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THE HEART OF COUNSELING
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel
but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
in humility correcting those who are in opposition,
if God perhaps will grant them repentance,
so that they may know the truth.
2 TIMOTHY 3:24-25
THE HEART OF PREACHING
Preach the word!
For the time will come when people will heap up for themselves teachers according to their own desires,
and they will turn away from the truth.
2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4
Expository preaching focuses on a reverent and careful drawing out of the meaning of a Scriptural passage in its original context. Expository preaching trusts the Holy Spirit to expose (i.e., unveil, reveal, illumine) God's transforming truths through a messenger to a listener. And because the Holy Spirit seeks to glorify Christ (John 16:14), expository preaching is Christ-centered.
The opposite of expository preaching is "impository" preaching where opinions are imposed into Scriptures. As such, Scriptures are used to prove opinions This preaching trusts the knowledge of the messenger which offers only information to a listener with no transformation. This preaching is man-centered.
I am blessed to have a pastor to passionately and humbly preaches expository sermons, and who affirms my calling to be a minster of the Word, too.
PREACHING WITH A COUNSELOR'S HEART
My pastor has requested I help remind him of his counselor's heart in order to stay in touch with people's hearts from the pulpit. He knows the temptation of the enemy to lure preachers to proclaim God's truths dogmatically but not personally.
Although a preacher may not know each person in a congregation, when preached with passion, purity, and humility, the Word of God is living and active, and personally touches each listening heart (Hebrews 4:12).
COUNSELING WITH A PREACHER'S HEART
I have, in turn, requested my pastor to help me stay grounded in God's Word as I minister to people. Worldly counseling gives advice through worldly knowledge. Christian counseling is actually Christian discipleship that offers hope through God's truths. And only God can reveal truths to others through His Word.
I have no desire to only try telling others what God's Word means and how to apply it. My heart is to help position others in the presence of God to hear His Word first hand and to personally live out of His Word!
CLOSING
We are living expositions (i.e., displays and explanations) of Jesus, who is the incarnation of God's Word (John 1:1, 14)! What an honor and privilege it is for us to be vessels of Jesus Christ -- the Wonderful Counselor!
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Preaching & Counseling
