Notes from the Expositors Conference

This years expositors conference certainly lived up to the mark that was set from their inaugural conference in 2007. Dr. Steven Lawson and Dr. Ligon Duncan both provided exceptional teaching from God's word on the importance and necessity of Expositional preaching. Together the emphasized passages in Acts where they looked at the early church's commitment and faithfulness to preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lawson noted that 1 of every 4 words in the book of Acts are part of sermons and that that there are 19 major sermons or defenses of the faith that make up the book of Acts - preaching was at the forefront of the early church. Lawson's final message was titled, "Preaching that is Innocent of the Blood of All Men," and really captured the theme of the conference.

Lawson - "There is an approach to preaching today that withholds the full consul of God. It preaches grace but not the requirement of the law - It has no real nutriments."

He also noted - from the various passages in Acts that - there are seven marks of the expositor that will keep his hands clean of the blood of those who hear his message. Following are some of the key comments from Lawson's message.

1) For the faithful expositor - there will be a posture of Humility. "There is no half-way humble - you are either humble or your are not." The longer the life that Paul the Apostle lived the lower he grew down into humility. Paul said, 'I am least of the Apostles 1 Cor 15:9, Least among the Saints Eph. 3:8, I am foremost of all sinners. 1 Tim 1-15'

2) The Expositor will have a heart of Boldness - the humble expositor preaches not for his own acclaim but for the glory of God. There will always be full disclosure - whether publicly or from house to house - Acts 20:20.

3)The Expositor will have a tone of sobriety - "Gravitas" Solemnly testifying of repentance towards God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 -The expositor must be "blood earnest - a serious man."

4) The Expositor must have a "Resolution of Will and Determination of Will " A Strong Sense of Duty. He may be weary in the work but not weary of the work. Paul says that he was constrained by the Spirit. "And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit," Acts 20:22 Men who are called to preach God's word ought to live as if we are immortal until our time is done.

5) The Expositor will embody a Life of Service - pressing on that he might finish his course. "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24

6) The Expositor will have a sense of urgency - knowing that he will never see certain men again. The Expositor preaches as a dying man unto dying men. I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:25-27