I read a post this morning that brought a tear to my old eyes.
When I was a student at Southwestern back in the dark ages, before the CR took hold, I had two preaching classes. (If you are feeling defensive of Southwestern, please read to the end!) The first was taught by a professor whose doctoral dissertation had been a denial of the doctrine of inerrancy. The second, the one I liked best, was taught by a professor who was later fired by Southwestern for inappropriate behavior. I did not exactly get the best of the best. I am thankful for the homiletical training I had at Dallas Seminary that drilled into me the principles of expository preaching – what is now being called “text-driven” preaching.
Homiletics at Dallas Seminary
At Dallas, our preaching classes were part of our third-year Greek classes. We were assigned an exegetical paper on a passage that dug deeply into the Greek text, did word studies, pursued textual difficulties, outlined the passage, and even graphed the sentences. The result was a 14 page, single-spaced document. From that paper we then constructed a sermon. Greek exegesis produced textual exposition.
My assigned text was 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
The passage is easily structured. Paul says (verses 1-2) that he knew only Christ crucified, foreswearing lofty rhetoric. He demonstrated (verses 3 and 4) the Spirit’s power in the midst of his own weakness. Verse 5 tells why he did that. His desire was that their faith would rest on God’s power not man’s wisdom. So, Paul’s motivation was to build a ministry based on God’s power (v 5), so he (vs 1-2) preached Christ and (vs 3-4) relied on the Spirit’s power.
When I preached the text, I started with Paul’s motivation in verse 5. He was driven by a desire to build a church in Corinth founded on God’s power not his own personality, eloquence, wisdom, or strength. Having established that, I said that Paul focused on two things, and explained that he preached the crucifixion and he relied on the Spirit. I sat down believing I had handled the text pretty well. I will never forget his words.
Dave, I don’t know if you have noticed this, but verses 1-4 come before verse 5.
Psssss….That sound was the deflation of my pride. He was making a point that day. Follow the text. Be faithful to the text. Did he go overboard? I think so, but he succeeded in making me remember the point 40 years later. The more I stick to the text the better off I will be. The people who hear me need Christ and the Spirit’s power not my wisdom. Preach the text. That lesson stayed with me.
What is sad is that back in the day I had to go to a non-SBC seminary to get trained in text-driven preaching.
Then I transferred to Southwestern and I was taught to find a text to use as a springboard for my ideas. Three points and a poem. Alliteration was often more important than textual fidelity. One education class even told us that preaching was out-of-date and ineffective and should be abandoned. The guy was a great quick-draw artist but he had little respect for preaching the text.
Blogging Battles and a Moment of Hope.
Through the last decade it is safe to say that in most of the blogging battles I’ve been a part of I’ve been on the other side of the fence from Southwestern Seminary. They were ground zero for the Baptist Identity movement and I was devoted to its destruction. (Some of the BI folks, strangely, are now among my closest friends). I disagreed with several actions taken by Dr. Patterson and position held by key faculty at the seminary.
But today I read a blogpost by a young man who followed me on Twitter. I still have a small enough following on Twitter that I sometimes do a little “creeping” on people who follow me. I found that this young man, Aaron Halstead, a student as SWBTS, had a blog, so I clicked through and read his most recent post – from June 21, “Is Text Driven Preaching Boring?” It is an excellent article. Keep writing, Aaron. Mike Leake can only produce so much content daily.
But reading his post filled me with hope for the SBC.
Many pronounce the decline and fall of the SBC, blaming this group or that, targeting someone or some group for attack or exclusion. I often get caught up in those battles – the flesh is strong. And certainly, there can be no doubt that the SBC is not seeing statistical progress as we would like to. The CP is down. Numbers are down. Division is up. We are certainly not all we should be.
But there are some very good things going on in the SBC, and the emphasis at our seminaries on text-driven preaching may be one of the best things.
This all hit me when I read Aaron’s post this morning. I thought back to the education I received on preaching at Southwestern (which may not have been typical of everyone’s experience there, but it was mine) and the much better education that Aaron and others are receiving at Southwestern. I can tell you a few things from personal experience.
Since I was elected president of the Pastors’ Conference, there has been one entity leader who has stood above all others in graciousness, offers of helpfulness, and support for our little endeavor. Of course, the Executive Committee has given us inestimable assistance – we couldn’t do it without them. And the Caskey Center at NOBTS is our partner in this project and they have given us great support from the beginning. But no one, on a personal level, has gone out of their way to be gracious and supportive as Dr. Patterson and his wife.
