The best way to learn how to share the Word is to share the word. There is a place for classroom space, but do not keep it there.
When I was a doctoral student, few dissertations had been written on the place of application in preaching. I’m guessing there is still a gap in the academic literature.
I sometimes hear, “I want it to be practical, not just theory.” Then I listen to him teach or read her book and I am left saying the same thing.
It is easy for us to be dispensers of knowledge. Give a list here, a principle there. Talk about the gospel. Tell some mission history. Debate homoousios. Parse a verb. Then give the test.
Application is critical to all that we do when it comes to equipping others for the ministry (Eph 4:11-12). The problem is that we have a hard time with application. We know how to give lists. We know lectures. It is what has been modeled before us. We spend too much time justifying approaches to theological education in the name of loving God with our minds as we give a little nod to that part about loving with strength too.
As you equip your people, show the application to the mission of God. Give them some how-tos. Whether you are teaching them diphthongs, Deuteronomy, David Livingstone, or the Diuwe people group, make application a vital part of such teaching.
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Brother JD, Great point on the application piece! It is hard ! Maybe when we preach the theoretical, no one judges our lives, on how we tell others, to apply the scripture to their lives! Leaders must also live the application piece in public and also In their private lives! Good challenge for all! Thank you! Blessings Ken
Thank you, Ken, for sharing and the encouraging words.