One of the most difficult things to do is the thing that is often first required – the choosing of a topic. This sounds simple enough, but there is nothing simple about it.
Common mistakes include choosing a topic that is too broad or too narrow. For instance, if I choose the topic of “Oceanic Life,” where do I begin, where do I end and how many books have ever been written about this topic? You see the problem.
On the other hand, if you choose for you topic, “The Diet of the Blue Glaucus Sea Slug,” you’ll be hard pressed to find many books written on the topic to research.
Why am I saying all of this?
I say all of this so that I can tell you that we have come upon a section of Scripture that I have read many times, but that I have not begun to thoroughly research, until now. And it’s a whopper.
The topic is the arrest and trials of the Lord Jesus.
Around five years ago I attempted to put together a lesson on this topic to teach in a Sunday school class. After a few hours of research and note taking, I found myself so overwhelmed with questions to answer that I abandoned the topic for something less intimidating.
Now, as a minister devoted to expository preaching, I find myself face to face with this incredible topic. I cannot avoid it and I dare not over-simplify it. I fear that I cannot do the topic justice, but I must try. The beauty of expository preaching is that it takes the choice away from the preacher on what topic he will preach next. The preacher must preach whatever comes next in the text. The topic is not chosen, it is dictated by the text.
This is what it feels like – it feels like I got a phone call from the Kansas City Royals telling me I’m being drafted immediately and will play third base and bat lead-off.
I know how to play baseball, and played for many years of my life, but am I ready for the Big League? Even though it’s a made-up scenario, the thought still makes me feel sick to my stomach.
I share that to say, this is how preaching these next sermons feels to me as a preacher. So, here’s my request to you: Please pray for your preacher and please be patient with him. Pray that I will say everything God wants me to say and nothing He doesn’t.
One final thing. I hope that it will excite you when I say that this current study and research that I have been doing is some of the richest, most informative and eye-opening research that I have ever done. I’m consistently overwhelmed by all of the wonder that is Jesus our Lord. His story deserves to be told as well as can be managed.
Much Love!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
