SEEKING THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK
IN EXPOSITORY PREACHING

An Applied Course for The Experienced Preacher to Learn More of How To Incorporate the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit in Weekly
Sermon Preparation and Delivery.

VOLUME I


A THESIS SUBMITTED TO
GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
SOUTH HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTES


IN PARTIAL FULLFILLMENTS OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE FOR THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREE

BY
ALLEN VALENTINE KEMP

Co-pastor of Suffern Presbyterian Church, 81 Washington Ave. Suffern, NY 10901
Tel. 914-357-0435, Fax 914-357-0879
May, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS


I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM 1

II. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 3

III. DEFINITION OF TERMS 9

IV. VITA 14

V. PREACHING IN THE BIBLE 15
PREACHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 17 PREACHING IN THE GOSPELS 30
PREACHING IN ACTS 43
PREACHING IN THE EPISTLES 57

VI. PREACHING AND HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD 91

VII. LITERATURE REVIEW 125

VIII. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN: LESSON PLANS (VOL. II) 247

IX. APPENDICES (VOL. II)

APPENDIX ONE: PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE 278

APPENDIX TWO: PREACHING AND JOHN 14-17, 20 280

APPENDIX THREE: APOLLOS: WHEN THE IVY LEAGUE
ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH 301

APPENDIX FOUR: THE SACRED ANOINTING: THE PREACHING OF
OF MARTYN-LLOYD JONES 309

APPENDIX FIVE: SAMPLE SERMON: I HAVE MORE TO SAY TO YOU 361

X. BIBLIOGRAPHY 367





I
ABSTRACT

Many preachers insist that without the work of the Holy Spirit in preaching, their labor is in vain, mere exercise of persuasion and rhetoric. We know we need the Holy Spirit but how do we appropriate His work?

This thesis undertakes the challenge of helping preachers who believe in the work of the Holy Spirit to make His work more tangible in preaching a message from God’s heart to the hearts of God’s people. The thesis is constructed as a 13 week course in preaching, an applied hands-on approach to seeking the involvement of the Holy Spirit in the entire preaching process. From the first thought of the text in the pastor’s study to the actual words spoken to the audience, the Holy Spirit wishes to be involved.

The theological content of the thesis consists of an exploration of the idea of preaching all through the Scripture, from the preaching of the prophets to the proclamation of the Gospel by the apostles in demonstration of Spirit and power. A Biblical definition and paradigm for preaching is explored and sought from these. The student will seek to model his or her preaching on Jesus, cultivating a dependence on the Holy Spirit to accomplish all that God would want to say and do in the preaching of His Word to His people about His people. Considerable attention is given to some 20th century preachers whose preaching ministries were greatly empowered when they "came to an end of themselves," i.e., of their pride and ego, and began living to the Spirit of God for preaching. Such preachers include Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Harold John Okenga.

This thesis does not offer a formula or a prescription for preachers to "claim" an anointing of the Holy Spirit and then "power" preach without study, exegesis, and exposition of the Bible. Rather, it offers the student/preacher the opportunity to go on a journey of humility and self-denial, hard work and academic excellence, much prayer, and learning to listen to the voice of God for preaching. Like the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:19, the preacher’s humble cry to his or her congregation should be "Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel…"