Although Korea does not belong to Christian culture, it has achieved a remarkable Christian revival that is hard to see anywhere in the world. In particular, the 1907 Great Pyeong-yang Revival Movement is a long-lasting event in church history. Korea also has sent the second largest numbers of missionaries in the world and has the largest churches in the world.
Of course, since Christianity came to Korea, it has not always been good. However, even under such circumstances, Christianity has became a great comforter to Korea, and has encouraged and helped it to recover again.
Especially in the fast-changing modernization, Christianity has led to many positive help and development in Korea, which has made Christianity a friend who helps Korea, not just a foreign religion. And this positive perception had contributed to the rapid revival of Christianity in Korea by the 1990s. However, in the 2000s, the Korean church has quickly stagnated, and now it is in crisis. In other words, the current Korean church faces rapid decline of the total number of Christians unlike before and the internal and external problems of Christianity are worsening day by day, which is the reality.
Then, why has the Korean church got worse? The preachers are largely responsible for it. Because they has not preached properly, and they has not lived properly. In other words, they fail to fulfill their responsibilities as preachers. Therefore, the crisis of the Korean church is due to the one of the preachers. To solve this problem, the restoration of preaching is needed beforehand. And I recommend an expository preaching as a solution.
However, it should be a real expository preaching. The Korean pulpit has long used the name, expository preaching for many sermons, but there has been a lack of understanding about it. Thus, many people have mistaken exegesis, commentary sermon, Bible interpretation, or Bible study as expository preaching. But these are not proper ones. Above all, it is hard to expect some benefits that are from expository preaching through them. Therefore, the preachers must be well aware of what is expository preaching. In this context, I think it is necessary to understand it through an exemplary expository preacher, so I recommend Timothy J. Keller as one of them.
The reason why I specifically recommend Tim Keller as an exemplary expository preacher is that firstly both his Reformed theology and Puritan doctrine are similar to the theology of the Korean church. Secondly, in Manhattan, New York which is the center of postmodernism, the modernity of Christianity that we need is proved. Also, since his dependence on the Holy Spirit is very similar to the Bible's teaching, he is a good example for the restoration of the Korean church.
Keller's expository preaching has three structures: 'main point', 'application', and 'Holy Spirit'. The main point consists of 'redemptive-historical preaching' and 'apologetic preaching'. The application is made up of 'sensory preaching' and 'contextualization', and finally there is the Holy Spirit. In other words, Keller's expository preaching can be seen as a harmony of 'traditionality' and 'modernity'.
In particular, Keller emphasizes that preaching must begin with the Bible. And he explains that the best way to preach the Bible is through 'redemptive-historical preaching'. It preaches in a narrative flow, supposing that the core of the Bible is in Jesus Christ. Keller explains that there must be always Jesus Christ in preaching through it. He also argues that the Bible's legitimacy that people in the post modern era question should be proved and changes in the world view should take place through 'dialectical preaching'.
In addition, he uses 'emotional preaching' and 'effective contextualization' to develop 'application' which is thought to be a weakness in 'redemptive-historical preaching' and 'apologetic preaching'. However, Keller criticizes the 'emerging church' and tries to secure modernity through application based on the Bible. Therefore, his application has effective modernity, and he always values harmony with the Bible the most at the same time.
Keller's 'emotional preaching' serves as a tool to experience the Bible in one's heart. Through it, he wishes that the Bible will change not only knowledge but also his audiences' lives. And through 'contextualization', he makes sure that the preaching manages the role of missionary.
Also, it is the Holy Spirit who leads the preaching according to the Keller. He confesses that his preaching entirely follows the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
Timothy J. Keller's expository preaching is a good example that preachers should learn. Currently, the Korean church is ruining the essence of the Bible by wrong theology. And most of the churches are too much conscious of the audiences so they can't speak out something that they must say. Even it is hard for them to apply properly and rely on the Holy Spirit. In this sense, the crisis in the Korean church may be a natural outcome.
But there is still hope. Because we have God. I believe that if the Korean pulpit recovers again, God will not only restore the Korean church but also give grace to the nations and people. And as a result of researching 'Tim Keller's expository preaching', the restoration of the Korean church is up to the one of expository preaching that God wants instead of trying new methods.
I sincerely hope that the Korean preachers will proclaim the Words that God wants and live the lives that God is pleased with. Then the Korean churches will experience God's passionate revival once again.