My Philosophy of Bible Teaching

My philosophy of Bible Teaching has been shaped very much by Derek Prime and Alistair Begg from their book, On Being A Pastor. The pastoral and teaching goals that they list (with which I fully agree) are to: 1) Feed the Flock, 2) Proclaim the Whole Will of God, 3) Present Everyone Perfect in Christ, 4) Prepare God's People for Works of Service, 5) Equip God's People to be Fishers of Men and Women, and 6) Keep Watch Over Yourself and the Flock Until the Task is Complete.


I also am an expository guy. I love taking a passage, and working through it bit by bit. Even better is taking a book of the Bible and walking through it with your people.


I've been asked to include my a) view of the Bible, b) my understanding of spiritual formation, and c) how I see the role of the Bible in teaching spiritual formation.


a) I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God and are consequently totally true; therefore, they are the final authority in all matters to which they speak.


b) I understand spiritual formation to be the process whereby Christ is formed in us (Gal. 4:19), and we grow in Christlikness in our character, attitudes, and actions.


c) The role of Bible teaching in spiritual formation is fundamental and non-negotiable. I know that Bible teaching, and especially preaching, has fallen on hard times as of late; however, I completely reject that notion, believing that:

• the gospel is indeed the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16),
• the word of God will not return to God empty without accomplishing what He desires and without succeeding in the matter for which it was sent (Is. 55:11), and
• faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).