Preface
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1 The Importance of expository preaching
What Is Expository Preaching?
Why Is expository preaching inmortant?
What are the advantages of expositorypeaching?
What ae the goals of expository preaching?
What are the difficulties in expository preaching?
What Expository preaching is not
How can expository preaching be made contemporary?
What, in summary, are the charactristics of a good expository message?
Part II: Preparing the text
Chapter 2 The facts: practial exegesis
Survey the context
Note the dominant characteristics an themes of the Passage
Select significant Items for exegetical study
Chapter 3: The facts: Exgetical outlins
Prepare a paragraph Outline of the passage
Prepare a structural outline
Inductive outline
Chapter 4 The facts: narrative and compositional patterns
Narrative patterns
Compositional patterns
Chapter 5 The facts:semantic patterns
The Importance of semantic patterns
Categories of semantic patterns
Chapter 6 The facts: the final touches
Emotional color patterns
Underlying assumption
thrust of the passage
Part III: Applying th text
Chapter 7 Determining the application: the "function"
Revie2 the life setting of the Passage
Describe the function of the oriental text witha word or phrase
Consider the needs of the congregation
apply the passage to the needs
preach to the inner heart needs as well as to external circumstances
Chapter 8 structuring the sermon: the "form"
Expository sermons need homiletical form
three types of sermons
structural exposition and its modifications
procedure
exaples
Chapter 9 Preaching from difficult texts
Parables
Other figures of speech
Narratives
Miracle stories
Obscure Passages
Passages with textual difficulties
Proverbial sayings
Culturally related texts
Controversial passages
Multiple levels of meaning
sensitive issues
Apparent discrepancies in the Gospels
Chapter 10 Praxis
Survey of the context
Dominant characteristics and themes
Practical Exegesis
Exegetical outline
Patterns in the text
Final touches
Function and application
Homiletical form
The Preaching Program
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Expository preaching is an elusive ideal. Many preachers aspire to it, few are acknowledged masters. For most a gap exists between the sermon that addresses the needs of the hearers and one that methodically plumbs the depths of Scripture. New Testament Exposition is written to bridge this gap and bring together the disciplines of preaching and exegesis. In this book Liefeld addresses the three main concerns of expository preaching: What is the text saying? How can its message be communicated in ways that are appropriate to the passage, the seeing, and the goals of the sermon? How can the message meet the real needs of the congregation in a way that is consistent with the purpose and function of the text? This book demonstrates how these concerns can be brought together in a sermon, and it is this thoughtful, practical approach that makes the book so valuable to preachers and seminarians. The book is divided into three parts. Part I explores the characteristics of expository preaching. Part II deals with preparing the text and addresses such areas as practical exegesis, exegetical outlines, narratives and compositional patterns, semantic patterns, and underlying assumptions of the text. Part III discusses application of the text by asking, What is the function of the text? What are the needs of the congregation? How can one preach to inner heart needs as well as to the external circumstances facing the congregation? New Testament Exposition is not vague theory, nor is it esoteric study beyond the grasp and time of the busy pastor. Throughout the book Dr. Liefeld reflects his experience in the classroom and pulpit, and his concerns as scholar and pastor are clearly seen in the final chapters of this volume. Chapter 9 examines preaching from difficult texts: How might one handle parables, miracle stories, obscure passages, culturally related texts? The final chapter provides a demonstration of all that is discussed throughout the book by walking the road through the actual preparation for a sermon.