Listened to John Piper's (right) superb sermon: "Why expository preaching is particularly glorifying to God" (see link on sidebar).Simple but revolutionary truth from 2 Cor 3v18, 4v6:
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."
"For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
- Question: How might we and our fellow Christians become more godly?
- Answer: By beholding the glory of the Lord.
- Question: How might we more fully behold it?
- Answer: By absorbing the truth about Christ in the gospel?
- If we want to grow in our Christian lives, we must not just know the Bible better, but ask throughout, "How do I see here God's glory displayed in Christ?"
- If we want our church to grow in maturity, we must not just preach the Bible, but preach it in a way that stresses God's glory as it is displayed in Christ. This is what Piper terms 'expositional exultation' - the two wings to the same plane; ie. preaching is lacking without both: It is to expound the scriptures, but in such a way that in manner and content we raise up Jesus over all and set forth the excellences of God seen most clearly in him.
