2 Step by Step Sermon Prep

This is part 2 of a 4 part series where I take you through my process for preparing an expository sermon from start to finish using Logos Bible Software.

[@calebnichols6943]

Thank you, Pastor Jack!

[@bridgerbond]

Love the methodology that you put into sermon prep. There are some overlapping features that I do in my sermon prep, but you introduced different techniques that I want to implement. Thank you for sharing the video - from a Reformed guy who spiritualizes stuff ;)

[@bridgerbond]

Hey, is there a reason why you use word to draft your sermon and then import into logos?

[@DrJackHughes]

I use Word and write my sermons on a custom page size that fits my iPad screen. When the sermon is finished I save it to PDF. Then upload it to my iPad using PDF Expert. In the video the reason it looks different is I use "focus" mode in Word (bottom of the screen in Word). It is cleaner and I like to work in focus mode. Here is more: static1.squarespace.com/static/54444d8be4b015161ccf180f/t/5543da80e4b0528c14b0b2a1/1430510208061/Ideas-for-notes.pdf

[@bridgerbond]

@@DrJackHughes makes sense. I’m drafting a sermon in logos, and I’m not a fan. But, I do have an older version.

[@michaelmarkle6080]

Hello, I am just wondering what you are referring to when you speak of journals over spiritualizing the text? Would you mind giving me an example? I appreciate it. I am loving your content. Super helpful.

[@DrJackHughes]

There are theological journals that you can subscribe to or purchase. I have several thousand purchased digitally in Logos. Journal articles often go way deeper than commentaries on a text or theological issue. Often those writing books will write journal articles on chapters or parts of their book to get peer review feedback. Here is an example of a journal article I wrote on the "New Perspective on Paul" for a faculty lecture series at The Master's Seminary: tyndale.tms.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tmsj16i.pdf Spiritualizing the text is when you ignore the plain, simple meaning, the obvious meaning, the plain meaning of the worlds, and try to find meaning somewhere else, ignoring the authorial intent of the text. E.g., you write me an email, tell me you walked your dog, by which you mean, you walked your dog. But I try to find spiritual meaning in that and then imagine you to mean you were trying to have spiritual influence "walk" over one of your enemies "dog." Well, you didn't mean that, but I foisted the meaning you didn't intend upon what you plainly wrote. This is not to say the Bible doesn't have many figures of speech, metaphors, some allegorical sections, etc. But they are usually very obvious. Jesus says, "I am the bread of life" and we know He isn't a loaf of bread. The rule to follow is if the plain sense, makes sense, don't seek any other sense, or you will turn the text I not non-sense. Avoid interpretations that the original author could never have had in mind.

[@michaelmarkle6080]

@@DrJackHughes thank you. I appreciate all your work you are doing. It has been a huge help to us.

[@michaelmarkle6080]

@@DrJackHughes I appreciate your paper and curious what your thoughts are. A few of us have discussed what law is still in place. Is it the moral law and the rest Christ has fulfilled? Are we not under the law but above the law while all the law are still in affect? What I am taking away is that Christ fulfilled all the laws in order to fulfill the requirements to be justified before God for us. So we are no longer bound by the law for salvation because it was never there to save us, but to point to Christ who can. So, I guess my question would be as Christians what are we under if anything? Does this mean that tithing is still commanded as some say today? This is just an example. I am a pastor in training and I want to uphold to whatever God has to say in His word . It doesn’t matter what I think. I just want to really get a grasp on this. Because, I have people around me who say the law has never ceased, that by someway they are still in affect. To include all the laws ceremonial, civil, and moral. I have a hard time seeing that from scripture. I could be wrong. Please, would you either help me with this understanding or point me in the right direction. I do have Logo Gold also. I appreciate you sir. God bless.

[@DrJackHughes]

@@michaelmarkle6080 The last four lessons of the how to study the Bible series address that question a bit. I am not a fan of dividing up God's law into moral, civil, and ceremonial. Remember, "all Scripture is profitable" so that would include all the law, not just "moral parts." I think every law has moral aspects, for it is all for "training in righteousness."

[@djsynced7625]

@@DrJackHughesJust for clarification. If the text can plainly interpreted at face value, doe that mean that it cannot be spiritually discerned? Could you provide a text in the Bible that people over spiritualize? Thanks 🙏🏼