More cool stuff on preaching...

I have had to read a lot this semester on the redemptive historical approach for interpreting scripture and I find it to be quite helpful. But I will talk about that another time.
I think the one thing that I have found to be the most helpful, however, is the fact that preaching is to derive its authority from the scripture. The Westminster Directory of Publick Worship does an excellent job conveying this notion when the Divines discussed what the sermon was to contain. At the time they were wrestling how to overcome the doctrine heavy, light on application, Puritan model of preaching, the allegorical medieval style, and the complicated French style of preaching.
What was their solution? Speak the message plainly, rest on the authority of the Word and use illustration and application. Yes, they even used the term "illustration", but it was not used as an aid for explanation, but rather, an aid for the listener to see how they fit into the message. And their treatment of appication was quite powerful and they explained the need of application. This was genius for that day and this day as well. I think, and rightly so, that people can be exposed to so much good doctrine and content in sermons, and many conservative churches are good at teaching doctrine, but until you explain how that doctrine affects the daily life of the listener, you're just giving a doctrinal lesson, it's not really preaching, in the sense that preaching should be done.

Here's an interesting link to a Billy Graham story about resting in the authority of Scripture.

Book of the day, Christ Centered Preaching by Dr. Bryan Chapell.