"THE LEADER AND GOD'S WORD."
Intro. Get the picture. The people are all gathered as one in the street before the water gate. Ezra is standing on this little platform with him on his right side, stand six of the leaders, and on his left, seven of the leaders. The scroll of the law is brought to him and as Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people they all stood, and Ezra blessed Jehovah the great God, and all the people responded saying "amen, amen," and they lifted their hands and bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces toward the ground. And all morning Ezra read to them from the Torah. There were other men with Ezra who explained the law to the people.
I. THE THREE THINGS.
A. They read the words of the book distinctly. They gave the sense, and they caused them to understand the words of the book.
B. This is my understanding of what expository teaching is all about. Reading the word distinctly, giving the sense, and causing them to understand their reading.
1. Learn to enunciate your words clearly.
a. If you speak too softly, or if it is hard to understand your words, it is easy for the people to lose interest.
b. Also, it is very tiring when you are constantly trying to hear or understand.
c. Try to put a little life into your reading. Try not to be a monotone.
d. Don't just read words, read sentences.
2. Give the sense.
a. Oftentimes the sense is very plain and no explanation is needed.
b. Many times it is necessary to put the scripture in the context in order to make sense of it.
1. The passage work out your own salvation with fear and trembling is completely misunderstood because it is taken out of its context.
2. You need the following verse to make the true sense. "For it is God that works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."
3. Without the next verse, it seems that it is something that we must do but the next verse shows us that it is something that God does.
3. They caused them to understand the reading.
a. Illustrate the truth.
b. Jesus used the parables to emphasize or illustrate truths.
II. THE LONGER I AM IN THE MINISTRY THE MORE I REALIZE THAT IT IS NOT WHAT I SAY THAT IS GOING TO TRANSFORM A PERSON'S LIFE, BUT WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS.
A. The exciting thing about God's word is that it will not return unto Him void. God said:
ISA 55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
ISA 55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
ISA 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
ISA 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
1. You cannot say that about your word.
HEB 4:12 For the word of God [is] alive, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2. You cannot say that about your words.
MAT 24:35 Jesus said: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
3. You cannot say that about your words.
ISA 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
4. You cannot say that about your word.
ROM 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
5. You cannot say that about your word.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