We have planned a colloquium with the speakers of the PC and Southwestern is hosting it. Dr. David Allen will be the primary host of that as I understand it. We are going to gather for a couple of days and study the book of Philippians together at my alma mater – the first time I’ve been back in about 150 years. I’m looking forward to it.
But when I read Aaron’s post about the text-driven preaching that Dr. Allen is teaching, it struck me. We can argue about Calvinism. We can disagree about Dr. Moore’s comments on Donald Trump. But as long as the SBC is training young preachers to honor the text and preach it their people on Sunday, I am convinced we are doing good things.
There is every reason not to give up on the SBC. There is every reason to pull back from the edge of division and splintering. Are our personal grudges and petty differences worth the damage we will do to a nonpareil world missions program (even slightly smaller than it was) and a seminary system that is producing the kind of preachers I’ve been listening to recently?
Is everything great with the SBC? Of course not. But I was amazed at how many competent and faithful Bible expositors we had to TURN DOWN to reach our magic number of 12 for the Pastors’ Conference. All of our seminaries are teaching young preacher-boys not only to honor the text but also to PREACH it.
So, we are a long way from perfect, but I am thankful that Dr. Allen is teaching preaching at Southwestern and producing young preachers like Aaron Halstead. The same thing is happening at Midwestern, Southern, Southeastern, Gateway, and New Orleans. Each puts a different spin on the preparation, has different theological and stylistic biases, but they are all teaching text-driven preaching.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
So, I accept that the SBC is not perfect. Dr. Patterson may say something next week I will disagree with (as, perhaps, may Dr. Mohler or Dr. Moore). But if the SBC continues to produce pastors who honor the text every Sunday, preach Christ crucified and rely on God’s power, perhaps we have every reason to hope that God is not finished with us yet.
Please, brothers and sisters, let us not burn the house down while there is still so much inside that is valuable!
The pastor’s conference might be the healthiest and most positive thing that is going to happen in the SBC next year. It is really encouraging to hear how some of the leaders are investing in it’s success.
Dave, there is much to be proud about in the SBC. Unfortunately, there are somethings that are shameful.
Shameful? Pretty harsh.
I think there are some bad actors on the extremes, but for the most part, our differences are overblown and overacted.
Shameful? Maybe you should be more specific.
Dave, I do not speak of the institution but individual members of the SBC. I have read and heard people champion themselves as the peace brokers of the SBC only to hear them talk about destroying the other side in different places.
It seems even those who say they want peace are confused. Believers are not called to speak the truth. We are called to speak the truth in love. Listen closely, you can hear cymbals tinkling all over the SBC.
Good news indeed!
I agree the SBC is not dead, is not even dying. Sure, there are some kerfuffles – but as long as we all keep the foundation and important things that we are known for – biblical fidelity and cooperation in proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth – I think the future will only get brighter.
William is right – the SBCPC will “show off” off some of the heath and positive aspects of what is going on in our convention.
Tarheel, you may be correct, and I sure hope you are; but, the last research that I saw showed baptisms continue to decline as they have for nearly five decades or more. It seems that even if we maintained status quo, we are dying.
If an airplane continues to lose altitude, it will crash eventually.
There are certainly bright lights here and there, but I don’t see evidence that supports your analysis that the SBC is not dying. At best it is in a coma it would seem. If blog posts are any indication of anything noteworthy, it certainly seems that the general division of our society is mirrored in our churches–or, vice versa.
Also, I do think that where a person is geographically in our nation can give one a different perspective on the SBC. No one can see the whole thing at once.
I do hope you are correct and the future will be brighter.
May you and yours have a wonderful New Year.
Jack,
By “dying” do you mean our numbers are decreasing or that God has lifted His hand of blessing off of us?
Because every man made institution [like the SBC] has a shelf life of God’s own choosing.
Declining numbers can mean more than one thing.
It could mean that we are no longer preaching the Gospel.
It could mean we are continuing to reach the Gospel.
It could mean that God is pruning us.
It could mean that God is going to replace us with something else.
Some wisdom declares that increasing numbers indicate vitality.
But another kind of wisdom says that the first is last, and the last is first, and that it is in dying that we live.
“If an airplane continues to lose altitude, it will crash eventually.”
Or it lands safely
“Keep writing, Aaron. Mike Leake can only produce so much content daily.”
LOL
I’m not sure if I should say thanks or be mortally wounded. Maybe I should just call Dave a nerd. That feels kinda right.
