And I thank the Department of Practical Theology and all of you for inviting me and the Airs of Bernard

Ram.

As I was looking over these three talks that are now on paper in front of me, I felt constrained to begin like this.

What I have to say I believe is true, and I believe it is an important angle on preaching,

but I'm just overwhelmed with the thought that it is one angle.

And I want to say this up front because when you start talking and the emotion come and you start saying things with strength, you can give the impression that you think what you have to say is the only thing that needs to be said in all the world about preaching.

And so I want to just pull the plug on that mistake right now and say there's a hundred things that need to be said about preaching that I'm not going to say. And the question you

need to ask as you listen with me is why did he say what he said to me now at this point in my life?

Why did God set it up so that he came to Trinity now with me in my particular situation

on this topic with those emphasis and that particular

dynamic. Why did God do this? That would be the question to ask yourself I think

rather than saying does he think that's the only thing that needs to be said which it isn't and I'd like to begin now with prayer that God would help us maintain that careful perspective protect these brothers and sisters

oh father I ask for your help now in these days together and in these messages that you would protect these brothers and sisters from error and that you would blot out anything

that has a bad emphasis or is poorly stated or is just plain wrong.

And what is true, I pray that the Holy Spirit would take it up, drive it home, and transform lives and ministries with it.

In Jesus' name, I pray.

Amen.

I want to begin with the question about the relationship

between contemporary worship songs and preaching.

I wonder if we would all agree, as I think the case is, that in the last 20 years or so,

there's been a phenomenal explosion of worship singing that is good.

Jack Hayford's majesty, Graham Hendricks, shine Jesus shine.

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