Pete William’s new book, “The Surprising Genius of Jesus” (https://uk.10ofthose.com/product/9781433588365/the-surprising-genius-of-jesus) focuses on one chapter of Luke. He shows that Jesus is able to tells stories that are directly addressing the crowds, understood simply as a direct answer to the challenge of the Pharisees. But he also shows that Jesus is working into his stories layers of Biblical allusion that would be particularly evident to the Scribes who are opposing him.
The book is well worth reading. But I think what Pete shows Jesus doing is helpful for anyone preaching. I think preachers should aim to do things.
1) Preach the main point of the passage so simply and directly that someone who has never read the Bible before understands the main point and sees that it comes from this passage.
2) Provide intriguing depths and fresh angles so that people who have been Christians for decades and heard this passage preached multiple times have a sense of something fresh, something meaty, that they need to engage with mentally, and in the process work the old truths into their hearts more deeply.
I am aware of 3 ways I use to try and give the intriguing depths to my sermons on unfamiliar passages.
a) Bible connections. This is what Pete Williams shows Jesus doing in his book. And showing how Bible notes and resonances are repeated and connected helps people to grasp that this passage, this truth, fits within a big plan and message from God.
b) Theological implications. Where a text is relevant to a big theological theme, taking 5 minutes to show how this text gives us understanding of a big theological topic is often refreshing. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the expert at this (although he did way more than 5 minutes and so had to preach only 1 or 2 verses a sermon).
c) Particular contemporary application and angles. This is where the introduction to the sermon can be particularly helpful. If you set up a universal problem we face, or a particular contemporary issue that people haven’t connected with this passage before, then people are intrigued to find out how this passage answers these questions or needs. I learned this from Andy Robinson (now with Living Out).
There are other ways to try and give the freshness and intriguing depths while keeping the main point clear and accessible. Some people do this with fresh and hard hitting stories. But the three I’ve mentioned are the main ways I add depth while keeping the main point the main thing. What would you add to my list?
Jots and Scribbles 