Like Dave, I also studied at Southwestern Seminary. I was in the MDiv program 1972-75. I know the professors he mentioned; however, my experience was quite different. Dr. Al Fasol taught the preaching classes that I took. He was a disciple of H. C. Brown, who wrote Steps to the Sermon. We had to do a long (50 page) exegetical study of each passage before we wrote our sermons. He taught us expository preaching exclusively, though he did mention other types. I’ll always be grateful to Dr. Fasol for his teaching. When I went to seminary, I was eager to learn to preach. Al Fasol taught me. Others can say how well I learned. 🙂 I applaud the emphasis on expository preaching at SWBTS now. I know that Southeastern, Southern, and Mid-America also emphasize expository preaching. I do not say that the others do not; I just do not have personal knowledge. Some say expository preaching is boring, but it is not if it is done right, using good illustrations.
Dave Miller,
First of all, thank you. The ministry of encouragement is much needed today. I’m reminded in the letters to the churches of Asia Minor in the Revelation, Christ commended those things that were commedable in the churches. You did a very good job.
Second, that is probably my favorite passage in 1 Corinthians. “That your faith might stand in the power of God, and not in the wisdom of men”…Powerful!
Lastly, thank you for reminding us of what is important, and for passing the blessing you received on to us. I feel so refreshed this morning.
Some how many SWBTS students graduated and became pretty good preachers in those days. I have known and heard plenty. I didn’t take preaching when I was a SWBTS. I wish I had. However, I am thankful for the many strong theologically conservative teaches I had there. The included Roy Fish, Russ Bush, Oscar Thompson, Jack Gray, Justice Anderson and many more. I am not aware that any of them denied inerrancy or the truth of the Bible as God’s Word.
Dave, no matter the style of preaching they teach, the problem now may be will they have students to teach preaching to. When I attended SWBTS, students came from all over the US because of its sold theologically conservative reputation. I think the best way to determine the health of a seminary is the number of basic degree students, especially the M Div. When I first entered in 1978, the FTE numbers were about 3200 students, over 1700 M Div students and 115 faculty. I studied at various times through the 80s and 90s and in 1993 there were still around 3200 students with around 1600 M Div students and 2,600 masters level students and 138 faculty. According to the SBC annual, in 2016 there were around 1300 total enrollment with only 473 M Div students and 762 total masters lever students. They still had almost as many faculty with 108 for less than half the number of students as the 70s and 80s. In the last 8 years, the enrollment dropped from 2,000 to the present 1,332. Any thoughts on why?
I visit Southwestern a few times a year. I used to go there so I could pick up book from the bookstore there. I’d pick up books that professors had assigned for Theology classes or as supplemental reading for D Min classes, etc. But now, evidently most students buy books online and as a result Lifeway has shut down the bookstore.
I was not aware that the enrollment had dropped from 2,000 to 1332 in the last 8 years. But I the school must be doing OK in terms of raising funds for their physical plant. That new chapel / auditorium is really something else.
When I was down there about a year ago I picked up “Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview” by Moreland and Craig. I believe it was required reading for a D Min class. That is one killer book. Other than the Bible, it is the most profound book I’ve read in the last ten years since moving to Oklahoma. If I lived in DFW I’d see if I could sign up and audit selected classes at Southwestern even though I’m not called to be in the ministry and I don’t know anything about Greek or Hebrew. My background is a computer nerd from Silicon Valley with a BSEE and MBA. I can stumble my way through Hebrew by using the 4 volume Analytical Key to the OT and the DBD Lexicon. I have similar cribs for the NT.
It is cool that Southwestern going to provide some resources for the preachers at the Pastor’s Conference. This includes my own pastor: Shane Hall.
Before the CR enrollment at SWBTS swelled as it had multiple programs like Radio/TV, M & Family counseling, in addition to traditional Seminary programs. It also had a reputation (somewhat overblown IMHO) as the only conservative SBC seminary, so students would come from Kentucky, North Carolina and other states with more liberal at the time seminaries. At the same time moderate Texans were still attending Seminary there.
After the CR, students now had 6 conservative Seminaries to choose from, and SWBTS cut some of the programs unique to them. Also moderate Texans began going to Truett Seminary and other places. This collectively is why I believe the enrollment has dropped so badly there.
Matt H, were you in seminary before the CR? I was discussing the basic master’s degree programs. You seem to be saying there are not enough conservatives in Texas to go to SWBTS now. I wonder how many students at SWBTS are in the Bible school program and the women’s program. If you took away those programs that did not exist back when SWBTS was known for it conservative theology what would the enrollment be now.