Have we made studying the Bible and preaching too hard?

 We are obviously all for the best possible Bible study and teaching. 

In my circles, there has sometimes been great stress on independent study of the text in the original languages. Then, and only then, consult the most technical commentary you can find, and a more devotional preaching type one. Aim to spend an hour for every minute of your sermon or Bible study. Remember to travel back to Corinth. Get the one single original intended meaning of the human author. Oh, have you got the right sense-unit? Obviously you need a theme sentence and an aim sentence and headings and an outline and an introduction and conclusion. You need to put it all in historical, literary, canonical and gospel context of course. How can you know what your text means unless you have mastered the book in which it appears? And you must plan your transition and timings. It will be 22.5 minutes long. The application might take a lot of work because how does the aim of the text for them relate to the aims of the text for each of us today in our different contexts, conditions and vocations. 

Now, much of that might be good and helpful. 

But:

Preach the good news of Jesus from this text for us and try not to be too long and boring. 

And pray. 

I reckon the people will thank you and Jesus will smile. 

Sometimes you are allowed to mention something not in the text. 

There may be more than one legitimate way to skin this cat. 

A bit of freedom and fun might help you. 

Of course opening the Bible is an awesome serious task. But let's not paralyse ourselves in fear of the divine sermon feedback!