Bryan Chapell joins Mike to discuss the vital role of pastoral care and the irreplaceable power of love in pasto…
Gospel Sanity in a World Gone Mad - Ray Ortlund Re-release [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:58
Gospel Sanity in a World Gone Mad – This is what Ray Ortlund Jr. aims to offer to the next generation of pastors and leaders. In this conversation with Mike, he discusses the profound value of remembering his own mortali…
Crafting Captivating Sermon Outlines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:28
Dr Alan Stoddard explores the creation of an exegetical sermon outline and its transformation into a preaching outline, offering key insights to enrich your personal study and public speaking. His message includes valuab…
Anchoring Truth: From Reporting the News to Preaching the Good News [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:37
In this episode, Mike Neglia sits down with Calvin Whittman, the pastor of Green Valley Baptist Church in Henderson, Nevada, to discuss his unique journey to the pulpit and his approach to gospel-centred preaching. Calvi…
Breaking the Fast Food Bible Study Habit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:31
In a culture addicted to fast food and instant gratification, are we falling into the same trap when it comes to sermons? In this episode, Pastor Mike Chaddick draws a fascinating parallel between the shallow nourishment…
Impository Preaching and How to Avoid It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:40
In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Mike Neglia interviews David Jackman about his preaching journey and insights from his book Proclaiming the Word. Jackman recounts his early preaching experiences and…
How to Build a Sermon Outline / Kako Napraviti Nacrt Propovedi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:58
In this episode, Pastor Nick Cady walks us through the essential elements of crafting a clear and compelling sermon outline, which serves as a vital tool for ensuring your Bible teaching stays organized and impactful. Ni…
Discovering God's Sovereign Theme in Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
What if the key to unlocking your preaching voice lies not in mimicking others, but in embracing the unique way God has shaped you—through your experiences, challenges, and divine calling? In this episode, recorded durin…
Sermon Preparation: Step by Step with Brian Brodersen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:54
Mike Neglia and Brian Brodersen discuss the practical and spiritual aspects of sermon preparation. They kick off this workshop (recorded at the 2024 CGN International Conference) by speaking about the time commitment tha…