Monday, June 25, 2007 — 5:30 p.m.
An eventful day. I originally stayed in a room that was handicap-accessible. However, I was asked if I would be willing to move to another room so someone who could make better use of that room could stay. Around 1:00 p.m., they called and said that the one who needed our original room was there, yet housekeeping had not finished with the new room. So we had to vacate, re-pack the car, then wait until they were done. As compensation for my troubles, they gave me five free cafeteria passes. Good stuff!
I had a New Testament class with Dr. William Cook, New Testament professor here at Southern. What a wonderful class! Whereas many of our professors come at their particular field with only an academic knowledge. He serves as Pastor of Ninth and O Baptist Church in Louisville, so he understands all the particulars about pastoring and sermon preparation.
The information he gave was so incredibly helpful, especially in dealing with preaching from the Gospels (Matthew-John). He notes that too many preachers preach the Gospels like the Epistles — only a paragraph at a time. As a result, many of the stories in the Gospels are encapsulated and divorced from previous and upcoming events. Thus we miss much of the thrust of what Jesus is doing and the lessons he teaches.
Tomorrow, all of the preaching classes will be with Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary. I can’t wait to inform you all about what he has to say.
